Happy Pill
We were on the set of My App Boyfie. The staff was still setting up, and Nadine went to get something from her car, so I decided to take a walk around the location. I ended up sitting on one of the park benches with a good view of the people putting up props.
“Liar liar, pants on fire.”
I tore my gaze off the people putting up the tripods and looked up to find Nadine standing in front of me. She had her arms crossed above her chest while her eyes gave me a death glare.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” It was an honest answer. I was actually confused; she was very lively before she left and suddenly she came back looking very mad.
“Exactly!” She half-yelled while she pointed her index finger at me. “That was my initial reaction when I read that you invited me to the Cosmo bash. I was like, buti pa yung internet alam nila na may invitation ako from you, ako walang clue!”
Oh. I bit my lip to conceal a smile. So that is why.
“Don’t be mad.” I pleaded as I patted the space next to me. She just stared at my hand, pursed her lips and looked up. “Aww, Nadz. Come on.”
Her face displayed a look of disgust while she said, “Definitely your face. Tse.”
I let out a laugh and looked at her. She was still trying to avoid my gaze, her eyes landing everywhere except mine. Her arms were now akimbo, and while she was busy pretending like I didn’t exist, I was thinking I never thought someone so mad could look this cute.
“Is it really a big deal?”
“Ewan ko sa’yo!” She stomped her foot and started to walk away but I grabbed her hand to pull her back. “Don’t touch me.” she said in a calm tone. She tried very hard to break free from my grip, but she couldn’t. I was never going to let her go just like that.
“Let’s talk, please?” I gave her my best humble, submissive expression. She just squinted her eyes at me, and I thought she wouldn’t let me explain, but after a few seconds she sat beside me.
“If this is what makes you happy, then, I am inviting you to watch the event. There.”
She let out angry throaty sounds upon hearing this. “Ew, James, That sounded so insincere.”
“Because I really don’t want you to go.”
She buried her face in her hands before she tucked them under her chin, her elbows resting on her thigh. “I hope you’re aware that you are being such a jerk right now. It’s so annoying.”
She leaned back and placed her hands on her thighs. I watched how her nose flared and the furrow on her forehead appeared when she said the last three words. My hands slowly moved toward her to tuck a loose strand of hair behind her ear. She leaned away from my touch and looked down at her interlaced fingers.
“Nadine? Nadine, look at me.” I said in the softest way possible. Her jaws were set tight, and I bent my neck in every direction just to make her return my gaze, but she was tough. It seemed she had built this great wall of I-hate-you-I-don’t-wanna-exist-anywhere-near-you to control her rage.
She looked furious and looked like she would explode anytime. “Are we really going to fight about this?” I waited for an answer, and when there was none, I stood up and bent my legs so that I was crouching in front of her. I placed one hand above hers and the other went to lightly push her chin up so she would look at me.
I heard someone gasp behind me. Must be one of the crews. Surprise and embarassment were written all over Nadine’s face as her head hurriedly moved from left to right a couple of times, throwing panicked glances everywhere. “I don’t want you to go. I mean it.”
“But why?”
“There’s too…much skin.” The words barely came out of my mouth. The real reason was still caught in my throat, and I was having a hard time trying to get them out.
She rolled her eyes at me. “Grabe ha. 20 na ako, I can handle that. Besides, I’ll go there to support you. And Seph.”
“And.. too many guys.”
“What the heck?”
“See, I dont-I’m not-ugh. Damn it.“ I hated that my brain was not cooperating. My legs were already feeling sore, and I still have not proven my point. “I-just-“
For the first time in forever, she smiled. The tension in my chest died, and I felt my muscles relax. Just like that. I’d like to believe her smile was therapeutic.
“I just hate the thought that you’d be looking at every guy that’s gonna walk on that runway. If you go, I’d get completely consumed with the idea that your eyes fell upon them before they even see me, and I’d end up wanting to punch everyone in the face.”
I avoided her gaze by staring at the ground. After a few seconds of silence, she stood up. She’s still mad. I’m doomed. But then my jaw almost dropped in surprise when her hands took mine and pulled me up.
“You could’ve just said you were jealous.”
“I am not jealous.” I told her, although I was pretty sure I was.
“There you go again.” She exhaled and smiled at me. “I’m not going anymore.”
“Yes, perfect thank you!” I licked my lips and clasped my hands together, a bit hesitant to ask the question. But I asked anyway. “Are you still mad?”
“No.” I heard the sincerity and honesty in her voice,and my insides sighed with relief. The heaviness in my chest was gone and suddenly nothing hurts anymore. Again with therapeutic.
I heard someone from the staff on our far right call out our names, and we headed towards them. I was wearing a big, goofy smile while we were walking side by side because 1) she was not mad at me anymore and 2) her hand was still holding mine.
On the night of the Cosmo event, Nadine was sending me a lot of texts. I was getting looks of curiosity from the staff and co-artists for I was sure I looked like a constipated man trying to suppress my laughter while reading them.
N: Good luck, jelly ace!
J: Thanks, but I am not a jelly ace
N: *jelly bean
N: *jelly fish
N: *jelly roll
N: *jelly bee (yung endorsement ko HAHAHA)
N: I’m good right? I could go on forever
N: Okay buhay ka pa ba?
I was having a hard time thinking of a comeback. I know behind that teasing, she was trying to calm my nerves and cheer for me.
N: Liking a lot of photos on IG. You should pay me 250 per like
J: I know you just like what you see, don’t deny it
N: Touché. Alright, I have to go now. Bbyeee
N: P.S. Do me a favor and don’t come out wearing boxers. I swear to God I’m gonna rip our contracts in two if you do that
N: Just kidding, but seriously, don’t. Take care youuu
I smiled at her last SMS. What was the take care for? It’s not like I’m going to get injured or something.
And then the hole in the middle of the stage happened.
After the event wrapped up, I was attented to by the medics. I wasn’t bothered by the pain on my arm but by my vibrating phone in my pocket. I took it out, and tapped the green icon to answer the call.
“JAMES. 18 missed calls. I’m going to kill you.”
“I’m already injured and still you want to kill me? I’m touched.”
“I know, that’s how much I hate you right now. Are you okay?” She said in a concerned tone.
I looked at my injured arm and watched as they put some povidone-iodine on it. “Yeah, I’m good. Got a huge scratch, that’s all.”
“No broken bones? No fractured ribs or anything?”
“Nope,” I said, popping the ‘p.’ How many questions will she have to ask before she believes that I am okay?
“Ikaw kasi, dapat andyan ako eh. Damot mo kasi. Jellyfish. Tas selfish pa. Isda ka talaga, James.”
I closed my eyes as my lips stretched to form a smile. I am starting to believe that everything about her has healing properties. “I’ll see you tomorrow naman.”
“Anong see you tomorrow?” Her voice had gone a notch higher. “You go rest.”
“I like it when you’re worried.”
“You find pleasure in my pain?!”
“Okay, let me rephrase that. I like it when you worry about me.”
I heard her snort. “Good one.” A pause, then, “I have to go now, nasa taping ako. Rest well at wag ka magpapakita sa akin bukas, I am seriously going to kill you.”
She hung up before I could even protest that I wanted to see her tomorrow.
The next day on the set, just as I came out of my car, I heard a very loud voice from behind me saying, “Ang tigas ng ulo!”
I held my arm in front of her. “Look, I’m good! I’m fine!”
“Whatever. I told you to take care, hindi mo sinunod. I said rest, hindi pa rin. Tsk.” She narrowed her eyes at me and set her lips into a thin line.
“What? I wanted to see you!”
“As if naman pag nakita mo ko you’ll get better. Haynako.”
I moved closer to her so that we were face to face. “Of course. You’re my happy pill, I’m pretty sure you could cure everything.”
Her face softened upon hearing that. She uttered, “Oh, shut up,” but she wrapped her arms around my waist and buried her face in my chest.
“Oh yan, yakapsule.” she said against my shirt.
I was about to ask for a kisspirin, but then I thought, there’s always next time.