Story

Tony: Your turn... Carlo: (stares at Tony in disbelief) Eh' Are you nuts' Tony: Sige na. Dami mo sinasabi kanina eh. Let’s see what you’ve got. (Tony throws the car keys to Carlo and unbuckled the Seatbelt) Carlo: But I don’t know how to drive. Tony: Oh. But i thought you already have your driver’s license' Carlo: I have a student driver’s license. Tony: You were telling me a lot of stuff about the clutch and the gas and the brake while i was driving. Carlo: Im a theoretical person! Tony: Let’s put your theories in good use then. (Carlo grunts audibly) (Tony moves opened the door and moved out of the car. He walked over the passenger’s side). Tony: Labas na Carlo: Are you teaching me' Tony: Theoretically. Carlo: (sighed). Okay. (opened the door and walks to the driver’s side). Carlo: You don’t have a professional driver’s license, right' So theoretically, you cannot teach. Tony: I am a high school teacher so technically, i can. (Carlo buckled himself up and fixed the rear-view mirror). Carlo: How’s teaching' Tony: Let’s not talk about it' Carlo: Problems' Tony: Nothing interesting. Turn the lights off. Then turn the key clockwise to start the engine. (Carlo moved to follow the instruction) Amy: you dint turn the aircon off. Carlo: Oh yeah. Tony: Its just okay. No harm done Amy: Manual says it lowers the useable life of the aircon and puts much effort to the radiator. (silence) Amy: What' (Brief silence) Tony: Release the handbrake and then step on the clutch and the brake pedals. Carlo: Okay. Tony: Sige, primera mo. Dahan dahan lang sa kambyo. Carlo: What’s going to happen. Amy: Theoretically ... Tony: Lets stop the theory talks, okay' Amy: What’s your problem' Tony: (shrugs) (silence) Carlo: What do i do now' Tony: Slowly let go of the clutch. Carlo: Okay (Car bolted forward and then stops) Tony: Easy man Amy: Its not easy you know. Tony: Nobody is talking to you. Amy: I am talking to myself. Tony: Will you stop it' Amy: Stop what' Tony: Stop whatever it is you are doing that annoys me. Amy: But you are suppose to be an objective person. Tony: Dint you hear the news' Amy: (raises an eyebrow) Whatever. Tony: See! Amy: What now' Carlo: What went wrong with that' Tony: Sabi ko dahan dahan eh. Amy: Talk to me, Tony. Do we have a problem' Tony: Ulitin mo from the start tos dahan dahan sa clutch. Amy: Ganyan... ini-ignore na lang ako ditto. Carlo: Okay. (starts the car). (Amy turns the lights on and picked up her law books. She starts reading aloud). Tony: Can you stop it' Carlo: The engine' Tony: Not you, idiot. Amy: Are you calling me an idiot' Tony: Nobody is talking to you. Carlo: Deja vu. (silence) Amy: Tony, can we talk Tony: Yeah. But can we like do it later' Amy: Like how late' Like two days late' Tony: Like ten minutes late Amy: Okay, sabi mo ha. Carlo: iaangat ko na ba ang paa ko sa clutch' Tony: Sige. Timplahin mo ang gas at the same time. (Car slowly moves forward) Tony and Amy: Cool... (silence) Tony: Clutch then second gear Amy: Buti pa ang car napapa andar na (Silence) Tony: Step on the clutch then slowly step on the break. Amy: Yeah, do it slowly. Its going towards its breaking point na rin naman. Carlo: Am i hearing doublespeak here' Amy: Nice Carlo. You are actually picking things up faster. Di tulad ng iba jan... Tony: Carlo, turn the engine off. We are heading home. I’ll drive. Carlo: Are you guys lovers in distress' Tony: None of your business. Carlo: Why don’t i drive to that store over there and leave the car so that you two can talk' Amy: Good idea. Tony: Not gonna work. Amy: Ano ba Tony, iniiwasan mo ba ako' Tony: Get out Carlo. Carlo: Should i get out Amy' Tony: Im your best friend! Amy: He was my bestfriend before you stole him from me! Tony: Are you nuts' Who would like to steal this lousy guy from you' Carlo: Foul pare. Tony: Sorry dude. Carried away. Amy: Bat sa kanya nagsosorry ka' Tony: What' You are impossible Amy. Amy: NOW THAT’S BETTER. Tony: (whispers) whatever. Amy: Yeah, whatever. (silence) Carlo: So what now Tony' Tony: What “what now”' Carlo: are you still going to drive this thing home or would you trust the lousy guy on the driver’s seat. Tony: Im driving. (Gets out of the car) Amy: (barely audible) Sorry. You are not suppose to hear that. Carlo: No harm done here. Its just alright. (Carlo unbuckles his seatbelt and opened the door). Tony: (to Carlo) Where should i drop you' Amy: My place. I need someone to talk to. Tony: (Looks at Carlo) Amy: What' (Tony slammed the door in getting in). Tony: Are you getting back at me for what happened' Amy: What do you care' Tony: I don’t. And I don’t see why you are not getting the point. Amy: I saw your point. Five years as lovers and then you turn cold towards me. Tony: (in controlled anger) You wouldn’t want to discuss this right now. Amy: surprise. (Carlo stuck his head on the window) Carlo: (in a low but audible voice) Guess i have to walk towards that sari sari store. (to Tony and Amy) Gusto nyo ng chips' Amy & Tony: no. Carlo: Okay. (turns away and left). Tony: What’s between you and Carlo' Amy: What' Tony: I saw that. Amy: Saw what' Tony: How you looked at him. Amy: Ngee. Carlo is a friend. Tony: and i am your' Amy: You don’t want to define it, right' Tony: Correction. No longer want to define. Amy: The same thing. Tony: No. With your statement, it would seem as if there was nothing between us in the very first place. (silence) Amy: How long ago was that' Tony: the what' Amy: Since we talked as ... you know. Tony: I don’t want to tread in those waters Amy: Dint you miss me' Tony: Id rather not. Amy: I miss you. Tony: (sigh). I know. (silence) Tony: Carlo is a great guy. Amy: Oh yes, he is. Tony: You two would look good together. Amy: Ano daw' (sabay tawa at kilig). Alam mo, di ko alam seloso ka pala Tony: I am. Ive always been. Amy: Why is it that i dint see it in the last five years. Are there anything else about you that you are hiding from me' Tony: Ive always been transparent. (silence) Tony: Can we not jump from one topic to another' I have a hard time catching up. Amy: (let out a small, mirthful laugh) I remember, that’s one of the reasons why you broke up with me. Tony: eh' Hehehe Amy: Yeah. Ha ha. Di ko alam if matutuwa ba ako kasi mababaw yung mga reasons na binigay mo or malulungkot kasi mababaw nga talaga na mga reasons. (Brief silence) Tony: Aren’t you happy with who you are now' Or what have become of you since us' Amy: Of course I am. Our food business is now earning. The small consulting firm we established together is now earning as well. I was able to take up law school. And on top of that, I am free. Tony: Well... Amy: No offense meant but..did you really fall out of love' Tony: (sigh). (pause) aren’t you glad you have moved on' Amy: Oh me' I am more than happy to have moved on. Tony: then i do not see any point of discussing your question. Amy: But i have the right to know. Tony: And i have the right to be silent about it. Amy: Did you ever love me' Tony: What do you think' Amy: Was there somebody else' Tony: No. I don’t want to take in any more complications than what’s already on my plate. Amy: Did I complicate your life' Tony: I haven’t thought of it that way. Amy: Did you ever miss me in the last two years' Tony: Probably. I was just not counting. Im somehow buried myself with my job. (Silence) Amy: Have you moved on' Tony: Its enough for me to see you happy. Amy: What do you mean by that' (silence) Amy: You know what, there are these days when i get so emotional that i wanted to rush to you; To hear your grand theories about the universe; to get lost in thoughts with you listening to my funny remarks about your great scientists. I missed the days when you...when you correct me in private but in the most humiliating way in order for me to face the crowd confident and so sure of myself. I don’t understand you or your methods because there is always pain in it...so much pain. But i know you have always wanted a better life for me. Amy: I dint understand everything at first. Until we broke up. Looking back, i was not really hurt because we dint work out. We had a very healthy and fulfilling relationship. Well, at least sa akin that’s how it appears. And i have achieved so much in five years. The panic was more out of fear than out of pain. I feared that i could not move on without you in the picture; i feared that ill get back to my old, unproductive self. Most importantly, i feared that i have loved you so much i could not find someone to fill the void within. (Silence) Amy: What is one thing about me you miss the most' Tony: The scrambled eggs for breakfast.haha Amy: Seryoso nga' And why is that' Tony: I still couldn’t do it eh. Not the way you usually do it' Amy: Why' Is she not cooking for you' Tony: She' Haha. Of course there was no she. I dint have any affair during these past couple of years. Amy: Uuuuyyy. Hahaha Tony: What' Amy: You are still not over me! Ang haba ng hair ko. Hahaha Tony: Hahaha. Don’t flatter yourself. Hahaha Amy: Hahaha (after the laughter died down) Tony: So, how’s you and Carlo' Amy: What about him and me' Tony: You guys look sweet. Amy: Isnt he your best friend' Tony: yeah. Amy: And you have no idea about him' Tony: We don’t talk about stuff like this, Amy: Oh yeah. You only talk about equations. Tony: Sort of. Amy: He is courting my best friend Janice. Tony: oh. Amy: Yeah. (silence) Amy: aren’t you going to ask me if i am single' Tony: no. Amy: wouldn’t you be interested if i am' Tony: (looks at the rear view mirror, catching Amy’s eyes) Amy: well' Tony: nothing. Amy: okay (silence) Amy: Im getting married in two months. Tony: Shit. (Tony turned to look at her) Tony: Is that true' Amy: Yes. Tony: Why' Amy. Why not' Tony: I mean, why did you tell me now' Amy: Because i want you to be happy for me this time. Tony: Uh, well, uhm...i am. Best wishes. Amy: Thank you. Paolo is a great guy. Met him at the office. Strong-willed, brilliant, and very humble. Amy: Id love you to meet him. Tony: No chance. Amy: are you okay' Tony: I am not. Amy: oh. (silence) (Tony turns on the car and drove slowly towards the sari-sari store). Tony: Where to' Amy: Uwi na ba tayo' Tony: Uuwi ka na di ba' Amy: Are you dismissing me' Tony: what do you want me to do' Throw you a party of sorts' Amy: Okay. (silence). (Car approaches Carlo ) Carlo: O ano' Are you guys done talking' (Carlo enters the car and buckles his seat belt) (silence). (Car droves away from the place). Amy: Are you coming' Tony: I don’t know. Ill check my sched. Amy: But two months from now is April. Tony: I know. Amy: Which means that you don’t have a class. Tony: Im not sure about that. Amy: So you are not coming' Carlo: You told him na' (Amy nodded). Carlo: Whew. (To Tony) So ano pare, wedding planners tayo' Tony: haha. Baliw ka. Carlo: Haha. Seryoso nga. Tony: no. Carlo: bakit naman' I thought you are so over her' Tony: Well, i am. Carlo: Or you were' Tony: I still am. Carlo: Parinig nga... (reaches out to Tony’s chest) Tony: What are you doing' Carlo: Feeling the heart beat! Hahaa Tony: bading ka talaga pare. Carlo: hahaha (silence) (Tony looks at the rear view mirror. He saw Amy watching him back. He averted his eyes back to the road) (Carlo reaches out to the tuner and choose the station). Carlo: Eto, bagay sa mood. Hehe (sounds: baby come back...any kind of fool will see...) (long silence with music on the background) Tony: we are here. Amy: Thanks Tony. Carlo: pare, are you sure you are not planning the wedding with us' Tony: Thanks pare, but no thanks. Carlo: whatever. Hahaha (opens the door and got out) Amy: Bye Tony. Tony: Bye. (silence. Amy does not get out). Tony: Bye Amy. Amy: Bye.