21: A Silly First Date
“Like the last night of December,
it was a cold beginning yearning
for a warm start.”
“I don’t believe you.”
He drew his tongue inside his mouth when I directly told him he’s lying like a rug, straight to my face. He was not able to say a word. Just a daring smirk from him already expressed his satisfaction with my guts.
“No, I’m not,” argued he. “Like I said, you look great. But you aren’t feeling comfortable, are you?”
I pulled down the edge of my dress nearer to the lowest point of my knee. This was given to me by Daela to brighten up my dull closet. I wiggled my hair for extra bounce, fixed the two-inch red sandals I bought for myself during the pageant night and zipped up the black pouch I bought in a thrift store. Napagastos pa ako, buwisit na ‘yan.
“See?”
Napasimangot ako sabay adjust ng tela sa bewang ko. “Ano ba dapat? Sabi sa Internet ganito daw ang sinusuot pag nagde-date: formal and classy. Saka I know gagastos ka talaga sa isang mamahaling restau dahil mayaman ka naman.”
Tumakas ang nakakalokong ngiti sa mukha niya saka siya umiling-iling. “Seriously, nag-research ka? Should be I happy that you prepared so much for our first date?" aniya sabay hawak sa kaniyang baba. "Dapat pala nag-rent ako ng limousine.”
Hindi niya napigilang matawa nang makita akong magtimping saktan siya. “Asa ka! Malay ko ba sa ganitong mga date . . .” pambabara ko nang may halong panggigigil.
“Kakain lang naman tayo tapos magkukuwentuhan na parang walang bukas kahit na wala namang special sa’ting dalawa. In fact, para ngang wala namang bago kasi ang gusto mo lang naman ay itali ako na parang aso gamit ang bagong technique mo na kung tawagin ay date!”
“Really? How about THAT blind date?” he asked playfully.
Ngunit sa huli’y nautal na lang ako sa hiya. My tongue rolled backwards. Muli kong naalala ang gabing ‘yon tuluyang bumago sa buhay ko ngayon. If only I knew he was there . . . if only I was able to stop Nella from bringing me in such an uncomfortable space, I wouldn’t be here, shaming myself.
“Hinila lang ako do’n. Hindi ako prepared.”
“Aah . . .” Napatango-tango siya. “Kaya pala akala mo lahat ng date ay dinner dates.”
‘Shut up, flirting magnet.’
When I felt my cheeks getting feverishly hot, I quickly shut the door behind me, locked it with my keys and stepped downstairs to waste no time. But deep inside my thoughts, I just wanted to hide my embarrassed face.
“Sandali lang!” Kaagad niya akong hinabol pababa. Nang mahuli niya ang mga kamay ko, binalik ko ang tingin sa kaniya. “Are you that excited?” he asked.
“Yes, I am excited.” Shock was written all over his face. “Excited na akong matapos agad ang unang date na ‘to. Para dalawang date na lang then I’m finally free!”
Disappointment replace the shock on him. “Puwede bang huwag mo muna akong sungitan? Kahit ngayon lang,” seryosong sabi niya na nagpatikom sa bibig ko.
He took a breath and held me back upstairs. I tried to resist while we’re walking towards my door when I suddenly slipped. When I was about to fall, he instantly grabbed me in the waist and locked his feet downwards to balance both of our weights.
“AAAHHH!” I screamed the lungs out of me when he pulled me to his chest—I mean, to my standing position. Napatakip ako nang bibig ko nang maalalang nagsi-siesta pala si Tita Martha sa baba kapag ganitong mga oras.
BINABASA MO ANG
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