#CDFragments XIV. Picking fights (first of two parts)

XIV. Picking fights (first of two parts) Dawn and the other cast members who were going to the One Kapamilya Go tour were obliged to come on set on the day of their departure to shoot a few more scenes so they could catch up. They'll be gone for about a week, which will set them a few scenes behind schedule, especially since Richard would not be able to tag along. The directors originally planned to shoot Marco and Emily's wedding in San Francisco, California, after the OKG show, to stay true to the script (which would have the two characters hitched in the US). Supposedly why Dawn was mad at Richard. Even when they were together on the set the whole day, she avoided speaking to him, except when they had to shoot their scenes. She stuck close by Vivian and the girls, which some of the crew found unusual since she was inseparable from him on shooting days. Richard spent the interludes with Coco and Paulo, and while their chats were fun, the two actors couldn't help but notice how his eyes would sweep across the room for Dawn. With a jampacked day rolling by, Dawn started to feel tired as night fell. She preferred to be outside the tent, on an uncomfortable monobloc chair, because she knew that Richard was inside. He found her sleeping her, her arms across her chest and her head cocked on a side. He had brought a blanket with him on his way out and he wrapped it around her gently, hoping that she wouldn't wake up. Still, she did, recognizing the smell of his blanket. She sighed and pushed the blanket gently away from her. "Ayoko, kunin mo na." "Du'n ka na matulog sa loob." "Ayoko." "O, kaya ito na ang kumot." "Hindi ko kailangan." "Hindi kailangan eh nanginginig ka diyan." "Kunin mo na nga!"

Richard snatched the blanket. "Puwede ka bang makausap?" "Nagpapahinga ako." "Pumasok ka sa loob," Richard said through gritted teeth. Dawn stood up to avoid causing a scene, striding past Richard who followed her and locked the door when they were inside. "Nu'ng isang araw ka pa ha! Anong problema mo?!" he said. "Ha? Ako pa ang may problema? Sino bang nanggising?!" He held her by the arm, a bit tighter than usual that caused Dawn to flinch. "Bitiwan mo na ako." He stared her down. "Ano bang problema mo? Na hindi ako sasama? 'Di ba 'yun naman ang gusto mo? Na hindi kita guluhin? Eh kung tutuusin nga, kasalanan mo 'to." "Anong kasalanan ko?!" "Putang ----" Seething but still minding that Dawn was a woman, he left the cuss word hanging and let go of her arm, with force. When he walked to the door, he kicked a monobloc chair that was on his way. Dawn stood there for a moment, on the verge of tears. It has been decades since he last saw Richard that angry, the vein on his neck showing, especially when he almost cursed at her. But as he was before, back when they were still together, he never laid a finger to hurt her. ~~~ Dawn had a blast at the party that she attended with Richard --- her first with him and the chance to introduce him to her friends. She spent the night dancing and laughing and just being her usual carefree self, happy to have her "prince" beside her. Her chatter went on in the car as they drove home, making up for Richard's silence as she usually did. Thinking that he was just tired, having come home from a three-day shoot in Batangas that afternoon, she let him be, holding his hand as they sped on the road. When they arrived, Richard went straight into the bedroom, then the bathroom, where he remained long enough that Dawn was already in bed by the time he got out. She smiled and patted his side of the bed, motioning for him to lie beside her.

Instead, he walked to the door. "O, saan ka pupunta?" "Sa sala." "Hindi ka pa ba inaan ---" He took the pillows on top of the cabinet. "Uy, anong ginagawa mo?" "Good night," he simply said, closing the door. Dawn sighed and followed him to the living room, where he had turned on the TV and was about to lie down the couch. She sat on the floor. "Babe, anong problema? Kanina ka pa walang imik." "Wala," he said softly. "Matulog ka na." "Paano ako matutulog nang 'di kita katabi?" Dawn said, sporting a pout, hoping her lambing would work on him. He just stared at her, then looked back on the TV screen. As he was about to surf channels, she snatched the remote control for him, which apparently was all that had to be done for him to snap. "Sabi ko matulog ka na, 'di ba?" he said, trying to take the remote control from her. She stood on top of the reclining chair beside the couch, raising the remote above her head. The unsteady chair moved and Richard panicked that she was going to fall. He lifted her from the seat and put her down. "Ano bang ginagawa mo?!" he said, a little louder than he intended. "Ikaw, ano ba 'yang ginagawa mo?!" "Nanonood ako ng TV!" "Hindi 'yan! Kanina ka pa walang kibo tapos sasabihin mong walang problema?!" "Wala naman talaga!" He sighed, running his fingers through his hair. "Look, matulog ka na." "Puro ka wala, akala mo hindi ko ----"

"'yung pakikipaglandian mo sa ex-boyfriend mo!" They were both silent for a while, with Richard breathing heavier than usual (as what happens when he's mad). "Ano?! Pakikipaglandian?" "Kayo ni Monsour!" "Richard, ano ba 'yang pinagsasasabi mo?!" "Sige, itanggi mo! 'Tang ina, I was right there!" The cuss word certainly caught her by surprise. He would deliver lines like that onscreen, but he never, never hurt her or cursed at her in the whole time that she's been with him. He took a deep breath. "Hindi ko ugaling magselos, Dawn, pero kung makayakap ka sa kaniya kanina, nakalimutan mo yatang kasama mo ako!" "Gano'n lang talaga kami ni Monsour! Is it my fault na we parted ways well?" "Does that mean you kiss and hug him in public like that?" "All of our friends know how we're still friends! KIta mo, walang pumuna? Dahil alam nilang maayos ---" "Ako hindi ko alam!" By then, Dawn felt the need to raise her voice back at him. "Anong mali? It wasn't like nag-lips to lips kami doon ha! Yakap, beso lang! Kaibigan ko siya, Richard." "Ka-ibigan kamo," he said, seething. "Haay nako, walang patutunguhan 'tong away na ito." She was making her way back to the bedroom, when she heard a loud thud from the wooden table near the couch and Richard yelling "'Tang ina!" Tired and thinking that Richard was just trying to escalate their fight, she walked back outside and found him doubled over, holding his hand. She

ran down the stairs to get an ice pack from the kitchen. Richard was resisting any help from her, but she held his wrist firmly and told him to sit down. "So ngayon alam mo na kung anong pakiramdam ko every time may ibang babaeng umaaligid sa'yo," she said softly as he placed the ice pack on his hand. Dawn started humming one of their favorite songs as they sat there in silence. When water started dropping from the ice pack, Dawn placed it on the cloth she left on the coffee table and she looked at Richard. "Better?" "Yes, thank you." She knelt on the carpet, in front of him, so she could see his face better. She cupped his face in her hands and kissed him softly on the lips. "Cute mo palang magselos." "I wasn't jealous," Richard countered. "Ay? Kasasabi mo lang kaya!" She kissed him again, deeper and longer this time. Richard's defenses came down and they both knew that all was forgiven. Still, when they let go, she whispered, "Hindi ka dapat mag-alala. I'm all yours." She kissed him and felt his smile. "Besides, ipagpapalit ko ba pa 'to?" She pinched his cheeks. "Ang guwapo o, kahit galit!" He laughed and pressed his forehead against her. "Sorry, love." "Sus, okay lang. At least ngayon alam kong nagseselos ka." He was about to say something and she blocked him. "O, bawal i-deny! I feel so maganda na!" "Maganda ka naman talaga, ha?" He pulled her closer and kissed her nose. "Buti na lang pinakawalan ka niya." "Hmm, bakit naman?"

"Kasi napunta ka sa akin. You don't know how happy you've made me." Dawn smiled. "I love you, babe --- kahit seloso ka." "Hindi ako ---" He sighed. "I love you, too." And kissed her again. ~~~ The set packed up at past midnight, earlier than usual with most of the cast leaving for California in five hours. Everyone hurried for their things, except Richard, who decided to stay behind to see everyone off, especially Dawn. As he waited on the side of the main entrance, Vivian approached him. He gave her a hug. "'wag kayong magtatagal doon, ha?" he teased. "You might want to talk to her," she said back, referring to Dawn, who was still in the tent. "Hindi na muna siguro. Masungit pa, nahawa na nga kay Emilia Guidotti." Vivian laughed. Dawn emerged from the tent a few minutes later. She was carrying her own bag --- something that she insists that she do by herself --- and saying goodbye to the crew who will remain in Manila. At the gate, she just looked at Richard, then turned to Vivian. "Tara," she said softly and walked on. Vivian tugged at Richard's hand and he followed them both, speeding by Vivian to take the bag from Dawn. "Ako na," he said. After his almost outburst in the tent, and with the many pairs of eyes looking at them, Dawn knew better than to reject him again. He walked them to the car, where Vivian got inside first, hoping the two would at least exchange pleasantries. But Richard just handed her Dawn's bag and left his onscreen partner with a mere "Ingat." Vivian knew that Richard's sudden lack of amor was affecting Dawn, even slightly, but she decided not to press her for details. They were almost at Dawn's house, the actress looking out of the window,

when her phone buzzed, Richard's name and the beginning of his message flashed on screen. She opened it only to realize that she shouldn't have. Sana pagbalik mo may sagot ka, kung anong nararamdaman mo. Hindi ko na kasi maintindihan, Dawn. I can't read minds. I know this is tearing you apart as much dahil meron kang hindi masabi. I'll be waiting, kung ano man 'yun, kahit sabihin mo pang you want me out of your life. Have a safe flight and please let the fans know that I'm sorry. And I'm sorry for yelling at you