Chapter Text
1 - EXT. MAHARANI BEACH RESORT, Bauan, Batangas
Malamig na ang panahon at mataas na ang mga alon. Nakatayo ang isang lalaki malapit sa porch ng function hall, nagmamasid sa dagat, malalim ang iniisip. Sa distansya, maririnig ang paghahanda para sa isang celebration. May nagsa-soundcheck at mga last minute pandemonium. Papalapit ang isang babae. Si Aiah Arceta, class valedictorian ng Amanpulo Batch 2007. Nowadays, isa na siyang finance executive para sa isang multinational bank at kasalukuyang naninirahan sa Makati.
Aiah (papalapit sa lalake): Tanny! I have been looking for you.
Yayakap si Aiah sa lalake na nag-welcome sa kanya nang may malawak na ngiti.
Taneo: Maraiah, long time no see. You look great.
Aiah (ngingiti lalo): Thank you! You look great, as well. Before I forget, thank you pala for lending your place for this event.
Taneo: No, worries. Favorite teacher ko kaya si Ms. Melody back in high school. Also, it's been a long time, dapat matagal na tayong nag-reunion eh.
Naglakad ang dalawa papasok ng function hall. Saglit na inalala ni Aiah ang kanilang high school years. Ang mataas na paaralan ng Amanpulo, sa kabilang bayan. Mga kwentong pag-ibig, acads, sapian, at pagkakaibigan. Aiah gave a small, nostalgic smile.
2 - INT. FUNCTION HALL, MAHARANI BEACH RESORT
Taneo: So... still no news about Jho?
Natigilan saglit si Aiah. Matagal na niyang hindi naririnig ang pangalang iyon. She wished she has news. She simply shakes her head. Taneo nods in understanding.
Aiah (trying to lighten up the mood and distract herself): Hey, don't tell me, after all these years si Jho pa rin?
Taneo (laughs): Hoy, no! Not like that. I admit na crush na crush ko siya nung high school. I was just... wondering, you know.
Aiah: We all are. But, knowing Jho from high school, she would have done something extravagant by now. Who knows what it is but definitely mind blowing.
Taneo: That I am sure of.
Natigilan ang dalawa sa kanilang kwentuhan nang may nag-approach sa kanila na guard.
Guard: Ms. Aiah, andito na plus one daw po ninyo.
Aiah (rolling her eyes with mirth): Thank you, kuya. (To Taneo): So, I'll be back to work na. I hope you enjoy yourself mamaya.
Taneo: Of course, Congratulations pala on the upcoming wedding.
Aiah (beams brightly): Aww, thanks. You will be there, right?
Taneo: Wouldn't miss it for the world.
3 - EXT. PARKING LOT, MAHARANI BEACH RESORT
Mikha Lim checks herself on the car window bago tuluyang i-lock ang sasakyan. She checked her phone for the time. 5:15 PM. Too early for the party proper. Nilagay niya pabalik ang kanyang phone sa kanyang green Stegosaurus-shaped purse and combed her fingers through her blazing red hair. She wonders ano ang pwedeng gawin sa loob ng 45 minutes.
Aiah (from afar): Babiiii...
Mikha (beams at the sight of her fiancee): Hi, babiiii!
The two ladies sprint towards each other, locking each other in a warm embrace and sharing kisses.
Aiah: Hi, Mrs. Arceta. You look very pretty.
Mikha: You look absolutely gorgeous, Mrs. Lim. Also, si mommy nagmake up sa akin.
Aiah (smiles and holds hands with Mikha): Wow, say thank you to mommy for me. Knowing you, you'll just apply powder and some lip balm and call it a day.
Mikha (rolls eyes): Marami na tao?
Aiah: No, bubby. Some early birds pa lang, plus Taneo, and the crew ng place.
Mikha (looks around): This is such a cool place, bub. You can do camping with tents pa, o!
Aiah: I know, right? Do you want to have our honeymoon here?
Mikha (laughs): Advanced mo naman mag-isip. We haven't even finalized our wedding yet.
Aiah (pecks a kiss on Mikha's cheek): It's almost finished naman na, love. Yung vows na lang kulang.
Mikha blushed at this, rolled her eyes playfully and changed the topic.
Mikha: So he really named this “Maharani”?
4 – INT. FUNCTION HALL, MAHARANI BEACH RESORT
Pumasok sina Mikha at Aiah sa function hall and gets a glimpse of the early birds at mga crew na nag-aayos for the last minute. Mikha grips Aiah's hand a little tighter at dumikit ng kaunti sa katipan. She always hated gatherings.
Mikha: I didn't know he was that in love with her.
Aiah: Well, first love naman daw niya. Plus, Taneo had this resort revitalized after prom, remember?
Mikha shakes her head and Aiah shrugs. Siguro may mga detalye naman talaga mula sa nakaraan ang hindi maalalala.
Aiah: I wonder why Jho never gave Taneo a chance.
Mikha: She's simply not interested kay Brylle. Focused siya sa mga... campaigns.
The couple shared a look of understanding. They remember those campaigns all too well. It was an exciting part of their life. It was mostly painful, too.
Mikha: Also, Jho had her eyes on someone.
Aiah (looks at Mikha curiously): Really now? She was good at keeping it, ha. How did you know?
Mikha (smiles a bit sadly): I used to know Jho like the back of my hand.