Dasein

 

In an apartment complex, somewhere in Manila

“Ning, sabi ko naman sa’yo that’ll be the last time that you’ll set me up with someone.”

 

“C’mon Winter, I promise you this one’s different.”

 

“Sinabi mo din yan last week.”

 

“Sorry na nga, I really thought you’ll find the girl attractive.”

 

“Hindi ako mababaw na tao, Ning. I don’t care about the physical attributes of a person. Aanhin ko ang ganda o gwapo ng ibang tao? That attribute is theirs, and it shouldn’t be a factor kapag naghahanap ng partner.”

 

“Alam ko naman, pero wala naman masama when you end up with someone who’s pleasing to look at, di’ba?”

 

“Basta. A no is a no. And besides, I’ll be busy this weekend.”

 

“Ano naman ang gagawin mo? Uuwi ka ba sa inyo this weekend?”

 

“N-no.”

 

“Magkukulong ka lang sa room mo, eh. Dali na, Winter. Promise, pinaka PINAKA last na to.”

 

“Put that in writing, and have it signed. Also have Ryujin and your girlfriend sign as witnesses. Bring it to me no later than three o’clock this afternoon.”

 

“Napaka extra mo, baka gusto mo ipa notaryo ko pa kay Lei?”

 

“Much better, but it won’t be necessary.”

 

“Napaka mo. Ako na nga concerned sa love life mo.”

 

“You don’t have to, Ning. I’m not really bothered with that aspect of my life. But thanks for your concern.”

 

“Anywaaaaay, pupunta muna ako sa DayMart, may ipapabili ka ba?”

 

“Two packs of coffee and a box of cig lang. Thanks.”

 

“Mm’kay, alis na ako.”

 

Coffee shop along Ayala Avenue

“Anything planned for this weekend?”

 

“Wala naman, I’ll just finish some work siguro. Why?”

 

“Karina, it's the weekend. You shouldn’t be working beyond your work days.”

 

“I got assigned to a new project, Gi. Kailangan ko maayos ang document trackers ko so it’ll be ready for turnover by Monday.”

 

“Napaghahalataan ang pagiging workaholic mo, Karina. You still have until Friday next week to work on that.”

 

“Doesn’t mean I can’t work on it before the deadline. Plus, I really don’t have other things to do except working and some house chores.”

 

“Kaya nga kita tinatanong, kasi I have planned something for you.”

 

“Blind date na naman ba yan?”

 

“Gosh, you sound just like Winter.”

 

“So Winter’s her name. How unusual.”

 

“Yes. I’m setting you up with my girlfriend’s housemate.”

 

“Whatever, Gi.”

 

“Is that a yes?”

 

“No.”

 

“Karina naman eh. Pumayag kana. I swear, you’ll like her.”

 

“Fine. Saturday afternoon, and please, no more coffee shops or fancy restaurant settings.”

 

“EH?! Eh di saan kayo magme-meet?”

 

“I don’t know. Basta hindi sa mga yun.”

 

“How ‘bout in a cinema?”

 

“No.”

 

“‘Bayan Karina.”

 

“Bakit kasi ikaw ang namumroblema?”

 

“Kasi”

 

“Ahh, so she’s also against this blind date?”

 

“Sort of. Pero she agreed na, Ning just texted me kanina.”

 

“Ang ewan niyo talagang mag-jowa.”

 

“So saan mo na nga gusto i-meet si Winter?”

 

“Why don’t you ask her kung saan niyo gusto makipag meet?”

 

“Ugh, fine. I’ll just message you later kung saan. Balik na tayo sa office?”

 

“Okay.”

 

In a school along U-Belt

“Don’t forget, this midnight ang deadline of submission ng term paper niyo. I hope you learned something new today, you’re now dismissed.”

 

“Dinamay mo pa mga estudyante mo sa pagpupuyat.”

 

“Hindi naman nila kailangan paabutin ng midnight para makapag pasa. The earlier the better.”

 

“Yes, pero cramming is real sa mga students, kaya sasagarin talaga nila hanggang pwede.”

 

“They should start learning to manage their time well. Ano pala ginagawa mo dito, Ms. Shin?”

 

“Kung maka Ms. Shin naman to, kala mo di magkasama sa isang bahay.”

 

“We’re still in school, Ms. Shin.”

 

“Whatever, Ms. Kim. Hinihintay na tayo ni Ning sa may Recto gate.”

 

“Teka, daan muna tayo sa faculty room, iwan ko lang laptop ko.”

 

“Teka nga, para saan pala yung pinapirmahan niya sa’kin kanina? She even had her girlfriend’s docu-sign.”

 

“She set me up with another date kanina, of course I declined, but she insisted and promised that this’ll be the last time, kaya ayun. I told her to put her promise in writing to have you and Giselle sign as witness. I guess she didn’t even inform you kung para saan yung pipirmahan mo?”

 

“Grabe namang requirement yan, Win. Date lang naman yun.”

 

“I don’t have any interest in dating, alam niyo yan.”

 

“Concern lang naman sayo housemate natin. Don’t be too hard on her kung mag fail ulit yung next date mo, ah.”

 

“I won’t, don’t worry.”

 

In an office along Ayala Avenue

“Karina.”

 

“Hmm?”

 

“It’s six, stop working.”

 

“Tapusin ko lang to.”

 

“Karina.”

 

“You can go ahead, Gi. Initin mo nalang yung tirang adobo natin sa fridge.”

 

“Karina, stop working.”

 

“Last contract, promise.”

 

“Stop working, or else isusumbong na kita kay Ms. J?”

 

“Gi naman.”

 

“Let go of the contract NOW.”

 

“Ugh, fine. Inom lang ako ng water sa pantry.”

 

Next day; In a school cafeteria along U-Belt

“Wow, itutuloy na pala talaga ang pag transfer ng department natin sa Makati campus.”

 

“Yeah. We need to start looking for a place in Makati, ang hassle masyado kung dito parin tayo mag stay sa Manila.”

 

“OMG! I have an idea.”

 

“Ano na naman yan, Ning?”

 

“Win, remember your upcoming date this weekend? Nasabi ko ba na it’ll be with Giselle’s housemate?”

 

“You mean si Karina? Wow, Win ang ganda pala ng makaka-date mo!”

 

“Keep your voice down, Ms. Shin. Nasa school premise tayo.”

 

“Napaka uptight mo talaga, Ms. Kim. Loosen up naman dyan.”

 

“Anyway, yes, Ryujin’s right, si Karina yung ka-date mo this weekend. Gi told me na Karina gave her conditions, na your date musn’t be in a coffee shop or restaurant. And let Winter decide kung saan daw kayo magkikita.”

 

“Tapos? Ano yung idea mo?”

 

“Mas enthusiastic pa si Ryujin kesa sayo, Win.”

 

“Tell Giselle that I’ll meet her friend sa mall. Somehwere in Makati nalang din.”

 

“Naks. Pero bat naman sa mall, Ms. Kim?”

 

“I need to buy treats for Bloo.”

 

“Ano ba naman yan, Win. Date nga gagawin niyo, bat mo naman isasama sa errand run mo si Karina?”

 

“Giselle’s friend said that I’ll decide kung saan kami mag-meet, kaya I did.”

 

“Napaka KJ mo talaga, kahit kailan. Ang panget ng date idea mo.”

 

“Oo nga, Ms. Kim. Di pa nangyayari, pero panigurado na na magiging fail yung date. Wala ka bang better idea?”

 

“Ako meron. What if isama mo siya sa paghahanap ng lilipatan natin sa Makati?”

 

“Ininsulto mo pa ang sinabi ko kanina, eh errand din naman yan na idea mo.”

 

“What? It’s like hitting two birds with one stone. Nakapamasyal na kayo, at the same time, naka simula na din tayo maghanap ng lilipatan. We can meet in Gi’s apartment for dinner.”

 

“Uy, isama niyo naman ako dyan.”

 

“Kasama ka naman talaga, magpapasama tayo kay Gi maghanap.”

 

“Ayown!”

 

“*sigh* Fine. Tell Gi’s friend na meet nalang kami sa Ayala.”

 

“Triangle?”

 

“Mall. I need to shop for dog treats bago kami maghahanap ng apartment. Una na ako, may 1pm class pa ako.”

 

“Ning, saang parte ng itinerary na yun ang date?”

 

“Hayaan mo na Ryu, as long as they get to spend time together, okay na yun.”

 

Next day; In an apartment in Manila

“Hi Win, good morning!”

 

“Hello. Asan sila Ning?”

 

“Namalengke lang sila saglit ni Ryujin. Coffee?”

 

“Thanks.”

 

“So, ready ka na ba for your date tomorrow?”

 

“I’m fine. Bat ka pala andito? Don’t you have work today?”

 

“Company holiday, we’re not obliged to go to the office today.”

 

“Oh. Good for you. Do you mind if I smoke?”

 

“Go ahead.”

 

“Thanks.”

 

“Anyway, I already informed my friend of your itinerary tomorrow.”

 

“Yes, about that… okay lang ba sa kanya na samahan ako bukas maghanap ng apartment? We could just meet during dinner sa place niyo.”

 

“She agreed naman, and besides wala din talaga siyang gagawin bukas since free day namin today. She’s doing all her chores today and has nothing else to do tomorrow.”

 

“I see.”

 

“Win, when was the last time you had a good rest? I can see your eyebags from here.”

 

“*chuckles* End of sem na kasi, I pulled an all-nighter to check the submitted term paper of my students. Nakaka bother ba tignan ng mukha ko?”

 

“Hindi naman. Pero halatang wala ka pang maayos na tulog.”

 

“Yeah. Bawi nalang siguro ako this weekend.”

 

‘The’ weekend; some mall in Makati

“Hi! You must be Winter?”

 

“Karina, right?”

 

“Yes. Pinaghintay ba kita? Sorry, naglakad nalang kasi ako papunta dito since malapit lang naman sa place namin ni Gi.”

 

“No worries, napa aga lang talaga dating ko, akala ko kasi ma-stuck ako sa traffic.”

 

“Nag-commute ka ba?”

 

“Sort of. Nag-book lang ako ng Angkas. Anyway, shall we?”

 

“Tara.”

 

Inside a pet store

“Were you not weirded out nung sinabi sayo ni Giselle ang mga gagawin natin for this ‘date’?”

 

“I was amused, actually. Halatang napilitan ka lang din pumayag sa ‘date’ na to.”

 

“That I am. I was, sort of, hoping that you’ll back out pag sinabi na sayo yung plan for today.”

 

“Sorry to disappoint you, then. Wala din talaga akong choice but to agree, kasi hindi ako titigilan ni Gi if I decline. Plus, we’re living together, kaya wala talaga akong takas.”

 

“Same here. May nakita ka bang training treats?”

 

“I think I saw some doon sa isle malapit sa counter.”

 

“Love ko, look oh, ang cute ng princess costume. Ang cute siguro nito kay Choco.”

 

“Let’s get that, love ko. Bilhan na din natin siya ng pink leash para match sa princess outfit niya.”

 

Both Karina and Winter turned to the direction of the couple with cringed expressions plastered on their faces. Nagka tinginan silang dalawa at parehong natawa.

 

“Haynako. Mga kabataan nga naman.”

 

“You sound like an old lady, Winter.”

 

“I really don’t get it.”

 

“Ang alin?”

 

“That.”

 

“That? You mean romantic relationships?”

 

“No. I don’t have anything against romantic relationships naman. What irked me is the constant usage of “ko” in addressing their partner.”

 

“Oh, why?”

 

“It’s like reducing an individual into a mere property of the other. Their constant usage of ‘ko’ right after their endearment is like a constant reminder of ownership one has of the other, and vice versa.”

 

“Hmm, go on.”

 

“Parang nawawalan na ng sense of individuality ang isang tao dahil dito.”

 

“You’re thinking too deep. Maybe it’s just their way of proclaiming their love for one another, just like saying “I’m yours.””

 

“That’s exactly what I’m trying to point out. Yung mga linyahan na: “I’m yours, and you’re mine.” you’re overtly letting yourself be owned by another individual. Building a relationship around this notion of ownership over your partner only leads to co-dependency ng mga tao na kasali sa relasyon na yun.”

 

“It’s their longing for belongingness. After some time of being a lone individual, you can’t blame a person if, from time to time, they’ll seek for a group or partner that would make them feel like they belong and are not alone.”

 

“Entering into a relationship would have sufficed. Being branded as someone’s this or someone’s that is totally unnecessary.”

 

“You got everything you need?”

 

“Yup. Bayaran ko lang to.”

 

“Samahan na kita.”

 

Same day; in a condominium unit in Makati

“Sa tingin niyo, ayos lang kaya yung dalawang yun ngayon?”

 

“They’re probably busy discussing god-knows-what topic, right now.”

 

“Knowing Winter, nagsimula na siguro yun pumuna ng mga couples na nakikita nila ngayon.”

 

“Ganun ba ka-judgmental si Ms. Kim?”

 

“Not in a ‘nanlalait’ kind of way naman. More of criticism sa normative practices ng mga couples.”

 

“Then Karina’s probably enjoying her company.”

 

“Why? Judgemental din ba si Karina, Gi?”

 

“No, silly. Ayaw niya lang talaga sa mga mabababaw kausap.”

 

“Ay, ang perfect naman pala ng tandem nila. Winter is anything but mababaw, kahit anong aspeto ata ng buhay kaya niya gawan ng discussion. Ang adik niya lang mag analyze ng mga bagay bagay sa mundo.”

 

“More than an hour passed since their set meet up time, I guess everything’s going well sa kanila ngayon.”

 

“I think so, too. Wala pa naman akong narereceive na message from Winter.”

 

“Enough about those two. Mag a-apartment hunt pa tayo.”

 

“Tara let’s! Teka nga Mareng Gi, wala bang bakanteng unit dito sa complex niyo?”