20 Questions by Juan Ekis

20 Questions ni Juan Ekis -- A Must Read Palanca Award
Winning Piece. This play won in the palanca awards,
dulaang isang yugto category (daw). pips, bear with
the story and for sure it would pull down smiles on
your face.

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MGA TAUHAN

Jigs - Fresh grad. Kabarkada ni Yumi. Magtatrabaho
bilang researcher sa isang financial firm

Yumi - Commercial Model. Kabarkada ni Jigs. 2 years
ahead kay Jigs.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

TAGPO

Gabi. Sa isang kwarto ng isang beach resort.
Naglalatag ng kumot si Jigs sa sahig habang inaayos ni
Yumi ang kanyang higaan.

YUMI Sige na, Jigs. Huwag ka nang magpaka-gentle man.
Naaawa ako sa'yo e.
Tabi na tayo sa kama.

JIGS Hindi, okay lang ako dito.

YUMI Huwag ka nang maarte. As if naman re-rapin kita
no. Malaki naman itong kama e. Hatiin na lang natin sa
gitna.

JIGS Sure ka?

YUMI Hindi mo naman siguro ako mamanyakin no?

JIGS (Matatawa) Okay ka lang?

YUMI Kung gusto mo, gamitin na lang natin iyang kumot
na divider.

JIGS Good idea.

Isasampay nila ang kumot mula sa kisame para mahati
ang kama sa gitna.
Magse-settle down ang dalawa.
Ilalabas ni Jigs ang libro niya: "Puppy Love and other
Stories" ni F.
Sionil Jose.
Si Yumi naman ay magpapatugtog ng Japanese Zen Music
habang nagsa-zazen.


YUMI Do you mind?

JIGS No, go ahead. I'm just reading.

Magsa-zazen si Yumi. Magbabasa si Jigs. Pareho silang
di maka-concentrate.
Papatayin ni Yumi ang CD player niya.

YUMI I can't believe our friends.

JIGS Oo nga e.

YUMI Dapat ginagawa nila 'to sa mga bagong pasok sa
barkada o kaya sa bagong...ay oo nga pala.
Bagong graduate ka. Congrats.

JIGS Thanks.

YUMI So what're your plans?

JIGS Kinukuha akong researcher sa ADB. Kinukuha rin
ako ng BPI sa OTP nila.

YUMI Wow naman. In demand.

JIGS Di naman masyado. Who the hell invented this
tradition anyway?

YUMI (Matatawa) You won't believe it.

JIGS Ikaw?

YUMI Malay ko ba na mabibiktima rin ako nito
balang-araw.

JIGS So why did you start it?

YUMI Wala ka pa sa tropa nun e. Freshman ka pa lang
siguro noon. Wala lang. Napagtripan lang namin si
Ronald.
E may crush siya kay Meg. Noong unang beses magpunta
rito ng barkada, sabi ko, magsimula kami ng
tradition.
Ilo-lottery namin ang pangalan ng mga lalaki at ng mga
babae. Kung sino ang mabubunot, silang dalawa ang
pagsasamahin sa isang kwarto sa loob ng tatlong araw.
And then, we'll all see what happens. Pero dinaya
namin noon yung kay Ronald at Meg. Puro Ronald at Meg
ang mga pangalan na nakalagay sa lottery.

JIGS (Tatawa) Ang sama ninyo!


YUMI Kaya nga nakarma na ako e.


JIGS So is our case, dinaya? O talagang lottery?

YUMI (Teasing) Ano sa dalawa ang gusto mo?

JIGS Feeling ko may nagtrip sa 'kin sa barkada e.

YUMI Excuse me po, dalawa tayong biktima dito. I don't
see any reason kung bakit tayong dalawa ang sasadyaing
biktima this year, unless may crush ka sa'kin na di ko
alam at alam nila (tatawa).

JIGS Baka ikaw (tatawa).

YUMI The success rate of this tradition is 100% so
far.

JIGS I was here na the 2nd time. Si Chris at si Cia
ang biktima.

YUMI And last year were Rod and Kay. They're getting
married kailan? Sa June yata.

JIGS What do you expect? Ikukulong mo ang isang lalaki
at isang babae sa isang kwarto for three days,
imposibleng walang mangyari doon!

YUMI That was exactly my point. (Ngingiti)

JIGS E kung may madisgrasya?

YUMI Anong disgrasya?

JIGS Alam mo na 'yun!

Hahawiin ni Yumi ang divider nilang kumot.

YUMI Ano? Sex? Pa'no kung magsex sila? Nakakatawa ka
naman. Di mo masabi.

JIGS Ang alin?

YUMI Ang sex!

JIGS Hah!

YUMI Sige nga sabihin mo nga?

JIGS Para kang *****. Tumigil ka nga.

YUMI Shet, Jigs. Graduate ka na totoy ka pa rin!

JIGS Excuse me?

YUMI Sabihin mo nga: "Sex! Sex! Sex! Sex!"

JIGS Para kang bata, Yumi ha.

YUMI You used to call me ate Yumi when you were in
third year.

JIGS Well, graduate na po ako, ate Yumi.

Tahimik.

JIGS Hmmm. I wonder if we're gonna last three days.

YUMI (Teasing) Bakit? Ayaw mo sa'kin?

Di sasagot si Jigs.

YUMI We're gonna survive this one.

JIGS What makes you so sure?

YUMI No offense, Jigs. I honestly find you very
attractive pero I've no time for this.
Alam mo naman siguro na kaka-break ko lang.

JIGS Same here.

YUMI Same here what? Na you find me attractive o you
don't have time for this?
(Matatawa)

Di sasagot si Jigs. Tahimik. Io-on ulit ni Yumi ang CD
player at ipagpapatuloy ang zazen.
Itatabi ni Jigs ang libro. Nawalan na siya ng ganang
magbasa. Pupunta siya sa ref. Bubuksan niya ito.

JIGS Hah! (Sarcastic) Perfect! Red Wine! How very
conducive.

YUMI May chips ba diyan?

JIGS Sa awa ng Diyos, may tsibog naman.

Papatayin ni Yumi ang CD player. Tatayo siya at kukuha
ng chips sa ibabaw ng ref.

YUMI Since we're gonna be stuck naman with each other
for three days, might as well make the best out of it
di ba? I-enjoy na lang natin.

JIGS What do you mean?

YUMI Get the wine, let's have a drink!
50 hours to go na lang and we're gonna be the first
failure of this tradition.

JIGS Oo nga. (Kukunin ang wine. Maglalagay sa dalawang
baso.) When they chose Cia and Chris, naiintindihan ko
pa e. Lalo na sina Rod and Kay.
Kung baga, tinulungan lang natin silang umamin sa
isa't isa. Pero us...

YUMI Weird ng barkada natin 'no?

JIGS To our barkada and our weird traditions!

YUMI To us, the first failure of this tradition!

Magto-toast sila at iinom.

JIGS Sige, ate Yumi. Let's make our stay here more
interesting...

YUMI What's with the ate?

JIGS Fine...

Bubuksan ni Yumi ang chips. Uupo sila pareho sa sahig
para magkwentuhan.


JIGS Let's play twenty questions.

YUMI Sige! Ano yon?

JIGS Each of us will have ten questions each.
Tatanungin kita, tatanungin mo ako, mga gusto nating
malaman sa isa't isa. Alternate tayo. Pero the thing
here is, you can't ask the question that I already
asked.

YUMI That's pretty interesting.

JIGS At bawal magsinungaling.

YUMI Fair enough. Pero whatever is said inside this
room remains in the room. Ok?

JIGS Of course. You wanna start?

YUMI No. I want to ask the last question.
(Ngingiti at kikindatan si Jigs)

JIGS Smart move. Game. First question: Ano ang
greatest frustration mo sa buhay?

YUMI Nge. Ang korni naman ng tanong mo. Walang
ka-challenge-challenge.
Ask me something na mag-iisip naman ako.

JIGS Simula pa lang e.

YUMI Sige. Ano nga ba...?

JIGS Akala ko ba walang ka-challenge-challenge?

YUMI Wag kang maingay, nag-iisip ako... I'm a
frustrated ballet dancer.

JIGS Talaga?

YUMI I took lessons when I was six pero umayaw ako.
Wala kasi akong disiplina e.
Mas gusto kong makipaglaro sa mga kalaro ko. Pero I
really enjoy watching ballet dancers.
When I see them dance parati kong naiisip na sana, ako
rin. There! Ang dali naman ng tanong mo. Walang
thrill.

JIGS Appetizer lang. Yari ka sa'kin mamaya.

YUMI We'll see. Ako naman: Did you ever have doubts
about your sexuality?
I mean, kahit minsan ba, naisip mo na bakla ka?

JIGS Never.

YUMI Bilis ng sagot a.

JIGS Coz I never entertained the idea.

YUMI Homophobe ka ba?

JIGS Alternate tayo sa tanungan, di ba?

YUMI So, not once? Kahit konti? Kahit what if lang?

JIGS I'm straight, okay?

YUMI I'm not asking if you're gay or not. I'm asking
kung...

JIGS Never nga.

YUMI We all thought na you were gay.
Well at least nung first few months mo sa tropa before
you introduced your girlfriend to us.

JIGS What?! You thought I was gay?!

YUMI E pa'no kasi, masyado kang mabait. Ang pogi-pogi
mo, pero parang allergic ka sa mga babae.
Over ang pagiging gentleman mo! Too good to be true.
You have a good body, it seems that you work out pero
iniisip namin front mo lang yun. Kadalasan kasi front
ng mga bakla ang pagiging maganda ng katawan nila at
pagiging sporty...

Tatawa lang si Jigs.


YUMI So we thought it's either that or you were
planning to become a priest.

JIGS What?!

YUMI Well, you were always this goody-goody person.
Pumupunta ka sa chapel. Nangungumpisal, nagsisimba...

JIGS The way you said it, parang equivalent ang dalawa
a.

YUMI Of course not. I didn't mean that!

JIGS I take my faith seriously. That doesn't make me
gay!

YUMI So you did want to become a priest...

JIGS Hindi rin. Actually, I always wanted to raise a
family... and be a father.

Tahimik.

YUMI So you're not gay.

JIGS No.

YUMI You never...

JIGS Ilang beses ka ba ipinanganak? Kulit mo e. It's
my turn.

YUMI Homophobe ka no?

JIGS Hindi kaya!

YUMI Whatever...

JIGS Ako na, daya mo naman e.

YUMI Okay, okay. Shoot me.

JIGS How do you see yourself five years from now?

YUMI You expect to win this game? Ang kokorni ng mga
tanong mo e.

JIGS The object of this game is not to win.

YUMI E ano pa ba?

JIGS To get to know the other person.

YUMI Sure. Basta ako, I will win this game. Walang
thrill ang isang game kung walang nananalo.

JIGS Sagot.

YUMI May time limit ba ito? (Tatawa) Wine pa nga.

JIGS Sabi nga nila: in vino veritas.

Magsasalin si Jigs ng wine.

YUMI Masarap ang wine, ha? Saan kaya nabili ito?
(Iinom) To answer your question, either maging
entrepreneur ako, magsisimula ako ng sarili kong
botique or bar, o kaya, magiging artista ako sa
pelikula.

JIGS Not bad.

YUMI Pero mukhang malabo yung stint ko sa movies.
Tough ang competition e.
Saka mahina ang manager ko.
Panay hosting at pictorials ang nakukuhang raket para
sa akin. Papalitan ko na nga e. Pag nakaipon ako, baka
magtayo na lang ako ng botique.

JIGS (Magbibiro) Ayaw mo mag-bold?

YUMI Yuck!

JIGS Lahat ng gustong mag-artista doon dumadaan.

YUMI May talent naman ako kahit papano a!

JIGS Lahat naman ng bold star may talent a! Sa dibdib!
(Tatawa)

YUMI (Hahampasin ng unan si Jigs) Bastos ka talaga!
Akala ko goody-goody ka...
Hindi ko papatulan ang pagbobold kahit ano'ng mangyari
no!
Kahit ganito ako, may respeto pa rin naman ako sa
sarili ko.

JIGS Ganito? Ano'ng ganito?

Di sasagutin ni Yumi ang tanong.

YUMI These producers think all the people want is sex,
sex, sex!
Kaya puro basura ang mga pelikula e. Wine pa nga!

JIGS (Magsasalin ng wine) Bakit naman botique?

YUMI Hoy madaya ka na ha? Hindi pa ako lasing. Ako
na'ng magtatanong. Ang korni mo namang magtanong.
Bigatan naman natin nang konti...Inom ka muna.

Iinom si Jigs. Magsasalin siya ng bago.

YUMI Who was your first crush in the barkada?

Tahimik.

YUMI Haha! Bingo ka no? Bagal mo naman sumagot.

Iinumin ang wine. Magsasalin ng bago.

JIGS Lalaki o babae?

Tatawa sila pareho.

YUMI Dapat may time limit ito e.

Tahimik.

JIGS Hirap naman ng tanong mo.

YUMI Iyon nga ang maganda e. Para may thrill. As if
naman ibo-broadcast ko sa barkada kung sino.

JIGS Wine pa?

YUMI Di mo pa sinasagot yung tanong ko, nagtatanong ka
na!

Magsasalin ng wine si Jigs kay Yumi.

JIGS Yung crush ko kasi...siyempre, sino pa ba? E di
yung pinakamaganda sa barkada.

YUMI Nge. Subjective yon no! Para sa'kin ang
pinakagwapo si Joel. Sa babae, si Kay. Para kay
Ronald, si Meg...

JIGS Yung literally na may dating, walang
tanung-tanong.
Yung kahit sino'ng tanungin mo sa tropa, objectively,
siya ang isasagot.


YUMI Jigs, twenty questions ang game natin. Hindi
guessing game. C'mon man. Play your own game. Pa'no na
kung truth or dare to e di pahirapan na.
Dadalawa na nga lang tayo e.

JIGS Yung commercial model.

Matitigilan si Yumi.

YUMI Wine pa nga.

Magsasalin si Jigs. Mag-iisip si Yumi. Iinom. Biglang
matatawa.

YUMI (Tumatawa pa rin) Talaga?

JIGS Sige, pagtawanan ba?

YUMI You can say it to my face, I won't bite. Bakit
hirap na hirap kang sabihin kung sino?
Takot kang ma-reject? Parang tanong lang e... Wine pa
nga!

JIGS Okay, 1 point ka na...

YUMI (Ngiti) Gee...thanks. Flattered naman ako. At
kailan naman nangyari ito?

JIGS Sorry, my turn to ask. (Ngingiti) Who is your
crush in the barkada... NOW?

YUMI E ginaya mo lang yung tanong ko e.

JIGS Hinde no. May qualifier ako. Ang sabi ko, NOW.
Ang tanong mo, first crush ko.

YUMI Korni pa rin. Alam mo, kung basketball ito,
tambak ka na.

JIGS Just answer the question.

YUMI Siyempre wala. I told you, I don't have time for
these stuff.
Kakabreak ko lang di ba?

JIGS Korni mo namang sumagot.

YUMI E korni yung tanong e. Pero kung
talagang-talagang kailangan kong sumagot..
.hmmm...teka...sino nga ba? Sino ba'ng crush material
sa barkada? Wala akong maisip e.
Ikaw na lang.

JIGS Yung seryoso naman.

YUMI Seryoso ako. Ayaw mo yata e. Sige, iba na lang...

JIGS E napipilitan ka lang e.

YUMI Uy! Pa'no ba'yan? MU na tayo? Crush mo ko, crush
kita...yiheee (Tatawa).

JIGS Dati pa 'yon no!

YUMI Ay? Di mo na ko crush? Bakit, na turn-off ka? Ano
namang ginawa ko?
Tsk. Tsk.

JIGS Is that your question na?

YUMI Oy, hinde! Ito naman... di ba pwedeng
mag-follow-up?

Iinom ng wine si Jigs.

YUMI Fine. Here's a little juicy question: Describe
your first kiss.

JIGS That's not even a question.

YUMI Arte mo. O: How was your first kiss like?

Matatawa si Jigs.


JIGS Wet.

YUMI Yuck!

Magtatawanan sila.

JIGS Alam mo, aksidente yung first kiss ko. Close kasi
kami nung isa kong kaibigan.
Pag naggu-goodbye ako sa kanya, parati ko siyang
kini-kiss sa noo.

E one time, sa gym habang nagpapahinga, nakaupo siya
sa sahig. Tinatamad siyang tumayo.
So bumaba ako nang konti para halikan siya sa noo kasi
pauwi na ako.

E siya naman, para maabot ko, medyo tumingala. E
sakto, sa lips ko siya nahalikan.
Pareho kaming nagulat. Pero di pa kami naghiwalay
agad. Weird nga ang feeling e.
Parang may glue! . Ayaw na namin maghiwalay pareho...

Tawa pa rin si Yumi

YUMI Awww. Ang sweet naman. Parang sa pelikula. Si
Krissy ba ito?

JIGS Hindi. Hindi mo siya kilala.

YUMI So what happened? Nagkatuluyan kayo?

JIGS Nope.

YUMI Ha?

JIGS Ewan ko ba. Complicated kasi yung situation namin
e. May boyfriend siya noon.
Ako naman, takot pa sa isang relationship. Pero at
least, na-discover namin na pareho pala kaming may
gusto sa isa't isa. Pero hanggang doon na lang.

YUMI What happened after?

JIGS We talked about it. We both decided na it wont
work. Tapos, bigla na lang, hindi na kami nagkikita.
And then, I met you guys, iba na ang barkada ko.

YUMI Nakakatuwa naman.

JIGS Ikaw, pa'no yung first kiss mo?

YUMI Ikaw ang nagturo sa akin ng game na ito di ba?
Bakit ba lagi mong bini-break ang rules?
Di mo na pwedeng tanungin 'yan!

JIGS Tine-testing ko lang kung lasing ka na. (Iinom ng
wine) Okay, naka-warm-up na ako:
What was the naughtiest thing you ever did?

YUMI 'Yan ang mga tanong! Ano ba'ng ibig mong sabihin
ng naughty?

JIGS Bahala kang mag-define.

YUMI Hmmm...marami e...(matatawa) baka maeskandalo ka.

JIGS Kanina ayaw mo ng korni. Ngayong medyo exciting
naman...

YUMI Eto na...I had two boyfriends at the same time.

JIGS (Nagulat) Hala.

YUMI I was with Joel and Zach at the same time.

JIGS Yikes. Alam ba ni Joel?

YUMI Kaya nga kami naghiwalay nun e. Nahuli ako
(matatawa).

JIGS Ano namang pumasok sa kukote mo't ginawa mo iyon,
aber?

YUMI Nag-eexperiment lang! ako. E sa type ko sila
pareho e. Ano'ng magagawa ko?
Saka para may thrill. Alam mo iyon? Yung patago kang
nakikipag-date sa isa para di mahuli.
Everyday pa akong nakakalibre, kasi, alternate sila!

(Tatawa) Akala n'yo kayo lang mga lalaki ang pwedeng
gumawa no'n?

JIGS How can you love two guys at the same time?

YUMI Who said something about love? Walang kinalaman
ang love dun. I was...having fun!

JIGS Nainlove ka na ba, ever?

YUMI Nakakailang tanong ka na? It's my turn.

JIGS Don't you want to answer the question anyway?

YUMI My turn!

JIGS Kulang ka pa sa wine. (Tatawa)

Ubos na ang unang wine bottle. Kukuha si Jigs ng isa
pa sa ref.

JIGS Ang bilis nating uminom a.

YUMI Are you still a virgin?

JIGS Whoa! Where did that come from?

YUMI That's my fourth question.

JIGS (Magsasalin ng wine sa mga baso). Ano sa tingin
mo?

Ngingiti si Jigs. Tititigan lang siya ni Yumi.

YUMI Don't tell me, wala pang nangyayari sa inyo ni
Krissy hanggang ngayon? Ilang taon na ba kayo?

JIGS Mag-tu-two years na sana next week.

YUMI So virgin ka pa? I don't believe it!

JIGS Mukha ba akong &*^*!#?

YUMI Mukha kang nagpapaiyak ng babae e.

JIGS Insulto ba 'yon?

YUMI Compliment 'yon, *****.

JIGS Ah, okay. Thanks.

YUMI Pero, you mean, you never felt the urge to do it?

JIGS Alin? Sex?

YUMI Wow! Nasabi rin niya!

JIGS Of course I always feel it. Natural lang 'yon sa
tao no?
Nasa iyo na lang 'yan kung ano'ng gagawin mo sa urge
na 'yon.

YUMI E natural naman pala e. Bakit mo pinipigilan? I
mean, pag naiihi ka, iihi ka.
Pag nagugutom ka, kakain ka. Pareho lang 'yon, di ba?

JIGS Pag naiihi ka, iihi ka dahil kailangan mong
umihi. At hindi ka iihi kahit saan.
Pupunta ka sa banyo. Pag nagugutom ka, kakain ka dahil
kailangan.

At hindi mo kinakain ang lahat ng pagkain na ihain sa
iyo. Pag di ka gutom, di ka kakain.
Pag di mo gusto yung pagkain, di mo gagalawin. Ang
aso, pag may nakitang pagkain diyan, walang
tanung-tanong. Lalamon 'yan.

YUMI And sex is the same?

JIGS Lahat ng bagay, nilalagay sa lugar. May context.
At least, yun ang nagpaiba sa atin sa aso.

YUMI Grabe ka namang magsalita. Para mo na ring
sinabing lahat ng nakikipagsex, aso ah!

JIGS Sinasabi ko lang, pag wala sa tamang konteksto,
mali.

YUMI And what is that context?

JIGS Matanda na tayo. Ayokong maging preachy. Alam na
natin 'yan.

Tahimik.

JIGS Kaso, kahit alam na natin, minsan di pa rin natin
ginagawa.

Tahimik.

JIGS Masarap e. Sino ba'ng ayaw nun?

Tahimik.

YUMI (Medyo nairita) So feeling mo santo ka at dapat
kang i-congratulate for being a virgin!

JIGS Sinasabi ko lang ang pinaniniwalaan ko.
Ineexplain ko lang kung bakit di ko ginagawa.
May kanya-kanya tayong dahilan. Di ko pinipilit kahit
kanino ang mga paniniwala ko...
No need to get so cross about it, Yumi.

Tahimik.

JIGS It's not about being a virgin or not. It's about
putting things into their proper places.

YUMI I'm not arguing with you.

JIGS Me neither. I'm just answering your questions.

Matagal na katahimikan.

Ngingiti si Jigs. Titignan niya si Yumi na medyo
nairita sa nakaraang train of conversation nila.
Magsasalin siya ng wine para kay Yumi.

JIGS Nasobrahan ka na yata sa wine e. (Tatawa) You
still wanna go on with the game? Nine pa lang tayo,
eleven more to go.
(Ngingiti)

YUMI Shoot me.

JIGS Who was your first lay?

JIGS: Who was your first lay?
( CONTINUATION )


YUMI: (Hahampasin ng unan si JIGS) Ang bastos mo
talaga! So inaassume mo na hindi na ako virgin?

JIGS: E sabi mo kasi, walang thrill ang game pag
walang nananalo e. So I guess I'm winning. Saka wala
naman akong inimply na ganun a! I'm just hitting two
birds with one stone. Kasi kung virgin ka, e di simple
lang ang sagot: wala. Kung hindi naman, e di sino?

YUMI: Ang daya mo.

JIGS: Akala ko ba ayaw mo ng korning tanong.

YUMI: You think I'll answer that after giving your
sermon, Father JIGS?

JIGS: Ano ka ba? Inexplain ko lang yung personal
reasons ko. Kung ano man ang sa iyo, I'll respect them
as well as I know you respect mine. I'm no saint. I'm
just trying to get to know you better. (Ngingiti)

YUMI: How do you do that?

JIGS: Alin?

YUMI: I should have walked out on you kanina pa pero
the way you say things...parang bumabaliktad sa
yo...makes you more...charming. Kung ibang tao ka
siguro, di na kita kakausapin.

JIGS: You can't walk out. We're locked here for three
days except for meals.

YUMI: So I'm forced to like you para di masira ang
vacation ko.
(Ngingiti)

JIGS: You don't have to answer my question if you
don't want.

YUMI: I guess I'll be honest with you as you were
honest with me...

Tahimik.
Iinom ng wine si YUMI.

YUMI: Di mo siya kilala. His name was Robert. He was
my first boyfriend.
It was Senior Prom Night. Alam mo na...typical senior
prom story.
Everyone wants to lose it on prom night. Everyone
thinks na pag prom night, it was something special. We
went out sa hall nang maaga. We made out sa kotse
niya. One thing led to the other. Tapos, yun...yun na.
We went back just in time for the awarding of the prom
queen. Guess what, I won pa. (Mahinang tawa)

JIGS: What was it like?

YUMI: Now that I look back, it isn't as special as I
thought it was. Pero it was different then. Back then,
we were just led by our passions. Alam mo yon? Andun
ka na. Hormones raging wild. Passions and Ideals are
confused. Akala mo love, yun pala, curious ka lang
pala. Akala mo yun na yon. Akala mo you are in-love at
lahat ng gawin mo tama. Lahat ng gawin mo perfect.
Everything was magical...well, almost.

JIGS: Almost...?

YUMI: Sa next question mo na 'yan. Ako na.

JIGS: (Pabiro) Wine pa? Kulang ka pa yata e.

YUMI: Nilalasing mo ko no? May balak ka sa kin no?
(Tatawa)

JIGS: Is that your question? Sasagutin ko na. (Tatawa)

YUMI: Engot. Hindi yon. Here's something na curious
lang ako. Kasi I've been hearing things...saka you've
hinted on it na rin kanina...Are you still with
Krissy?

JIGS: Hindi na.

YUMI: Since when?

JIGS: Two, maybe three weeks ago?

YUMI: Sino'ng nakipag-break?

JIGS: Pareho kami.

YUMI: Why?

JIGS: Maraming dahilan, actually. Naisip na lang namin
na it won't work.
Isa na don, magkaiba kami ng gustong mangyari sa
buhay. Magkaiba kami ng mga pinaniniwalaan.

YUMI: Like what?

JIGS: Marami.

YUMI: At ngayon mo lang nalaman iyon after two years
with her?

JIGS: People change, YUMI.

Tahimik.

JIGS: Right before graduation, she asked me to move in
with her.

YUMI: Talaga?

JIGS: Sabi niya, doon na naman din daw papunta ang
relasyon namin. Might as well practice na raw for the
real thing. Tutal, she's working na naman, ako naman
bagong graduate, we should try out na raw living
together if it'll work for us.

YUMI: Natakot ka sa arrangement?

JIGS: Hindi naman sa natakot. If you love someone, ano
pa ng ikakatakot mo, di ba?

YUMI: E bakit umayaw ka?

JIGS: It's just that, it's not my thing.

YUMI: ! Sabi na nga ba e, bakla ka no? Sinasayang mo
ang opportunities!
(Matatawa)


JIGS: Hindi ako oportunista. At lalong hindi ako
bakla.

YUMI: Fine.

JIGS: Naisip ko lang na hindi pa pala ako handa sa mga
ganitong bagay.
Wala pa sa isip ko ang gano'n. Na-shock siguro ako sa
reality na iyon na nga ang next step sa relationship
namin. I mean, two years of being together and knowing
each other, we're practically ready to get married, if
you know what I mean. Pero I realized, I'm not ready
for any of these.
Narealize ko how immature I am. Na iba yung ideals ko
two years ago sa ideals ko ngayon. I need to mature
some more to get into this thing I mean, getting
married. Diyos ko, ilang taon lang ba ako...

YUMI: Maturity has nothing to do with age.

JIGS: But it has a lot to do with time.

Tahimik.

JIGS: So I thought, bakit kailangan ng practice mode?
Ibig sabihin, pag sumablay kami, split na kami? Live
like a couple minus the commitment?
Pa'no pag nawala na yung magic? Goodbye na?

Iinom ng wine si JIGS.

JIGS: Kung kasal na, kasal na. Wala nang practice. I
think that's the real cowardice. Yung i-try muna natin
kung it will work kasi takot kayo na baka hindi maging
successful ang outcome. Saan na napunta ang excitement
ng buhay? Kaya nga kayo in-love, para sabay kayong
humarap sa totoong buhay, sa hirap at ginahawa, di ba?
(Matatawa) Hindi yung pagpapraktisan muna ninyo para
siguradong ginhawa lang.

Magkikibit-balikat lang si JIGS.

YUMI: Are you always like that?

JIGS: Like what?

YUMI: So cerebral in everything. Kahit pagdating sa
relationships.

JIGS: Life is too precious para lang daanin sa trial
and error.

Ngingiti si JIGS. Tahimik.

YUMI: So, No hard feelings?

JIGS: Friends pa rin kami. She still calls me up nga
sa bahay e.

YUMI: That's nice.

JIGS: Kayo, bakit kayo nagbreak ni Carlo?

YUMI: That's your sixth na ha?

JIGS: Sure.

YUMI: Alam mo, ironic para sa akin yung break-up namin
ni Carlo. And the funny thing was, it was about...sex.
Uy, sa atin lang ito ha?

JIGS: Of course.

YUMI: Kasi nga, I was looking for that magic nga di
ba? I wanted to be in a relationship na special naman.
So of all the boyfriends I had, sa kanya lang ako
walang sexual relationship. As in nag-aabstain talaga
ako. Kasi parang naisip ko, para magkaroon naman ng
meaning yung making love di ba?
Parang, dapat di mo parating ginagawa, at ginagawa mo
lang when you are sincere with yourself and with your
partner. So I was investing muna emotionally. And I
was actually starting to care about him. Yung, hindi
ko na iniisip yung sarili ko.Yung siya lang ang
inaalala ko. Akala ko perfect na...

JIGS: Ano'ng nangyari?

YUMI: Patunayan ko raw na mahal ko siya. Magbigay daw
ako ng proof.
Pagbigyan ko raw siya. Sabi ko sa kanya, hindi pa ba
sapat na proof yon?
Na I'm saving myself for that right moment, that
special moment between us? Alam mo'ng ginawa?
Nilayasan ako!

JIGS: You deserve someone better.

YUMI: Talaga!

YUMI: Isipin mo, kung kelan naman I grew tired of
meaningless sex, when I'm looking for the real thing,
saka naman mawawala. Ang ironic ng buhay no?

JIGS: That's the way we must learn.

YUMI: Alam mo, kung tutuusin, never ko pang
na-experience yung tunay na mag make-love. And I had
to go all through those relationships para lang
ma-realize yun. At least, ngayon, alam ko na ang
hinahanap ko.

Iinom ng wine.

YUMI: Ikaw ba, importante sa yo na virgin ang
mapapangasawa mo? How do you see virginity ba?

JIGS: Alam mo, di ko pa napag-isipan yan. Pero now
that you ve mentioned it...It doesn't matter kung
virgin ang mapangasawa ko o hindi. Of course I value
virginity a lot. I treat it as the only real gift I
could give to my wife to be. Imaginin mo na lang di
ba, kung wife ko ang una ko. It's like the perfect
wedding gift I could give to her. Pero kung siya hindi
na virgin, I wouldn't care. As long as mahal ko siya.
Kasi I don't expect her to give me the same gift. I
don't do something because I expect people to do the
same to me. Ibigay niya sa akin ang sarili niya nang
buong-buo, sapat na sa akin yon. Masaya na ako sa
ganoon.

YUMI: (Mapapangiti si YUMI.) You know, that's the
nicest thing I ever heard from a guy. That's why I
always enjoy talking to you. You always say the nicest
things.

JIGS: Wow. Salamat. E ikaw, is making love to you
equal to love?

YUMI: I always took sex and love as opposite ideas. I
mean, after the first time na...you know...sa Senior
prom. Kasi afterwards, we broke up na ni Robert. Tapos
naisip ko, yun na ba yung love? Baka hindi love yung
naramdaman ko. Baka napagkamalan ko lang siyang love.
I was just after the pleasure of intimacy. And then I
felt empty. So empty. That's why I wanted to change. I
wanted to believe in making love. And I'm still
looking for it. Yung magic. Yung feeling mo, tao ka
pala. I never felt that kahit isang beses. Men have
penetrated my body but never my soul. And I wanted
that. I wanted someone to touch my soul. To make love
to my soul through my body. Pero siguro, naging numb
na ko sa dami ng relasyong pinagdaanan ko. Hindi ko
alam kung mararanasan ko pa iyon.
That's why I envy you.

Tahimik.

YUMI: Sa tingin mo may pag-asa pa ako?

JIGS: You still have your soul...(Ngingiti)

Tahimik.

YUMI: With whom would you want to experience it?

JIGS: Of course, sa asawa ko.

YUMI: I mean, someone in particular. Take it as my
seventh question.So give a name.

JIGS: A name? Hindi ko alam. Basta kung sino ang
magiging asawa ko.

Tahimik. Magkikibit-balikat si YUMI. Iinom ng wine.

JIGS: Well, I always thought na it was Krissy. And
then, it was just gone.
Of course I loved her. And I still do. Pero the magic
was just gone after we both found out na magkaiba kami
ng mga prinsipyo sa buhay.

Tahimik.


JIGS: My turn?

YUMI: Shoot me.

JIGS: Tell me something...a secret. Yung wala kahit
isang nakakaalam.

Matagal na katahimikan.

JIGS: You trust me naman di ba?

YUMI: Well, you've earned it, alright.

JIGS: Saka wala akong tinatago sa yo. Sinagot ko lahat
ng tanong mo as honestly as I could. (Ngingiti)

YUMI: I uhm...

JIGS: Yes...?

YUMI: I need more wine.

Magsasalin si JIGS ng wine.

JIGS: Take your time. We have less than fifty hours to
go.

Iinom ng wine si YUMI.

YUMI: I'll tell you something no one in the world
knows except one other person. And that person
probably forgot all about me already.

JIGS: (Pabiro) What? You had sex with a stranger?

YUMI: Ano ka ba?

JIGS: Biro lang. Seryoso na.

YUMI: Promise ha? Hindi ito lalabas.

JIGS: Promise.

YUMI: If this goes out, I will hunt you kahit sa
libingan mo. Huhukayin kita at papatayin kita ulit.

JIGS: Mamatay man ako ngayon.

YUMI: Okay...(Pause) I...I was with Joel then...
(Magiging mas seryoso ang tono niya) ...and Zach. I
wasn't really with Zach, I was just going out with him
pag wala si Joel, alam mo na...making out and
stuff...Well, anyway, I was kinda serious din naman
with Joel that time. Joel and I were...you
know...doing it. And...

JIGS: And...?

YUMI: Uhm...I...uhm...I got pregnant.

JIGS: What?

Tahimik. Iinom ng wine si YUMI.

YUMI: I uhm...Smile. Hindi ko naman talaga ginusto e.
Uhm...Two months akong delayed...then I took that
test. I found out na buntis nga ako...and Joel found
out about Zach (maluha-luha na) and I didn't know what
to say, you know? Maniniwala ba naman sa akin si Joel
na naaliw lang ako kay Zach? Na I didn't really love
him? Na wala lang iyon? And so he broke up with me
and...I..uhm...I was afraid and uhm...(Magsisimula
siyang magbreak-down)

JIGS: It's okay...

YUMI: I uhm...hindi ko na alam ang gagawin ko, Joel
left me. I wanted to tell him about the baby to make
him come back but I don't think he'd believe me after
the thing with Zach...and...my parents are gonna kill
me if...Smile. (iiyak)

JIGS: (lalapit kay YUMI para i-console ito)
Ssshhh...you don't have to tell me this if it upsets
you...

YUMI: And so I went to a clinic...(hahagulgol) I
didn't mean to, JIGS. I wasn't myself then. And I felt
so afraid. So alone...

JIGS: Tahan na. Ssshhh...

Iiyak lang si YUMI kay JIGS. Yayakapin ni JIGS si
YUMI.

JIGS: Alam ba to ni Joel?

YUMI: How can I tell him? The only other person na
nakakaalam ay yung duktor sa clinic. God...(iiyak) Oh
God...

JIGS: It's alright...

Hihimasin ni JIGS ang likod ni YUMI. Patatahanin niya
ito. Matagal silang nakaganito lang.

Matagal na katahimikan.


YUMI: Can you get me my yosi?

Tatayo si JIGS. Pupunta sa may side table sa tabi ng
kama. Kukunin ang Yosi ni YUMI. Magsisindi siya ng isa
at iaabot kay YUMI.

YUMI: Thanks...

Matagal na katahimikan.

YUMI: If we were...if we were the last two people on
earth, would you consider doing it with me?

JIGS: Doing what?

YUMI: Alam mo na...

JIGS: Alin? (Teasing ngingiti)

YUMI: Smile mo. (Ngingiti)

JIGS: Ngumiti rin.

YUMI: So? Would you?

JIGS: Alin nga? Di mo masabi no? Bakit di mo masabi?
(Pagtatawanan si
YUMI) Sabihin mo nga: Sex! Sex! Sex! Sex!

YUMI: Shut up nga!

JIGS: That's your eight na, ha?

YUMI: I lost count. Answer it.

JIGS: Why not?

Hihithit ng yosi si YUMI. Tahimik. Sasandal si YUMI sa
balikat ni JIGS.

JIGS: If you could be something else, what would you
be?

YUMI: I dunno...maybe a violin...yeah. Violin siguro.

JIGS: Bakit?

YUMI: I always saw the relationship of a violin and
its player as very intimate. Pag tumutugtog ang
violinist, ang nakikita ko at naririnig ko, he strokes
the soul of the instrument and the instrument
penetrates the soul of the player. Para silang
nagmi-make love. Di ba? Very sexy, very intimate, very
sublime. Di ba? Pareho silang sincere sa isa't isa.
Dahil kung hindi sila sincere, walang music na
mabubuo. The violin surrenders her body to her player,
her whole body and her whole soul, in full trust and
sincerity. Di ba, compared to the sound of the other
instruments, ang tunog ng violin parang isang naked
woman? A naked woman in surrender? I want to be a
violin. I want to be stroked in the soul. I want to
make sincere music. I want to experience the sound of
love.

Tahimik.

JIGS: Lalim nun ah. (Ngingiti)

YUMI: Pa'no mo malalamang in-love ka na?

JIGS: Paano? I! Don't think there s a formula to that.
Basta malalaman mo na lang. I mean, ilang beses lang
ba nangyari sa akin yon? I'd like to believe na yun na
nga yon...yung kay Krissy...

YUMI: Kwento mo nga...paano mo narealize dati na mahal
mo nga si Krissy?

JIGS: Alam mo nakakatawa...korni actually. Babalik na
naman ako sa pagiging korni nito e. Di ba ayaw mo sa
korni.

YUMI: Sige na. Hindi na kita aasarin.

JIGS: I heard bells.

YUMI: Ano?

JIGS: Seryoso. Bigla na lang, habang nag-uusap kami,
may narinig na lang akong bells, tapos music. Ewan ko
kung iniimagine ko lang yon pero yun ang nangyari.
Nakakatawa nga e. Parang kanta ng Beatles.

YUMI: Seryoso ka ba?

JIGS: O baka naman nagkataon noong oras na yon, may
nagkakantahan sa kung saan sa school. Basta may
narinig akong bells. Tapos napangiti ako.
Pagtingin ko sa mata niya, iba na ang nakikita ko.
Hindi ko na siya nakita as kabarkada lang. Biglang
parang may magic. Hindi ko ma-explain. Baduy pero
ganun. Tapos I just seized the moment. Umamin ako. A
week later, kami na.

YUMI: Korni nga. (Matatawa)

JIGS: Korni talagang pakinggan. Pero pag nandun ka na.
Pag naranasan mo na, feeling mo, hindi na korni.

Ngingiti si YUMI. Tahimik.

YUMI: Alam mo, may times na parang tunog violin ang
boses mo. O lasing lang ako?

Tahimik.

JIGS: I'm into my last question.

Iaangat ni YUMI: ang ulo niya.

YUMI: Shoot me. Better make it good.

JIGS: If you were again to be the next victim of this
tradition, if you were to be locked up in this room
again...who would you want the next guy to be?

YUMI: (Mag-iisip) I want someone whom I could talk
to... Yung makukwentuhan ko ng mga sikreto ko. Yung
may sense makipag-usap. Yung may laman. The violin
player who'd stroke my strings...not even. Yung
mapapatunog niya ang strings ko without even touching
them. (Tahimik) Lumuluwag na ang dila ko...kung
anu-ano na ang nasasabi ko. (Ngingiti)

Tititigan lang ni JIGS si YUMI. Tahimik.

YUMI: Siyempre yung masarap kausap.

Tahimik. Hindi makatingin si YUMI.

YUMI: Yung kahit habambuhay wala kaming gawin kundi
mag-usap... I think it's better than making love.

Mapapatingin si YUMI kay JIGS.

YUMI: Gosh I want to kiss you so badly.

Matitigilan siya.

YUMI: I can't believe I just said that.

Tahimik. Titignan niya ulit si JIGS.

YUMI: Don't you want to kiss me?

Pause. Titignan siya ni JIGS sa mata.

JIGS: Is that your last question? (Ngingiti si JIGS)

YUMI: Yes.

DILIM...



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END

^_^. aha nice2x.. hekhekhek