Stuck on Pause (For the Record # 2)

CCXCIII

EXT. FAIR - EVENING

7:05 p.m.

VANYA
Really? Okay lang?

KAHN
Oo. 'Di naman ako nagmamadali umuwi ng Manila. Kayang-kaya naman ni Kuya do'n saka nandoon din sila Mama. Ikaw ba?

VANYA
Hmm . . . maybe magpapaalam ako sa boss ko tomorrow na instead na sa office ako, I'll work from home the next day. May okay na siguro 'yon kaysa sick leave. 'Di naman mabigat work load namin ngayon so maybe I'll stay online sa Teams while we're on the road. Tapos magsasabi na lang ako later kay Papa.

Kahn leaned on her head that was resting on his arm. They were on top of the wheel and they could clearly see everything from up there. The golden lights scattered around the area lit up the whole place and the wind gently brushing along their skin kept them comforted and eased. His eyes zeroed in on her hand that was dangling on the railing. He couldn't help but notice the ring around her pinky and index finger. Mindlessly, without any thoughts, Kahn took her hand to fiddle on her rings which she didn't mind at all.

KAHN
Ano ipapaalam mo sa Papa mo?

VANYA
Sasabihin ko sa kanya na maaga tayo nagising ngayon and we spent driving most of the day. Lalo ka na tapos may meeting ka rin kanina. Totoo naman 'yon. So I'll ask if we can stay here until tomorrow to rest bago tayo mag-drive ulit the next day. Isang araw lang naman na extension kaya sana pumayag siya. Kapag hindi, edi okay.

KAHN
Uuwi tayo bukas kapag hindi ka pinayagan ng papa mo?

Vanya's eyes fell on their hands as the Ferris wheel slowed down upon their descent. She watched him play and fiddle with her fingers.

VANYA
No. If magagalit siya, okay lang. He can't take away this experience from me naman once I get home. Bihira lang ako gumawa ng kahit ano para sa sarili ko. So kung magagalit siya, siguro okay lang sa akin ngayon.

Kahn laced their fingers together when it was their turn to go down.

KAHN
Palagi ka bang pinagagalitan ng papa mo?

VANYA
No naman. The last time na nagalit talaga siya sa akin, college ako noon kasi super late ko nagpaalam for a sleep over. Ngayon naman 'di na siya mahigpit sa amin ni Kuya except kay Vina. Although pinagsasabihan niya pa rin kami minsan.

KAHN
Okay . . .

VANYA
We still follow his rules sa bahay kasi hangga't do'n daw kami nakatira, susundin pa rin daw namin 'yon kaya we still have a curfew pero okay lang naman na lumagpas kami doon as long as nagsasabi kami ahead. Maluwag na rin siya when it comes sa gala pero kapag ganito na out of town tapos hindi sila kasama, ayun. Doon siya mahigpit sa akin kasi worried sa safety ko.

KAHN
Buti pinayagan ka sumama ngayon?

She nodded. Their intertwined hands swayed a little while they were wandering around the fair.

VANYA
Yup. Ayaw lang ni Papa na mag-isa ako tapos out of town. Kapag with friends naman gusto niya lang malaman sinong kasama ko and 'yong schedule like kailan alis and kailan uuwi.

KAHN
Ah . . . edi baka hindi ka naman pagalitan?

VANYA
Hopefully.

KAHN
Saka totoo din naman sasabihin mo. Napagod talaga ako mag-drive kanina. Nakakangalay. Ang aga pa natin umalis.

VANYA
'Di ba? Saka hindi ko pa gaano na-nejoy 'yong beach kanina. Ang dami rin kasing tao.

KAHN
Edi bukas. Pero sa ibang bayan ulit tayo pupunta kung ayaw mo sa maraming tao.

VANYA
Talaga? May alam ka kung saan kaunti lang?

KAHN
Oo. Puntahan natin bukas. Solo mo buong dagat doon.

Vanya smiled.

VANYA
Okay! Deal. Pero turuan mo muna ako mag-surf sa San Juan.

KAHN
Kung high tide bukas ng umaga, sige. Bago tayo lumipat ng resort turuan kita.

VANYA
Sure. I'll take you up on that, ha?

He smiled.

KAHN
Sige lang.

He squeezed her hand while they were walking and Vanya didn't mind it at all. Because somehow, holding his hand feels like the most natural thing in the world and she missed everything that came with it. The warmth, the reassurance, the comfort. She was once again reminded of a memory from a decade ago . . . and perhaps, it was her most favorite memory with him in it.