The Spaces In Between

[15.2] Twenty Questions

He took a deep breath before answering. “I.. did this indie film.. once. My very first film. Anyway.. there’s this scene.. sa..” Andreau paused. Gosh, he’s too embarrassed! Ni hindi niya ako matinginan sa mata! “Sa.. ospital. Basta.. si Ms. Klara Abelardo ang first kiss ko.”

Klara Abelardo.. wait, that name sounds fa—

Oh my god. Si.. Mrs. Evasco sa Waiting Shed!

“Oh my god.. I know her! Ka-edad lang siya ni Nana Tinang!”

Napayuko si Andreau sa sinabi ko. “Salamat ha, Zades. I only did it because.. the script was good. I won my first acting award for that role. I was just.. 15. People assumed I already kissed a girl because I grew up in the States. Hindi ko naman nasabi sa kanila, baka bawiin sa’kin yung role. Besides.. acting lang yon. Nothing more.”

Why.. is he telling me this? Medyo napressure pa ako kasi.. ako lang ang pinagsabihan niya nito. Anong sabi ng first kiss ko sa first kiss niya ha? Nakakaguilty tuloy na nagsinungaling ako! Parang sira naman kung babawiin ko yung sinabi ko di ba? Hindi naman ikakagaan ng loob niya yu—

Have you ever watched any of my movies?

Bwiset, nag-iisip ako eh. “Uhmm.. yes. I don’t know if you know but fan mo si Kesh. Halos lahat siguro napanood ko na.. kaso hindi ko talaga dig ang movies, you know. And romcom pa ang genre mo so.. ilag ako dun.”

He kinda flinched at my answer. Ay, nahurt ba siya dun? “Yeah, I forgot. You hate Valentine’s and stuff. Halos lahat pa naman ng pelikula ko romco—“

“Pero.. favorite ko yung Waiting Shed,” I finally confessed. Nagulat siya sa sinabi ko. “Pinanood namin yun sa Values class namin nung 3rd year high school. I haven’t seen many movies pero believe me, yun ang favorite movie ko ever.”

“Really?” sabi niya, na parang hindi makapaniwala sa explanation ko.

“Oo nga. Nakakatouch yung movie. Dino was fighting for his dreams and life. Ang saya na malungkot na ewan. Alam mo.. lagi akong naiiyak pag naaalala ko yung last scene dun. Lalim ng hugot eh!”

“That’s also my favorite. Dun ko napatunayan na marunong pala akong umarte,” he chuckled and looked at me. “I couldn’t believe you saw that. Isang taon na tayong magkakilala tapos ngayon mo lang sinabi. Wow.”

Kasi nga.. ayokong tratuhin mo akong fan. Ayoko ng ganun. Kasi kung sinabi ko na napanood ko yung movie mo the first time na nagkausap tayo.. wala tayo dito ngayon. Hindi mo na siguro matatandaan ang pangalan ko.

“I kinda forgot to mention it. Sorry.”

Anong type mo sa lalaki?

Nakakagulat naman ‘tong magtanong! Hindi pa nga ako nakakarecover dun sa tanong niya kanina tapos.. pang-quiz bee agad ‘to!

“Actually.. I haven’t thought about that. I could name a lot of fictional characters that I really like but.. ang hirap kasing gawing standard yun. I love literature kaso ang perfect masyado nung characters dun. Mahirap hanapin sa totoong tao. Ayoko lang siguro madisappoint. Basta, kung mamimeet ko siya, e di siya.”

Andreau shook his head and smiled. “Hopeless romantic.”

“Shut up.”

Ikaw.. anong type mo sa babae?

“I don’t have a type. Like you, ayoko ring madisappoint pag hindi ko siya nakilala. I just want her to.. understand me.”

Whoa lalim alert! Understand him daw, eh mukha ngang ayaw mong magpaintindi!