III.

One Morning Richard took his place beside Dawn at the dining table where they were about to shoot the scene. She was looking through the catalogues laid out on the table, supposedly for the suggested venues for their "wedding". At last, after some 20 years, they were getting married --- even just for the sake of the cameras. Even as Marco and Emily. "Ang ganda naman nito," he heard Dawn mutter as she leafed through the pages, her eyes glued on the photos on them. "Oo nga," he said, but he was looking at her. "Ang ganda mo." She caught his gaze and laughed. "Sira ulo ka talaga! 'Di na gagana sa akin 'yan." She went back to the catalogues, shaking her head with a smile. Richard was about to say something but his words escaped him again. He just stared at her and got lost in another memory. ~~~ "Love?" he muttered against her ear as she laid next to him in bed. After a week of continuous shooting days, he was back in the city, back with Dawn. Mornings like that were right ones, he thought. She responded with a soft "Hmm," curling even more into a ball, trying to hug her knees to her bare body. She couldn't with his hand in the way. He stroked her stomach. "Will you marry me?" "Sige," she said softly. He lifted himself slightly, carefully, to see if she was awake. She wasn't --- her eyes closed, her face relaxed, her breathing even. He kissed her cheek. "Talaga?" "Mhmmm... I do." ~~~

"Ready na tayo for the take?" Dawn turned to see the director standing behind her. "Ay, Direk! Sorry, ang ganda kasi ng venues! Ready na kami, 'di ba--" As she was about to turn to face Richard, he held her hand. "We're ready, direk. Napasadahan na namin ito ni Dawn." "Sige, good. Check ko muna ang lighting, ha. Excuse me." The director smiled and walked to the monitor, giving the onscreen partners a few moments more, as he always did, before he would say "Action!" Dawn was a bit unsettled by the hold on her hand, but she let it be, thinking that Richard was internalizing or something. But there was something about the way he said "napasadahan na" that held so much meaning. "Bakit mo naman sinabi kay Direk na na-practice na natin?" "Nadaanan na natin ito, 'di ba? Ang pagtingin sa catalogue, I mean." "Ako lang ang tumitingin ah." Richard only smiled. ~~~ Dawn walked into the kitchen in Richard's shirt, tiptoeing as if she was going to sneak out. Richard let her, even when he knew she was right behind him as he whisked eggs in a bowl. She didn't surprise him, though. She quietly wrapped her arms around his waist, her cheek --- still cool from the aircon in the bedroom --- rested against his back. "Good morning, Mr. Gomez," she said, her usual cheerful self. He put the bowl down and turned to face her. For a moment he was lost in her wide eyes and how the faint sunlight from the window gave her an extra glow. He stroked her cheek and smiled. "Good morning," he answered, running his finger through her hair and bringing her face closer. He kissed her softly and whispered "Mrs. Gomez"

against her lips