“Stand and be proud

          Of who we are,

          We’ve come so close

          We’ve come so far.

          Now and forever

          Our light will shine,

          Shout it out loud

          Stand and be proud.”

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Kim looked at her reflection on the mirror.  Once satisfied with what she saw, she picked up the DKNY perfume and sprayed a little on the back of both her ears, then on both her wrists.  She picked up her purse and went out to see if Gerald was ready to leave.

Gerald fixed his blue tie one more time before squirting a bit of DKNY for men on his wrists and temples.  He slipped on the watch that Kim gave him during the last Star Magic Ball before going out of Ken’s bedroom.  He showered at his own bathroom before dressing up at Ken’s since Kim would be using his bedroom.  It tickled him pink to think that Kim would be using his own bathroom and his bedroom.  It just felt so right.  Maybe someday, he thought…

He was already seated on the couch in the living room, talking with someone on his phone when Kim made her way down the stairs.  She looked every inch a princess in her blue strapless dress that was held by a slim stone-crusted belt.  The bodice was sheared, making the skirt appear like a petticoat that drops to about three-fourths of her thigh.

Gerald looked up as he heard the sound of high-heeled footsteps on the wooden stairs.  He was mesmerized by the sight of her.  His handler was already shouting a series of hellos at the other end of the phone before he snapped out of his hypnotic gaze.  “Ah, eh…sorry, ate nhils.  May bumaba kasing anghel eh.  Sige po, papunta na kami dyan.  Bye.”

“Sino yung kausap mo?”  Kim’s smile faded as she realized he was again on the phone.

“Don’t frown…it doesn’t suit you.  Ang ganda mo talaga, baby…I’m so lucky!”

“Tse!  Wag mo ‘ko bolahin…sagutin mo yung tinatanong ko…sino’ng kausap mo sa phone?”

“Si ate Nhila po…you wanna check?  Call her back…but do that in the car, hinihintay na tayo sa Megamall.”  And he handed her his Blackberry as he guided her out of the house and into his car.

Kim did as Gerald told her and immediately felt guilty for not believing what he said.  She his nape, trying to lighten the already restrained mood he was in.

“O, naniwala ka na?  Baby, why is it so hard for you to believe me? Just one trivial mistake in the past, one that wasn’t even entirely mine, and you still can’t trust me whole-heartedly…Kelan pa, Kim?”  And he sighed heavily, feeling a slight throbbing at the back of his head.  His anguish triggered a mild headache.  Not now, he thought, please not now…and concentrated on his driving.

Kim didn’t give up.  She held Gerald’s hand in hers, entwined her fingers with his and reached over to give him a kiss on the cheek.  “Wag ka na magalit o…please?  Sige ka, badluck ‘yan…”

“It’s ok, Kimmy.  I’m sorry I snapped at you.  Medyo masakit lang ang ulo ko…”

She reached to gently massage his temples.  “Kaya mo ba?”

“Oo naman…konti lang ‘to.  Magte-take na lang ako ng painkiller once we get to the mall.  Dala lang siguro ‘to ng excitement at nervousness.  Sana naman mag-hit ang movie natin…”

“Sigurado ‘yon..don’t worry.  Di papayag ang Kimeralds na di mag-hit ‘yun.”

“Sana nga…natatakot ako eh.”  And he fell silent for the rest of the ride.  Kim understood his need for silence and didn’t say anything, but silently wished everything would be ok.

Phoemela Barranda was rehearsing her lines when she spotted the two lead stars of PNK entering El Pueblo.  They were color-coordinated, as usual, and they looked so good together she couldn’t help but wish that they really are a couple off-cam already.

“Hi Kim, Hi Gerald…ready na kayo?”

“Hi po…”  The two greeted the news anchor at the same time.

“Pati sa pagbati nyo, nsync na rin kayo ha?  Nakaka-kilig naman…O, sige na, let’s proceed with this bago pa ako himatayin dito sa inggit…”

“We’ll go on-air in 1… 2… 3!”

PB:  Ngayong gabi na ang premiere night pre-valentine movie ng pinaka-mainit na loveteam sa showbiz…ang PNK na pinagbibidahan nina Kim Chiu at Gerald Anderson, at dahil dyan, kasama natin silang dalawa, live…Good evening, Kim.  Good evening, Gerald.

Ge:  Good evening.  Good evening.

Kim:  Hello.

PB:  Naku, ano ang feeling nyo na ang pelikula nyo ang sasalubong sa Valentine’s Day?

Ge:  Wow, sobra kaming excited dahil it’s a perfect time for a love movie.  So sobra kaming blessed na Valentine’s day yung movie namin….

Kim:  Yes, and sana panoorin ng lahat ng tao dahil hindi lang sila kikiligin…lahat ng emotions mararamdaman nila sa pelikulang ito…

PB:  And syempre lahat ng mga fans, Kimerald dyan sa nanonood sa’ten, gusto nilang malaman, ano na ba ang real score sa inyong dalawa at kayo bang dalawa ay magkasama sa Valentine’s Day?

Ge:  (laughs) Kung magkasama kami sa Valentine’s Day? Sana, sana, wish ko, syempre wish ko, kung walang work..yun, so..(looks at Kim who looked at him too).

Kim:  Ayun, oo, syempre magkasama, taping ata yun eh, taping ng KTM.

Ge:  Oo, baka mag-taping…

PB:  If ever, ano’ng plans nyo for Valentine’s Day?  For Kim?

Ge:  (laughs again) Well, syempre ako, I’ll take her out on a date…Magde-date kami…kung ok lang sa kanya…

Kim:  (softly)  echosero…

Ge:  (insistent) KUNG ok lang sa kanya…Kung ok lang sa’yo…

PB:  Ano na ba talagang real score?

Kim:  Ofcourse ano, super special friend ko si Gerald ngayon…  (Gerald was looking at her intently, waiting for the rest of her statement… a few catcalls were heard, making Kim poke Gerald on his ears, which to the viewers may have appeared as a slight backslap on the head…)

Ge:  Gra…(wasn’t able to finish his reaction, laughed off his slight irritation)

PB:  Gerald?

Ge:  uhm…ano, hinde, kung ano yung sinabi nya…(laughs)…hinde, we’re ano…friends, friends kami, friends kami. (Gerald shook his head several times, as if he himself couldn’t believe what they’ve just answered).

Kim:  (turns to Gerald and in an almost inaudible tone)  Sorry kanina…

PB:  Special friends…and for Valentine’s day, excited na ‘kong malaman kung ano’ng gagawin nyo…and ang mga aabangan naming eksena, ang mga kimerald fans, ano’ng aabangan naming eksena sa pelikulang ito?

Ge:  Marami…marami…

PB:  yung mga hindi pa nila nakita sa tv o sa mga pelikula nyo…

Ge:  yun nga ang maganda samen, kasi lahat ng eksena namin, actually, hindi pa namin nagawa sa tv…lahat, almost all the scenes sa movie, kaya yun ang isa sa mga dapat abangan…

Kim:  Yes, iyon, tama si Gerald, kaya maraming dapat abangang eksena, sobrang dami as in parang kami nagulat kami…ay, talaga, gagawin namin ‘to? Ganitong klase na acting, ganitong klase na scene so parang na-excite din kaming gawin yun…

PB:  at kelan namin mapapanood sa mga sinehan?

Kim:  yun…

Ge:  bukas na…sa January 27, PNK under Star Cinema…

Kim:  Yes, and directed po ng director ng TD, direk Ruel Bayani, kaya sana po panoorin nyo, bukas po, January 27,  Paano na Kaya..

PB:  Maraming salamat, Kim and Gerald, and Goodluck!

The ON-AIR sign was turned off and Phoem thanked them again before handing the mic over to the staff of TVPW.

“That was great, guys…Goodluck ulit.  I’ll go ahead…”

“Thank you po…Babay..”  Kim turned to Gerald who abruptly became serious.  She took his hand and led the way out of the restaurant.  The rest of the cast was already outside, waiting for their cue to walk on the red carpet to the entrance of the cinema.

Gerald surveyed the crowd.  The line was very long, and excitement could be discerned in all the faces of the fans.  The security guard signaled for Robi and Melisa to proceed.  The people screamed…and the parade of stars began…

Angelica…Maricar….Zsazsa…Bernard Palanca…Jake…Coco…Fred Payawan…the list went on.  Finally, Kris Aquino and James Yap came with Baby James in tow.

Then, it was their time.  He guided Kim through the crowd as their security detail walked along with them.  Direk Ruel caught up with them and walked along the other side of Kim.  He held her at the waist, urging her on as fans continued to scream, louder than before…  He became oblivious of the large crowd, just focused on the two of them, walking side by side on the red carpet…

“Ge…”  Kim whisphered.

“What?”  He was startled a bit.  He realized they were already at the door of Cinema 10 and the usher was guiding them up the flight of stairs to where their seats were.  He tightly held Kim by the hand and slowly made his way up.  Direk Ruel was behind her so he was confident she wouldn’t be squashed by anyone following them.

As soon as they were settled, they both scanned the people below, just staring at the huge number of people trying to find spots inside the moviehouse.  It was a jampacked premiere and they couldn’t help but feel proud.

Kim searched for Gerald’s hand without looking at him.  He glanced at her, wondering how she must be feeling.  He caught her hand and held it in his, just between them.

After the National Anthem, the trailer of Bea and John Lloyd’s comeback movie was shown.  Then it was time…

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          They got a standing ovation from everyone in the crowd.  They all liked the movie, thank God!

          Direk Ruel whispered to Kim before going ahead of them.  A lot of fans were still falling in line to get their autographs and they gladly obliged.

          “Ge, may victory party daw, sabi ni Direk Ruel.  Hihintayin daw nila tayo…”

          “Ok, lika na…  we have to brave the crowd or else, di na tayo makakaalis dito…”  And they wormed their way out, with the help of the security detail, ofcourse!

          Once inside the car,  Kim noticed that Gerald once again fell silent.

          “Baby, sorry talaga kanina ha?  Nabigla lang ako…alam mo naman ang bisyo ng kamay ko eh…sorry na ha?”

          “Ok lang, sanay na.  Parati mo na lang akong binabatukan kahit nasa harap ng camera.  I’m not complaining kahit malaman nilang sunod-sunuran ako sa’yo, but don’t rub it in.  Ok?”

          “Sorry na nga eh…”

          “I’m just explaining.  It feels bad already that you denied me again, pero yung batukan mo na naman ako on national tv, it’s like adding insult to injury…sabagay, cute daw tingnan sabi nina Fred, we really looked like bestfriends, bagay sa movie.”

          Kim felt even guiltier as she heard the pain in his voice.  She didn’t say anything, knowing that Gerald needed her silence to cool down.  Once they arrived at the venue of the party, he seemed to have gone back to his earlier mood.  He helped her from the car, gave the key to the valet attendant and guided her towards the door.  As soon as they were inside, he brought her to the table where Melissa was and excused himself.

          “Mel, nagtampo si Ge…”

          “Pansin ko nga…bakit, dahil dun sa pag-batok mo kanina during the interview?”

          “Ganun ba talaga ka-obvious?”

          “Oo naman…kitang-kita eh.  Not only was he hurt, na-surprise din.”

          “Naku, pano na ‘yan…”

          “Asus, at namroblema ang ale, eh alam na alam naman natin pareho na mamaya lang eh babalik na ulit yan sa tabi mo…nagpapalipas lang ‘yon…don’t worry.”

          Kim searched for Gerald across the room and found him talking with IC, Jon, Robi and Aaron.  She placed her purse on the seat next to hers to reserve a place for him.

          “People, quiet please…I have an announcement to make.”  Direk Ruel came up to the makeshift stage, waving his hand to call the attention of everyone.

          “I just got the news, we have been rated GP, as in General Patronage!”  Everyone applauded, there were catcalls and a lot of the staff became tearful.

          “Wait, I’m not finished yet…the CEB gave us a B rating!  Well done, everyone!”  He went down and searched for his two protégés.

          “Ge, asan si Kim?”

          “Nasa table po nina Mel…”

          “Halika, come, puntahan natin sya…”

          Gerald broke off from the group and followed Direk.

          “Kimmy…”

          “Hi, Direk!  Congrats po sa’ten…ang saya-saya ko po!”  She saw Gerald behind Direk Ruel and she immediately stood up, rushing to his arms, mindless of the people around them.

          “Ge!  We made it!”  She held on to him tightly, sensing his indecision whether to return her embrace or break free from her.  She didn’t let go, but rather locked her arms together as they encircled his waist.

          Gerald had no choice but to reciprocate so as not to embarrass Kim.  He lifted her up by holding on to her tiny waist and twirled her around, no word escaping from his mouth.

          Kim was still embracing him as he settled her down.

          “Kim…let go…”  And he looked at her tearful eyes before kissing her on the forehead.

          “Ano ba ‘yun, halik-lolo…”  she mimicked her own lines from ‘My Girl’ and smiled at him.

          “Don’t tease…not here, ok?  Halika na, let’s eat, gutom na ‘ko eh…”

          Kim was a bit hurt by Gerald’s obvious disregard for her attempt at being sweet.  No, she thought, I was a tease…  and I deserve this.

          Gerald was as usual very attentive to her as they lined up at the buffet table, always asking her what she wanted, filling her plate first before his own.  This wasn’t new to the people around them.  They know how sweet they were to each other, on and off-cam.  Nobody was taking notice, except perhaps the person to whom they couldn’t deny the truth:  Direk Ruel.