Oyo Sotto & Angel Locsin: Love Actually

It happened one night, unexpectedly. More than a year after his cousin Miko Sotto died in a freak accident, Oyo Sotto (he has dropped Boy from his name because, he said, "I’m not a boy anymore!") recalled that he felt "something strange" for Angel Locsin, Miko’s girlfriend who has become "like a sister" to Oyo.

"I was scared of that feeling," said Oyo, "so I asked from Miko for a sign."

Then, he and Angel looked at the sky which was cloudy earlier that night and suddenly, the clouds parted and the stars sparkled like a thousand beautiful promises.

It was the end of a beautiful friendship and the start of a beautiful romance. It was love actually, nurtured by a nearness made more intense by tragedy. After Miko’s death, Oyo became Angel’s guardian, a shoulder to cry on.

At first, they called each other ‘tol. After that magical night when Miko gave the "sign," the young lovers have dropped their brotherly/sisterly term of endearment. He started calling her simply Gel and she, just Bo. (Find out why by and by.)

There’s an eerie twist to the plot of Regal Films and APT’s TXT, the sweethearts’ first movie together (with Dennis Trillo as co-star). Directed by newcomer Mike Tuviera (son of Antonio P. Tuviera, the movie’s co-producer) from a story by Paul Daza and sister Penny Daza-Tuviera (Mike’s wife), TXT is about a young lady (Angel) threatened through text messages by her dead boyfriend (Oyo). It’s a story of undying love and terrifying obsession. Art imitating life? Sort of.

When did you realize that you were in love?

Oyo: More than a year after Miko died. Gel and I became even closer after Miko died. But we never expected that we’d become more than just friends.

Angel: In the first place, I didn’t have a crush on him. I looked up to him as a brother, my kuya.

Oyo: We were both grieving for Miko... It happened fast. Biglaan.

How?

Oyo: I hadn’t seen her for weeks, so I decided to drop by at her condo unit.

Angel: We were both free so I invited him. You know, "Halika, kain tayo, kuwentuhan tayo." We were eating tikoy. I didn’t know that you have to fry it. We were laughing because we just sliced the tikoy and proceeded to eat it.

Oyo: I was even calling her ‘tol, as usual. After eating, we decided to watch a DVD. Then, I don’t know why I suddenly felt strange, para bang nailang ako sa kanya. I couldn’t explain the feeling. I was scared. I went to the balcony to smoke. I talked to Miko. I told him, "Miko, I don’t like what I feel; it doesn’t seem right that I’m falling in love with Gel." There seemed to be a premonition. I remembered what Miko told me before he died, "‘Tol, mahal na mahal kita; I love Angel very much. Take good care of her."

Are you sure you were not drunk that night?

Oyo: No, I wasn’t. Ha, ha, ha, ha!

You had several suitors at that time, Angel, ‘no?

Angel: Medyo.

Oyo: She would ask me, "‘Tol, what will I do?" I told her, "Take your time. I’m sure Miko will be happy if you find the guy who will love you as much as (Miko) did."

Angel: He would also tell me about his girlfriend. We confide in each other; we didn’t hide anything from each other. After Miko died, there was even a tsismis na kami na ni Oyo. We were so angry. We told each other, "Kadiri!" Weird!

Some people have an adverse reaction to your going steady.

Oyo: I knew it was coming. After Miko died, there was a rumor na kami na ni Angel. Some people were saying, "Inakit ni Angel ang dalawang mag-pinsan!" Others were saying, "Namatay lang si Miko, bigla kong inagaw si Gel."

Angel: But we never denied anything because there was nothing to deny. It was hurting, the way some people were calling me names. Flirt daw, ganoon. But we never fooled anybody. Before, there was nothing to admit. But now that there is, inaamin naman namin."

So how did you tell Angel about what you felt that night?

Oyo: I couldn’t think straight, so I asked Miko for a sign. Then, Gel came to the balcony, asking, "What are you doing?" I said I was just killing time, finishing a cigaret. Then, she said, "Look at the sky. It was cloudy a while ago. It’s clearing up!" I looked up and saw the stars coming out. I thought that was the sign from Miko. I embraced her; I wasn’t saying anything. I used to embrace her but that night, my embrace felt different.

Angel: I was surprised. "‘Tol, what’s happening to you?" I thought he was just missing Miko.

Oyo: That was on Feb. 12, 2005, more than one year after Miko died. The next day, I went to her condo unit again. That’s when I told her, "I love you, Gel!" Hindi na ‘tol ang tawag ko sa kanya; Gel na. But before that, since I didn’t have the guts to tell her face-to-face, I texted her, "I felt something for you."

Angel: I texted him back, "‘Tol, I think you missent this message. Is this really for me?" I didn’t want to be presumptuous.

Oyo: I texted her back, "That’s really for you. I just want you to know how I feel for you now."

Angel: I told him, "What if Tito Maru (Miko’s father) learned about it? He might get angry."

Oyo: I told Gel, "If he and Tita Ali (Sotto, Miko’s mom, now married to somebody else) won’t approve of it, then we’ll think of a way to sort this out."

How did you break the news to your Tito Maru?

Oyo: Tito Maru was, as usual, sorting out flowers to give away on Valentine’s Day. Earlier that day, he called me up, asking if I needed some flowers to give to somebody. That night, I went to his house. When I told him that I wanted to talk to him, just the two of us, about a girl, his first reaction was, "Did you get somebody pregnant?" Then, I told him about Gel.

What was his reaction?

Oyo: He was smiling. I thought he’d get angry. Then, he told me that when he called me up, he was at Miko’s grave crying. He said that he was telling Miko, "If you really love me, give me a sign." What sign, I asked him. "That you and Angel would fall in love with each other." Ang labo, Tito, I said. I didn’t get it. "You see," Tito Maru said, "After Miko died, I saw how you took good care of Angel, so I’ve been praying that you two would fall for each other. But I thought it would never happen because I knew that you treated each other like brother and sister."

And who broke the news to Ali?

Angel: Me. After listening to my story, Tita Ali said, "Happy ako na kay Oyo ka mapupunta because he’ll take good care of you. And I know that Miko is happy, too."

And how did you break the news to your father (visually-challenged)?

Angel: After I told him, he said, "Isn’t (Oyo) the cousin of Miko? I think he’s a nice guy." Then, he said, "Ingat kayong dalawa!"

What qualities of Miko do you see in Oyo?

Angel: Miko is Miko and Oyo is Oyo. Magkaiba sila. But they are both caring.

What was the reaction of your dad (Vic Sotto)?

Oyo: Next time, tell me before anybody else. Parang hindi mo naman ako tatay. I told him, "I have to tell Tito Maru first, kasi tatay siya ni Miko." My dad doesn’t meddle in other people’s affairs, not even those of his children. His attitude is, as long as you’re happy, it’s okay with me. "But always remember, don’t hurt your girlfriend; huwag mo siyang pagbubuhatan ng kamay."

I’m curious, who between you and your dad is fast with girls, ang lapitin ng babae?

Oyo: Si daddy!

Are you close to your dad?

Oyo: I’m closer to my mom (Dina Bonnevie). I tell my mom more things than I tell my dad. I’m more open to my mom.

How did you feel when your dad admitted that he’s going steady with Pia (Guanio)?

Oyo: If he’s happy, then I’m happy for him, as long as his girlfriend takes good care of him and won’t use him for money or anything.

Are you close to Oyo’s family?

Angel: His dad is nice to me and so is his sister Danica.

When was the first time you visited Miko’s grave after you decided to go steady?

Oyo: Soon after that night. I told Miko, "‘Tol, thank you very much. I’m happy with what’s happening to me now. Even if you’re not around, I can still feel your love for me."

Angel: We were holding hands.

Oyo: She was crying and crying. I don’t know why.

You used to call each other ‘tol. Now what’s your term of endearment?

Angel: Bo. Because he used to be kalbo.

Oyo: Gel. Or Kulot, because I saw a painting of hers at her house showing her hair na kulot na kulot. But she doesn’t want to admit na siya ‘yon.

You have Angel’s name tattooed around your ankle. How did your dad react when he saw it?

Oyo: He asked me why I did it and I said, "Wala lang." Then, he said, "Paano kapag hindi kayo nagkatuluyan. E, di, yung susunod mong girlfriend magiging medyas na ang tatong yan." I told him, "Even if that happens, I won’t erase that tattoo because, even if we didn’t became sweethearts, Gel has become a big part of my life."

What’s the best thing you can say about Oyo?

Angel: A lot! For one thing, he’s there when you need him. He makes you feel na hindi ka nag-iisa.

And the worst, if any...

Angel: Mahilig mangiliti!

What’s the best thing naman you can say about Angel?

Oyo: She’s my angel. Tunay na angel!

And the worst, if any?

Oyo: Her being quiet, especially ’pag nagtatampo siya.

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