Only One

CXVI.

EXT. RACE TRACK — EARLY EVENING

Nikaia greets everyone as she walks on the sidelines of the race track. Everyone is already familiar and used to her presence that is why she is immediately welcomed.

She even had a small talk with some of the team members before heading towards the direction of Dionysus who is resting on one of the empty bleachers.

NIKAIA
Pagod?

Ibaba ni Dionysus ang tubig na iniinom at babaling sa kanya. He pats the empty space beside him and she gladly takes a seat.

DIONYSUS
Why are you here? Hindi ka ba busy?

NIKAIA
Suplado! I just want to visit since nasa kabilang town lang naman 'yung taping ko. Bawal ba? Sabi nga rin ni Pan, 'wag daw muna akong pumunta.

Lilingon-lingon si Nikaia bago bumalik ang tingin niya kay Dionysus.

NIKAIA
Sa'n pala sila?

DIONYSUS
There.

Ngumuso si Dionysus sa direksyon kung nasaan ang mga kaibigan. They all look busy as they laugh with Ariadne who is also resting after preparing their food.

NIKAIA
Oh... si ano ba 'yon..

DIONYSUS
Yes.

NIKAIA
Kaya pala binabawalan mo ako pumunta, eh!

Tatawa si Nikaia at mapapailing lang si Dion. She even nudges him as she gives him a teasing look.

NIKAIA
Pagseselosan ba ako?

DIONYSUS
Wow, confident.

NIKAIA
Excuse me, ilang beses na tayong na-li-link.
Rumored boyfriend ko na nga ang tawag nila sa'yo.

DIONYSUS
Paano, lagi mong pinagkakalat noon na crush mo 'ko.

NIKAIA
Dati 'yon. I've moved on. Ayoko sa may bubog.

Muling tatawa si Nikaia. Sisimangutan lang siya ni Dionysus at kunot-noong haharap sa kanya.

DIONYSUS
Bubog?

NIKAIA
Si Ariadne.

DIONYSUS
Ah.

NIKAIA
I'm okay with us being best of friends,
with our little inside jokes here and there.

DIONYSUS
Ayaw mo na akong kabiruan as a boyfriend?

Iirap si Nikaia pero may ngiti sa mga labi niya. Aakbayan siya ni Dionysus at pasimple niya itong sisikuhin sa tagiliran.

NIKAIA
Bawasan na natin 'yung mga ganyang biruan. Nasa buhay mo na siya ulit and I think she wants to stay.

DIONYSUS
Hindi ko alam.

NIKAIA
Gago. Alam kong alam mo. Binawalan mo nga akong pumunta dito eh. Ibig sabihin, ayaw mo siyang malungkot at masaktan.

DIONYSUS
Sinabi rin nina Sil 'yan kanina. Tinanong nila ako, ayaw ko raw bang may malungkot at masaktan. I knew they were pertaining to her. I answered both. I don't want her to be sad and hurt because of me, but I'm not sure if I am ready to have her back in my life.

Seryosong titingin nang diretso si Dionysus sa direksyon nina Ariadne. She is also looking at him, at them. He only breaks their eye contact when he hears Nikaia.

NIKAIA
So pinapahirapan mo siya?

DIONYSUS
No. I have always asked her to stay away. I'd rather have her mad at me than her be sad because of me. Kaya nga itinulak ko palayo, 'di ba? I never wanted to make her cry but she insisted. Pero sa tuwing maglalakas loob ako, aatras siya. Pagod na ako sa gano'n. I can't let her break me again.

NIKAIA
You think love is supposed to be easy?

DIONYSUS
No, but it wasn't supposed to be this complicated.

NIKAIA
Kayo lang naman ang nagpakomplikado.

DIONYSUS
We're the opposites. Masyado akong matapang, siya duwag.

NIKAIA
She showed up here. That counts as her being brave.
Nasa'n 'yung sa'yo? 'Yung tapang mo?

DIONYSUS
Hindi ko pa kaya ulit.

Nikaia is about to reply but they both stood up instead when they heard a commotion. Hindi nila alam kung ano ang nangyari pero nakita na lang nila na napapalibutan na ng mga staffs ang direksyon kung saan nakatayo si Ariadne kanina.

Dionysus immediately panics and is about to run towards her direction when he saw Pan carrying her out of the race track and to his car. He does not notice his clenched fists until Nikaia held his hand.

NIKAIA
Kaya mo na. Ayaw mo lang.