I have read this at Overheard at UP. I just want to share this to you because this is so awesome! \m/
--
(Nagwagi ng ikalawang gantimpala sa Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for
Literature 2003 sa kategoryang Dulang May Isang Yugto)
Walang bahagi ng dulang ito ang maaaring kopyahin, ilimbag o isadula
nang walang pahintulot mula sa may akda.
Karapatang-ari © Christian R. Vallez
Huling burador Abril 2008
MGA TAUHAN
JIGS Early twenties. Fresh graduate ng Economics pero hindi mukhang ekonomista.
Masyadong malinis para maging jock pero masyadong sociable para maging nerd.
YUMI Mid to late twenties. (around 2-3 years ang tanda kay Jigs) Commercial
model, at minsan lumalabas sa mga indie film.
TAGPO
Gabi. Sa isang kwarto ng isang beach resort. Naglalatag ng kumot si Jigs sa
sahig habang inaayos ni Yumi ang kanyang higaan.
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. Sino nga ulit nagpauso nito?
YUMI (Matatawa) Ako.
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 ko lang si Ronald. Natotorpe kasi siya kay Meg. Kaya sabi ko,
mag-lottery kami ng pangalan ng mga lalaki at babae. Kung sino ang mabubunot,
silang dalawa ang pagsasamahin sa isang kwarto sa loob ng 24 hours. And then,
we’ll all see what happens. Trip lang. Pero dinaya namin noon yung kay Ronald
at Meg. Puro Ronald at Meg ang mga pangalan na nakalagay sa lottery.
JIGS (Tatawa) Salbahe!
YUMI Ayun, kaya ginawa nilang tradition every year.
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, dalawa tayong biktima dito. I don’t see any reason kung bakit
tayopagtitripan this year, unless alam nila na may gusto ka sa’kin (tatawa).
JIGS Baka ikaw (tatawa).
YUMI The success rate of this tradition is 100% so far. Yung biktima last year,
sina Rod and Kay, ikakasal na sa June.
JIGS So iniimply mo…?
YUMI Wala akong iniimply. Sinasabi ko lang.
JIGS What do you expect? Ikukulong mo ang isang lalaki at isang babae sa isang
kwarto for 24 hours, imposibleng walang mangyari doon!
YUMI Yun nga yung point e. (Ngingiti)
JIGS E kung may madisgrasya?
YUMI Ano’ng disgrasya?
JIGS Alam mo na…
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 tanga. 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.
YUMI Alam mo, masyado kang uptight. May nakabara ba sa pwet mo?
Tatayo si Yumi. Pupunta sa miniref. Bubuksan niya ito.
JIGS Uptight? You don’t even know me!
YUMI Hah! (Teasing) Perfect! Red Wine! How very Conducive.
Kukuha ng dalawang wine glass si YUMI at iaabot kay Jigs ang bote.
YUMI Well, we’ll disprove the success of this silly prank that I invented. 20
hours to go na lang and we’re gonna be the first failure of this tradition.
Magsasalin si JIGS ng wine.
JIGS 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...
Magbubukas si YUMI ng chips. Uupo sila pareho sa sahig para magkwentuhan.
JIGS Let’s play twenty questions.
YUMI Sige! Ano yon?
JIGS We’ll have ten questions each. Magtatanungan tayo ng 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 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 kasama ang 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 at parang allergic ka sa mga babae.
Sobrang gentleman. Too good to be true.
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.
(Pause)
YUMI I’ll probably be married by then.
JIGS (Medyo magugulat si Jigs) Kanino?
YUMI (Iinom ng wine) Turn ko na.
JIGS In vino veritas.
Magsasalin si Jigs ng wine. Iinom si Jigs. Magsasalin 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 Alak 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 sexy—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 Ikaw.
Matitigilan si Yumi.
YUMI Alak 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. (Ngingiti) Who is your
crush in the barkada...NOW?
YUMI 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 ‘to,
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. (iinom) Sige…Ikaw na
lang.
JIGS Yung seryoso naman.
YUMI Seryoso ako! 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. Fine. Here’s my third
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. Pag
naggu-goodbye kasi ako kay Krissy, 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. (Matatawa)
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
‘yon, aber?
YUMI Nag-eexperiment lang ako. E sa type ko sila
pareho e. Ano’ng magagawa ko? Saka para may thrill. Alam mo ‘yon? 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 anything 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 tarantado?
YUMI Mukha kang nagpapaiyak ng babae e.
JIGS Insulto ba ‘yon?
YUMI Compliment ‘yon, tanga.
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 Tatae ka ba kahit saan? Kakain ka ba ng
kahit ano? Aso lang gumagawa no’n.
YUMI Grabe ka namang magsalita. Para mo na ring
sinabing lahat ng nakikipagsex, aso ah!
JIGS Sinasabi ko lang, tayo, nilalagay natin sa
tamang konteksto ang lahat ng bagay.
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?
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...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) 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. (Iinom) Fifth Question. You never really
explained it to us: Bakit kayo naghiwalay ni Krissy?
JIGS Magkaiba kami ng mga pinaniniwalaan sa
buhay.
YUMI Talaga? 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 Nag-uusap pa kayo?
JIGS Not exactly. Three months after we broke up
nagkaboyfriend na siya ulit. Two months later, she got pregnant. Nagpakasal
sila agad right after they found out about the baby.
YUMI Ouch.
Mahabang katahimikan. Iinom si Jigs.
JIGS Minsan iniisip ko kung…
Titigil si Jigs. Iinom.
YUMI Masyadong maraming “what if’s” ang buhay,
no?
Tahimik.
JIGS (Breaking the ice) Ako na.
YUMI Nakakailan ka na?
JIGS Anim. Bakit ka iniwan ni Carlo? I find it
absurd for anyone to dump you.
YUMI Ulul. Nangflatter ka pa e pareho lang yon
ng tanong ko.
JIGS Gusto mo bang magdebate pa ng semantics
dito?
YUMI Fine. (Iinom) Funny thing. It was about...sex.
JIGS (Nang-aasar) What, you’re not creative
enough?
YUMI Gago! 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 Boring ang buhay kung walang irony.
YUMI Alam mo, kung tutuusin, never ko pang
na-experience 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.
JIGS Wow. Philosopher ka pala.
YUMI ‘Lul (Iinom) 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.
Pause. Mag-iisip si Jigs.
JIGS I always thought na it was going to be
Krissy.
Tahimik.
JIGS I always hoped na it was going to be
Krissy.
Mahabang katahimikan. Tititigan ni Yumi si Jigs.
Malalim ang iniisip nito.
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 twenty
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...shit. 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...shit. (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 Gago 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 Pangwalo mo na yan.
YUMI I stopped counting. 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 Kwento mo nga…pano mo na-realize dati na
mahal mo na si Krissy?
JIGS Alam mo…korni eh.
YUMI Sige na! So what?!
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 Did you hear something?
JIGS What?
YUMI Lasing na siguro 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?
YUMI Yes.
DILIM.
