The Ever Famous Twenty Questions...

Sent this by a friend in 2003, read it... Sent again by another friend in 2007 or 2008, read it again... Sent to my brother's email, read it the 3rd time... At hindi ako nagsasawa... Nagawa ko na rin to eh, hindi nga lang sa beach resort...

Twenty Questions by Juan Ekis
This is the Palanca Award winning play by Juan Ekis. It won the 2nd place in the one-act category year 2003.
TWENTY QUESTIONS Ni Juan Ekis
MGA TAUHAN
Jigs - Fresh grad. Kabarkada ni Yumi.Magtatrabaho bilangresearcher sa isang financial firm
Yumi - Commercial Model. Kabarkada ni Jigs. 2 years aheadkay Jigs.
TAGPOGabi. Sa isang kwarto ng isang beach resort.
Naglalatag ng kumot si Jigs sa sahig habang inaayosni Yumi ang kanyang higaan.
YUMI Sige na, Jigs. Huwag ka nang magpaka-gentle man.Naaawa ako sa? yo e.Tabi na tayo sa kama.
JIGS Hindi, okay lang ako dito.
YUMI Huwag ka nang maarte. As if naman re-rapin kita no.Malaki naman itong kama e.Hatiin na lang natin sa gitna.
JIGS Sure ka?
YUMI Hindi mo naman siguro ako mamanyakin no?
JIGS (Matatawa) Okay ka lang?
YUMI Kung gusto mo, gamitin na lang natin iyang kumotna divider.
JIGS Good idea.Isasampay nila ang kumot mula sa kisame para mahatiang kama sa gitna. Magsesettle down ang dalawa.Ilalabas ni Jigs ang libro niya:"Puppy Love and other Stories" ni F. Sionil Jose.Si Yumi naman ay magpapatugtog ng Japanese Zen Musichabang nagsa-zazen.
YUMI Do you mind?
JIGS No, go ahead. I‘m just reading.Magsa-zazen si Yumi. Magbabasa si Jigs. Pareho silangdi maka-concentrate. Papatayin ni Yumi ang CD player niya.
YUMI I can‘t believe our friends.
JIGS Oo nga e.
YUMI Dapat ginagawa nila ?to sa mga bagong pasok sa barkadao kaya sa bagong…ay oo nga pala. Bagong graduate ka.Congrats.
JIGS Thanks.
YUMI So what‘re your plans?
JIGS Kinukuha akong researcher sa ADB. Kinukuha rin ako ngBPI sa OTP nila.
YUMI Wow naman. In demand.
JIGS Di naman masyado. Who the hell invented this traditionanyway?
YUMI (Matatawa) You won‘t believe it.JIGS Ikaw?YUMI Malay ko ba na mabibiktima rin ako nito balang-araw.
JIGS So why did you start it?
YUMI Wala ka pa sa tropa nun e. Freshman ka pa lang siguro noon.Wala lang. Napagtripan lang namin si Ronald. E may crush siyakay Meg. Noong unang beses magpunta rito ng barkada, sabi ko,magsimula kami ng tradition.Ilo-lottery namin ang pangalan ng mga lalaki at ng mga babae.Kung sino ang mabubunot, silang dalawa ang pagsasamahinsa isang kwarto sa loob ng tatlong araw. And then, we‘ll allsee what happens.Pero dinaya namin noon yung kay Ronald at Meg. Puro Ronald atMeg ang mga pangalan na nakalagay sa lottery.
JIGS (Tatawa) Ang sama ninyo!
YUMI Kaya nga nakarma na ako e.
JIGS So is our case, dinaya? O talagang lottery?
YUMI (Teasing) Ano sa dalawa ang gusto mo?
JIGS Feeling ko may nagtrip sa‘kin sa barkada e.
YUMI Excuse me po, dalawa tayong biktima dito. I don‘t seeany reason kung bakit tayong dalawa ang sasadyaing biktimathis year, unless may crush ka sa‘kin na di ko alam at alamnila (tatawa).
JIGS Baka ikaw (tatawa).
YUMI The success rate of this tradition is 100% so far.
JIGS I was here na the 2nd time. Si Chris at si Cia angbiktima.
YUMI And last year were Rod and Kay. They‘re getting marriedkailan?Sa June yata.
JIGS What do you expect? Ikukulong mo ang isang lalaki atisang babae sa isang kwarto for three days, imposiblengwalang mangyari doon!
YUMI That was exactly my point. (Ngingiti)
JIGS E kung may madisgrasya?
YUMI Ano‘ng disgrasya?
JIGS Alam mo na ?yun!Hahawiin ni Yumi ang divider nilang kumot.
YUMI Ano? Sex? Pa? no kung magsex sila? Nakakatawa kanaman. Di mo masabi.
JIGS Ang alin?
YUMI Ang sex!
JIGS Hah!
YUMI Sige nga sabihin mo nga?
JIGS Para kang *****. Tumigil ka nga.
YUMI ****, Jigs. Graduate ka na totoy ka pa rin!
JIGS Excuse me?
YUMI Sabihin mo nga: ? Sex! Sex! Sex! Sex!?
JIGS Para kang bata, Yumi ha.
YUMI You used to call me ate Yumi when you were in thirdyear.
JIGS Well, graduate na po ako, ate Yumi.Tahimik.
JIGS Hmmm. I wonder if we‘re gonna last three days.
YUMI (Teasing) Bakit? Ayaw mo sa‘kin?Di sasagot si Jigs.
YUMI We‘re gonna survive this one.
JIGS What makes you so sure?
YUMI No offense, Jigs. I honestly find you very attractivepero I‘ve no time for this. Alam mo naman siguro na kaka‘
JIGS Same here.
YUMI Same here what? Na you find me attractive o you don‘thave time for this? (Matatawa)Di sasagot si Jigs. Tahimik. Io-on ulit ni Yumi angCD player at ipagpapatuloy ang zazen. Itatabi niJigs ang libro. Nawalan na siya ng ganang magbasa.Pupunta siya sa ref. Bubuksan niya ito.
JIGS Hah! (Sarcastic) Perfect! Red Wine! How very conducive.
YUMI May chips ba diyan?JIGS Sa awa ng Diyos, may tsibog naman.Papatayin ni Yumi ang CD player. Tatayo siya at kukuhang chips sa ibabaw ng ref.
YUMI Since we‘re gonna be stuck naman with each other for threedays, might as well make the best out of it di ba? I-enjoy nalang natin.
JIGS What do you mean?
YUMI Get the wine, let’s have a drink! 50 hours to go na langand we‘re gonna be the first failure of this tradition.
JIGS Oo nga. (Kukunin ang wine. Maglalagay sa dalawang baso.)When they chose Cia and Chris, naiintindihan ko pa e. Lalona sina Rod and Kay. Kung baga, tinulungan lang natinsilang umamin sa isa‘t isa. Pero us…
YUMI Weird ng barkada natin no?
JIGS To our barkada and our weird traditions!
YUMI To us, the first failure of this tradition!Magto-toast sila at iinom.
JIGS Sige, ate Yumi. Let’s make our stay here more interesting…
YUMI What’s with the ate?
JIGS Fine…
Bubuksan ni Yumi ang chips. Uupo sila pareho sa sahig paramagkwentuhan.
JIGS Let’s play twenty questions.
YUMI Sige! Ano yon?
JIGS Each of us will have ten questions each. Tatanungin kita,tatanungin mo ako, mga gusto nating malaman sa isa‘t isa. Alternate tayo. Pero the thing here is, you can‘t ask the question that I already asked.
YUMI That’s pretty interesting.
JIGS At bawal magsinungaling.
YUMI Fair enough. Pero whatever is said inside this room remains inthe room. Ok?
JIGS Of course. You wanna start?
YUMI No. I want to ask the last question. (Ngingiti at kikindatan siJigs)
JIGS Smart move. Game. First question: Ano ang greatest frustration mosa buhay?
YUMI Nge. Ang korni naman ng tanong mo. Walang ka-challenge-challenge.Ask me something na mag-iisip naman ako.
JIGS Simula pa lang e.
YUMI Sige. Ano nga ba…?J
IGS Akala ko ba walang ka-challenge-challenge?
YUMI Wag kang maingay, nag-iisip ako…I‘m a frustrated ballet dancer.
JIGS Talaga?
YUMI I took lessons when I was six pero umayaw ako. Wala kasi akongdisiplina e. Mas gusto kong makipaglaro sa mga kalaro ko. PeroI really enjoy watching ballet dancers. When I see them danceparati kong kaiisip na sana, ako rin. There! Ang dali naman ngtanong mo. Walang thrill.
JIGS Appetizer lang. Yari ka sa‘kin mamaya.
YUMI We‘ll see. Ako naman: Did you ever have doubts about yoursexuality? I mean, kahit minsan ba, naisip mo na baklaka?
JIGS Never.
YUMI Bilis ng sagot a.
JIGS Coz I never entertained the idea.
YUMI Homophobe ka ba?
JIGS Alternate tayo sa tanungan, di ba?
YUMI So, not once? Kahit konti? Kahit what if lang?
JIGS I‘m straight, okay?
YUMI I‘m not asking if you‘re gay or not. I‘m askingkung…
JIGS Never nga.
YUMI We all thought na you were gay. Well at least nungfirst few months mo sa tropa before you introduced yourgirlfriend to us.
JIGS What?! You thought I was gay?!
YUMI E pa? no kasi, masyado kang mabait. Ang pogi-pogimo, pero parang allergic ka sa mga babae. Over ang pagiginggentleman mo. Too good to be true. You have a good body,it seems that you work out pero iniisip namin front molang yun. Kadalasan kasi front ng mga bakla ang pagigingmaganda ng katawan nila at pagiging sporty…Tatawa lang si Jigs.
YUMI So we thought it’s either that or you were planning tobecome a priest.
JIGS What?!
YUMI Well, you were always this goody-goody person. Pumupuntaka sa chapel. Nangungumpisal, nagsisimba…
JIGS The way you said it, parang equivalent ang dalawa a.
YUMI Of course not. I didn‘t mean that!
JIGS I take my faith seriously. That doesn‘t make me gay!
YUMI So you did want to become a priest…
JIGS Hindi rin. Actually, I always wanted to raise a family…and be a father.Tahimik.
YUMI So you‘re not gay.
JIGS No.
YUMI You never…
JIGS Ilang beses ka ba ipinanganak? Kulit mo e. It’smy turn.
YUMI Homophobe ka no?
JIGS Hindi kaya!
YUMI Whatever…
JIGS Ako na, daya mo naman e.
YUMI Okay, okay. Shoot me.
JIGS How do you see yourself five years from now?
YUMI You expect to win this game? Ang kokorni ng mgatanong mo e.
JIGS The object of this game is not to win.
YUMI E ano pa ba?
JIGS To get to know the other person.
YUMI Sure. Basta ako, I will win this game. Walang thrillang isang game kung walang nananalo.
JIGS Sagot.
YUMI May time limit ba ?to? (Tatawa) Wine pa nga.
JIGS Sabi nga nila: in vino veritas.Magsasalin si Jigs ng wine.
YUMI Masarap ang wine, ha? Saan kaya nabili ito? (Iinom)To answer your question, either maging entrepreneur ako,magsisimula ako ng sarili ako nangg botique or bar, o kaya,magiging artista ako sa pelikula.
JIGS Not bad.
YUMI Pero mukhang malabo yung stint ko sa movies. Tough angcompetition e. Saka mahina ang manager ko. Panay hosting atpictorials ang nakukuhang raket para sa akin. Papalitan kona nga e. Pag nakaipon ako, baka magtayo na lang ako ngbotique.
JIGS (Magbibiro) Ayaw mo mag-bold?
YUMI Yuck!
JIGS Lahat ng gustong mag-artista doondumadaan.
YUMI May talent naman ako kahit papano a!
JIGS Lahat naman ng bold star may talent a! Sa dibdib!(Tatawa)
YUMI (Hahampasin ng unan si Jigs) Bastos ka talaga!Akala ko goody-goody ka…Hindi ko papatulan angpagbobold kahit ano‘ng mangyari no! Kahit ganito ako,may respeto pa rin naman ako sa sarili ko.
JIGS Ganito? Ano? ng ganito?Di sasagutin ni Yumi ang tanong.
YUMI These producers think all the people want is sex,sex, sex! Kaya puro basura ang mga pelikula e. Winepa nga!
JIGS (Magsasalin ng wine) Bakit naman botique?
YUMI Hoy madaya ka na ha? Hindi pa ako lasing. Akona‘ng magtatanong. Ang korni mo namang magtanong.Bigatan naman natin nang konti…Inom ka muna.Iinom si Jigs. Magsasalin siya ng bago.
YUMI Who was your first crush in the barkada?Tahimik.
YUMI Haha! Bingo ka no? Bagal mo naman sumagot.Iinumin ang wine. Magsasalin ng bago.
JIGS Lalaki o babae?Tatawa sila pareho.
YUMI Dapat may time limit ito e.Tahimik.
JIGS Hirap naman ng tanong mo.
YUMI Iyon nga ang maganda e. Para may thrill. As if namanibo-broadcast ko sa barkada kung sino.
JIGS Wine pa?
YUMI Di mo pa sinasagot yung tanong ko, nagtatanong ka na!Magsasalin ng wine si Jigs kay Yumi.
JIGS Yung crush ko kasi…siyempre, sino pa ba? E di yungpinakamaganda sa barkada.
YUMI Nge. Subjective yon no! Para sa‘kin ang pinakagwaposi Joel. Sa babae, si Kay. Para kay Ronald, si Meg…
JIGS Yung literally na may dating‘walang tanung-tanong.Yung kahit sino? ng tanungin mo sa tropa, objectively,siya ang isasagot.
YUMI Jigs, twenty questions ang game natin. Hindi guessinggame. C‘mon man. Play your own game. Pa‘no na kung truthor dare to e di pahirapan na.Dadalawa na nga lang tayo e.
JIGS Yung commercial model.Matitigilan si Yumi.
YUMI Wine pa nga.Magsasalin si Jigs. Mag-iisip si Yumi. Iinom.Biglang matatawa.
YUMI (Tumatawa pa rin) Talaga?
JIGS Sige, pagtawanan ba?
YUMI You can say it to my face, I won‘t bite. Bakit hirapna hirap kang sabihin kung sino? Takot kang ma-reject?Parang tanong lang e…Wine pa nga!
JIGS Okay, 1 point ka na…
YUMI (Ngiti) Gee…thanks. Flattered naman ako. At kailannaman nangyari ito?
JIGS Sorry, my turn to ask. (Ngingiti) Who is your crushin the barkada…NOW?
YUMI E ginaya mo lang yung tanong ko e.
JIGS Hinde no. May qualifier ako. Ang sabi ko, NOW. Angtanong mo, first crush ko.
YUMI Korni pa rin. Alam mo, kung basketball ‘to, tambakka na.
JIGS Just answer the question.
YUMI Siyempre wala. I told you, I don‘t have time forthese stuff. Kakabreak ko lang di ba?
JIGS Korni mo namang sumagot.
YUMI E korni yung tanong e. Pero kung talagang-talagangkailangan kong sumagot…hmmm…teka…sino nga ba?Sino ba‘ng crush material sa barkada?Wala akong maisip e. Ikaw na lang.
JIGS Yung seryoso naman.
YUMI Seryoso ako. Ayaw mo yata e. Sige, iba na lang…
JIGS E napipilitan ka lang e.
YUMI Uy! Pa‘no ba ‘yan? MU na tayo? Crush mo ko, crushkita…yiheee(Tatawa).
JIGS Dati pa ‘yon no!
YUMI Ay? Di mo na ko crush? Bakit, na turn-off ka? Anonamang ginawa ko?Tsk. Tsk.
JIGS Is that your question na?
YUMI Oy, hinde! Ito naman…di ba pwedeng mag-follow-up?Iinom ng wine si Jigs.
YUMI Fine. Here’s a little juicy question:Describe your first kiss.
JIGS That’s not even a question.
YUMI Arte mo. O: How was your first kiss like?Matatawa si Jigs.
JIGS Wet.
YUMI Yuck!Magtatawanan sila.
JIGS Alam mo, aksidente yung first kiss ko. Close kasikami nung isa kong kaibigan. Pag naggu-goodbye ako sakanya, parati ko siyang kini-kiss sa noo.E one time, sa gym habang nagpapahinga, nakaupo siyasa sahig. Tinatamad siyang tumayo. So bumaba akonang konti para halikan siya sa noo kasi pauwi na ako.E siya naman, para maabot ko, medyo tumingala. E sakto,sa lips ko siya nahalikan. Pareho kaming nagulat.Pero di pa kami naghiwalay agad. Weird nga angfeeling e. Parang may glue. Ayaw na namin maghiwalaypareho…Tawa pa rin si Yumi
YUMI Awww. Ang sweet naman. Parang sa pelikula. SiKrissy ba to?
JIGS Hindi. Hindi mo siya kilala.
YUMI So what happened? Nagkatuluyan kayo?
JIGS Nope.
YUMI Ha?
JIGS Ewan ko ba. Complicated kasi yung situation namine. May boyfriend siya noon. Ako naman, takot pa saisang relationship. Pero at least, na-discover naminna pareho pala kaming may gusto sa isa‘t isa. Perohanggang doon na lang.
YUMI What happened after?
JIGS We talked about it. We both decided na it wont work.Tapos, bigla na lang, hindi na kami nagkikita. And then,I met you guys, iba na ang barkada ko.
YUMI Nakakatuwa naman.
JIGS Ikaw, pa? no yung first kiss mo?
YUMI Ikaw ang nagturo sa akin ng game na ito di ba? Bakitba lagi mong bini-break ang rules? Di mo na pwedengtanungin ‘yan!
JIGS Tine-testing ko lang kung lasing ka na. (Iinomng wine) Okay, naka-warm-up na ako: What was thenaughtiest thing you ever did?
YUMI ‘Yan ang mga tanong! Ano ba‘ng ibig mong sabihinng naughty?
JIGS Bahala kang mag-define.
YUMI Hmmm…marami e…(matatawa) baka maeskandalo ka.
JIGS Kanina ayaw mo ng korni. Ngayong medyo excitingnaman…
YUMI Eto na…I had two boyfriends at the same time.
JIGS (Nagulat) Hala.
YUMI I was with Joel and Zach at the same time.
JIGS Yikes. Alam ba ni Joel?
YUMI Kaya nga kami naghiwalay nun e. Nahuli ako(matatawa).
JIGS Ano namang pumasok sa kukote mo‘t ginawa mo‘yon, aber?
YUMI Nag-eexperiment lang ako. E sa type ko silapareho e. Ano‘ng magagawa ko? Saka para may thrill.Alam mo ‘yon? Yung patago kang nakikipag-date saisa para di mahuli. Everyday pa akong nakakalibre,kasi, alternate sila!(Tatawa) Akala n‘yo kayo lang mga lalaki ang pwedenggumawa no‘n?
JIGS How can you love two guys at the same time?
YUMI Who said something about love? Walang kinalamanang love dun. I was…having fun!
JIGS Nainlove ka na ba, ever?
YUMI Nakakailang tanong ka na? It’s my turn.
JIGS Don‘t you want to answer the question anyway?
YUMI My turn!
JIGS Kulang ka pa sa wine. (Tatawa)Ubos na ang unang wine bottle. Kukuha si Jigsng isa pa sa ref.
JIGS Ang bilis nating uminom a.
YUMI Are you still a virgin?
JIGS Whoa! Where did that come from?
YUMI That’s my fourth question.
JIGS (Magsasalin ng wine sa mga baso). Ano sa tingin mo?Ngingiti si Jigs. Tititigan lang siya ni Yumi.
YUMI Don‘t tell me, wala pang nangyayari sa inyo niKrissy hanggang ngayon? Ilang taon na ba kayo?
JIGS Mag-tu-two years na sana next week.
YUMI So virgin ka pa? I don‘t believe it!
JIGS Mukha ba akong *********?
YUMI Mukha kang nagpapaiyak ng babae e.
JIGS Insulto ba ‘yon?
YUMI Compliment ‘yon, *****.
JIGS Ah, okay. Thanks.
YUMI Pero, you mean, you never felt the urge to do it?
JIGS Alin? Sex?
YUMI Wow! Nasabi rin niya!
JIGS Of course I always feel it. Natural lang ‘yon satao no? Nasa iyo na lang ‘yan kung ano? ng gagawin mosa urge na ‘yon.
YUMI E natural naman pala e. Bakit mo pinipigilan? I mean,pag naiihi ka, iihi ka. Pag nagugutom ka, kakain ka.Pareho lang ‘yon, di ba?
JIGS Pag naiihi ka, iihi ka dahil kailangan mong umihi.At hindi ka iihi kahit saan. Pupunta ka sa banyo. Pagnagugutom ka, kakain ka dahil kailangan. At hindi mokinakain ang lahat ng pagkain na ihain sa iyo.Pag di ka gutom, di ka kakain. Pag di mo gusto yung pagkain,di mo gagalawin. Ang aso, pag may nakitang pagkaindiyan, walang tanung-tanong. Lalamon ‘yan.
YUMI And sex is the same?
JIGS Lahat ng bagay, nilalagay sa lugar. May context. Atleast, yun ang nagpaiba sa atin sa aso.
YUMI Grabe ka namang magsalita. Para mo na ring sinabinglahat ng nakikipagsex, aso ah!
JIGS Sinasabi ko lang, pag wala sa tamang konteksto,mali.
YUMI And what is that context?
JIGS Matanda na tayo. Ayokong maging preachy. Alam nanatin yan.Tahimik.
JIGS Kaso, kahit alam na natin, minsan di pa rin natinginagawa.Tahimik.
JIGS Masarap e. Sino ba? ng ayaw nun?Tahimik.
YUMI (Medyo nairita) So feeling mo santo ka at dapatkang i-congratulate for being a virgin!JIGS Sinasabi ko lang ang pinaniniwalaan ko. Ineexplainko lang kung bakit di ko ginagawa. May kanya-kanyatayong dahilan. Di ko pinipilit kahit kanino ang mgapaniniwala ko…No need to get so cross about it,Yumi.Tahimik.
JIGS It’s not about being a virgin or not. It’s aboutputting things into their proper places.
YUMI I‘m not arguing with you.
JIGS Me neither. I‘m just answering your questions.Matagal na katahimikan.Ngingiti si Jigs.Titignan niya si Yumi na medyo nairita sa nakaraangtrain of conversation nila. Magsasalin siya ng winepara kay Yumi.
JIGS Nasobrahan ka na yata sa wine e. (Tatawa) You stillwanna go on with the game? Nine pa lang tayo, eleven moreto go. (Ngingiti)
YUMI Shoot me.
JIGS Who was your first lay?
YUMI (Hahampasin ng unan si Jigs) Ang bastos mo talaga! Soina-assume mo na hindi na ako virgin?
JIGS E sabi mo kasi, walang thrill ang game pag walangnananalo e. So I guess I‘m winning. Saka wala namanakong inimply na ganun a! I‘m just hitting two birds withone stone. Kasi kung virgin ka, e di simple lang ang sagot:wala. Kung hindi naman, e di sino?
YUMI Ang daya mo.
JIGS Akala ko ba ayaw mo ng korning tanong.
YUMI You think I‘ll answer that after giving your sermon,Father Jigs?
JIGS Ano ka ba? Inexplain ko lang yung personal reasons ko.Kung ano man ang sa iyo, I‘ll respect them as well as Iknow you respect mine. I‘m no saint. I‘m just trying toget to know you better. (Ngingiti)
YUMI How do you do that?
JIGS Alin?
YUMI I should have walked out on you kanina pa pero the wayyou say things…parang bumabaliktad sa ‘yo…makes youmore…charming. Kung ibang tao ka siguro, di na kitakakausapin.
JIGS You can‘t walk out. We‘re locked here for three daysexcept for meals.
YUMI So I‘m forced to like you para di masira ang vacationko.(Ngingiti)
JIGS You don‘t have to answer my question if you don‘twant.
YUMI I guess I‘ll be honest with you as you were honestwith me…
Tahimik. Iinom ng wine si Yumi.
YUMI Di mo siya kilala. His name was Robert. He was myfirst boyfriend. It was Senior Prom Night. Alam mona…typical senior prom story. Everyone wants to lose iton prom night. Everyone thinks na pag prom night, itwas something special. We went out sa hall nang maaga. Wemade out sa kotse niya. One thing led to the other.Tapos, yun…yun na. We went back just in time for theawarding of the prom queen.Guess what, I won pa.(Mahinang tawa)
JIGS What was it like?
YUMI Now that I look back, it isn‘t as special as I thoughtit was. Pero it was different then. Back then, we were justled by our passions. Alam mo yon? Andun ka na. Hormonesraging wild. Passions and Ideals are confused.Akala mo love, yun pala, curious ka lang pala. Akala moyun na yon. Akala mo you are in-love at lahat ng gawinmo tama. Lahat ng gawin mo perfect.Everything was magical…well, almost.
JIGS Almost…?
YUMI Sa next question mo na ‘yan. Ako na.
JIGS (Pabiro) Wine pa? Kulang ka pa yata e.
YUMI Nilalasing mo ko no? May balak ka sa? kin no?(Tatawa)
JIGS Is that your question? Sasagutin ko na.(Tatawa)
YUMI Engot. Hindi ‘yon. Here’s something na curiouslang ako. Kasi I‘ve been hearing things…saka you‘vehinted on it na rin kanina…Are you still with Krissy?
JIGS Hindi na.
YUMI Since when?
JIGS Two, maybe three weeks ago?
YUMI Sino‘ng nakipag-break?
JIGS Pareho kami.
YUMI Why?
JIGS Maraming dahilan, actually. Naisip na lang namin nait won‘t work. Isa na do‘n, magkaiba kami ng gustongmangyari sa buhay. Magkaiba kami ng mga pinaniniwalaan.
YUMI Like what?
JIGS Marami.
YUMI At ngayon mo lang nalaman iyon after two yearswith her?
JIGS People change, Yumi.Tahimik.
JIGS Right before graduation, she asked me to move inwith her.
YUMI Talaga?
JIGS Sabi niya, doon na naman din daw papunta ang relasyonnamin. Might as well practice na raw for the real thing.Tutal, she’s working na naman,ako naman bagong graduate,we should try out na raw living together if it‘ll workfor us.
YUMI Natakot ka sa arrangement?
JIGS Hindi naman sa natakot. If you love someone, anopa‘ng ikakatakot mo, di ba?
YUMI E bakit umayaw ka?
JIGS It’s just that, It’s not my thing.
YUMI Sabi na nga ba e, bakla ka no? Sinasayang mo angopportunities!(Matatawa)
JIGS Hindi ako oportunista. At lalong hindi ako bakla.
YUMI Fine.
JIGS Naisip ko lang na hindi pa pala ako handa sa mgaganitong bagay. Wala pa sa isip ko ang gano‘n. Na-shocksiguro ako sa reality na iyon na nga ang next stepsa relationship namin. I mean, two years of beingtogether and knowing each other, we‘re practicallyready to get married, if you know what I mean. Pero Irealized, I‘m not ready for any of these. Narealizeko how immature I am. Na iba yung ideals ko two yearsago sa ideals ko ngayon.I need to mature some more to get into this thing I mean,getting married. Diyos ko, ilang taon lang ba ako…
YUMI Maturity has nothing to do with age.
JIGS But it has a lot to do with time.
Tahimik.
JIGS So I thought, bakit kailangan ng practice mode? Ibigsabihin, pag sumablay kami, split na kami? Live like acouple minus the commitment?Pa‘no pag nawala na yung magic? Goodbye na?Iinom ng wine si Jigs.
JIGS Kung kasal na, kasal na. Wala nang practice. I thinkthat’s the real cowardice. Yung i-try muna natin kungit will work kasi takot kayo na baka hindi magingsuccessful ang outcome. Saan na napunta ang excitementng buhay? Kaya nga kayo in-love, para sabay kayong humarapsa totoong buhay, sa hirap at ginahawa, di ba? (Matatawa)Hindi yung pagpapraktisan muna ninyo para siguradong ginhawalang.Magkikibit-balikat lang si Jigs.
YUMI Are you always like that?
JIGS Like what?
YUMI So cerebral in everything. Kahit pagdating sarelationships.
JIGS Life is too precious para lang daanin sa trial anderror.Ngingiti si Jigs.
Tahimik.
YUMI So, No hard feelings?
JIGS Friends pa rin kami. She still calls me up nga sabahay e.
YUMI That’s nice.
JIGS Kayo, bakit kayo nagbreak ni Carlo?
YUMI That’s your sixth na ha?
JIGS Sure.
YUMI Alam mo, ironic para sa akin yung break-up naminni Carlo. And the funny thing was, it was about…sex.Uy, sa atin lang ito ha?
JIGS Of course.
YUMI Kasi nga, I was looking for that magic nga di ba?I wanted to be in a relationship na special naman. So of all the boyfriends I had, sa kanya lang ako walangsexual relationship. As in nag-aabstain talaga ako.Kasi parang naisip ko, para magkaroon naman ng meaningyung “making love” di ba? Parang, dapat di mo paratingginagawa, at ginagawa mo lang when you are sincere withyourself and with your partner.So I was investing muna emotionally. And I was actuallystarting to care about him. Yung, hindi ko na iniisipyung sarili ko. Yung siya lang ang inaalala ko. Akalako perfect na…
JIGS Ano‘ng nangyari?
YUMI Patunayan ko raw na mahal ko siya. Magbigay daw akong proof. Pagbigyan ko raw siya. Sabi ko sa kanya,hindi pa ba sapat na proof ‘yon? Na I‘m saving myselffor that right moment, that special moment betweenus? Alam mo‘ng ginawa? Nilayasan ako!
JIGS You deserve someone better.
YUMI Talaga!
YUMI Isipin mo, kung kelan naman I grew tired ofmeaningless sex, when I‘m looking for the real thing,saka naman mawawala. Ang ironic ngbuhay no?
JIGS That’s the way we must learn.YUMI Alam mo, kung tutuusin, never ko pang na-experienceyung tunay na mag make-love. And I had to go all throughthose relationships para lang ma-realize yun. At least,ngayon, alam ko na ang hinahanap ko.
Iinom ng wine.
YUMI Ikaw ba, importante sa ‘yo na virgin angmapapangasawa mo? How do you see virginity ba?
JIGS Alam mo, di ko pa napag-isipan ‘yan. Pero nowthat you‘ve mentioned it…It doesn‘t matter kungvirgin ang mapangasawa ko o hindi. Of course Ivalue virginity a lot. I treat it as the only realgift I could give to my wife to be. Imaginin mo nalang di ba, kung wife ko ang una ko.It’s like the perfect wedding gift I could give to her.Pero kung siya hindi na virgin, I wouldn‘t care. Aslong as mahal ko siya. Kasi I don‘t expect her to giveme the same gift. I don‘t do something because I expectpeople to do the same to me. Ibigay niya sa akin angsarili niya nang buong-buo, sapat na sa akin ‘yon.Masaya na ako sa ganoon.
YUMI (Mapapangiti si Yumi.) You know, that’s the nicestthing I ever heard from a guy. That’s why I alwaysenjoy talking to you. You always say the nicest things.
JIGS Wow. Salamat. E ikaw, is making love to you equalto love?
YUMI I always took sex and love as opposite ideas. Imean, after the first time na…you know…sa Seniorprom. Kasi afterwards, we broke up na ni Robert. Taposnaisip ko, yun na ba yung love? Baka hindi love yungnaramdaman ko. Baka napagkamalan ko lang siyang love.I was just after the pleasure of intimacy. And thenI felt empty. So empty. That’s why I wanted to change.I wanted to believe in “making love.” And I‘m stilllooking for it.Yung magic. Yung feeling mo, tao ka pala. I never feltthat kahit isang beses. Men have penetrated my bodybut never my soul. And I wanted that. I wanted someoneto touch my soul. To “make love” to my soul throughmy body. Pero siguro, naging numb na ‘ko sa dami ngrelasyong pinagdaanan ko. Hindi ko alam kung mararanasanko pa iyon. That’s why I envy you.
Tahimik.
YUMI Sa tingin mo may pag-asa pa ako?
JIGS You still have your soul…(Ngingiti)Tahimik.
YUMI With whom would you want to experience it?
JIGS Of course, sa asawa ko.
YUMI I mean, someone in particular. Take it as myseventh question. So give a name.
JIGS A name? Hindi ko alam. Basta kung sino ang magigingasawa ko.Tahimik.
Magkikibit-balikat si Yumi.
Iinom ng wine.
JIGS Well, I always thought na it was Krissy. And then,it was just gone. Of course I loved her. And I stilldo. Pero the magic was just gone after we both found outna magkaiba kami ng mga prinsipyo sa buhay.Tahimik.
JIGS My turn?
YUMI Shoot me.
JIGS Tell me something…a secret. Yung wala kahit isangnakakaalam.Matagal na katahimikan.
JIGS You trust me naman di ba?
YUMI Well, you‘ve earned it, alright.
JIGS Saka wala akong tinatago sa ‘yo. Sinagot ko lahatng tanong mo as honestly as I could. (Ngingiti)
YUMI I uhm…
JIGS Yes…?
YUMI I need more wine.Magsasalin si Jigs ng wine.
JIGS Take your time. We have less than fifty hours togo.Iinom ng wine si Yumi.
YUMI I‘ll tell you something no one in the world knowsexcept one other person. And that person probably forgotall about me already.
JIGS (Pabiro) What? You had sex with a stranger?
YUMI Ano ka ba?
JIGS Biro lang. Seryoso na.
YUMI Promise ha? Hindi ito lalabas.
JIGS Promise.
YUMI If this goes out, I will hunt you kahit sa libinganmo. Huhukayin kita at papatayin kita ulit.
JIGS Mamatay man ako ngayon.
YUMI Okay…(Pause) I…I was with Joel then… (Magigingmas seryoso ang tono niya) …and Zach. I wasn‘t reallywith Zach, I was just going out with him pag wala si Joel,alam mo na…making out and stuff…Well, anyway, I waskinda serious din naman with Joel that time. Joel and Iwere…you know…doing it. And…
JIGS And…?
YUMI Uhm…I…uhm…I got pregnant.
JIGS What?
Tahimik.
Iinom ng wine si Yumi.
YUMI I uhm…shit. Hindi ko naman talaga ginusto e. Uhm…Two months akong delayed…then I took that test. I foundout na buntis nga ako…and Joel found out about Zach(maluha-luha na) and I didn‘t know what to say, youknow? Maniniwala ba naman sa akin si Joel na naaliwlang ako kay Zach? Na I didn‘t really love him? Na walalang iyon? And so he broke up with me and…I..uhm…I was afraid and uhm…(Magsisimula siyang magbreak-down)
JIGS It’s okay…
YUMI I uhm…hindi ko na alam ang gagawin ko, Joel leftme. I wanted to tell him about the baby to make himcome back but I don‘t think he‘d believe me after thething with Zach…and…my parents are gonna killme if…shit. (iiyak)
JIGS (lalapit kay Yumi para i-console ito)Ssshhh…you don‘t have to tell me this if it upsets you…YUMI And so I went to a clinic…(hahagulgol) I didn‘tmean to, Jiggs. I wasn‘t myself then. And I felt so afraid.So alone…
JIGS Tahan na. Ssshhh…
Iiyak lang si Yumi kay Jigs.
Yayakapin ni Jigs siYumi.
JIGS Alam ba ‘to ni Joel?
YUMI How can I tell him? The only other person na nakakaalamay yung duktor sa clinic. God…(iiyak) Oh God…
JIGS It’s alright…Hihimasin ni Jigs ang likod ni Yumi. Patatahaninniya ito. Matagal silang nakaganito lang. Matagalna katahimikan.
YUMI Can you get me my yosi?Tatayo si Jigs. Pupunta sa may side table sa tabi ngkama. Kukunin ang yosi ni Yumi. Magsisindi siya ng isaat iaabot kay Yumi.
YUMI Thanks…Matagal na katahimikan.
YUMI If we were…if we were the last two people on earth,would you consider doing it with me?JIGS Doing what?
YUMI Alam mo na…
JIGS Alin? (Teasing ngingiti)
YUMI **** mo. (Ngingiti)
JIGS Ngumiti rin.
YUMI So? Would you?
JIGS Alin nga? Di mo masabi no? Bakit di mo masabi? (Pagtatawanansi Yumi) Sabihin mo nga: Sex! Sex! Sex! Sex!
YUMI Shut up nga!
JIGS That’s your eight na, ha?
YUMI I lost count. Answer it.
JIGS Why not?Hihithit ng yosi si Yumi. Tahimik. Sasandal si Yumisa balikat ni Jigs.
JIGS If you could be something else, what would you be?
YUMI I dunno…maybe a violin…yeah. Violin siguro.
JIGS Bakit?
YUMI I always saw the relationship of a violin and itsplayer as very intimate. Pag tumutugtog ang violinist,ang nakikita ko at naririnig ko, he strokes the soul ofthe instrument and the instrument penetrates the soul ofthe player. Para silang nagmi-make love. Di ba? Very sexy,very intimate, very sublime. Di ba? Pareho silang sinceresa isa‘t isa.Dahil kung hindi sila sincere, walang music na mabubuo. Theviolin surrenders her body to her player, her whole body andher whole soul, in full trust and sincerity. Di ba, comparedto the sound of the other instruments, ang tunog ng violinparang isang naked woman? A naked woman in surrender? I wantto be a violin. I want to be stroked in the soul. I wantto make sincere music. I want to experience the sound of love.
Tahimik.
JIGS Lalim nun ah. (Ngingiti)
YUMI Pa‘no mo malalamang in-love ka na?
JIGS Paano? I don‘t think there’s a formula to that.Basta malalaman mo na lang. I mean, ilang beses lang banangyari sa akin ‘yon? I‘d like to believe na yun na nga‘yon…yung kay Krissy…YUMI Kwento mo nga…paano mo narealize dati na mahal monga si Krissy?
JIGS Alam mo nakakatawa…korni actually. Babalik nanaman ako sa pagiging korni nito e. Di ba ayaw mosa korni.
YUMI Sige na. Hindi na kita aasarin.
JIGS I heard bells.
YUMI Ano?
JIGS Seryoso. Bigla na lang, habang nag-uusap kami, maynarinig na lang akong bells, tapos music. Ewan ko kunginiimagine ko lang ‘yon pero yun ang nangyari. Nakakatawanga e. Parang kanta ng Beatles.
YUMI Seryoso ka ba?
JIGS O baka naman nagkataon noong oras na yon, maynagkakantahan sa kung saan sa school. Basta may narinigakong bells. Tapos napangiti ako.Pagtingin ko sa mata niya, iba na ang nakikita ko. Hindi kona siya nakita as kabarkada lang. Biglang parang may magic.Hindi ko ma-explain. Baduy pero ganun. Tapos I just seizedthe moment. Umamin ako. A week later, kami na.
YUMI Korni nga. (Matatawa)
JIGS Korni talagang pakinggan. Pero pag nandun ka na. Pagnaranasan mo na, feeling mo, hindi na korni.
Ngingiti si Yumi. Tahimik.
YUMI Alam mo, may times na parang tunog violin ang boses mo.O lasing lang ako?Tahimik.
JIGS I‘m into my last question.Iaangat ni Yumi ang ulo niya.
YUMI Shoot me. Better make it good.
JIGS If you were again to be the next victim of thistradition, if you were to be locked up in this room again…who would you want the next guy to be?
YUMI (Mag-iisip) I want someone whom I could talk to…Yung makukwentuhan ko ng mga sikreto ko. Yung may sensemakipag-usap. Yung may laman. The violin player who‘dstroke my strings…not even. Yung mapapatunog niyaang strings ko without even touching them. (Tahimik)Lumuluwag na ang dila ko…kung anu-ano na ang nasasabiko. (Ngingiti)Tititigan lang ni Jigs si Yumi. Tahimik.
YUMI Siyempre yung masarap kausap.Tahimik. Hindi makatingin si Yumi.
YUMI Yung kahit habambuhay wala kaming gawin kundi mag-usap…I think It’s better than making love.Mapapatingin si Yumi kay Jigs.
YUMI Gosh I want to kiss you so badly.Matitigilan siya.
YUMI I can‘t believe I just said that.Tahimik. Titignan niya ulit si Jigs.
YUMI don‘t you want to kiss me?Pause.
Titignan siya ni Jigs sa mata.
JIGS Is that your last question? (Ngingiti siJigs)
YUMI Yes.
DILIM.