Kakai and Ahron restart ‘relationship’

MANILA, Philippines — Some called him “pa-fall,” (a “tease” as the term’s rough English translation) while others labeled her “hopia,” (wishful thinking) at the height of their “friendship problem.” People talked and speculations circulated. Good news now is Kakai Bautista and Ahron Villena have put that behind them — and have remained good friends.
“We had an understanding then but I think it didn’t reach the romantic (level),” said Kakai in an interview with some members of the media after the usual roundtable Q&A for her and Ahron’s upcoming movie titled Harry and Patty. Ahron and Kakai came up with the right terms to describe their status now: “Reboot, restart.” It’s safe to say that the once-rumored “friends in love” are now starting all over again.

“Friends lang talaga,” Kakai clarified. “Siguro kung nanduon kami sa point na papunta na sana kami dun. Eh, ganun talaga. (Maybe we were heading in that direction but it didn’t progress). We can’t do anything about it. It already happened. Now, it’s (a thing of) the past.”

One may infer that patching things up between Kakai and Ahron never happened overnight. Time had to stand in the way and play its healing role.
A telltale sign of normalcy in their friendship was when Kakai would test Ahron’s patience. “Magandang simula (yung) mag-away, asarin niya ko, pikunin niya ko. Hindi ko siya papatulan. After two days, OK na,” said Ahron. Part of that, too, was him asking her for a casual dining out.

For Kakai, she just woke up one morning and felt ready to forgive and forget. “The day came when I was ready to face him. Sabi ko nga nag-reach out naman siya… three times.”

“Like what I have said, na pareho kaming may nagawa sa isa’t-isa and we knew it. I realized, at the end of the day, that as a man I had to make the first move,” shared Ahron, who was also aware of the possibility that Kakai might not accept his apology. But when he decided to approach and talk to her, the time was ripe for she had moved on. 

“Forget about the past,” said Ahron. “Sabi ko nga, everything happens for a reason kung bakit kami nandito ulit. This is God’s plan for us. Ayoko nang balikan, binura ko na (yun) sa buhay ko.”

“All’s well that ends well” as the title of Shakespeare’s comedy goes. Again, Kakai and Ahron are off to a fresh start. 

From off-screen to onscreen, Kakai and Ahron will play the title roles in the Cineko Productions movie, which is set to hit theaters on Aug. 1.

“No, we’re totally different from our characters,” answered Kakai when asked if Harry and Patty, to some extent, reflect her and Ahron’s personal stories. “Iba talaga (They are really different),” said Ahron.

The romantic-comedy of Julius Ruslin Alfonso brings Harry (Ahron) and Patty (Kakai), an unlikely couple, together. He is a good-looking businessman, while she is a TNVS driver. That contrast is a preview of the characters’ views on love. Their tale, though operating within the opposites-attract premise, takes on the traditional and emerging concepts of love and beauty, as well as honesty (like the need for lovers to disclose secrets). You know, “Walang lihim na hindi nabubunyag (No secrets remain uncovered)” as people say it.
“How far can you go for love?” said Kakai of the movie’s theme during the presscon. “What are the boundaries na kaya mong tawirin (that you can cross, take or challenge)?”

Following that line of thinking, Harry and Patty will go far and beyond expectations. Adding to it is when the past haunts them and their present — and perhaps their future — are under threat.
Written by Volta delos Santos, Harry and Patty also stars Bodjie Pascua, Lou Veloso, Soliman Cruz, Carmi Martin, Mark Neumann, Arci Muñoz (in a special appearance), Heaven Peralejo, Donna Cariaga and Joe Vargas.

From their “friendship problem,” Kakai and Ahron have learned their lessons and they charge it to experience.

“Hindi sapat yung love na para maging maganda ang isang relasyon (Love is not enough to make a relationship work or succeed),” said Kakai. “So, it needs patience and understanding. You need to embrace the person to be able to love him fully, and you have to be complete to be able to love someone completely.”