One Shots: An ADNBookClub Writing Challenge

Lights, Camera, Action!

by: einsy

"Maine? Maine Mendoza?" A tall, fair man approaches the lady on the other side of the fast food place.

"Mama, he knows you?" A little boy blurts out.

"Which one, love?" Maine talks to the little boy sitting beside her.

"That one..." the little boy points to the man approaching. He's with a little girl about the same age as the boy.

"Alden?" Maine says as soon as Rj is closer to the table.

"Dada, Alden? Who's Alden?" the little girl look ups at the man she is holding hands with.

"Maine! Nice to see you here! It's been what, four, five years?"

"Five. What are you doing here?"

"Eto, chaperone..." Rj looks down at the little girl beside him.

"Pareho pala tayo. Upo muna kayo, mukhang matagal pa yung set-up e."

"Thanks...ah wait...what do you want to eat?" Rj offers.

"I just had coffee..."

"...black with one sugar..."

"You still remember..."

"Oo naman. Ah wait ha? Princess, just sit here ha? I'll get you your fries..." Rj leaves the table. The little girl just sits quietly, staring at the two 'strangers' in front of her.

"...what's your name?" The little boy finally breaks the silence.

"...my name, Eena...habatchu?"

"I'm Ziggy. This is my Mama. Her name is Maine."

"Hello Eena. It's nice to meet you." Maine says.

Eena nods. "...you lolso in memershal?"

Ziggy nods. "...but Tita Papat said Mama will just sit here and wait for me..."

"...Dada wait Eena lolso..."

ZIggy looks at Maine. He is amused at the way Eena talks. Maine just looks at him and smiles. Soon, the talent scout approaches and takes the kids to the other area get ready for the shoot.

"I got you an apple pie and medium orange juice with lots of ice..." Rj said returning to the table.

"Grabe ka! Naalala mo pa? Thanks ha." Maine says, amused.

"So, what's been keeping you busy all these years?" Rj says, sitting down after putting the tray on the table.

"So ayun, I have one boy. I still have my McDonald's stores and our gas stations. Eh ikaw? Kamusta ka na?"

"Eto, I have two McDonald's stores and the four Concha's restaurants...I also have a gas station..."

"Successful..."

"Ikaw rin naman e" Rj says smiling. "...and yun, may makulit na prinsesa na rin ako..."

Suddenly, the casting director announces the names of the cast for this commercial shoot. "McDonald's Love ko Pamilya Ko...Alejandro Lopez as Daddy, Mara Rodriguez as Mommy, Siegfried Mendoza as Ziggy, and Athena Faulkerson as Eena..."

Maine and Rj look at each other. A memory of their time together as a couple flashed, "...basta pag nagkatuluyan tayo, gusto ko, yung baby natin ang names. Siegfried at Athena..." Rj said.

"Kambal?"

"Pwede...pero kung hindi, yan ang magiging name ng girl and boy natin..."

"I like it!" Maine smiles.

Rj tenderly kisses her on the lips.

Back to the present time, in the bustle of the fast food restaurant, two active and noisy toddlers are playing and sharing french fries right next to the table where Rj and Maine are seated. They look like they've known each other for years, happily playing and laughing, waiting to be called for their scene.