[Scene 2: Int.-café-early afternoon]
Kim sits at her table (on the left side) checking out some prints.
Jay walks in and sits across her. Kim checks out her phone, and not
seeing what she's anticipating for, disappointedly drops her phone
back to the table.
Jay:
Still waiting for him huh?
Kim remains silent but gives the affirmation through her facial
expression.
Jay begins to get aggravated…
Jay:
So what is it now??? He's busy? There's someone he has to see?
His brother's goldfish died? His car broke down? What??!
Kim:
There's some things that he has to do--
Jay:
--and you don't have anything better to attend to other than to sit
around and wait for him to come around?
Kim:
Well what do you want me to do??? Take a walk at the park with you???
Jay:
Why not? There's a lot of air pollution out there for us! Not to mention,
UV rays.
Jay gets a cigarette from his pocket and starts to light it. Kim stares
at him with an eyebrow raised.
Kim:
Couldn't you just leave the air pollution out there?
Jay:
Since, you wouldn't go to them, I take the liberty of bringing them
closer to you! You should be thanking me!
Kim:
Were you born that twisted?
Jay:
I don't know, I don't remember…
Kim:
Then think! Think hard.
Kim takes another glance at her cell phone… again, nothing.
Jay:
Why don't you just switch off that darn phone, get away from this table,
get out of this coffee shop, and enjoy this day??? Look, Victor's my
friend but I think-
Kim:
(Bitterly)
Did you just come here to give me a lecture??? I don't need you to!
Jay withdraws for a moment… feeling a little bit worried for getting Kim
upset. He takes a puff from his cigarette, then reaches for his left
pocket and draws out a tiny box with a pretty ribbon on top.
Jay:
No. I came here to give you this. Happy birthday!!
Kim: (feeling some guilt)
Oh, thanks…
Kim gives him an appreciative smile then ther's a moment of silence…
Jay:
*Sigh* He has not greeted you yet, has he???
Kim simply responds with another nippy smile… and shook her head…
Jay:
Why do you let him get away with everything??
Kim:
I just understand him… that's how he is. It comes with the package.
Jay:
Haven't you ever thought that you deserve better than this??
Kim:
As I've said, I don't need a lecture from you!
Jay leans back, uneasy with the silence… then…
Jay:
Ummm… my student's visa has finally been approved…
For some reasons that she doesn't quite understand, she felt a twinge
within her… a bit shocked, then finally she managed to get her tongue
to work…
Kim:
Really??? I-- thought-- that'll take a few more months to process??
Jay:
My dad was able to get around it…
Kim:
Oh…
Her throat just simply felt too dry to utter another word…
Jay:
I-- I'd be leaving by next Friday…
Kim's mind bellows "Friday??? Friday's too soon!!?!?!" However, trying
to maintain composure, she chose to give him a smile…
Kim:
I see…
Jay:
I'm-- thinking of staying… maybe for another year or so---
Kim:
You're thinking of forgoing this chance?
Jay:
Yeah… what do you think???
Please, please tell me to stay!!! He says in his silence…
Kim:
No! I think you should go… sayang yon! You've been waiting for this.
Besides, what's here for you to stay behind for anyway??
Jay:
Y-
Kim feels the pang inside her grow deeper at the sound of her own words.
She wanted to take it back… she isn't sure why??? To cover it up, she
just had to say something else…
Kim:
Next Friday??? Too bad Victor and I won't be able to see you to the
airport, we'd be leaving for Puerto Gallera on Thursday… I would'nt
forgo this chance…
She trails off feeling that somehow, what she just said isn't quite right.
It felt like a lie… She has been waiting for this retreat with Victor… but
now, she'd rather stay seated at this table… She feels so uneasy that she
needs to do something… and so, she once again picks up her phone and looks
at the monitor-just for the heck of having something to do.
You! You! I want to stay behind for you! Jay wants to say it out loud…
However, Kim's words--"I wouldn't forgo this chance…"--echoed in his mind…
And after seeing Kim check out her phone again, Jay loosens his shoulders…
and gives up.
A moment of silence…
Jay:
What do you want him to give you anyway??
Kim:
Nothing really-- although he did promise to get me that cute necklace we saw
t the mall the one with the silver chain--
Jay:
(Bitterly and sarcastically)
And you're holding him to that promise? How long is the list now?
Kim:
He'll come around…
Jay:
And you'll just wait won't you!
Kim:
You'd never understand!
But I do, more than you know… The words Jay tries so hard not to spill.
But his eyes says it so…
Jay:
I guess I won't…
Another moment of silence…
Jay:
I would go and cover myself with the air pollution now, would you like to
come with??
Kim:
Umm… Victor might come by-
Jay:
Oh yeah, Vic-- just-- don't worry, I believe you, he'll come around.
Have a Happy Birthday!
Jay puts off his cigarette and leaves.
Kim wants to stop him… she wants him to stay right there… or go with him…
follow him… the words are in her throat but she just watch him walk out
the door…
Confused!
Her phone beeps, but it doesn't matter now. Her gaze flows to the tiny box
beside her cell phone… she picks it up, unties the ribbon and takes off the
lid. Her heart ached for what she saw… it's the "cute necklace that they saw
at the mall."
At that moment, she knew… she knew that she'd rather stay, and she'd want
him to stay...
Dreamy, Kim stares at the necklace on her palm. The next thing she knew,
Victor has walked in and is already sitting across her.
Victor:
(excited)
"Beb" have you booked our flight yet?
Kim:
(a bit stunned)
Oh! Hi "Be"… yeah I already have -
Kim trails off with a weary tone and a slight frown on her face.
Victor:
"Beb"… Is everything alright???
Kim:
Huh? Oh, umm… I just-- I-- could we postpone this get away??? I-- I don't
feel like going through with it anymore.
Victor:
But I thought it's what you've always wanted??
Kim:
It was. It's just that--
Victor reaches out to touch her cheek but Kim inches away.
Victor:
What's with you??
Kim answers with silence.
Victor holds back his rising temper, and decides to let it go.
Victor:
What time will our flight be?
Kim: (drearily)
3:00 pm--
Victor:
Have you packed your stuff yet?? Could you--
Kim: (dreary then looses her temper)
Not yet-- What date is today???
Victor:
Huh?
Kim: (edgy)
Wha-t da-te i-s today??!! - No! Don't answer that! Just-- Never mind!
Victor studies his girlfriend for a while. Attempting to reverse the mood,
Victor reaches for the small box in his pocket.
Victor:
Umm.. "Beb" guess what I got u? It's not the one we saw--
He spots the un-lidded similar box laying on the table, and then notices
the silver chain wound around Kim's fingers.
Victor:
but-- i-t's the-- ne-xt best-thing. Where'd you get that?
Kim:
Jay. He-- already has his student's visa… he leaves next Friday. I no
longer wish to go to Puerto Gallera, I-
Victor's eyes begin to sting, but he struggles to not let her realize it.
For some reason he knew, he knew what this is leading to. He wants none
of this.
Victor:
I was hoping to make it all up to you… I-- here!
Victor pushes the tiny box to Kim. He has to leave, he knows he can't stay,
otherwise he might do something he'll regret… it's either that or he doesn't
want her to see his pain, or maybe both.
He stands up. He has to leave. He has to get out of there and breathe.
Victor:
I'd be at the airport on Thursday. I'll wait for you till 3:00.
Kim simply stares at the twin boxes on the table.
|
