Palawan Strangers (CharDawn)

Four

"Okay, okay. Okay, fine. Yes, I'll go with you"  Dawn smiles wide at his persistence. This man.

Yes!!!! He rejoices inwardly.

Richard doesn't believe in love at first sight. Falling in love with a stranger? No, too cheesy –not even real. However, this woman whom he just met a few days ago changed everything  –his outlook on love, his belief in love. It's weird and early to say he fell for this woman. The truth that he will never admit to himself is that this woman, this stranger in front of him, hit him like a viral infection –runs and never got away in his mind, throbbing his heart, increasing his body temperature, and making his breath short. He wanted to ignore her but the more he did it, the more curious he became. He just got lost in her eyes, her sweet smile, her aura –all in all. He can't fully explain how he feels at the moment. It was the best move he ever made –approach and talk to her.

"Great!" he says with the biggest smile, "You'll be happy with me. You won't regret it."

"Make it sure ha dahil kung hindi... ipapapulis kita!"

He makes a salute sign, "Yes, Ma'am"

They laugh their heads off, and the awkwardness between them evaporates.

Richard cannot believe himself, this is the first time in many years that he was that talkative. This woman made him, she was so good at listening. 

"Do you do yoga regularly?" he asks.

"Yes, why?"

He nods, "Wala lang, ang pro mo kasi kanina"

"Pro?" Dawn slips him a sideways smile, "Did you enjoy watching me?"

"Correction," he says in senseless defense. "I wasn't just watching you"

"Oh, really?" raising a brow, she slips him a sideways smile.

"The three of you were pro, not just you"

He was sitting in front of her so she leaned forward, too close their lips are only inches away, "I'm not just pro in yoga, on other things too." she winks, "1 pm, see you later" she says as she picks up her phone and leaves.

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Dawn splashes cold water on her heated face to cool herself down. What the hell did I do?

Nerves bubble in Dawn's stomach as reality hits her. No way, why did I say yes? Why did I act comfortable with him talking to me, having a conversation with me? Never in her lifetime, she had experienced things like this with a stranger. This is totally out of her norm which would also explain why she was truly interested in this person. Was it my hormones? Is this a midlife thing? She can't explain the moment or the moment that follows. One thing's for sure, she isn't already the Dawn she used to be. She's been acting weird ever since she met that man –Richard, that was his name.

Her reverie was interrupted by the ringing of her phone. Stacey Zamoras. She answers the video call, "Yes my love, why?"

"Ma, why are you in Palawan? What is stressing you out pala?"

Dawn looks at her daughter's beautiful face that is too close on the screen, she's lying on her bed, "What did your Tita Iya tell you?"

"She just said you're destressing there"

Dawn chuckles, "So? Isn't it that normal to feel?"