Hindi ako makatulog. I'm studying my report for tomorrow. Aish! 11:00 pm na pala. I am yawning when my phone beeps suddenly. I check on it. Someone's message me.

Wait, it's Ricci! Ommo! He message me again?

Sabi nya, 'Hey!'

Yun lang? So I replied, 'Waeyo?'

'Waeyo? What is that mean?' - Ricci

'Haha, it's WHY in Korean.' - Me

'Ah, haha. Sorry, I don't know that. Why are you still awake?' - Ricci

'Inaaral ko pa kasi yung report ko para bukas. Ikaw? Bakit gising pa?'

'Kakatapos ko lang din asikasuhin yung acads ko. Alam mo na, sa umaga kasi training first. Then sa afternoon, acads naman hanggang gabi na yun.' - Ricci

Nakakapagod naman yun. I admire him even more.

'Pero you still have time naman para magrest di ba? Mahirap na, baka bumigay yung health mo." I replied. Feeling close.

'Don't worry. Healthy living naman ako, I always reserve time to rest. Thank you.' - Ricci

'Thank you for what?' I ask.

'Sa concern, kahit pagod ako I have my family, fans, and mga friends like you na nakakapagpawala ng pagod ko. Kaya thank you." - Ricci

Friends na pala kami?

'Friend? I'm belong to your fans kaya.' Pahumble kong reply.

'Yeah, pero di ba pwedeng maging friend ko yung fan ko gaya mo?" - Ricci

Pwedeng-pwede! Basta ikaw! Haha! I don't like being friends with boys but with Ricci, syempre okay lang, lodi ko yan eh. Pero syempre di yan yung sinabi ko.

'Pwede naman, sino bang tatanggi sayo na maging friend ka. Pero bakit ako? Ang dami mong fans dyan na patay na patay sayo. Haha.' - Me

'Because I had a chance to meet you in person. Not knowing that you are my fan but a concern citizen who helped us.'

Sabi ko nga, good samaritan ang peg ko. Haha! Nagtatype pa lang ako ng reply ko when he messaged me again.

'And I'm not looking for a fan na patay na patay sa akin to be my friend. Gusto ko yung normal." - Ricci

So abnormal kaming mga patay na patay sayo? Loko to ah. Kung alam mo lang na isa na ako dun. Anong irereply ko?

'So what do you think they are? Abnormal?' I asked.

'That's not what I mean. I treat my fans as my treasure. I'm a fan of other idols din so I understand what they feeling toward me. But It happened na nung nameet kita, you helped us. Then you told us that you are my fan which is unexpected because you seem like you don't know me 'coz you kept quiet at that time. Karamihan kasi sa mga fans ko tuwang-tuwa kapag nakita ako. Unlike you.'

Nobela yung reply niya. Akala ko abnormal na kaming mga fans niya. Pero syempre, sobrang saya ko at nameet ko siya. Sadyang mahiyain lang ako.

'Of course I'm happy meet you. I just can't believe that I've got to see you personally that time. That's why I stayed silent.' I replied.

'So are we friends now?'

Shocks, how I wish na sana kaharap ko siya ngayon, baka mamaya wala lang magawang matino to eh. Haha! Ang sama ko. Mukha naman siyang mabait eh. Bahala na.

'Fine, oo na. Baka umiyak ka pa. Haha, joke lang.'

Marunong pala akong mag-joke. My phone beeps again.

'Iiyak talaga ako kapag di ka pumayag na maging friend ko. Syempre, isang Ricci Rivero na-reject? Haha!' - Ricci

Kita mo, lakas ng tama neto. Kung ano-anong sinasabi eh.

'Nice! Ang taas ng self-confidence naten ah. Haha! Kulang lang yan sa tulog.'

Feeling ko, close na agad kami. Pero still, I'm a fan. Mahirap na.

'Kailangan ko yun eh. Confidence. Para magawa ko yung mga gusto ko. Pero I know my limit naman, I always stay humble.' He replied.

'That's good then. Inaantok na ko. Matulog ka na din. Bawal magpuyat ang athlete!'

'Yes boss Khaira, masusunod po. Ikaw din, matulog ka na, good luck sa report mo bukas. Good night!' - Ricci

Boss daw? Haha.

'Sige na lodi, thank you. Good night din!'

'Lodi? Haha,, sige na, wag ka ng magreply. Pikit na agad. Good night ulit.' - Ricci

Aish! Ano ba talagang nangyayari? Lord! Kung panaginip lang to, pakigising ako hanggat maaga pa! Huhu!

Makatulog na nga.

***