"I was an impossible case, no one ever could reach me..."-ABBA (The Name Of The Game)

***

"You're kidding right?"

Naglalakad na kami ni Maria pabalik sa entrance ng school.

"Totoo. Takot kami pareho sa bola. PE nga ang pinakamababang grade namin eh."

Tumigil kami sa tapat ng guardhouse.

We signed on the log-out record book and said goodbye to the security guard.

"Then why did you write about volleyball?" Pinauna ko siyang lumabas sa gate.

"Lagi kasi kaming nanonood ng laban. Iyon din ang time namin para magbonding."

"It must have been a very special memory."

I unlocked the car using the fob.

Maria opened the passenger seat and I climbed on the driver's side.

"Special nga. Kapag naiisip ko si Mindy, laging kasama ang volleyball. Doon din kasi kami nakakapag-usap."

"Did you keep in touch when she went to the US?"

I slowly backed out of the street and looked to my left before making a right turn.

"Noong umpisa. Malimit siyang sumulat sa akin. Pero noong nagtagal, dumalang na hanggang sa tuluyan ng nawala."

"That must have made you very sad." Red light kaya tumigil ako.

"Oo. Pero sinabi ko na lang sa sarili ko na ganoon talaga siguro. May mga tao na dumarating lang sa buhay natin tapos aalis din. Walang forever."

Natawa siya at napailing na lang ako.

There was one question na gumugulo sa isip ko.

"Is Mindy her real name?" Green light na and I followed behind a black van who was also making a left turn.

"Naku. Hindi."

"Anong name niya?"

"Papatayin ako noon kapag nalaman niya na sinabi ko."

"How will she know eh you haven't talked in a long time I assume?"

Nagmenor ang van and I stepped on the brake.

"Delilah."

"Are you serious?"

"Oo. Ang sabi niya, Lolo niya ang nagregister ng name niya. Namali daw ng dinig kasi dapat, Esther. Ewan ko."

I laughed.

Noong umpisa, mahina lang hanggang sa naging full-blown laughing fit.

Buti na lang at nakatigil pa din ang van.

I had to wipe the tears rolling down my cheeks.

"Anong nangyari sa'yo?" Nagtataka si Maria.

"You know the story of Samson and Delilah, right?"

"Oo naman. Kaya nga laging sinasabi ni Del na para daw siyang contradiction."

"In a way, that's what real life is. Puno ng contradiction."

"Tama ka diyan, Direk."

"Don't call me that. Kyle na lang."

Umandar na ang van at tinapakan ko ang accelerator.

"Eh ikaw?"

"What about me?"

"Bakit Kyle? Di ba pangalan ng lalake iyan?"

"It was a typo."

"Typo? Ano ba talaga dapat ang pangalan mo?"

"Kylie."

"Kylie? Tulad ni Kylie Minogue?"

"Yup."

"Mas Kyle ka kesa Kylie."

"Why did you say that?"

"Kasi si Kylie, sexy."

"Are you saying I'm not?"

I closed my mouth the moment I said it.

What the fuck?

"Hindi naman sa ganoon." Maria didn't seem bothered by the question. Thank God.

"Pero kilala mo naman si Kylie Minogue di ba? She's very feminine di lang sa itsura kundi sa pananamit.

"Yes. She's a red-blooded woman."

"Gusto ko iyong video na iyon. Ang hot niya kasi doon."

I know exactly what she meant.

How many times did I play that on a loop?

My mind was veering towards the sexually charged video that before I let my thoughts run loose, I asked her a question.

"What about you? Why Maria?"

"Nakalimutan ni Papa ang second name ko."

"Seriously?"

"Oo. Lasing kasi siya noong nagpaparehistro."

"What was supposed to be your second name?"

"Stella."

"That's a nice name."

"Di ba?"

I nodded.

"Sinusulat ko nga iyon minsan sa notebook ko kapag nabobored ako."

"You can use that as a pen name sa mga susunod na script na isusulat mo." I suggested.

"Bukod sa'yo, si Del lang ang nakakaalam na iyan talaga ang dapat na pangalan ko."

"Awww." I placed a hand on my chest, "that makes me feel special. Thank you."

"Wala iyon." Natahimik siya saglit.

Tama pala talaga si Krista."

"Krista who?"

"Friend ko. Sa RGF siya nagtatrabaho bilang PA. Siya iyong nag-encourage sa akin na i-submit ko ang script."

"What did she say?"

"Na mabait ka lalo na kapag nakilala ka na."

"That's quite the compliment."

"Ikaw lang ang nakakaalam ng tungkol sa kuwento namin ni Del.  Hindi ko ito kinukuwento sa iba pero nagawa mong sabihin ko sa'yo. Daig mo pa ang isang psychologist."

"That will be my fall back in case ayoko ng magdirect ng mga pelikula." I joked.

"Huwag na. Okay din naman ang mga movie mo eh. Kahit pa ganun at ganun din ang tema."

I gripped the steering wheel tight.

This was the most common response I got from those who disliked the movies I'm making.

A troll even asked kung hindi daw ba nagsasawa ang mga JonCel fans na iyon at iyon din ang napapanood?

They even compared it to eating the same food all the time.

Ang dami naman daw pagpipilian pero bakit patuloy na pinipilahan ang mga pelikula na ginawa ko?

They even went as far to say na wala akong creativity o di kaya originality.

Ang sabi pa ng troll, hinihintay niya dumating ang time na iba naman ang gagawin ko dahil frankly, they're sick and tired of movies with my name as the director.

"Tumahimik ka. May nasabi ba akong masama?"

I glanced towards the passenger seat.

"Hindi naman. May naalala lang ako."

"Care to share, care bear."

I don't know how she does it but I laughed.

Sinabi ko sa kanya ang tungkol sa mga comments ng Internet trolls.

"Naa-upset ka ba sa mga ganoong comments?"

"Depende sa mood ko."

"Iyan ba ang reason kung bakit gagawin mo ang Mintonette?"

Maria and I were really having a good time.

She even shared a very important part of her life.

I guess it's fair that I share one with her too.

I told her how I always wanted to make this movie.

Growing up, there was a scarcity of movies like this.

"Oo nga. Puro na lang tungkol sa mga babae at lalake. Sa totoo lang, hindi ako makarelate."

"Do you imagine Del as the guy when you watch those movies?"

"Oo."

"What was the first movie you watch that starred two women?"

"Desert Hearts."

"Really?" I squealed. I didn't mean to but that's what I did.

"Bakit? Ikaw din?" Napahawak siya sa braso ko and I let her hand stayed there.

Balewala lang sa kanya kasi hindi niya agad inalis.

"Yeah. I remember watching it on my computer. I had a blanket over my head. Patricia Carbonneau looked fabulous in that movie."

"Ako naman, pinanood ko yung pirated DVD noong umalis sina Mama. Baka kasi mapagalitan ako kapag nakita nila kung ano ang pinanonood ko."

"Buti naman at ibang movie na ang gagawin mo, Kyle. Iba kasi kapag nakikita mo ang sarili mo sa screen at hindi iyong nagi-imagine ka na sana dalawang babae ang bida at hindi lalake at babae."

"Wait till you see this movie. Baka maiyak ka sa tuwa."

"Malamang ganoon na nga. Never ko naimagine na darating ang time na magiging movie ang isa sa mga kuwento na sinulat ko."

That caught my attention.

"Do you mean to say there's more?"

"Oo naman. Twelve years old pa lang ako, nagsusulat na ako."

"You should show me sometimes. I would love to read it."

"Huwag na. Nakakahiya."

"Don't be. I'll keep an open mind."

"Sure ka?"

"Of course I'm sure.

Bago ko siya hinatid, I reminded her that I said I'll take her out to dinner.

She suggested na magdrive-thru na lang kami.

"Baka mamaya, pagkaguluhan ka ng mga fans mo."

I wasn't worried about that but I was glad we didn't join the long line na nakita ko when I pulled up at Jollibee.

Habang naghihintay ng order namin, nagpapicture ang mga drive-thru staff.

Lumusot pa nga ang isang binatilyo sa bintana to get closer to me.

Maria even offered to take our pictures para daw hindi magkandabali ang kamay ng kumukuha.

After getting the two buckets of chicken joy, spaghetti para sa kanya at kay Henry, dalawang large fries, tatlong chocolate sundaes, six peach mango pies and three large pineapple juice, tumuloy na kami sa bahay nila.

Niyaya niya akong bumaba para kumain.

"It's okay. I'll eat at home."

"Huwag ka ng mag-inarte. Bago ka makakain eh malamig pa iyan sa ilong ng pusa." Hinila niya ang braso ko.

"Isa pa, Malayo pa ang biyahe mo at baka maipit ka sa traffic."

I gave in to her suggestion.

Pagpasok namin sa gate, may tatlong lalake na nag-iinuman.

They greeted Maria good evening at tiningnan ako mula ulo hanggang paa.

"Parang pamilyar ka." Sabi ng isa na puro puti na ang buhok.

"Mang Nelson, kaibigan ko po." She didn't mention my name.

I waved and said good evening.

Dumiretso kami sa pinakadulong apartment.

Maria knocked and Henry opened it.

Napanganga siya ng makita ako.

"Kunin mo 'to at ilagay mo sa lamesa." Utos ni Maria.

He didn't move.

Maria had to call his name again before he actually took the bags of food.

Before she went inside, she took off her shoes.

I was about to untie my shoelaces but she stopped me by placing a hand on my elbow.

"Huwag na. Baka madumihan ang paa mo."

"It's okay. I'll leave my socks on."

"Sige."

Maliit ang studio-type apartment na tinitirhan nila.

From the front door, kita ang kusina/dining area.

Bilugan ang formica topped table at may apat na upuan na nakapalibot dito.

There was a wooden divider and a huge bookcase I assumed was the partition for Maria and Henry's room.

"Kyle, umupo ka na. Mag-CR lang ako." Pumasok siya sa pinto na nasa gilid ng kusina.

Habang inaalis ni Henry ang mga pagkain sa paper bag ay madalas ang sulyap niya sakin.

"Hi." Nilapitan ko siya at tinulungang alisin ang ibang pagkain.

"Ikaw ba talaga si Direk Kyle Obregon?"

Natawa ako kasi titig na titig siya sa akin.

I noticed that he looked like the male version of Maria.

Moreno, matangos ang ilong at cute din.

But unlike Maria who was a little on the heavy side, Henry was lean and muscular.

"Yes. It's me. The one and only."

"Pwedeng magpapicture at magpa-autograph?"

The door to the bathroom opened and Maria joined us at the table.

"Mamaya na iyang picture-picture na iyan at gutom na si Kyle."

"Tara. Kain na tayo."

She gave me a plate then unwrapped the rice.

I was surprised but didn't say anything.

While we were eating, Henry couldn't help asking about JonCel.

It was obvious he had a crush on Celine because he asked if the two are together in real life.

"Oo. Sila talaga."

He looked disappointed.

"Kaya pala feel na feel nila ang mga kissing scenes." Maria said in between bites of the fried chicken.

"They're good actors too. Even if they're not together, I think they can pull it off."

After dinner, we all had dessert.

Henry finished the sundae in less than a minute.

"May taxi sa labas?" Maria teased after he placed the empty cup on the table.

"Sorry." He grinned.

Before leaving, Henry pulled out his phone from his pocket.

Oo nga pala.

He wanted a picture with me.

Si Maria ang kumuha.

I thought after the shot, tapos na.

But Henry insisted na picturan niya kami ng Ate niya.

"Huwag na at nagmamadali iyan si Kyle."

"It's okay. Henry's ready anyway." I pointed to her brother who had the phone in front of him.

"Ate, dikit ka ng konti kay Direk" Henry motioned with his hand for Maria to move closer to her left.

"Kasya naman kami sa frame."

"Eh kasi parang hindi naman kayo magkakilala eh." He argued.

"Ang daming arte." She stepped closer till our bodies touched.

Maria was warm, the heat from her body seeping into the thin fabric of the blue Henley I wore.

"Direk, pwede pong akbayan mo si Ate?" There was a naughty grin on Henry's face.

"Huh?" I looked at Maria whose brows were knitted close to each other.

"Henry, puro ka kalokohan."

"Sige na, Ate. Minsan lang naman eh."

Maria and I turned our heads at the same time.

"Is that okay with you?"

"Oo na."

I raised my arm and pulled her close.

In doing so, her head was a fraction away from my nose that I smelled the fresh citrus scent of her shampoo.

Henry started the countdown and said cheese when he pressed the shutter.

I quickly remove my arm after he took the photograph.

"Let me see." I walked over to Henry and he showed me the screen.

I was smiling while Maria scowled.

"Parang galit si Ate." He laughed.

"Patingin nga." She stood beside me to look.

"Tiger look."

She burst out laughing.

On the way home that night, there was a light feeling in my chest.

When I think of the reason why, there was only one person that came to mind.

Maria Stella Zaragosa.