Back at Audre's pad –
Audre: "Thank you sa pagsama mo sa'kin today ha. Ang laki mong tulong." (smiles)
"So, maybe we can start knowing each other? You have to tell me about yourself. Para kapag pinakilala kita kay Shane, eh confident akong mag-friends talaga tayo. Alam mo yun? (smiles) Yung hindi acquaintances lang hehe. Is that okay?"
Mart: "Yeah. Well. Okay."
"As you know, I'm Mart. BSPT yung course ko. I am actually looking forward to meet you in person, dahil sa mga kwento sa akin ni Pao about you being his bestfriend.
Bali, mag half-brother yung mga tatay namin ni Paolo. I am an orphan, by the way. Pero I lived with my grandmother ever since nagkaroon ako ng kamalayan sa mundo. Hindi ko nakilala ang tatay ko. Iniwan nya kami ng nanay ko nung pinagbubuntis pa lang ako. My mother got sick after she gave birth to me and eventually died nung two years old pa lang ako. Growing up, hindi ko naman hinanap ang tatay ko. My lola was enough for me, kahit kaming dalawa lang, basta magkasama kami, okay na ako doon. I never experienced having a family na may nanay at tatay at kapatid. Pero okay lang."
Audre: "Eh so paano kayo naging magclose ni Paolo. . I mean, hindi kasi nakwento sa akin ni Paolo na may pinsan sya."
Mart: "My father looked for me when I was 16 years old. That time he was dying, well according to the lawyer who found us. And then, the lawyer explained to me this and that. So nung napagdesisyunan ko nang makipagkita sa father ko, it was too late. He was gone. Hindi ko na talaga sya nakilala. May pinamana sya sa akin and his lawyer introduced me to Paolo's father. Paolo's father eventually introduced me to his family. My Uncle took us in. Simula noon, dun na kami nakatira sa bahay nila. His family treated me and my grandmother like their own family – hindi kami nahirapan ng lola na mag-adjust kasi mabait sila sa amin. Paolo also accepted me like his own brother."
"About my personality, I can say na I am a bit shy, serious, and sentimental. I am a home buddy, introvert. Ganon. Maybe a bore (chuckles). Pero I believe that I am caring. I care for the people that I love."
Audre: "Wow. (a bit speechless) that was a personal matter. Thank you sa pagshare. It seems to me that you are a gentle person. . And for sure, your lola did a great job of bringing you up." (smiles)
"I want to know about Shane. How did you know her?"
Mart: "Uhhmm. Na-crush-an ko sya nung nakita ko sya sa student assembly last June. Nung campaign nila."
Audre: "Crush? Ano to, kinder? (teases) Hehehehe. Crush lang tapos kailangan makipagkilala? Kailangang magpakilala, ganon? (laughs) May balak kang ligawan? "
Mart: "Uhm, ano, (feels shy) Umhm, hindi pa kasi ako nagkaka-girlfriend eh. Hindi yata ako marunong manligaw." (feels awkward)
Audre can't believe it and is shocked, doubting.
Audre: "Weeh? Hindi nga?? I can't believe it!"
Mart just smiles.
Audre: "Meron pang guy na kagaya mo? Don't tell me. . . You mean, virgin ka pa?"
Mart: (laughs) "You really are honest with your remarks.. Alam mo, bigla akong nahiya ngayon." (smiles but feels embarrassed)
Audre: "Hahahahahaha! Sorry na! (laughs again) I'm sorry for being so frank. I mean, okay lang yan, friends naman na tayo." (winks and whispers) "I-won't-tell-your-secret. shhhhh"
Mart: "Ahahahahahaha!"
Audre: (laughs harder) "Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!"
Mart: "Parang nang-aasar naman yang tawa mo."
Audre: "Sorry na! I just can't believe that . . . Ahmm, mayroon pang guy na kagaya mong nag-eexist."
Mart: "Bakit? Alien na ba ako?"
Audre: "Well, for me, yes, sort of like that. It's rare to find a guy who is. . . Alam mo yun, sorry to say this, para kang Maria Clara male version."
Audre looks at Mart weirdly.
"Teka. . . Hindi ka naman bakla?"
Mart: (chokes) "WHAT?? Why would you even say that? Do I looked like one? Hell no! Halikan kita dyan e!" (irritates)
Audre: "Hindi mo kaya." (annoys)
Mart: "Ah gusto mo subukan ha. Okay." (makes faces and deliberately leans toward Audre in an attempt to kiss)
Audre: "Stoppp!"
Both laughs hard.
Audre: "Ahmmm, No, you don't look like bading naman. Natanong ko lang kasi hindi talaga ako makapaniwala na hindi ka pa nagkaka-jowa tapos hindi ka pa nakakapag-s*x."
Mart: "Lumaki kasi ako sa lola." (shy)
Audre: "And so? Pinsan ka ni Paolo- isang manyak na taong nakilala ko sa mundo. Atsaka, lalaki ka pa din."
Mart: (smiles) "Nung bata pa ako, lumaki akong naka-focus lang sa pag aaral. Kasi nga, mahirap lang kami ng lola ko, kailangang kong magseryoso sa studies kasi motivation ko na ako ang mag-aahon sa amin ng lola ko sa kahirapan. Kaya wala akong naging time dun or hindi ko naisip yun mga ganon."
Audre: "Pero nagkagusto ka sa babae?"
Mart: "Oo naman. I just don't act on it - sa nararamdaman ko."
Audre: "You are not offended naman sa reactions, and comments ko?" (sincerely smiles)
Mart: "Aahmm, No. Not at all. Maybe I am happy, kasi sa totoo lang, kakaunti lang ang kakilala kong babae or I mean, kaibigang babae. So this conversation and this moment is refreshing for me."
Audre: "You bet you are. Mga ilan naman ang kaibigan mong babae?"
Mart: "Dalawa. Ikaw at si Ayin."
Both of them laughs.
Audre: "Angdami ha. More than one."
Mart: "You know what; I felt better na nakikilala kita ngayon. Kahapon kasi ang suplada mo tapos parang ang sungit mo pa."
Audre: "Hahah! And look what it got me. Eto. (points at her sprained ankle) Pero, hoy. Hindi naman ako masungit noh. Nagulat lang talaga ako kahapon. Siguro karma ko ito o siguro pinanalangin mong matapilok ako." (tries to annoy Mart)
Mart: "Oy hindi ah. Hindi ako ganon." (laughs)
Audre: "Sorry na talaga kahapon na parang angsungit ko. Nabigla lang talaga kasi ako. Atsaka, this would be my first time na magrereto sa ibang tao. Please pardon me. (smiles) Pero ano nga balak mo kay Shane?"
Mart: "Well, I want to see if I can court her. I actually have doubt na papansinin nya ako kung basta lang ako mag-approach sa kanya. Kaya sinabi ko kay pinsan. Sabi nya, he can help me. I didn't know na ilalapit din pala nya ako ng help. . sa'yo."
Audre: "Okay. Kasama mo na ako sa pag-plan. Hehe!"
Mart: "Uhmmm, pero kasi. . hindi ako marunong manligaw."
Audre: "Oh. Sa akin mo din itatanong yun? Hindi rin ako marunong nun."
Both of them laugh at themselves.
