Kapeng Barako Club: Samahan ng mga Bitter (excerpt)

I've been working on this play for a couple of years now. Kapeng Barako Club is about a barkada who does not believe in love, or so they say. Ridiculous, really. It's a comedy about how people are in denial about love, how they fear rejection when love is already staring them at the face. I really hope to finish it by the end of this month.

This excerpt from the first scene, is between Eric and Masi who are best friends who made a pact that they will get married when they turn 30. Eric turns 30, Masi is in a relationship, and instead of getting married, Eric and Masi do something else under the influence of alcohol. You figure out the rest. I decided to publish only the middle of the dialogue so you'll have something to look forward to when I stage this.

I would appreciate greatly your comments and initial reactions so I know where to bring this play. Let's eavesdrop in the conversation of Eric and Masi:

ERIC

Sinabi mo ba sa kanya ang nangyari?

MASI

Sira-ulo ka ba?

ERIC

Tinatanong ko lang.

MASI

Gusto mo bang sabihin ko?

ERIC

Gusto mo bang malaman niya?

MASI

Wala ka bang sagot na hindi depende sa sagot ko?

ERIC

Meron ka bang tanong na hindi depende sa tanong ko?

MASI

(Matatawa)
Nang-aasar ka?

ERIC

Naaasar ka ba?

Matatawa sila pareho. Iinom ng beer si Masi.

MASI

Birthday mo lang no'n. Regalo 'yon, gago. To commemorate our stupid pact.

ERIC

Ulul. Aminin mo na, ginusto mo rin.

MASI

Sinabi ko bang ayaw ko?

ERIC

But you're still going through this bullshit?

MASI

Why not?

ERIC

Ah, the ultimate answer to all philosophical questions that pertain to the point of one's existence. Alam mo Masi, hindi na uso ang hippie ngayon. 21st century na.

MASI

Pakialam mo ba?

ERIC

At least give me a sensible answer.

MASI

Bakit kailangan mo ng sensible answer? For your peace of mind? Para sa'n pa?

ERIC

Pag sinabi ko ba sa'yong isang malaking pagkakamali ang gagawin mo, bibigyan mo ako ng sensible na sagot?

MASI

Siguro.

ERIC

You're making a big mistake. Don't do it.

Titignan ni Masi si Eric nang masama. Sandaling katahimikan. Iinom ng beer si Masi.

ERIC

Pikon.

Mapapangiti si Masi. Iinom ulit ng beer.

MASI

Akalain ba nating aabot ka ng 30 na single pa rin.

ERIC

Ouch.

MASI

Kung makapagsalita ka 6 years ago, pakakasalan mo na si Meggy eh.

ERIC

Hindi pa ako marunong uminom ng kape nun.

MASI

Ano'ng kinalaman ng kape dun?

ERIC

Uminom ka kasi ng kape nang malaman mo. Puro ka beer.

MASI

Did you make that deal with me because you thought na hindi ka aabot ng trenta na single ka?

ERIC

Ikaw, yun ba iniisip mo?

MASI

Pwede for once, sagutin mo tanong ko?

Tahimik.

ERIC

Oo.

MASI

So hindi ka nga seryoso noon?

ERIC

Kaninong idea ba'ng magkaroon tayo ng kasunduan?

MASI

Hindi ba sa'yo?

ERIC

Bakit ko naman maiisip 'yon?

MASI

Dahil ikaw ang mas malapit sa trenta?

ERIC

Hindi ba idea mo 'yon? Yun yung sinabi mo sa'kin nung binasted moko.

MASI

Binasted kita?

ERIC

Ampota. How can you forget something like that?

MASI

I don't remember rejecting you.

ERIC

Naging tayo ba?

MASI

Hindi.

ERIC

See?

MASI

Pero di ko maalalang binasted kita.

ERIC

Alam mo pumapatay ng brain cells ang alak e. Sabi mo sa'kin no'n, ayaw mo pa. Pag thirty na lang ako, dun na lang, kasal agad. Para diretso na. Wala nang boypren-gelpren relationship.

Look of disbelief sa mukha ni Masi.

MASI

Sinabi ko 'yon?

Tahimik.

MASI

Shet.