(special thanks to jeff for sharing this very nice play, shine on!)
Twenty Questions
Ni Juan Ekis
MGA TAUHAN
Jigs Fresh grad. Kabarkada ni Yumi. Magtatrabaho bilang researcher saisang 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 siJigs sa sahig habang inaayos ni Yumi ang kanyang higaan.
YUMI Sige na, Jigs. Huwag ka nang magpaka-gentle man. Naaawa ako sa¹yoe. Tabi na tayo sa kama.
JIGS Hindi, okay lang ako dito.
YUMI Huwag ka nang maarte. As if naman re-rapin kita no. Malaki namanitong 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.
YUMI Do you mind?
JIGS No, go ahead. I¹m just reading.
YUMI I can¹t believe our friends.
JIGS Oo nga e.
YUMI Dapat ginagawa nila ?to sa mga bagong pasok sa barkada o kaya sabagong…ay oo nga pala. Bagong graduate ka. Congrats.
JIGS Thanks.
YUMI So what¹re 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 won¹t 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. Walalang. Napagtripan lang namin si Ronald. E may crush siya kay Meg.Noong unang beses magpunta rito ng barkada, sabi ko, magsimula kami ngtradition. Ilo-lottery namin ang pangalan ng mga lalaki at ng mgababae. Kung sino ang mabubunot, silang dalawa ang pagsasamahin saisang kwarto sa loob ng tatlong araw. And then, we¹ll all see whathappens. Pero dinaya namin noon yung kay Ronald at Meg. Puro Ronald atMeg 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 sa¹kin sa barkada e.
YUMI Excuse me po, dalawa tayong biktima dito. I don¹t see any reasonkung bakit tayong dalawa ang sasadyaing biktima this year, unless maycrush ka sa¹kin 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. They¹re getting married kailan?Sa June yata.
JIGS What do you expect? Ikukulong mo ang isang lalaki at isang babaesa isang kwarto for three days, imposibleng walang mangyari doon!
YUMI That was exactly my point. (Ngingiti)
JIGS E kung may madisgrasya?
YUMI Ano¹ng disgrasya?
JIGS Alam mo na ?yun!
JIGS Hmmm. I wonder if we¹re gonna last three days.
YUMI (Teasing) Bakit? Ayaw mo sa¹kin?
YUMI We¹re gonna survive this one.
JIGS What makes you so sure?
YUMI No offense, Jigs. I honestly find you very attractive pero I¹veno time for this. Alam mo naman siguro na kaka’….
JIGS Same here.
YUMI Same here what? Na you find me attractive o you don¹t have timefor this? (Matatawa)
JIGS Hah! (Sarcastic) Perfect! Red Wine! How very conducive.
YUMI May chips ba diyan?
JIGS Sa awa ng Diyos, may tsibog naman.
YUMI Since we¹re 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, let¹s have a drink! 50 hours to go na lang andwe¹re gonna be the first failure of this tradition.
JIGS Oo nga. (Kukunin ang wine. Maglalagay sa dalawang baso.) Whenthey chose Cia and Chris, naiintindihan ko pa e. Lalo na sina Rod andKay. Kung baga, tinulungan lang natin silang umamin sa isa¹t isa. Perous…
YUMI Weird ng barkada natin no?
JIGS To our barkada and our weird traditions!
YUMI To us, the first failure of this tradition!
JIGS Sige, ate Yumi. Let¹s make our stay here more interesting…
YUMI What¹s with the ate?
JIGS Fine…
JIGS Let¹s 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 isa¹t isa. Alternatetayo. Pero the thing here is, you can¹t ask the question that Ialready asked.
YUMI That¹s pretty interesting.
JIGS At bawal magsinungaling.
YUMI Fair enough. Pero whatever is said inside this room remains inthe 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…I¹m a frustrated ballet dancer.
JIGS Talaga?
YUMI I took lessons when I was six pero umayaw ako. Wala kasi akongdisiplina e. Mas gusto kong makipaglaro sa mga kalaro ko. Pero Ireally enjoy watching ballet dancers. When I see them dance paratikong naiisip na sana, ako rin. There! Ang dali naman ng tanong mo.Walang thrill.
JIGS Appetizer lang. Yari ka sa¹kin mamaya.
YUMI We¹ll see. Ako naman: Did you ever have doubts about yoursexuality? 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 I¹m straight, okay?
YUMI I¹m not asking if you¹re gay or not. I¹m asking kung…
JIGS Never nga.
YUMI We all thought na you were gay. Well at least nung first fewmonths mo sa tropa before you introduced your girlfriend to us.
JIGS What?! You thought I was gay?!
YUMI E pa¹no kasi, masyado kang mabait. Ang pogi-pogi mo, pero parangallergic ka sa mga babae. Over ang pagiging gentleman mo. Too good tobe true. You have a good body, it seems that you work out pero iniisipnamin front mo lang yun. Kadalasan kasi front ng mga bakla angpagiging maganda ng katawan nila at pagiging sporty…
Tatawa lang si Jigs.
YUMI So we thought it¹s either that or you were planning to become a priest.
JIGS What?!
YUMI Well, you were always this goody-goody person. Pumupunta ka sachapel. Nangungumpisal, nagsisimba…
JIGS The way you said it, parang equivalent ang dalawa a.
YUMI Of course not. I didn¹t mean that!
JIGS I take my faith seriously. That doesn¹t 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.
YUMI So you¹re not gay.
JIGS No.
YUMI You never…
JIGS Ilang beses ka ba ipinanganak? Kulit mo e. It¹s 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 isanggame kung walang nananalo.
JIGS Sagot.
YUMI May time limit ba ?to? (Tatawa) Wine pa nga.
JIGS Sabi nga nila: in vino veritas.
YUMI Masarap ang wine, ha? Saan kaya nabili ito? (Iinom) Toanswer your question, either maging entrepreneur ako, magsisimula ako ng sarilikong botique or bar, o kaya, magiging artista ako sa pelikula.
JIGS Not bad.
YUMI Pero mukhang malabo yung stunt ko sa movies. Tough angcompetition e. Saka mahina ang manager ko. Panay hosting at pictorialsang nakukuhang raket para sa akin. Papalitan ko na nga e. Pag nakaiponako, 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 kogoody-goody ka…Hindi ko papatulan ang pagbobold kahit ano’ngmangyari no! Kahit ganito ako, may respeto pa rin naman ako sa sariliko.
JIGS Ganito? Ano’ng ganito?
YUMI These producers think all the people want is sex, sex, sex! Kayapuro 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 na¹ng magtatanong.Ang korni mo namang magtanong. Bigatan naman natin nang konti…Inomka muna.
YUMI Who was your first crush in the barkada?
YUMI Haha! Bingo ka no? Bagal mo naman sumagot.
JIGS Lalaki o babae?
YUMI Dapat may time limit ito e.
JIGS Hirap naman ng tanong mo.
YUMI Iyon nga ang maganda e. Para may thrill. As if namanibo-broadcast ko sa barkada kung sino.
JIGS Wine pa?
YUMI Di mo pa sinasagot yung tanong ko, nagtatanong ka na!
JIGS Yung crush ko kasi…siyempre, sino pa ba? E di yungpinakamaganda sa barkada.
YUMI Nge. Subjective yon no! Para sa¹kin ang pinakagwapo si Joel. Sababae, si Kay. Para kay Ronald, si Meg…
JIGS Yung literally na may dating’walang tanung-tanong. Yung kahitsino¹ng tanungin mo sa tropa, objectively, siya ang isasagot.
YUMI Jigs, twenty questions ang game natin. Hindi guessing game. C¹monman. Play your own game. Pa¹no na kung truth or dare to e di pahirapanna. Dadalawa na nga lang tayo e.
JIGS Yung commercial model.
YUMI Wine pa nga.
YUMI (Tumatawa pa rin) Talaga?
JIGS Sige, pagtawanan ba?
YUMI You can say it to my face, I won¹t bite. Bakit hirap na hirapkang sabihin kung sino? Takot kang ma-reject? Parang tanong lange…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 ?to, tambak ka na.
JIGS Just answer the question.
YUMI Siyempre wala. I told you, I don¹t 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 kongsumagot…hmmm…teka…sino nga ba? Sino ba¹ng crush material sabarkada? 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! Pa¹no ba¹yan? 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 ginawako? Tsk. Tsk.
JIGS Is that your question na?
YUMI Oy, hinde! Ito naman…di ba pwedeng mag-follow-up?
YUMI Fine. Here¹s a little juicy question: Describe your first kiss.
JIGS That¹s not even a question.
YUMI Arte mo. O: How was your first kiss like?
JIGS Wet.
YUMI Yuck!
JIGS Alam mo, aksidente yung first kiss ko. Close kasi kami nung isakong kaibigan. Pag naggu-goodbye ako sa kanya, parati ko siyangkini-kiss sa noo. E one time, sa gym habang nagpapahinga, nakaupo siyasa sahig. Tinatamad siyang tumayo. So bumaba ako nang konti parahalikan siya sa noo kasi pauwi na ako. E siya naman, para maabot ko,medyo tumingala. E sakto, sa lips ko siya nahalikan. Pareho kamingnagulat. Pero di pa kami naghiwalay agad. Weird nga ang feeling e.Parang may glue. Ayaw na namin maghiwalay pareho…
YUMI Awww. Ang sweet naman. Parang sa pelikula. Si Krissy ba ?to?
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. Mayboyfriend siya noon. Ako naman, takot pa sa isang relationship. Peroat least, na-discover namin na pareho pala kaming may gusto sa isa¹tisa. Perohanggang doon na lang.
YUMI What happened after?
JIGS We talked about it. We both decided na it wont work. Tapos, biglana lang, hindi na kami nagkikita. And then, I met you guys, iba na angbarkada ko.
YUMI Nakakatuwa naman.
JIGS Ikaw, pa¹no yung first kiss mo?
YUMI Ikaw ang nagturo sa akin ng game na ito di ba? Bakit ba lagi mongbini-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 ba¹ng 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 mo¹t ginawa mo ?yon, aber?
YUMI Nag-eexperiment lang ako. E sa type ko sila pareho e. Ano¹ngmagagawa ko? Saka para may thrill. Alam mo ?yon? Yung patago kangnakikipag-date sa isa para di mahuli. Everyday pa akong nakakalibre,kasi, alternate sila! (Tatawa) Akala n¹yo kayo lang mga lalaki angpwedeng gumawa no¹n?
JIGS How can you love two guys at the same time?
YUMI Who said something about love? Walang kinalaman ang love dun. Iwas…having fun!
JIGS Nainlove ka na ba, ever?
YUMI Nakakailang tanong ka na? It¹s my turn.
JIGS Don¹t you want to answer the question anyway?
YUMI My turn!
JIGS Kulang ka pa sa wine. (Tatawa)
JIGS Ang bilis nating uminom a.
YUMI Are you still a virgin?
JIGS Whoa! Where did that come from?
YUMI That¹s my fourth question.
JIGS (Magsasalin ng wine sa mga baso). Ano sa tingin mo?
YUMI Don¹t tell me, wala pang nangyayari sa inyo ni Krissy hanggangngayon? Ilang taon na ba kayo?
JIGS Mag-tu-two years na sana next week.
YUMI So virgin ka pa? I don¹t 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 iyona lang yan kung ano¹ng gagawin mo sa urge na yon.
YUMI E natural naman pala e. Bakit mo pinipigilan? I mean, pag naiihika, iihi ka. Pag nagugutom ka, kakain ka. Pareho lang yon, di ba?
JIGS Pag naiihi ka, iihi ka dahil kailangan mong umihi. At hindi kaiihi kahit saan. Pupunta ka sa banyo. Pag nagugutom ka, kakain kadahil kailangan. At hindi mo kinakain ang lahat ng pagkain na ihain saiyo. Pag di ka gutom, di ka kakain. Pag di mo gusto yung pagkain, dimo gagalawin. Ang aso, pag may nakitang pagkain diyan, walangtanung-tanong. Lalamon ?yan.
YUMI And sex is the same?
JIGS Lahat ng bagay, nilalagay sa lugar. May context. At least, yunang nagpaiba sa atin sa aso.
YUMI Grabe ka namang magsalita. Para mo na ring sinabing lahat ngnakikipagsex, 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.
JIGS Kaso, kahit alam na natin, minsan di pa rin natin ginagawa.
JIGS Masarap e. Sino ba¹ng ayaw nun?
YUMI (Medyo nairita) So feeling mo santo ka at dapat kangi-congratulate for being a virgin!
JIGS Sinasabi ko lang ang pinaniniwalaan ko. Ineexplain ko lang kungbakit di ko ginagawa. May kanya-kanya tayong dahilan. Di ko pinipilitkahit kanino ang mga paniniwala ko…No need to get so cross about it,Yumi.
JIGS It¹s not about being a virgin or not. It¹s about putting thingsinto their proper places.
YUMI I¹m not arguing with you.
JIGS Me neither. I¹m just answering your questions.
JIGS Nasobrahan ka na yata sa wine e. (Tatawa) You still wanna go onwith 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 mona hindi na ako virgin?
JIGS E sabi mo kasi, walang thrill ang game pag walang nananalo e. SoI guess I¹m winning. Saka wala naman akong inimply na ganun a! I¹mjust hitting two birds with one stone. Kasi kung virgin ka, e disimple 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 I¹ll answer that after giving your sermon, Father Jigs?
JIGS Ano ka ba? Inexplain ko lang yung personal reasons ko. Kung anoman ang sa iyo, I¹ll respect them as well as I know you respect mine.I¹m no saint. I¹m 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 saythings…parang bumabaliktad sa¹yo…makes you more…charming. Kungibang tao ka siguro, di na kita kakausapin.
JIGS You can¹t walk out. We¹re locked here for three days except for meals.
YUMI So I¹m forced to like you para di masira ang vacation ko.(Ngingiti)
JIGS You don¹t have to answer my question if you don¹t want.
YUMI I guess I¹ll 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 firstboyfriend. It was Senior Prom Night. Alam mo na…typical senior promstory. Everyone wants to lose it on prom night. Everyone thinks na pagprom 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 promqueen.Guess what, I won pa. (Mahinang tawa)
JIGS What was it like?
YUMI Now that I look back, it isn¹t as special as I thought it was.Pero it was different then. Back then, we were just led by ourpassions. Alam mo yon? Andun ka na. Hormones raging wild. Passions andIdeals 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 motama. 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 sa¹kin no? (Tatawa)
JIGS Is that your question? Sasagutin ko na. (Tatawa)
YUMI Engot. Hindi yon. Here¹s something na curious lang ako. Kasi I¹vebeen hearing things…saka you¹ve hinted on it na rin kanina…Are youstill with Krissy?
JIGS Hindi na.
YUMI Since when?
JIGS Two, maybe three weeks ago?
YUMI Sino¹ng nakipag-break?
JIGS Pareho kami.
YUMI Why?
JIGS Maraming dahilan, actually. Naisip na lang namin na it won¹twork. Isa na do¹n, 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.
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, she¹s workingna naman, ako naman bagong graduate, we should try out na raw livingtogether if it¹ll work for us.
YUMI Natakot ka sa arrangement?
JIGS Hindi naman sa natakot. If you love someone, ano pa¹ng ikakatakotmo, di ba?
YUMI E bakit umayaw ka?
JIGS It¹s just that, it¹s 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 gano¹n. Na-shock siguro ako sa reality na iyonna nga ang next step sa relationship namin. I mean, two years of beingtogether and knowing each other, we¹re practically ready to getmarried, if you know what I mean. Pero I realized, I¹m not ready forany of these. Narealize ko how immature I am. Na iba yung ideals kotwo years ago sa ideals ko ngayon. I need to mature some more to getinto this thing’I mean, getting married. Diyos ko, ilang taon lang baako…
YUMI Maturity has nothing to do with age.
JIGS But it has a lot to do with time.
JIGS So I thought, bakit kailangan ng practice mode? Ibig sabihin, pagsumablay kami, split na kami? Live like a couple minus the commitment?Pa¹no pag nawala na yung magic? Goodbye na?
JIGS Kung kasal na, kasal na. Wala nang practice. I think that¹s thereal cowardice. Yung i-try muna natin kung it will work kasi takotkayo na baka hindi maging successful ang outcome. Saan na napunta angexcitement ng buhay? Kaya nga kayo in-love, para sabay kayong humarapsa totoong buhay, sa hirap at ginahawa, di ba? (Matatawa) Hindi yungpagpapraktisan muna ninyo para siguradong ginhawa lang.
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.
YUMI So, No hard feelings?
JIGS Friends pa rin kami. She still calls me up nga sa bahay e.
YUMI That¹s nice.
JIGS Kayo, bakit kayo nagbreak ni Carlo?
YUMI That¹s your sixth na ha?
JIGS Sure.
YUMI Alam mo, ironic para sa akin yung break-up namin ni Carlo. Andthe 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 bein a relationship na special naman. So of all the boyfriends I had, sakanya lang ako walang sexual relationship. As in nag-aabstain talagaako. Kasi parang naisip ko, para magkaroon naman ng meaning yung³making love² di ba? Parang, dapat di mo parating ginagawa, atginagawa mo lang when you are sincere with yourself and with yourpartner. So I was investing muna emotionally. And I was actuallystarting to care about him. Yung, hindi ko na iniisip yung sarili ko.Yung siya lang ang inaalala ko. Akala ko perfect na…
JIGS Ano¹ng 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 proofyon? Na I¹m saving myself for that right moment, that special momentbetween us? Alam mo¹ng ginawa? Nilayasan ako!
JIGS You deserve someone better.
YUMI Talaga!
YUMI Isipin mo, kung kelan naman I grew tired of meaningless sex, whenI¹m looking for the real thing, saka naman mawawala. Ang ironic ngbuhay no?
JIGS That¹s the way we must learn.
YUMI Alam mo, kung tutuusin, never ko pang na-experience yung tunay namag make-love. And I had to go all through those relationships paralang ma-realize yun. At least, ngayon, alam ko na ang hinahanap ko.
YUMI Ikaw ba, importante sa¹yo na virgin ang mapapangasawa mo? How doyou see virginity ba?
JIGS Alam mo, di ko pa napag-isipan yan. Pero now that you¹vementioned it…It doesn¹t matter kung virgin ang mapangasawa ko ohindi. Of course I value virginity a lot. I treat it as the only realgift I could give to my wife to be. Imaginin mo na lang di ba, kungwife ko ang una ko. It¹s like the perfect wedding gift I could give toher. Pero kung siya hindi na virgin, I wouldn¹t care. As long as mahalko siya. Kasi I don¹t expect her to give me the same gift. I don¹t dosomething because I expect people to do the same to me. Ibigay niya saakin ang sarili niya nang buong-buo, sapat na sa akin yon. Masaya naako sa ganoon.
YUMI (Mapapangiti si Yumi.) You know, that¹s the nicest thing I everheard from a guy. That¹s why I always enjoy talking to you. You alwayssay 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 thefirst time na…you know…sa Senior prom. Kasi afterwards, we brokeup na ni Robert. Tapos naisip ko, yun na ba yung love? Baka hindi loveyung naramdaman ko. Baka napagkamalan ko lang siyang love. I was justafter the pleasure of intimacy. And then I felt empty. So empty.That¹s why I wanted to change. I wanted to believe in ³making love.²And I¹m still looking for it. Yung magic. Yung feeling mo, tao kapala. I never felt that kahit isang beses. Men have penetrated my bodybut never my soul. And I wanted that. I wanted someone to touch mysoul. To ³make love² to my soul through my body. Pero siguro, naggingnumb na¹ko sa dami ng relasyong pinagdaanan ko. Hindi ko alam kungmararanasan ko pa iyon. That¹s why I envy you.
YUMI Sa tingin mo may pag-asa pa ako?
JIGS You still have your soul…(Ngingiti)
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. Sogive a name.
JIGS A name? Hindi ko alam. Basta kung sino ang magiging asawa ko.
JIGS Well, I always thought na it was Krissy. And then, it wasjustgone. Of course I loved her. And I still do. Pero the magic was justgone after we both found out na magkaiba kami ng mga prinsipyo sabuhay.
Tahimik.
JIGS My turn?
YUMI Shoot me.
JIGS Tell me something…a secret. Yung wala kahit isang nakakaalam.
JIGS You trust me naman di ba?
YUMI Well, you¹ve earned it, alright.
JIGS Saka wala akong tinatago sa¹yo. Sinagot ko lahat ng tanong mo ashonestly 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.
YUMI I¹ll tell you something no one in the world knows except oneother 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. Huhukayinkita at papatayin kita ulit.
JIGS Mamatay man ako ngayon.
YUMI Okay…(Pause) I…I was with Joel then… (Magiging mas seryosoang tono niya) …and Zach. I wasn¹t really with Zach, I was justgoing out with him pag wala si Joel, alam mo na…making out andstuff…Well, anyway, I was kinda serious din naman with Joel thattime. 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 monthsakong delayed…then I took that test. I found out na buntis ngaako…and Joel found out about Zach (maluha-luha na) and I didn¹t knowwhat to say, you know? Maniniwala ba naman sa akin si Joel na naaliwlang ako kay Zach? Na I didn¹t really love him? Na wala lang iyon? Andso he broke up with me and…I..uhm…I was afraid and uhm…(Magsisimula siyang magbreak-down)
JIGS It¹s okay…
YUMI I uhm…hindi ko na alam ang gagawin ko, Joel left me. I wantedto tell him about the baby to make him come back but I don¹t thinkhe¹d believe me after the thing with Zach…and…my parents are gonnakillme if…shit. (iiyak)
JIGS (lalapit kay Yumi para i-console ito) Ssshhh…you don¹t have totell me this if it upsets you…
YUMI And so I went to a clinic…(hahagulgol) I didn¹t mean to, Jigs.I wasn¹t 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 yungduktor sa clinic. God…(iiyak) Oh God…
JIGS It¹s alright…
YUMI Can you get me my yosi?
YUMI Thanks…
YUMI If we were…if we were the last two people on earth, would youconsider 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 siYumi) Sabihin mo nga: Sex! Sex! Sex! Sex!
YUMI Shut up nga!
JIGS That¹s your eight na, ha?
YUMI I lost count. Answer it.
JIGS Why not?
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 veryintimate. Pag tumutugtog ang violinist, ang nakikita ko at naririnigko, he strokes the soul of the instrument and the instrumentpenetrates the soul of the player. Para silang nagmi-make love. Di ba?Very sexy, very intimate, very sublime. Di ba? Pareho silang sinceresa isa¹t isa. Dahil kung hindi sila sincere, walang music na mabubuo.The violin surrenders her body to her player, her whole body and herwhole soul, in full trust and sincerity. Di ba, compared to the soundof the other instruments, ang tunog ng violin parang isang nakedwoman? A naked woman in surrender? I want to be a violin. I want to bestroked in the soul. I want to make sincere music. I want toexperience the sound of love.
JIGS Lalim nun ah. (Ngingiti)
YUMI Pa¹no mo malalamang in-love ka na?
JIGS Paano? I don¹t think there¹s a formula to that. Basta malalamanmo na lang. I mean, ilang beses lang ba nangyari sa akin yon? I¹d liketo 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 sapagiging 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 nalang akong bells, tapos music. Ewan ko kung iniimagine ko lang yonpero 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 sakung saan sa school. Basta may narinig akong bells. Tapos napangitiako. Pagtingin ko sa mata niya, iba na ang nakikita ko. Hindi ko nasiya nakita as kabarkada lang. Biglang parang may magic. Hindi koma-explain. Baduy pero ganun. Tapos I just seized the moment. Umaminako. A week later, kami na.
YUMI Korni nga. (Matatawa)
JIGS Korni talagang pakinggan. Pero pag nandun ka na. Pag naranasan mona, feeling mo, hindi na korni.
YUMI Alam mo, may times na parang tunog violin ang boses mo. O lasing lang ako?
JIGS I¹m into my last question.
YUMI Shoot me. Better make it good.
JIGS If you were again to be the next victim of this tradition, if youwere to be locked up in this room again…who would you want the nextguy to be?
YUMI (Mag-iisip) I want someone whom I could talk to… Yungmakukwentuhan ko ng mga sikreto ko. Yung may sense makipag-usap. Yungmay laman. The violin player who¹d stroke my strings…not even. Yungmapapatunog niya ang strings ko without even touching them. (Tahimik)Lumuluwag na ang dila ko…kung anu-ano na ang nasasabi ko. (Ngingiti)
YUMI Siyempre yung masarap kausap.
YUMI Yung kahit habambuhay wala kaming gawin kundi mag-usap… I thinkit¹s better than making love.
YUMI Gosh I want to kiss you so badly.
YUMI I can¹t believe I just said that.
YUMI Don¹t you want to kiss me?
JIGS Is that your last question? (Ngingiti si Jigs)
YUMI Yes.
