Hukayserye

Helpless

SETTING: Pico De Loro, condo, 4pm

(Plugs USB in port)
(Presses play)

🎶Ninety miles outside Chicago,
Can't stop driving, I don't know why
Too many questions, I need an answer
Two years later you're still on my mind🎶

(Phone rings)
(Ignore call)
(Phone rings again)
(Presses ignore)

"Bakit hindi mo sagutin? Alam mo, kanina parin yan tumatawag miski sa'kin. Ano ba problema niyo?"
"Wala."
"Wala eh sambakol mukha mo diyan. Sithy..."
"Ayoko. Natatakot nga ako eh."
"Bakit? Ano bang ginawa mo?"
"..."
"Ah alam ko na. Yung pictures. Hahaha. Kaya full avoidance mode ka."
"Kasi naman eh."

"Opps, wag kang magrarant sa'kin. Dahil alam ko na iri-reason out mo."
"Sithy naman kasi, di ko naman na kasalanan kung may kumukuha pa ng stolen shots-that was out of hand."
"Eh bat hindi mo sabihin sa kanya yan? Kesa nageemote ka diyan at nakukuntento sa 'To Tagaytay' mo?"
"Eh..."

(Knock on door, opens)

"Menggay, ano ba, di mo ba sasagutin telepono mo?"
"Nay..."
"Menggay, pati kuya mo tska si Nikki, tinatawagan na. Sinabi ko sa kanilang wag sasagutin yun. Ano ba yan ha anak?"
"Kasi Nay..."
(Tatay enters, Coleen mutes TV and exits)
"Ah sandali ha iho teka lang ha, sabihin ko sa kanya. Stay on the line." (Presses mute)
"Menggay. Si Alden nasa kabilang linya."
"Tay, pasabi na lang po-"

"Wala akong sasabihin sa kanya. Nasabi ko na sa'yo yung mga dapat sabihin namin ng Nanay mo. Ngayon, yung kanya naman ang pakinggan mo." (Hands over phone)
"Pero Tay...pano pag nagalit?"
"Talagang magagalit yan. Kami nga ng nanay mo nagbeastmode eh, yan pa." (Stops in his tracks, looks back)
"......."
"Meng, sasabihin ko 'to bilang lalaki-not as your Tatay. Kaming mga lalaki, may ego na tinatawag. I'm sure you're aware of that."
"..."
"Yun ang nagbibigay ng power sa amin. We like to be in control of things. At nasusubok yun-nagiging helpless, kumbaga- kapag yung pinakamalapit na tao pa sa amin ang nagiging dahilan ng loss of control."
"........."
"Meng, ikaw ang dahilan ng loss of control. Pero may magagawa ka."
"....ano po?"
(Shrugs, exits room)

(Shifts gaze on phone in hand)
(Unmutes phone)

"Hello, Hello Tay? Andyan na po si Meng?"
(Sharp intake of breath)
"Meng? Hello?"
"Mm."
"....." (Heaves out a deep sigh)
"Iniiwasan mo ba ako, Meng?"
"A-ano...k-kasi..." (Fidgets with hem of shirt)
"Bakit hindi mo sinasagot yung tawag ko?"
"....."
"Nakita ko yung pictures. Even the FHM related post."
".....Tisoy...."
"Alam mo bang ang unfair? Ng lahat ng 'to?"
(Silence)
"Kasi...kasi naiinis na'ko Meng. Inis na inis nako. Kasi gustong-gusto ko nang umuwi."
(M stifles a sob)
"Kanina, kadarating lang namin sa Winnipeg. Sobrang excited ko kasi first time to, at una kong naisip i-update ka with a snap. Pero anong nakita ko?"
(M bites her lower lip)

"I was okay with that. I appreciate how you look. Alam kong alam mo yan. It's perfectly normal...pero the screenshots? The comments sa Twitter? Yung 'Ano ba yan, Martes santo nagpost ng ganyan?'

Meng, naubos yung pasensya ko."

(M hastily wipes her face with back of her hand)
"Meng, wala akong problema sa atin, Sabi mo nga nagkakaintindihan naman tayo diba? Pero minsan, napapag-isip din ako kung naiintindihan ba talaga kita."

"RJ...I'm sorry... Sorry na..."
(Sigh)
"Hindi ako galit sayo. I can never be mad at you. Galit ako kasi we're miles apart, and wala na naman akong magawa."
(Sobs, sniffles)
"It's a never-ending cycle, Nicomaine."
"Hindi ko naman ginusto yung stolen shots eh."
"I know. But you could've dressed differently."
"Sesermonan mo rin ba ako with the way I dress?"
"No, dahil ginawa na nila Tatay and Nanay yun."

"Eh ano pang pinaguusapan natin?"
"BECAUSE I FEEL HELPLESS, OKAY? KASI GUSTO KO NG UMUWI PERO I STILL HAVE THREE DAYS AWAY FROM YOU! KAILANGAN KONG MAKAUSAP KA KAHIT MAG-AWAY PA TAYO- KASI MABABALIW AKO PAG HINDI! KASI MISS NA MISS NA KITA!"

(Silence)
(Soft sobs on the A's end)
(Ruffling sounds of sheets)
(M unmutes TV)

🎶Someday we'll know,
If love can move a mountain
Someday we'll know,
Why the sky is blue
Someday we'll know
That I was the one for you🎶

"RJ...uwi ka na please...please."
"Kung kaya ko lang magteleport diyan, baka kanina pa'ko nasa tabi mo."
"Umuwi *hic* ka na *hic* kasi miss na miss na miss *hic* na din kita..."

"In three days, Love. In three."
"RJ, I'm-I'm sorry. I thought... Pag pinost ko yun...I didn't know."
"Just promise me one thing."
"Kahit ilan pa..."
"No FHM?"
"As if kaya kong gawin yun."
"Yan din sinabi ko before the Cosmo Bash."
"Okay...I promise."
"Okay."
"Okay? Yun lang? You're not going to tell me to stop wearing things like that?"
"No, I won't."
"Ikaw talaga ang kuya ko eh. Kuya Alden." (Snorts)
"Tingnan natin kung matawag mo 'kong kuya pag nagkita tayo."
(Clears throat)
"Bati na tayo? Di ka na galit?"
"Facetime now. I need to see you. I'm cutting this."

(M fumbles around for her phone)
(Opens Facetime)
(Stares at each other wordlessly)

🎶I bought a ticket to the end of the rainbow
And watch the stars crash in the sea,
If I could ask God just one question
Why aren't you here with me, tonight?🎶

"Team replay?"
"Mm. Love, uwi ka na plith. Di ka na galit diba?"
"I can never be mad at you, Nicomaine."
"You're just too good for me."
"No, mahal lang kita."
~END~