Hukayserye

Payback Time

SETTING: PICO DE LORO, CONDO VERANDA 6am
"O RJ, wala ka na bang nakalimutan? Ayos na ba hand carry mo?"
"Ay opo, mommy. Ayos na lahat, nakay Mama Ten na rin po yung iba."
"Mag-iingat kayo papunta ha. Mabuti't wala naman nang traffic gaano kasi nagsiluwasan na yung iba ng weekend."
"Oo nga po eh. Ay nasaan po pala si Meng?"
"Ah nandun sa veranda. Nagkakape."
"Sige po puntahan ko lang."
"O siya, mag-usap na ng personal habang nandito pa." (Taps shoulder)

"Love."
"Uy."
"Alis nako."
"'Ge."
"Maine...di ka ba man lang titingin?"
(Glances quickly) "Ano? Nakatingin naman ako eh."
"Nicomaine. Look at me."
"Wag na kasi. Nainom akong kape oh."
"Wag ka nga, ubos na eh. Bilis na."

(Stares back, places back mug on coffee table) "Tisoy..."
"Meng, ayoko ng tingin na ganyan."
(Inches closer, loops arms around his neck)
"Love, nandyan sina nanay. Huy."
(Shakes head)
"Ang hirap naman nito eh."(hugs back)
"..."
"Love, tingin ka na sakin, huy."
(Tightens grip) "No, wag. Ganito lang please."
"Okay. Sige. Kahit ngalay na leeg ko sa'yo at sinisilip na tayo ni Mommy."
"Yaan mo lang. Alam naman niya eh.*sniffs*"
"Para tayong sira dito. Pero I like this." (Buries face in her neck)
"Ganito pala pag may OFW sa pamilya. Sepanx pa more."
"Isipin mo na lang, para to kina Charmaine at Thirdy. At sa basketball team natin."
(Smacks his shoulder) "Loko loko ka!"
"Arrrgh. Nakakainis, masakit na nga sunburn ko kahapon pa eh, pinalo mo pa'ko."
"Okay yun. Pain helps you remember."
"Nicomaine, kung ito yung pain that makes you remember, aba, araw-araw mo na lang akong hampasin!"

"Nakakainis, nakakainis!"(hugs him again)
"Maine, no. Dali na tingin na sa'kin. "
(Pulls away, cups her face)
"Love, remember what I said kahapon when I arrived here?"
"Ano? 'Lilipas din 'to.'?"
"Yes, yes. Yun nga. Time will come na 'di na tayo kailangan magtago. Malapit na."
"Lilipas din ba lahat ng tours abroad?"
"Hahaha! Oo syempre para 'tong sira. At least, the ones scheduled for me only. Iba pa yung pag tayo na magkasama."
"Eh yung ito, lilipas din?"
"Anong ito?"
"Tayo. Tayong dalawa."
"Ah. Yan ang hindi. Kahit anong mangyari, hindi 'to lilipas, Nicomaine."
"Eh. Ewan."
"Alam mo may syndrome ka na. Yung 'Clingy-nitis' pag tuwing aalis ako."
"Masisisi mo ba'ko?"
"Hindi, kasi ako din naman eh."
"Quits lang?"
"No, Nicomaine. Everything you feel, I feel ten times greater-and please wag ka na mag-argue kasi-"

"Kasi may Bora and Osaka? Edi ikaw na talaga. Kala mo ha..."
"What? What did you say? Last part, di ko narinig."
"Walaaaaa. Sabi ko ikaw lang ba aalis mamaya?"
"No, kasama ko na sina Kim and Rocco."
(Sigh, leans head on his chest)
"Pasalubong ko ha?"
"Pfft. Syempre, as usual. Noted, maam."
"Sige na, inaantay ka na nila Kuya Eric sa baba."
"Aren't you forgetting something?"
(Looks puzzled, then blushes)
"Baliw, si Nanay nasa sala lang. Gusto mo makwelyuhan?"
"Ah. Yun ba. Edi sige- MOMMY?" (Peeks into the sala)
(Nanay Dub takes a quick look from the newspaper she's reading)
"Oh RJ, bakit?"
"Pwede po magrequest?"
"Ano yun? Kahit ano, wag lang kasal muna."
(Whispers exasperatedly) "HOY ALDEN RICHARDS! ANONG-"
"Grabe si Mommy oh. Payb years pa po. Ano po pwedeng-"(M's hand covers his mouth)

"NAY WALA PO YUN NAGIILUSYON NA NAMAN KASI TONG SI ALDEN-"
(Breaks free from her grasp)
"Nay pwede po mag-Goodbye kiss kay Meng?"
(Nanay Dub shuffles her newspaper)
"Nako Richard..."
"Po?"
"Bilisan mo lang ha. Yung pang goodbye lang, wag yung pag Wedding."
"YES! THANK YOU MOMMY!"
"Nanay!!! Grabe po kayo sa'kin!"
"Pagbigyan mo na, matagal din hindi magkikita ang Maichard."
"NAY!? SHIPPER?"
"Naman! Ay nako bahala nga kayo diyan, dun muna ko sa kusina. God gave me youuu.."(stands up)

"Pano ba yan, pwede daw ako mag-goodbye kiss."
"Luh. Ewan sa'yo, bumaba ka na nga."
(Turns around, But A grabs her by the waist, keeps her in place)

"Wala. Sabi ni Nanay pwede. Kaya kukuha ako ng goodbye kiss." (Leans closer)
(Covers his mouth again) "Wait. Pramith mo, Facetime everyday? Pasalubong? No biglaang events dun?"
(A nods eagerly)
"Okay." (Gives a peck in his cheek) "Done. Now leave."
"Madaya. No way."
"Yun na ang goodbye ki--"
"........"
"There. Much better." (Leans his forehead on hers)
"Nicomaine, I love you."
"I love you too, three, four, payb. Sagad. Now go."
(A chuckles, picks up his duffel, exits)

(Nanay dub re-enters from kitchen)
"Nakaalis na ba si RJ?"
"Opo nay."
"Now I'm leaving on a jet plane..."
"Nanay naman..."
"Alam niyo, mga best actor at actress talaga kayo. Siya magaling magtago, at ikaw, magaling magkunwari. Di mo sinabi sa kanya hanggang makaalis?"
"Sssh! Nay baka marinig po kayo!"
"Hindi na yun, kaaalis nga lang eh."
"Nay, syempre pag sinabi ko di na surprise yun."
"Payback time? For the surprises?"
"Yes Nay. My own payback time." (Grins)
~END~