The Art of Never Letting Go (Book 2)

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I know that face, Alden. What?

I just wanted to ask you out for coffee and talk about the film. Medyo ayoko lang magbigay ng mixed signals.

You could have said so. It's fine. We have a free day today after a week of nonstop shoot, after all.

Yeah. Ayos ka na ba?

I don't see any reason why I should dress better. I'm clothed already.

Sure. I was just asking. Where do you want to go?

To the nearest shop.

Let me check my phone.. found it.

Ilang oras ang byahe?

Two-hour drive.

Okay.

Get in.

Ito na nga.

Seat belt, Maine.

Wait lang. Go drive. I'm fine.

I won't drive unless.

Ito na.

Maine.

If you're so impatient why don't you put it on -

Okay na?

Too close, Alden. I almost kissed your face.

I know you wouldn't.

You know.. you shouldn't look after me anymore. Stop those little things. Stop asking if I have already eaten, if I'm doing fine since pakalat-kalat lang naman ako sa set...

Anong gusto mo? No interaction at all?

Hindi ko rin alam. I kind of.. enjoy the attention. I mean it's hard not to... when those little things are all that I get. Pero alam mo 'yun? Umaasa kasi ako.

E 'di 'wag kang umasa. You could settle what you really want after filming.

You na lang talaga, 'no. You. You could settle. What you really want. Gano'n. Akala ko sasabihin mo, 'we'.

What you feel shouldn't be on the list I should look after, Maine.

Shouldn't be? Shouldn't be. Pero andyan.

Stop tricking me with word play, Maine.

I'm a writer.

Used to be.

I wrote the screenplay.

Okay. I'm wrong.

Let's start talking here. Para naman matapos agad. Para kasing diring-diri ka sa akin and you don't even want yourself in my vicinity. So ask away.

What do you think about Andre? I mean, when you made him in your head? It's good to have another point of view before bringing him to life.

Andre loves the water. He feels at ease. Kaya nga sya mangingisda, 'di ba. He doesn't do it because it's the only job he's capable of doing. He does it because he loved the seas too much. Same reason kung bakit nu'ng lumabas 'yung mythical water nymph, he falls in love with her right away. Even if she's imaginary.

So where does the water nymph came from?

She's a mortal, but she moves so gracefully and Andre meets her in the seas. You know, symbolism lang sa film. He sees her as a water nymph because he loves the idea of her, not the real her.

And Salen?

Salen loves stability. She loves the earth and the feeling of the soil against her bare feet.

That's why they Andre chooses to chase the fictitious water nymph instead of being with his childhood friend, Salen.

Yeah.

Why?

Anong why?

Why would Andre want something so... surreal? Salen is the real thing.

Because sometimes we make the wrong choices in life by thinking it's for the best.

So you thought.. I was a wrong choice back then.

No. Not entirely you. The idea of being with you. You were never a wrong choice, Alden. But I never knew what I wanted. Ang emotionally unstable ko and I don't want to make a decision during the short period of time. Baka surge lang ng feelings kasi, baka the cliche plot na I am in love with the idea of you but not with you, gano'n.

Eh ngayon, sure ka na? Short period of time. I waited for you longer than those three days. Then now that you're sure, you come back? Ganu'n ba 'yun, Maine?

Don't you love me anymore?

I love Cass and Calley.

That's not a direct answer.

Then no.

Thanks.

For?

Reminding me that I'm about to destroy a family with each step I take towards you.

I'm not letting you, either. And I'd always love you in a way, like an older brother would look after his astray sister, but you know... There are all kinds of love in the world.

But never the same love twice?

But never the same, wasted love that we could have been having at this moment. We already blew our chances, Maine.

Easy for you to say. Masaya ka na kasi.

I'm happy for myself but I'm not happy for you, ngayong ganyan ka. You know I have friends -

Insensitive.

Just looking for a way for you to be as happy as I am today.

You know the thing about happiness, Alden? We choose it. We choose the reason for it. Happiness doesn't walk in our path freely; we have to walk with the same path where it is walking.

So where's the path of your happiness?

In your lane.

That's all in your head.

I know. But if it's not in my head, and I don't have my heart with me at this moment, where should it be?

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