In Between Takes

take 2

"Knock knock," sabi nya kay Alden, noong commercial break. Susunod na ang KalyeSerye, and people were orienting them. Oh, dito ka papasok. Hahayaan mo muna sila ng mga Lola. Maine, you know how to keep it together. Alden, just spice it up. And the likes. During their spare time, they tell knock knock jokes.

Yes, hindi lang 'yon sa TV. Pati sa personal, wala ring ginawa ang dalawa kundi magsabihan ng biro.

"Who's there?" Game na game naman ang binata sa mga hirit nya. She had seen Alden before KalyeSerye, sa iilang palabas nito, and she never thought he was that kind of person. 'Yung nakikisakay sa jokes? She made it sure never to meet him without a knock knock joke.

"Turkey," she said smugly. Nagpapaunahan nga sila sa mga knock knock jokes that they find on the Internet. She secretly hoped na hindi pa nito nakikita ang joke compilation na nakita nya. Natawa kasi sya sa ilan sa mga ito and imagined his face last night if she would tell him all of those.

Alden just gave her that look. "Wala ka na bang bago?" He asked, just before singing his first ever dubsmash. "Just turkey like Miley..." Plus the head movements. 

That's when heartbeats were skipped.

Sa paglapit-lapit ni Alden ng mukha sa kanya, natulala na lang si Maine. She wanted to snap out of it, pero hindi nya nagawa. Nakatitig lang sya sa binata all the while kumakanta ito at inaasar sya.

What's with her today?

Hindi nya rin alam. Hindi na nga rin nya namalayan na sobrang tagal na nya nakatitig kung hindi pa magsasalita ang kapareha. Sanay na naman kasi sya sa closeness nilang dalawa, dahil matagal na wala ang rule ng Lola Nidora character played by Wally Bayola na dapat, may one foot silang pagitan.

Yes, she was used to that. So why now?

Maybe because the cameras weren't focused on them as of the moment. The scene was so natural than KalyeSerye. Those repetitive head movements done by Alden. That dimple. That smile. That manly laugh. That masculine scent that crept up to her nose.

That momentarily pause in her chest.

"Meng, ano ba 'yan?" Tatawa-tawang sabi ni Alden sa kanya. "Mukha kang constipated, sige ka. On air na tayo in ten minutes!"

"Yabang nito, maghahanap ako ng bago!" Nakisabay na lang sya. She chose to forget that pause and that stare when she got lost in his smile. Wala naman kasing mangyayari kung iisipin pa nya kung anong meron. Ang dami nang nakapila sa schedule nya na commercials, magazine shoots, interviews.

Wala na syang panahon para isipin pa ang mga ganoong bagay.

--

Tapos na ang KalyeSerye. Everyone was packing up. It was another successful show, just like the others, kung saan hindi mawawala ang Wooh! ni Lola Tidora at ang mga sumisilip na rambutan ni Lola Tinidora.

Alden just smiled to himself. Didiretso naman sya sa isang event after this. He sighed inwardly, while massaging his temple. Hindi na lang nya iniisa-isa sa utak nya ang mga dapat gawin, at hinahayaan na lang ang manager. Sumasabay na lang din sya sa daloy ng career nya.

"Okay ka lang?" Alalang lumapit sa kanya si Maine. The twenty-year-old young woman was certainly pretty. Hindi naman sya tumatanggi doon, plus her lively personality. But what caught him in the first place - ay ang mga mata nito. 

Her eyes were pretty much expressive than the usual eyes he had seen. Maine spoke with those. Although palagi nitong sinasabi na introvert sya and she was just contented in a corner, pakiramdam nya, sobrang daldal ng mga mata nito. Masaya, malungkot, naiinis sa init, nakokornihan sa mga jokes - lahat na, pwedeng mong mabasa sa mga mata ng dalaga.

And that's what he liked about her. She shows her soul through her eyes and if you were observant enough, you'll know everything about her. 

That's why he got lost in those easily. Her eyes were as effective as an advertisement. You'll be curious and engaged with her personality more. 

Each day is like getting closer to know the real Maine Mendoza.

Nginitian sya nito, 'yung tipong nang-aasar. "Ikaw naman 'yung mukhang constipated ngayon."

"Hindi ah!" Sumeryoso sya. "Saan ka na after nito?"

"Shoot," simpleng sagot ni Maine. He could tell she was tired. Dahil hindi pa tapos ang staff mag-ayos and there are still cables and various equipment lying around, Maine hopped in his vehicle. "Paano mo nakaya 'to?"

"Ang alin?"

Maine smiled at him. "Pag-aartista. You've been doing it for years, right?"

Nag-isip muna sya. Paano ba nya sasagutin ito ng ayos para sa isang kadarating lang sa isang industriya? "Parehas lang tayo," sagot nya. "It's all new to me."

"Ha?" Kumunot ang noo nito. "Ikaw Alden ha, 'wag mo akong binabaliw."

"Hindi kita binabaliw," tatawa-tawa nyang sagot. Only Maine could pull that one off. "What I mean is, I'm experiencing a new world with you. Parang, I've never seen this side of the show because I've been silent the whole time. You're introducing me to whole new level. Bago lahat. It felt like I was continuously learning," he smiled at her. "With you."

When Maine nodded, he knew she got his point. What really puzzled him is how the words came out smoothly when she asked him that. Maine bid him goodbye after a while, and hopped out. He watched her happily skip towards her driver.

He shook his head while smiling.

The charms and wonders of a Maine Mendoza are truly fascinating.