"Maine, gusto mong sumama sa shoot ko? Pupunta kami dun sa isang beach sa Zambales," Rj asked Maine a few days ago.
She looked at him, wide-eyed. "Beach?! Talaga?! Pwede ako sumama?"
"Hmm oo, kailangan din kasi ni Mama Ten ng help dun sa mga dadalhin na gamit. Two days lang naman, kaya sabi ni Ate Virgie, kaya naman nila pansamantala," Rj explained.
"Oh yey! Thank you!" She launched herself to hug him, and he was ready to catch her, but she stopped mid-way and pulled back. "Sorry. I almost got carried away. Pero, talaga ba? I can go?"
"Yes. Alam ko naming love mo yung beach eh."
As Maine moved away, skipping happily because of his good news, Ate Virgie approached. "Bakit ako hindi mo niyaya mag-beach kahit kailan?"
"Ay, Ate. Pasensya na. Babawi ako next time. Lahat tayo magpupunta sa beach. Promise yan."
Ate Virgie chuckled, "Biro lang, ito naman. Mahalaga na siya sa'yo 'no?"
Rj blushed but said nothing.
"O, sige wag mong aminin. Ito lang ha, parating may tumatawag diyan pag gabi. Ilang gabi ko ng napapansin. Hindi niya sinasagot, pero mukhang may nangungulit."
They arrived at the location, and much to Rj's chagrin, he found that while there were two beds in his room for him and Mama Ten, Maine was assigned to the servant's quarters. He looked like he was about to scold someone for the mix-up, so Maine stepped in.
"Huy, okay lang talaga ako dun!"
"No. Hindi ako papayag na dun ka."
"Rj," she said, lightly. "I'm sure that the quarters here are fine. I'm going to be okay there. Besides, matutulog lang naman dun. I can still enjoy the rest of the time here with you and Mama Ten."
While they were quietly discussing their options, Maine convincing Rj that she was fine where she was booked and Rj bugging the reception if they could arrange an extra bed in his room, the crew of the show whispered among themselves.
"Yaya ba talaga ni Alden yan?" One asked.
"Oo daw, sabi nung handler niya."
"Eh bakit parang girlfriend kung ituring ni Alden? Tingnan mo o?"
True enough, Rj had his hand on Maine's waist, her hand on his biceps, while they were whispering to each other, though still obviously arguing.
"At saka, paanong yaya? Eh mas mahal pa yung mga suot niyang gamit kaysa dun sa isang artista nating kasama."
Today, Maine was wearing a Gucci shirt, jeans, her Pandora bracelet that was full of charms, YSL flats, and a Prada bag. "At yung relo niya, Rolex."
"At! Narinig mo ba magsalita? Conyo si Ate Girl. Baka yan yung tinatanong asawa ni Alden? Di ba yun ang sabi sa chismis?"
"Magchichismisan lang ba kayo diyan?"
The crew looked to see Mama Ten giving them a reprimanding look.
*
Rj watched Maine run after the receding water, and then avoid it when it goes to the shore again. This was a game she brought Mama Ten in, but his PA gave up a few minutes after.
Her laughter was heard all the way to where he was standing and Rj couldn't help but smile. Waving back at her, he smiled as Mama Ten approached. "Ang kulit ni Menggay."
"She looks happy."
"Mukha naman." Mama Ten agreed. "Pack up na daw kayo for tonight. Samahan mo na dun."
"Talaga, Ma?"
"Oo."
And so, he did.
That night, they sat at the tiny terrace of his room. Mama Ten had already turned in earlier and they took the chance to chat some more. "Thank you for inviting me here, Rj!"
"Welcome. Sorry hindi ka masyadong makapag-ikot kasi marami tayong work."
"Ano ka ba? Don't be sorry for that. Masaya ako dito." She said, then proceeded to tell him how much she loved being at the beach and it was one of the things she missed the most while she was living in New York. "Iba pa din kasi yung beaches natin dito."
Before he could respond, her phone rang.
"Hay nako."
"Sino yan?"
"Joel."
"Your ex?"
She nodded. "He's been contacting me since some of our friends told him I'm going back to school."
"Bakit daw?"
"Hindi ko alam. Hindi ko naman sinasagot yung tawag."
"Bakit hindi mo sagutin para malaman mo?"
""Bakit pa?"
"Closure?"
"Sus. Closure is overrated. Besides, nag-girlfriend agad siya when I left. Ikaw na din nagsabi na he doesn't give me importance... ano pa bang closure ang kailangan?"
He nodded.
"May mga mas importante pang bagay na kailangan kong malaman."
"Gaya ng ano?"
"Great mysteries in life... Gaya ng... saan na napunta ang abs mo?"
And that was how they spent the rest of the night, teasing and making each other laugh.
*
They were back home that Sunday and, as they had been used to for a few months now, Maine took over cooking their feast.
During the drive home, Maine barely said a word to Rj and he was getting worried. At the stopover to get some gas, while Maine was at the comfort room, Rj turned to Mama Ten, "Bakit kasi siya yung pinasama mo dun sa last take natin kanina?"
"Malay ko bang bawal? Sabi mo, kaya mo siya sinama dito para katulong ko. Nagliligpit ako ng gamit, kaya siya yung pinasama ko kung sakaling may kailangan ka. Malay ko bang maiinis siya sa kissing scene mo?"
At the dining table, she gave him more of the silent treatment.
"Huy, sorry naman na. Bati na tayo please?" He cooed to her, even with his whole family looking on.
She didn't reply and just continued serving the dishes she prepared for lunch. Once everything was served, she said, "Enjoy po kayo. Dun lang po kami sa kusina."
Rj's gaze followed her as she disappeared into the kitchen. His father spoke up, while his grandmother sighed, "Ano? Panonoorin mo lang? Sundan mo na."
He was up in a flash.
"O, Rj! Bakit ka nandito? May kailangan ba kayo sa labas?" Ate Virgie asked.
"Wala naman po. Pwede po bang dito na ako kumain?"
"HINDI!" Maine replied, vehemently.
"Bakit ka ba galit? Halika ka nga, sa labas tayo mag-usap."
Ate Virgie and Manang Lourdes encouraged her to go. Once at the back porch, he asked again, "Bakit ka ba galit?"
"Nakakainis kasi eh. Ayokong panoorin yun tapos five takes pa!" She said, stomping her foot and pouting.
Rj was trying to suppress the smile that was slowly forming. "Nagseselos ka ba?"
"HINDI HA!"
"Nagseselooooooossssss."
"Hindi nga!"
"Hindi naman gumalaw lips ko. Hindi ko siya kiniss."
"Lips to lips pa din yun!"
"Nagseselos ka talaga."
Maine crossed her arms and pouted, but didn't say anything more.
"Cute mo."
She stuck her tongue out.
"Bakit ka nagseselos? Siguro ikaw yung in love sa akin 'no?"
Her eyes widened. "Ano?! Of course not!"
"Nako, Maine ha? Gaya ng sabi mo, wag kang maiinlove sa akin kasi ang complicated! Pero, parang huli na eh. In love ka na eh!"
"Kapal mo ha!"
"Talaga? Sige nga! I-deny mo."
"Hindi ako in love." She stated.
"Ows?"
"Oo. I'm not in love."
"Patay na patay lang sa akin? Sabi ko na, every night mong pinagpapantasyahan yung photos ko diyan sa phone eh."
"Hindi nga kasi."
"Okay. So bakit ayaw mo makita may kissing scene ako sa iba?"
"Fine! Kiss her! Kiss everyone else. Kiss Globie. Wala akong paki!"
He halted her walk out. "O, hindi na. Work naman kasi yun. Wag ka ng magalit."
Maine looked at him. "Hindi naman ako galit, wala naman akong right magalit. Wag mo na akong pansinin. Mawawala din 'tong inis ko."
After lunch, he made a quick run to the coffee shop to buy her favorite iced coffee. He also passed by a nearby shop to buy her some flowers.
He found her in the garden, pulling out weeds, wearing the floppiest straw hat, red plastic boots, and pink gloves. He handed her the flowers.
"Ano yan? Rj, hindi ako marunong magtanim ng bulaklak."
"Hindi ko pinatatanim. Para sa yo yan. Pati itong iced coffee mo. Sorry na? Bati na tayo, please?"
She took a sip and slowly smiled. "Bati na tayo... kung..."
"Kung...?"
"Kung may kasama itong cake!"
Rj laughed and pulled her up, ordered her to dress so they could go back to the coffee shop to get her cake.
No matter how much information he tried to fish, he would get nowhere because she may not be ready to admit it yet. But for Rj, he was sure.
He had fallen... hook, line and sinker.