There Was You (Completed)

20 - Dress Rehearsals

"Why? Are we going to fight in front of him?"

"Gusto mo ba? Para makita niya kung paano tayo mag-kiss and makeup?"

A/N: oooh, shots fired.

"Nobody's going to kiss, let alone makeup or make akbay!"

"Then how do you supposed we should behave in front of him? Feet together, knees together, sitting straight? Gusto mong magrequest ng long table?"

The door of the function room opened and in comes Tita Terrie.

"Kids, kids, ano ba? Baka naman ang mangyari bukas eh magbreak kayo in front of him."

The spoke simultaneously. "Ma'am Terrie?"/"Tita, what are you doing here? I thought you'll just wait for me outside."

"Alangan namang pabayaan namin kayo. Para ke pang kumuha ka ng function room eh di sulitin na natin. I'll be your coach for tonight. Just call me, coach Terrie. I have my assistant here with me. Kakai, benaki todits."

Kakai entered, wearing glasses and holding a clipboard.

A/N: Coach Terrie? Ano to, Coach Cynthia's school of acting? This, I got to see. Kuha cornick, naubos ang popcorn.

Tita Terrie turned her attention to Richard, who's looking more amused by the second. "Richard, sabi ni Maine, you requested for a strategy meeting, so here we are. Two brilliant and beautiful strategists sa larangan ng pag-ibig. Thrice married, twice divorced. Maning-mani na sa akin ang ma-engaged. Been there, done that. Kakai, your credentials, please."

Complete with projection, Kakai stated her qualifications. "Kakai, ang diyosa ng pag-ibig. Maraming beses nang umibig, 3 beses nagtagumpay, 4 na beses nang nasawi. Hindi pa ko na-engaged, pero beterano ng mga engagement parties, kasal at binyag. At your service. I'll be Ms. Terrie's assistant tonight. That's all, thank you."

Maine glanced at Richard, he's looking at the two and trying to control his grin. She can only guess what's going on his mind right now.

"Iho, pagpasensyahan mo na itong aking pamangkin. Alam mo na, ngayon lang nagka-fiance. Ikaw ba?"

"First time din po ma-engaged. First time din po magka-girlfriend."

"Excuse me, I'm not your girlfriend." Maine couldn't help saying.

"Hindi ba bago maging fiancee, dapat girlfriend muna? Ay sorry, tumalon na nga pala agad tayo sa proposal mo."

Hhmmm... may konting tension in the air. Tita Terrie wonders why. "We have our work cut out for us Kakai, pareho palang NBSB itong dalawa."

"Ms. Terrie, masyado silang malayo sa isa't-isa. Parang nasa business meeting." Kakai pointed how the two are seated across each other.

"Richard, lumipat ka rito sa tabi niya. Titingnan natin ang blocking sa camera. BUT no touch muna. This is just a dress rehearsal for tomorrow."

Maine became alert when Richard sat beside her.

Kakai approached her and tapped her on the shoulder. "Teh, ang stiff mo naman! Ano ka, mannequin? Engaged kayo, hindi kayo window display sa department store. Puwede ko nang lagyan ng hanger yang balikat mo. Relax. Imaginin mong nasa bench lang kayo sa school."

"Kakai, Kakai, a lady after my own heart. Bakit ngayon lang tayo nagkita? Okay, children, listen up. You're not meeting the in-laws, you're just meeting an aquaintance or even a friend so you don't have to be stiff and conscious. Kakai, what's the first on our list?"

"No.1 is Smile, Ms. Terrie. Pacheck ng smile nila."

"The smile has to be natural, yung smile ng in-love. Okay, subukan natin, let's look at those smiles! Nicomaine, iha, huwag ngiting grade two. Richard, iho, yung ngiti mo naman para kang nasa class picture na ewan. Ano ba kayong dalawa? Pupukpukin ko kayo ng ruler, yung ngiting natural! Ganyan! O labas ngipin. Okay na ba Kakai?"