Take a Shot

CHAPTER 12

Malakas na katahimikan ang bumabalot sa loob ng sasakyan ni Allen. Kanina ay talagang hindi niya mapigilan ang humanga sa sasakyan nito. May porsche din naman siya pero hindi ito kulay red na paborito niyang kulay. Regalo kasi iyon sa kaniya ng pinsan niya noong last birthday niya at kung minamalas nga naman, akala nito ay black ang paborito niyang kulay. Well she still appreciates it though. 

Nakatingin lang siya sa daan habang bumabyahe sila hindi naman niya alam kung anong topic ang bubuksan niya para makausap ang lalaki. Tinagurian pa siyang social butterfly ng mga kaibigan niya pero tameme siya kapag kasama ang lalaki. Pero sa tingin naman niya kapag medyo nawawala na yung kaba niya babalik na ulit ang kakapalan ng mukha niya. Ang hirap kayang kausapin ito kung yung puso niya ay grabe sa pag rigodon. 

Nakalimutan kasi niyang tanungin si Friel kung paano nito nagagawang makipag-usap kay Aster ng hindi nauutal or nahihimatay sa halo-halong nararamdaman. Sa una lang naman siya shy type eh. Kadalasan ay iyon ang first impression sa kaniya kapag di pa siya close sa bagong kakilala. Tinanong niya kanina si Allen kung saan sila kakain pero sikreto daw muna. Kaya heto siya busy sa pagtingin sa daan baka kasi pamilyar sa kaniya ang daan at malaman kung saan siya dadalhin nito.

"Drina, do you mind if I play music?" agaw ng lalaki sa atensyon niya. Lumingon naman siya dito at umiling.

''No, I don't mind. Listening to music sounds nice to me." Binuksan naman ni Allen ang car stereo. A familiar song plays and Hendrina slightly nodding her head to the beat of the music.

🎶Midnight

You come and pick me up, no headlights

Long drive

Could end in burning flames or paradise🎶

"You know the song?" Allen asked while moving his head na katulad niya ay mukhang nag-eenjoy din sa kanta.

"Yeah! I am an avid fan of Taylor Swift's songs. Like her songs are so amazing. How about you? You seem to enjoy the song, are you a fan too?" Masayang tanong niya. Sa wakas ay may mapapag-usapan na din silang dalawa. 

🎶Fade into view, oh

It's been a while since I have even heard from you (heard from you)🎶

"I'm not a fan but my sister does. Sa kanya ko nga nalalaman ang mga kanta eh. I just found myself enjoying the songs too. Memorize ko na din ang lyrics because my sister keeps playing her songs any time she gets." He said and chuckled.

🎶And I should just tell you to leave 'cause I Know exactly where it leads, but I

Watch us go 'round and 'round each time🎶

"Really? Then I should meet your sister. I think we will both get along. Taylor will have a concert next week here in the Philippines. We can go together, I have still 2 extra V.I.P. tickets." Excited na sabi niya. 

Sa kanilang lahat na magkakaibigan ay wala siyang kasundo pagdating sa pagiging fangirl ni Taylor because they were just too busy on their lives to appreciate artist like Taylor. Bumili siyang ticket na extra palagi dahil ayaw niya ng walang kasama kahit isa. It's either she would bring some of her friends or a member of her family.

"That's nice. Maureen keeps blaming me because she wasn't able to purchase a ticket. Nahuli kasi siya sa balita at nabusy sa trabaho."

"Allen, you can't blame her. Kung ako ang nasa sitwasyon ng kapatid mo, I would do the same. That is Taylor Swift, you know?"

"Yeah! Yeah! I can't argue any more. You're starting to sound like my sister." She only grinned at him and sang when the chorus came. 

"You got that James Dean daydream look in your eye"

"And I got that red lip classic thing that you like"

"And when we go crashing down, we come back every time"

"Cause we never go out of style, we never go out of style" Hendrina sing her heart out. Kahit hindi siya propesyonal na singer ay confident naman siya sa boses na meron siya. Allen join her sing halfway the chorus. He even make his car steering wheel a drum. Napapailing nalang tuloy siya kasi para silang nagko-concert na dalawa sa loob ng kotse nito. 

"You got that long hair, slicked back, white T-shirt"

"And I got that good girl faith and a tight little skirt"

"And when we go crashing down, we come back every time"

"Cause we never go out of style, we never go out of style" She happily sing with him. Nagulat nga siya ng sabayan nito, pero syempre kalma lang siya. Hindi pwedeng maglupasay sa kilig no. Paano ba naman siya hindi kikiligin, like he was so good at singing. If you would look just by his appearance he looks so rough and dominant but hell his voice when singing, it so mellow. His low deep voice sounds so sweet and gentle. Kung ipinaghele ka ng lalaki sa pagtulog ay talagang mahihimbing ka. She and Allen enjoy the ride jamming to Taylor Swift's song, till they reach their destination. Doing carpool is always great especially if it was bunch of good songs playing.

Inalalayan siya ni Allen sa pagbaba ng sasakyan. Napaka maginoo naman ng lalaki. Naalala tuloy niya ang kaniyang Daddy. Nakaabrisiyete siya sa lalaki habang pumapasok sa restaurant. They were in Ruiz Restaurante. It is a famous restaurant and masasabi niyang maganda ang lugar na napili ng lalaki. They have dined here once before together with her family. Sa sobrang sikat ng restaurant ay kailangan pang makipag unahan sa reservation.

Sa pagpasok sa loob ng restaurant ay agadd silang sinalubong ng maitre d na nasa mid 40's. He welcomed us warmly and guided us to our table. Maitre D is conversing like he was so close with Allen and she just speaks if she was asked too. Nang makasigurong komportable na sila pareho ay magalang itong namaalam para kamustahin ang ibang customers. Nilapitan din agad sila ng waiter para sa kanilang order. The restaurant is screaming elegance. Mabuti na lamang ay nag-ayos siya, because if she didn't she would look out of place.

"Here's the menu Mam and Sir. Please take your order." wika ng lalaking waiter at maginoong ibinigay ang menu sa kanila. Every employee in the restaurant was so professional and well trained. They moved fast but were refined and elegant. Kahit na sobrang busy at bilis nilang kumilos ay talaga namang kalkulado ang galaw ng bawat isa.  Nagagawa nilang mag serve ng maraming pagkain ng walang nagiging problema. They also treat every customer as it best.

She smiled at him and said, "Thank you!" 

She kept flipping the menu, but as she continued she felt irritated because it was so hard to decide. Her forehead creased and she pouted her lips a little. May limang minuto na yata siyang pumipili at napepresure na siya. Ang hirap pang basahin ng mga pagkain sa menu. Hendrina keeps on flipping the pages of the menu and she feels a hot gaze as she chooses. Sumulyap siya sa lalaki at nagtagpo ang mga mata nila. He was staring at her like he was amused by her. Nahihirapan talaga siyang pumili sapagkat lahat ng pagkain sa menu ay mukhang masarap. Sumuko na lamang siya at nakausap sa lalaki.

"Allen pwede bang ikaw na lang ang pumili. I think you are a regular here kasi kakilala mo ang maitre d." She said with a little pout. "Ang hirap kasing pumili eh. All foods looks mouth-watering pero ang hirap i-pronounce ng mga pangalan. Gusto ko lang naman kumain eh."

A gentle giggled escape to his mouth. "Sige." He looked at the waiter and gave back his menu so she also gave hers. "We would have my usual order and please give us a glass of juice and wine."

"I rather have a wine of glass too." Pagpigil niya sa lalaki.

"No, sa akin yung juice. I am driving so I won't drink. Ayoko namang maaksidente tayo pauwi. Even though wine can't make me drunk, I still don't wanna take risks. Not that I am with you." He said sincerely that touch her heart. She blushed furiously and avoided his eye contact.