That Summer In Brooklyn

Chapter 23

23: Stuck With You

[Rated 18: BAWAL SA BATA]

Max

BEA told me she wanted our first date to be a little special. She enumerated the things she wanted to see, experienced and received from me. Akala ko biro lang lahat kasi ganun naman siya lagi. Kapag seryoso na ang lahat, babanat siya ng mga salitang galing sa sarili niyang dictionary. When Bea walked out suddenly a while ago, I realized that she wasn't joking. That she's serious about those things.

The first date thing.

And for the sake of my love for her, I made it happen. Claudel booked a spot at The Brooklyn Diner and ordered a piece of red rose somewhere. Basta sabi niya, ibigay ko daw kay Bea iyon. Nabanggit din naman iyon Bea na kahit malalanta lang gusto pa din niya makatanggap ng tunay na bulaklak. I suddenly felt unschooled about modern day dating.

I can't help but shake my head in disbelief. 

Beatriz, for me, she's a breath of fresh air that blows my mind. She rocks my world. I am suddenly out of my league, and the feeling that I'm further falling for her gives me unexplained shivers. My concrete walls were torn down into small pieces that were taken away by the wind.

A pull on my sleeve made me come back to reality.

"Thank you sa date at sa rose," sabi ni Bea sa akin.

We're now heading home, to my apartment. Sabi niya gusto niya na mag-movie marathon kami dahil malaki ang screen ng TV sa bahay, pero siya ang pipili ng papanoorin. Malamang romantic movies iyon na hindi ko naman hilig. Mas gusto ko na mapapanood yung mga documentaries online. Business related videos on YouTube. The dream of expanding Elixir in the world is still there and I believe that I can make it.

"You deserve that, baby."

She pouted her lips. "Baby mo ako?" tanong niya.

I chuckled.

"Stop that."

"Kinikilig ka? Hala, ang lakas ko talaga akalain mo yun na-inlove ka sa akin, tapos ngayon kinikilig ka na."

Ang daldal talaga niya... 

I am talkative, too but not as talkative as Bea. Bea is on a different level, but luckily, I can make up for her and get used to her out-of-this-world dictionary.

"Parang lumamig banda dyan sa side mo," pang-aasar ko sa kanya

"Tse!" Umirap siya sa akin. I held her hand and kissed the back of it. "Ano sa spanish ang maganda?"

"Hermoso."

"Translate mo ito, ang ganda ganda ko at ang haba ng buhok ko." She said.

Nangunot noo ko at mabilis na tumingin sa kanya bago binalik ang atensyon sa daan. Binawi niya ang kamay sa akin at kinuha yung cellphone sa loob ng clutch bag niya. Ipo-post niya daw sa Facebook yung rose na bigay pero hindi niya ako i-ta-tag dahil una, hindi kami friends at pangalawa, sa kanya lang daw ako at hindi pwede i-share.

"Quiero besarte." (I want to kiss you.)

Sa halip na sabi ko kaysa i-translate ang dapat na ipo-post niya.

"Ayun na yun? Bakit ang ikli? Teka nga," Bea typed something on her phone. "Mali naman yung translation --" She halted, giving me a shy look. Her face turned red suddenly. 

"What?"

"Wala. Mag-drive ka na nga lang!"

I chuckled once again.