#CDFragments II. When she talks

II. When she talks Richard was listless. Shooting was stalled for a few days because of the long weekend, but he wasn't able to get some rest. None at all. Not when you close your eyes and see your ex-girlfriend in your head. Not when you can hear her voice at random moments and you catch yourself thinking, "This is how Dawn would've said it." Not when you're sleepy and settled in bed, with your lovely, equally sleepy wife snuggling up to you, and you find yourself wondering how nice it would've been to lie with that ex-girlfriend at the end of the day for the rest of your life. Dawn found him pacing inside the tent they share, his hands on his hips. "Chard?" she called, closing the tent's door behind her. He stopped, staring at her. Her hair flowing to her shoulders, her face flawlessly made up (with minimal make-up), her head cocked a little to the side --- the way it always does whenever she was waiting for an answer. "Sabi ni Tita Susan kanina ka pa dumating pero nandito ka lang." "Uhm, yeah. Maaga ko rin kasi ihinatid sina Lucy sa school ni Juliana. Nagrequest 'yung bata since 'di naman ako makaka-attend sa program." "Hmm. Bakit 'di ka umuwi ulit?" "Ah, malapit na din kasi ako dito, so might as well..." "Okay." She stepped closer and reached out for his chin, that certain brand of affection that he ascribes only to her. He tried to move away. "O, bakit?" Unfazed by his reaction, she was even closer. Her thumb wiped through the subtle stuble on his chin. "I see you've been eating the ensaymada." He couldn't help but smile. "Galing sa'yo?" "Yeah, the kids and I baked yesterday." She sits down, opening the box of ensaymada. She takes a bite on one. "Enjoy na enjoy nga 'yung dalawa, lalo na si Ayisha, kasi we bought her a new kitchen play set so she's been practicing daw! Jacobo naman, sobrang naaliw kakatikim. Best cook daw si Mama. E ang tagal ko na ring mina-master 'yung recipe ---"

He smiled as she rattled on about her long weekend. He took a seat beside her and watched her talk animatedly. But he was only halflistening, absorbed in how adorable she looked... and by the fact that the way she chats away was what led him to fall in love with her. ~~~ {February 1992} The staff gives way to Dawn, who came to the set just in time, unlike her usual arrival ten minutes prior a committment. Her manager, Vivian, was chatting with the director and the producers about the promotion of the show that Dawn was doing with them. "O, nandiyan ka ---" Dawn storms inside the dressing room, shutting the door behind her. The director gives Vivian a funny look. "May topak na naman ang alaga mo." "Naku, madalas sa hindi." She sighed and followed her talent, who was putting on the accessories laid out in front of the dressing table. "Dawn?" "Viv, alam mo kung anong date ngayon?" "February 14th. Bakit?" Dawn sighs, pouts like a child, with her arms crossed over her chest. "Anong araw 'yun?" Vivian feighed a sigh, trying not to smile. "Wala pang plano si Goma?" "Wala!" Dawn stands up, her arms flinging up. "Nakalimutan daw niya dahil sa dami ng committments niya!" "So nasa work siya?" "Oo, at out-of-town pa." Vivian didn't know what to tell her (and Richard told her to keep quiet about his plan), so the knock on the door was perfect timing. She opened the door halfway, peeked outside, and pretend-told the production assistant that Dawn will be right out.

"Alam mo, kaunti na lang, sasapakin ko na talaga 'yang si Richard!" Dawn said through clenched teeth as she checked herself out in the mirror for the last time. "Aba, tinuruan din ako ni Monsour mag-martial arts, 'no!" Vivian laughed and stepped out of the room. "Sige, tutulungan pa kita. But in the meantime, ituwid mo na 'yang ngiwi sa mukha mo at lumabas ka na." Dawn smiled at the mirror twice before leaving the dressing room, pouting, especially when she found the set dark and empty. "Hoy, hindi magandang biro ito!" she shouted. "Hindi naman Halloween ha!" Afraid that she might trip over something with those heels, she stayed near the door of her dressing room. "Vivian? Direk?" she called out. They appeared by her side, held her by her arms, and led her to the middle of the dark hall, where the picnic set was arranged and now bathe in candlelight. "Love?" someone behind her said. She knew that voice. She turned around, and even in the dark, she recognized him. Two spotlights opened on the set. She was right. "Akala ko ba may shooting ka sa Pangasinan?" was the first thing that popped out of her mouth. The staff laughed. Richard stepped closer and handed her a bouquet. Of chocolates. "Puwede ko bang gawin 'yun, e first Valentine's Day natin together?" He stroked her arm. "Tanggapin mo na, Love, favorite mo 'yan." She did and lights in the whole set came back on. The staff was applauding them both, some --- including Vivian and the director --chiding them to kiss. He pulled her to a hug and whispered "Happy Valentine's Day" as he sniffed her hair. He looked at her. "O, bakit ka naiiyak?" "Ikaw kasi e!" She hit his arm. "Alam mong 'di ako magaling mag-react sa surprises." She started sobbing and Richard wiped her tears. "Hindi pa ito tapos." He turned to Vivian. "We'll go ahead." "Sige, bago pa ako kuntsabahin niyang si Dawn na sapakin ka talaga,"

Dawn's manager teased. "Enjoy kayo." Richard turned to Dawn once again and smiled, wiping more tears. "'Wag ka nang umiyak." He kissed her forehead. "Tara." ~~~ "Chard?" Richard jolts back to reality. By now, Dawn has fallen silent, staring at him intently. "So, you baked." "Alam mo, ang weird mo these past few days ha," she tells him. She wipes a dab of cream on her fingers. He smiled. "Ikaw, how was your weekend?" You want to hear something weird? he wanted to begin, to tell her of his daydreams, but the door swung open, with Julia, Coco, Melissa, and their stylist Patricia in tow, all reaching for the ensaymada