#CDFragments VII. When he's back to that feeling

VII. When he's back to that feeling Richard and Dawn stood still in the middle of the living room set, staring at each other as the crew moved about in preparation for the scene. The director intended to run this particular part with them, thinking that it would be uncomfortable for the ex-lovers who, albeit being professional actors, consider their spouses' reactions in everything. The scene has Marco confessing his love for Emily, who in turn would be stubborn in the face of it. It would mark the beginning of a second courtship for the pair that also became a pivotal part of the teleserye as a whole. With the exchange earlier still fresh in their heads, the two inevitably carried their tension over to the set. Everyone could see the change in their mood, and no one was about to step on their toes. "This is the blocking with this line ha," the director told them, pointing to the highlighted part of the script. "Just keep each other close. And stare." "Okay, direk," Richard said for the both of them. The director quietly went back to the corner where the monitor was, where Coco Martin, Susan Roces, and Dawn's manager, Vivian, stood. "Magkagalit ba sila?" he asked her as they all watched from the monitor. "Kadarating ko lang eh, hindi ko pa nakakausap si Dawn." "Grabe naman ang internalization nila," noted Ms. Susan. "Sobra ang tensyon." Coco sighed, unwilling to keep his --- Richard and Dawn's --- secret any longer. He pulled Vivian to a side and told her all that he heard that afternoon when he passed by the tent that the pairing shared. ~~~ As the evening fell, the cast and crew of Hihintayin Kita Sa Langit retreated to the place they were staying at, everyone in awe of the scene they shot by the hills that day. The locals threw a sumptuous feast for the team in honor of Dawn, who was celebrating her birthday. Fresh seafood and fruits made their way to

the table, much to everyone's delight. As the sky darkened, the booze followed. Dawn stood by the time everyone had finished the first round of local drink. "Salamat po sa masayang araw at masasarap na pagkain," she said cheerfully, perfectly masking her intention not to be in the middle of a table filled with soon-to-be drunken men. "Matutulog na ako, if you guys don't mind." "Do you want me to walk with you back to the cottages?" their director, Carlos Siguion-Reyna, asked. "Ako na, direk," Richard said, standing from his seat and walking to her side, his hand on her waist. "Let's go?" He never would've taken 'no' for an answer, and didn't really give her the chance to say so. When they made it in front of her room, a part of their host place that's hidden from everyone else, Dawn thanked Richard, her hand on the door knob. "Happy birthday," he answered. "'yung gift, pagkabalik na lang natin ng Manila, ha?" "O, 'wag mo nang alalalahanin 'yun. I had fun, really. Thank you." She smiled. He stepped closer to give her a peck on the cheek, but caught her eyes that seemed to sparkle as they did especially when she laughed (which was often). He smiled back, memories of their kiss at the hill that morning flooding back in his mind. As they stood under the faint yellow glow of the light bulb, Dawn somewhat knew what he was thinking, but couldn't ask. For the first time, she was getting the chance to take in how he looked --- how this man that she would see so often on ads and movies was then standing close and in front of her. "Good night," he said softly. Before she could even say anything in return, he has stepped even closer, his hands on her face, his thumb stroking her cheek.

"Tell me to stop if you don't want this," he whispered, his eyes searching hers. She remained silent and watched as his face zoomed closer to her until she could only close her eyes, accept his lips as they touched hers and stroked them. Again. And again. And again. ~~~ Dawn was struggling to be stubborn as the scene progressed; Richard pausing longer than usual. But the director let them proceed with the scene, as they knew they would. "Ano?!" Dawn yelled. "Emily," Richard said in turn, softly. "Hindi mo kaya?" She pulled him by the wrist. "Halika, tuturuan kita." Everyone could see how hard the grip Richard returned to her. "Tumigil ka na. Hindi ako aalis dito." "Bakit ba?!" "Dahil mahal kita!" The set was still, as the two actors were, for a few moments before Richard threwMarco's line: "Narinig mo ba ako? Ang sabi ko ---" "Oo! Sinigaw mo eh!" The lines the two found so funny had lost their humor and Dawn was trying to hold back tears because she knew that Marco's line also rang true for Richard. She just couldn't take that she was tearing him apart that way