Only One

XLIX.

EXT. SIDEWALK — EVENING

Ariadne follows Theseus quietly until they reach the end of the sidewalk where it's just the two of them. Theseus stops walking and she stands awkwardly behind him before he finally faces her.

THESEUS
What are you telling people?

ARIADNE
Huh!?

THESEUS
Why do I feel like I am the bad guy here, Aria? With Dionysus, with your friends... parang ang sama ko sa'yo.

ARIADNE
That's not on me, Theo.

THESEUS
Aria, I never forced you to do things for me. 'Yong thesis, when you're always going beyond for me... I never forced you.

ARIADNE
I know. I did those things 'cause I want to.

THESEUS
'Yon nga, eh. Ginusto mo naman, 'di ba?

Tatango si Ariadne. Mabagal. Hindi makatingin.

ARIADNE
Oo.

THESEUS
So tell me why! Your friends always seemed indifferent to me. Dionysus accused me that I make you my errand girl. I already apologized to you if it seemed that why but I never imposed. I always ask you kung okay lang and you always say yes. Hindi ka naman nagrereklamo.

ARIADNE
Hinayaan ko kasi.

THESEUS
What?

ARIADNE
That's the thing about me putting you first, I taught you how to put me second.

THESEUS
Huh?

Ariadne mocks his confusion. She lets out a bitter laugh.

ARIADNE
Ang tanga mo, gago.

THESEUS
Ariadne, stop speaking in riddles!

ARIADNE
It's not even that hard, Theo! For fuck's sake! I tolerated your whims and I always said yes to you because I like you! At aminin mo man o hindi, inabuso mo 'yon. You ask because you know I'll say yes to you. I go an extra mile for you because you expect me to. I know! We both know that! Ayaw mo lang aminin para mapagaan mo ang loob mo.

ARIADNE
And it's not my fault if your actions come off that way na parang ginagamit mo ako kahit sinasabi mo na hindi mo intensyon. Kasi alam mo, baka nga totoo. Baka tama 'yong mga kaibigan ko. Baka tama si Dion. And maybe you are really the bad guy here!

Theseus gapes at Ariadne. He is shocked by her sudden outburst. Then, she suddenly cried.

ARIADNE
Tang ina! Kung may tanga dito, ako talaga 'yon.

ARIADNE
Ilang beses, Theo... ilang beses kong kinumbisi ang sarili ko na hindi ako nagpagamit sa'yo. Lagi kong itinatanggi sa mga kaibigan ko, lagi kitang ipinagtatanggol. Pero ang totoo, hiyang-hiya na ako. Kasi kahit alam ko na inuubos mo lang ako, hinayaan ko. Kasi ikaw pinili ko, eh.

ARIADNE
Hindi lang sa thesis. Hindi lang naman 'yong mga pabor mo. Wala sa akin 'yon. Pero lagi kasi, iniiwan mo ako 'pag nagawa ko na 'yong parte ko. 'Pag naisalba na kita sa kung ano mang bagay na kailangan mo ng tulong ko, iiwan mo na lang ako! Lagi kang busy para bumawi. Lagi kang busy para tumupad sa mga pangako mo!

ARIADNE
'Di ba? Gano'n naman, eh. Tapos ang tanga ko kasi balik ako nang balik sa'yo. Kasi gusto ko sa'yo ako sumaya. Pinipilit ko. Isinisiksik ko sarili ko sa'yo. Sa kahit ano.

THESEUS
Aria...

Ariadne wipes her cheeks, wet from the tears that kept flowing from her eyes. She bites her lower lip, trying to calm herself down. But every time she looks at Theo, it felt like a punch in her gut which hurts.

ARIADNE
Hindi mo kasalanan, Theo. Ako pumili nito.

THESEUS
Aria...

Theseus gets closer to her and he cups her face. He wipes away her tears before he plants a soft kiss on her lips.

ARIADNE
Theo...

THESEUS
I'm sorry. I want to make it up to you.

ARIADNE
I—Dion!?

Dionysus stands awkwardly, holding a bouquet and not knowing what to do. But after seeing the kiss, he felt the need to leave.

DIONYSUS
Istorbo pala ako. I should leave then.

Ariadne tries to call his name but he never looked back. Not even once. He threw away the bouquet because just like his heart, Ariadne won't be needing it anymore.