Note: This is not an original premise, you probably know of some movies with this theme. I'm just experimenting with it. =)
Reposting this here.
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"Maine, ito na naman ba yung pag-aawayan natin?"
They were in a provincial location for their ongoing teleserye and while on a break, Alden and Maine were fighting about his upcoming trips in the next weeks. He informed her this morning about his schedule, which would mean they wouldn't have any alone time for at least a month and that he would miss events of his family and hers.
"Yes, ito na naman, because obviously yung mga pakiusap ko naba-balewala pa rin."
They had been arguing the whole day, only taking breaks when they would need to run over their scripts or do a take, but otherwise they were fighting face-to-face or via text.
"Ilang beses ko bang i-e-explain? I work like this because I want to give you a good life kapag kinasal na tayo?"
"Rj, we have enough! We have enough to send at least 7 children we may have to good schools. With that, we still have a lot left for travels and other interests – ano pa ba ang kulang?"
"Meng, you know that economies change. Bukas or next week, what we have now won't have the same value kaya I keep on working para hindi tayo mamroblema."
"Alam mo at this rate, I wonder if we even have a future!" Maine said, exasperated.
About a year ago, she finally agreed to be with Alden after almost two years of courtship. She had loved him for far longer, but she was always worried about how committed he would be to making a relationship work when he was working all the time. He loved his family very much but he barely spent time with them; she was sure she couldn't handle that. So, she kept him at bay.
Maine even turned him down, not because she didn't feel his sincerity or that she didn't reciprocate what he felt, but because she felt they would just be setting themselves up for failure.
However, Alden persisted and it paid off. During one of their out-of-town trips last year, she finally stopped fighting what she felt and gave in.
Lately, her worst fears were coming true. Due to the success of their teleserye and their movie, they were still top endorsers and their schedules were still so packed. The dates Alden promised to keep, often had to be rescheduled, so were their travel plans and other non-work related events.
She was getting tired of having to remind him how important these were to her; he was equally annoyed of how he kept having to justify why he needs to take the work.
"Maine naman, you know I love you. Alam mong ikaw ang pinaka-importante sa akin, pero wag mo naman hingin na hindi ako magtrabaho."
"YUN BA HINIHINGI KO? Alam mo, dapat hindi nalang talaga naging tayo eh, sabi ko na hindi mo naman kaya yung mga promise mo before."
"Na ano? Na mag-random road trip with you and your friends? Pero yung ex mo gagawin yun agad-agad for you."
"Hindi ko sinasabi yan!"
"Sabihin mo nalang kasing derecho kung gusto mo na ako hiwalayan, hindi yung ginagawa mo na namang issue yung trabaho."
Maine's reply was interrupted by someone clearing their throat.
They turned to see an old lady by the entrance of the tent. Her salt-and-pepper hair tied up in a bun, wearing an amulet around her neck, her walking stick looking like a fallen branch picked up from the forest behind them. "Mahal niyo pa ang isa't isa."
They were surprised and slightly embarrassed to be caught arguing. "Nay, upo po kayo." Maine offered.
"Hindi na. Hindi naman ako magtatagal. Kailangan niyo ng panahon para intindihin yung pinagdadaanan ng bawat isa. Minsan, para mangyari yun, kailangan ilagay niyo ang sarili niyo sa kanilang kinalalagyan."
Not allowing either of them to speak, the old lady took the amulet from her neck – a circle with some patterns in the middle and touched it to both their heads. "Babalik lang kayo sa susunod na bilog nang buwan. Sana sa panahong yun, naintindihan niyo na ang isa't isa at hindi sayangin ang binigay sa inyo. Hindi lahat ng tao nabibigyan ng ganyang pagkakataon."
The elderly lady stood then, gave them a smile and left.
Their director came in for some instructions. "Direk, saglit aalalayan ko lang si Lola, baka anong mangyari dun. Sino ba yun? Paano nakapasok sa set?"
"Sinong Lola?"
Alden couldn't find her anymore. Before he could ask further, they needed to start working again.
Their shoot ended late that night with neither Alden nor Maine initiating conversation. They were both tired and knew that pursuing the topic now would just make matters worse.
They were both so groggy when they went home separately and just quickly fell asleep.
When Alden woke up the next day, he noticed the strange surroundings - gone were his Iron Man toys and his statue of the Virgin Mary. Looking around, he saw an illustration of him and Maine, one of his gifts for her birthday years ago, along with numerous polaroids. Fuck, I'm in her room. Lagot ako kay Tito.
When he turned, he was alone in the bed. He scratched his ear when he noticed that his hair was covering it, Time for a haircut. But then he noticed it fell past his shoulders.
It was also the first time he noticed that he was wearing a silk nightie, "What the –"
His arms, hands, feet and legs were different – smaller, thinner... He ran to the dresser where there was a mirror. "WHAT THE –"
Staring back at him was Maine's face.
