Only One

C.

EXT. DAPITAN — MORNING

Dionysus sighs and ruffles his hair frustratedly. It's a new car that he treated with care but his bumper has a dent now.

ARIADNE
I'm sorry.

He looks up from his damaged bumper when he heard her apologizing. Four months of not seeing and speaking to each other and the first thing he hears from her is "I'm sorry". Again. For the nth time.

DIONYSUS
It's fine.

ARIADNE
I can... uh.. pay for it?

DIONYSUS
Hindi mo ba muna kakausapin ang nanay o manager mo?

He wants to smile as he remembers the first time they met. But he bit his lower lip to stop himself. That was all in the past now. This is just the same car accident, with a different Ariadne and Dionysus in the equation.

ARIADNE
No need. Magkano ba 'yung aabutin kaya? Sorry talaga. Hindi ko kasi nakita na nasa harap na 'yung sasakyan mo.

DIONYSUS
Hindi ka pa rin maingat mag-drive.

ARIADNE
Sorry.

Tumitig si Dionysus sa kanya. He was actually expecting her to argue like she did before, kahit siya ang may kasalanan. But right now, she just looks apologetic. Parang gusto nang magbayad at umalis na lang sa sitwasyon na mayro'n sila ngayon.

DIONYSUS
No need to pay for the damages. I got it.

Pikit-mata siyang napalunok. Gusto niyang mapikon kasi bago 'yung sasakyan, it's his new baby. But seeing her again with those round apologetic eyes made him held his tongue back.

ARIADNE
Sigurado ka ba? Nakakahiya naman.
Mukhang bago 'yung sasakyan.

DIONYSUS
Okay lang.

He was about to leave but some barangay officials came to oversee their situation. May tanod pa sanang lalapit at hahawakan si Ariadne para dalhin sa opisina pero agad siyang pumagitna.

DIONYSUS
Don't touch her. It's fine. Nagkasundo na kami. Kakilala ko naman kaya hindi na kailangan palakihin 'to.

The barangay officials nodded, they stayed for a few minutes to check if they have injuries. When they assured them that they are both okay, they finally took their leave.

DIONYSUS
Alis na 'ko.

Dionysus is about to walk away but Ariadne catches his wrist. Bababa ang tingin niya sa kamay nilang magkahawak bago siya bitiwan ni Ariadne.

ARIADNE
I insist. Please let me pay for the damages.

DIONYSUS
Then you can talk to my manager.

ARIADNE
Ikaw ang kausap ko, ikaw ang humarap sa akin.

Dionysus tries to hide his laugh. This is the feisty Ariadne that he used to like. And he can't believe that she is quoting his reply from their first conversation.

Tumitig siyang muli kay Ariadne. She is bravely looking at him too until he starts to inch towards her. Napaatras siya hanggang mapasandal sa bumper na binangga niya. Yuyuko si Dionysus at mapapalunok si Ariadne.

DIONYSUS
Bakit? Gusto mo ulit ako makita? Sana sinabi mo na lang agad. Madali naman akong kausap.

He repeated her petty accusations when they first met. While Ariadne, instead of getting mad, just gives him a smirk.

ARIADNE
Oo. Kaya sabihin mo sa akin kung paano ako makabayad. Kasi gusto ulit kita makita.

Ariadne lightly pushes him away from her, then she flips her hair before getting in her car. Dionysus smirks, with a thought that she is really back.