Somewhere In Between

KABANATA 13

“Malay mo meron na ngayon.” Tumatawang sambit ni Annaya.

“Sure na yan, pag umuwi na ng pinas sila tita.” Tumatawang dagdag ni Ryen.

“Sana nga, ang tagal na nilang mag asawa, ni hindi maka isa ang kuya.” Nakangusong sambit ko.

“Hindi lang maka bwelo yan.” Biro naman ni Davian.

“Nga pala, ayos lang naman sayo na nababanggit si ano hindi ba?” Nag aalangan na tanong ni Noah.

“Okay naman, huwag lang siya makita.” Nakanguso kong sambit.

“E paano kung isang araw biglang bumalik?” Tanong ni Davian.

“Huwag naman sana.” Sambit ko sabay iwas ng tingin.

“Hindi pa talaga ako handa na Makita siya, hindi ko ata kakayanin pa.” Seryoso kong sambit.

“Baka kapag nakita ko siya maging matigas ako at itulak siya palayo.” Sambit ko,

“Grabe.” Napapailing na sambit ni Annaya.

“Hindi naman natin alam kung kailan darating o muling babalik yung tao. Palagi namang unexpected sa lahat e.” Sambit ni Davian.

“Mhm, but as much as possible ayoko sana.” Seryoso kong sambit.

“Hay nako, mag iisang dekada na.” Tumatawang biro ni Ryen.

“Mag iisang dekada ka ng umuurong.” Sambit naman ni Annaya.

“Wala e, nauuna.” Kibit balikat kong sambit.

“Alam mo, tara nalang manood ng movie.” Nakangiting sambit ni Ryen.

“May bago bang movie?” Takang tanong ni Noah.

“Tara na.” Pag aaya ni Annaya at wala na rin naman kaming magawa.

Nang makarating sa cinehan ay agad na namili sila Ryen ng papanoorin.

“Romance plus Comedy ba?” Tanong ko.

“Oo, hindi ka naman nag hohorror.” Tumatawang sambit ni Annaya kaya napanguso nalang ako.

We watched How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days for the first time and grabe, I didn’t expect to enjoy it this much. I thought it would be just another cheesy romcom, pero nagulat ako kasi it was actually fun, witty, and full of charm. The plot is simple but smart. It’s about two people which is si Andie and Ben who both have hidden motives. Si Andie, kailangan niyang magsulat ng article about how to make a man leave her in just ten days. And Ben? He’s trying to prove that he can make any woman fall in love with him in the same amount of time. Hindi nila alam na silang dalawa ang napili ng isa’t isa. Kaya habang pareho silang nagpapanggap, biglang nagiging totoo yung feelings. And that’s where the fun, and chaos, begins.

“Alam niyo ba? May naalala ako sa movie na yan.” Tumatawang sabit ni Ryen.

“Manahimik ka at huwag ka ng mag salita.” Sambit ko dahil alam ko na agad na ako ang pinariringgan.

Somehow, yung movie is may kapareho nga sa amin ni Achilles, kaya rin siguro na enjoy ko talaga.

The setting of the movie is super classic New York City skyscrapers to be exact, fast-paced lifestyle, and stylish offices. Andie works for a women’s magazine, so may mga scenes na very Devil Wears Prada ang dating. Meanwhile, si Ben naman ay nasa advertising, surrounded by suits and business pitches. Their worlds feel different, pero maganda yung contrast. The city becomes the perfect background for their playful love story. As someone na pangarap pumunta sa New York, watching their scenes sa rooftop, sa streets, and even sa gala night parang gusto ko tuloy maging character sa movie nila.

I honestly loved the characters so much. Si Andie, she’s confident, smart, and sobrang kulit in the best way possible. Kahit ginagawa niya lahat ng mali sa isang relationship (on purpose), hindi siya nakakainis. Actually, she’s really likable. And si Ben naman is charming siya in a lowkey “CEO sa w*****d” way. Ganon na gaanon vipe niya and he’s also competitive and flirty, but when he falls for Andie, you can really see it in his eyes. The chemistry between them? Sobrang lakas. I found myself smiling like an idiot sa tuwing magkasama sila on screen.

The story kept me interested from start to finish. Hindi siya dragging, and bawat eksena may significance. I was laughing one minute, and then suddenly feeling something the next. Their fights are hilarious, lalo na nung nag-invite si Andie ng dog sa bahay ni Ben, and she named it "Krull the Warrior King." Or nung binilhan niya siya ng love fern, tapos may line siya na, “You let our love fern die!” I was literally laughing out loud. Pero when things started getting real between them especially during that dramatic gala night scene na bigla akong natahimik. That was the moment I realized, “Wait, this movie actually has depth.”

Hindi lang pala siya basta funny or anything. Meron talagang part somehow na makakapag patahimik sayo.

“Natahimik nga si Saraiah kanina e. Mukhang tinablan.” Puna ni Noah.

Nandito kami ngayon sa food court and as usual ay kakain nanaman kami.

“Napansin mo pa talaga yon.” Tumatawang sambit ko at saka nag iwas ng tingin.

I was literally caught off guarded sa isang scene and I don’t even know why. Talagang napatahimik nalang ako while thinking.

More than anything, this movie made me feel things. Kilig, tawa, kaba, even a little pain. I didn’t expect to care this much about two characters who started out lying to each other. Pero habang lumalalim yung kwento, mas nakikita mo how real their connection became. That moment when Andie realizes she actually fell for Ben? Sakit nun. And Ben’s reaction after the article came out halata mong nasaktan siya. Hindi siya umiyak or nagdrama, pero ramdam mo sa mukha niya. Subtle acting, pero solid impact.

Napa isip tuloy ako, ano kayang naramdaman ni Achilles nung nabasa niya yung sulaat at nung umalis ako?

Hindi rin kaya siya umiyak kagaya ni Ben? I know he’s strong but deep inside he’s also hurting.

I also liked how the movie had little symbols here and there. The “love fern,” for example, was a joke at first pero in the end, parang naging representation siya ng relationship nila. Andie’s necklace, their poker game, the dog ang daming little details na may meaning if you look closely. Even the idea of “10 days” short lang, pero ang daming nangyari. The movie makes you think about how fast feelings can grow when you least expect it.

There were so many scenes that stood out to me. Aside from the karaoke and the yellow dress moment, I also loved their fake couple therapy session. I was laughing so hard, pero at the same time, naawa ako kay Ben kasi sobrang awkward niya. Then there’s the ending that final chase scene. It was over-the-top, yes, but it was also romantic in the cheesiest, best kind of way. When Ben stopped Andie from leaving and told her how he felt, I swear I was holding my breath.

“Yung sa yellow gown. Naalala niyo ba nung prom?” Nakangiting sambit ni Davian.

“Isa ka pa, favourite niyo nanaman ako.”Angal ko dahil mukhang nahihimigan ko na kung ano man ang sasabihin niya.

I was wearing the same exact color of Andie’s gown. And the way Ben’s look aat her, that’s exactly how Achilles looked at me before.

“Naalala mo?” Tumatawang tanong ni Ryen.

“Hindi ko naman kailan man nakalimutan.” Nakanguso kong sambit.

“Ayon, aminado.” Biro ni Noah.

“Seryoso, hindi ko naman nakalimutan yun. That’s when I admit it to myself na may gusto ako sakanya pero nakapag desisyon ako na manatili nalang as a friends.” Pag kukwento ko sakanila dahilan para manahimik sila isa isa.

Sino ba naman kasing mag aakala na sa araw na yon, na mismong inamin ko sarili ko ay makakapag desisyon agad na hindi mag ririsk diba?

Kahit ako ay gulat at hindi makapaniwala sa sarili ko na ganon yung nagawa ko.