Elegant Affair

II.II

Steve: Dinner later. Libre ni Matteo.

Matteo: The fuck?

Giovanni: Game.

Giovanni: Welcome home, bro. Thanks for the dinner.

Matteo: Pinagsasabi niyo?

Esme: Stop it guys.

Esme: Just agree na lang, Matteo.

I was just reading their messages. Minsan lang itong mangyari but it seems like everyone's bored so they're really active in our chat room.

Matteo left for Malaysia for a week which turned into a month. No one has heard from him since he told us there's an emergency there kaya ganun na lang ang kulit nila sa chatroom after Matteo said he's home already.

Gio: So, game?

Matteo: Didn't agree to anything.

Steve: Kuripot naman nito.

Esme: I have a shoot to prepare in a minute guys. So, ano? Go?

Esme: Lav?

Me: See you later everyone. 7? or 8?

Esme is using me as her weapon again. This is why I always come out as the villain, I often make the final call when everyone seems to be undecided.

Gio: 7 is good.

Steve: 7!

Esme: Steve, pag di ka dumating ng 7, you pay for dessert!

Esme: and 7 it is!

Esme: Matteo?

Matteo: ok

Gio: Your treat?

Matteo: Fine.

I was about to close the tab when a message popped on my screen.

Benedict: See you tomorrow?

Me: See you.

I can see why Matteo picked this restaurant upon hearing the soul music in the background. It wasn't Jazz but it still screams Matteo to me.

A lady assisted me kung saan uupo but I stopped in my tracks when I saw it was only Matteo seating there. It's already seven. I even made sure to come on time; not too early, not too late para masiguro lang na hindi kami maiiwang dalawa.

Yet here he is and so am I.

"Hi," I smiled at him and maybe stared at his face longer than I intended to. Matagal ko na nga talaga siyang hindi nakita. I thought a month wasn't too long but it did feel like a long time.

"Hi." Balik na bati niya sa akin. It felt unnatural that we're in a fancy restaurant, alone for now, dressed in fancy clothes. Medyo nabigla nga din ako nang tumayo siya para halikan ako sa pisngi. He's way too formal. Did he pick this up while he's in Malaysia? Did he kiss every woman's cheeks that he met there?

"Wala pa sila?"

"Gio and Esme are on their way and dessert will be on Steve."

Mahina na lang akong napatawa. Of course, they're late when I want them to be early. Nothing seems to work the way I want it to lately.

"How's Malaysia? Everything fine there?" It was an emergency meeting, from what I've heard. Wala akong masyadong alam sa negosyo nila but it seemed like a big deal when he stayed there for a month.