If You Asked Me To (An Epistolary Novel)

101

Sunday, 11:02 PM

Video call started.

Olivia: (Clears throat) Hi. . .

Joshua Parco: (Chuckles) Hi. Bakit ka napatawag? Bakit gising ka pa? Nakauwi ka na sa hotel mo?

Olivia: (Whines) You have so many questions! Hmmm.

Joshua Parco: (Chuckles)

Olivia: Open your camera. I want to see your face! (sighs)

Joshua Parco: Teka. . . lasing ka ba?

Olivia: Nope. Just a few glasses of beer. Beer can't make me drunk. You need to give me something harder than that. He-he. It's both a blessing and a curse, you know?

Joshua Parco: (Clicks tongue) (whispers) Susmarya.

Olivia: Ano 'yon?

Joshua Parco: Nasa'n ka?

Olivia opens the front camera.

Olivia's setting: Sitting under the tree along Alona beach front with slightly dim background.

Joshua Parco's setting: Lying in his back at his bedroom. Dim lights coming from the night lamp on his bedside table.

Olivia: Look, oh! (Points to the people partying at the background) They're there. I'm here! (chuckles)

Joshua Parco: Namumula ka na. Antok ka na rin.

Olivia: Slight (gesturing the thumb and the index finger) (yawns).

Joshua Parco: Balik ka na sa hotel mo, please.

Olivia: I'm just a five-minute walk away, don't worry (tipsy smiles) (blinking profusely).

Joshua Parco: Kahit na. Malamig pati.

Olivia: Hmmm. Is this you concerned, Joshy?

Joshua Parco: Yes.

(Silence)

Olivia stares at the video camera.

Joshua Parco: Bakit? (chuckles)

Olivia: You're guwapo kahit na 'di kita masyado nakikita 'coz madilim. Open mo nga lights mo.

Joshua Parco: Not until you get back to your hotel room.

Olivia stood up (sounds of footsteps). Front camera turns rear capturing the night life by the beach.

Olivia: I'll tour you here. . .

Olivia: I ate here, but it's closed na (points at the restobar on her left).

Olivia: (Leaned in and whispers) Ang daming afam dito! Gosh. . .

Joshua Parco's eyebrow raised in the dark at what he heard, before he return the cool demeanor.

Olivia: I'm walking na (sounds of footsteps) (turns back camera to the front).

Olivia: Hey, you're quiet na. Are you sleepy na?

Joshua Parco: Andito pa ako.

Olivia: Oh. Okie. (Door opens) (sounds of lights switching). I'm here na (sighs).

Joshua Parco: Tulog na.

Olivia: (Groans) Pinauwi mo 'ko tapos patutulugin mo na din ako? (Pouts) masama kang tao.

Joshua Parco: (Laughs lightly) Pambihira.

Joshua Parco: Lasing ka na ata.

Olivia: (Scoffs) You underestimate me. I told you I'm not lasing!

Joshua Parco: Madaldal ka na.

Olivia: Madaldal ako in person! I love talking kaya!

Joshua Parco: (Laughs)

Olivia: Palibhasa ngayon mo lang narinig voice ko. Speaking of which, maganda ba boses ko? (Smiles at the camera while zooming the face in).

Joshua Parco: (Laughs) Oo.

Olivia: You keep on laughing. Nakakatawa ba na maganda ang boses ko?

Joshua Parco: (Shifts position) (smiles at the camera) Hindi. (Serious) Maganda ka. . .  maganda rin boses mo.

Olivia: (Smiles) I know. Thank you.

Joshua Parco: I wonder kung maalala mo ito bukas. Matino ka pa ba?

Olivia: Of course (bedsheets rustling) (sounds of lights switching off).

Olivia: I'm really not the type of person na kumukuha ng lakas sa alak. I can tell you things even though I'm sober (smiles half smugly, half sleepy).

Joshua Parco: (Chuckles) Wow. Lakas.

Olivia: Queen things (yawns).

Joshua Parco: Okay, what can you tell me even in both tipsy and sober state?

Olivia: I can't. . . (pouts)

Joshua Parco: Bakit naman?

Olivia: (Whispers) You're far away. I don't want to confess when I can't chase after you in case you run.

Joshua Parco: Ano 'yon? (chuckles)

Olivia: Nothing.

Joshua Parco: Ah. . .

(Silence)

Joshua Parco: Tulog ka na. Bukas na ang last day mo, 'di ba?

Olivia: (Nods) Yep. Last full day. My flight's on Tuesday morning.

Joshua Parco: Okay. Sige, pahinga ka na. I-lock mo pinto mo dyan.

Olivia: Done na po. Good night, Josh (smiles). Thanks for answering my call (shy chuckles). I didn't know why I called you, really. Maybe I just want someone to talk to. . .

Joshua Parco: Okay lang, walang problema.

Joshua Parco: Good night, Oli.

Olivia waves at the camera.

Olivia: Bye~

Joshua Parco: And Oli. . . (pause) (breathes heavily) hindi ako yung tipo ng tao na tumatakbo.

Olivia: Huh?

Joshua Parco: (Smiles) Wala. Tulog na.

Olivia waves one last time.

Video call ended.