Hello, Manila. Your prodigal daughter is back.
Hanging out with my best friends at our favorite café is the first thing on my priority list upon my return to the city. Ruth and Chinkay planned a welcome dinner party for me, as if I was out of the country for a year. Parties are not my thing, but I have to be present for my best friends who took the effort in preparing. They, together with my other friends, are already at the cafe when I arrive. Pink and white balloons are everywhere. Pop music can be heard from the stereo.
What the heck is this? A bridal shower?
"Welcome home," Chinkay kisses me on the cheek. In her hands is a half illustration board with a 'Welcome Back, Ays' message and my enlarged picture pasted on it.
"You could have chosen a better one," I say, pointing at my horrific college ID picture. Imagine me without proper eyebrow makeup and lipstick, with a pimple on the forehead. How horrifying! Ugh.
"Ays!" Ruth runs towards me, her arms wide open. She welcomes me with a warm hug. "I missed you."
"I missed you too, guys," I tell my two best friends, who are wearing identical flower crowns. "Though I was only away for four days."
Ruth puts the yellow and pink flower crown on my head and takes a video of me while walking. Gosh, I love my friends.
Everyone greets me and asks about my trip. They are our friends from university. They want to know more about my itinerary, so I share a few tips on what to do and where to stay. Though the credit should go to Marco for the stuff I've discovered in Batanes.
I am at the counter ordering strawberry milkshake when Chinkay appears beside me. She's wearing the red dress I bought for her as a Christmas gift and is proudly showing it to me.
"What can you say about the party?" She asks, beaming with delight. Chinkay loves parties. She's the type who can spend days and days preparing for a party, and she won't get tired.
"You didn't have to do this really, but I appreciate it," I give her a hug that is enough to show my appreciation. "It could have been just the two of you here, and that's more than enough."
"Awww," Ruth joins us, ending the video call with her boyfriend. "Chinkay and I want to cheer you up, knowing how shitty the past few days have been."
What they mean by 'shitty' is how my parents have stopped talking to me, especially my dad who is frustrated that I quit my job which I got with the help of his best friend.
"So is there anything you'd like to tell us?" Chinkay teases. When she's like this, it can only mean one thing. She wants to hear about my sexual escapades, if there's any.
Ruth spots an empty space where we can talk. After grabbing my strawberry milkshake, we all take a seat on the outdoor bench at the right side of the café.
"Spill," Chinkay gives me a meaningful smile. Ruth settles in beside me. I look around to check if someone can hear us. Good thing everyone is busy inside.
"Okay, so I met this guy," I start. Chinkay's loud squeal interrupts me.
"Sorry, go on," She smirks.
"So I met this guy," I repeat. "And sorry Chinks, nothing happened," With that, her face falls.
"But he's sweet, smart, and hot." I add that he's athletic, loves acoustic music, and plans to establish a culinary school in the future.
"He seems pretty awesome," Ruth reacts in her high-pitched voice. "How did you meet him?"
"So here goes my story," I tell them that I got the wrong luggage at the airport and it turned out to be his. We met at the hometel's restaurant, because he's staying at the same place, and started a conversation. He asked me to spend my entire vacation with him and I agreed.
"So that's it? Nothing happened?" Chinkay is still hoping for a plot twist.
"Nothing," I utter. "You know I don't do one-night stands, Chinks."
"But you said he's hot?" She pries. Chinkay's always like that. She's the one who's been hooking me up on blind dates right after I broke up with my ex. She says I need to release the heartbreak through sex.
"Yes, he is but he's also a gentleman to not take advantage of me." I smile, thinking about how gentleman Marco had been.
"What's his name again?" Ruth asks.
"Marco," I blush upon mentioning his name. My mind travels back to the picnic on top of the hill, that time when I almost wanted to kiss him.
"So you like him," She sounds like she has already solved the puzzle. "It's obvious 'cause you're blushing."
"Just because I'm blushing, doesn't mean I like him," I counter.
"You like the guy but didn't kiss him?" It's Chinkay again, trying to point out how stupid I am not to shag the hot guy. "What planet are you from?"
"I only have sex with my boyfriends, not with a stranger," I say. She tries to protest, but I stop her. "And kissing Marco will just attach me to him, and that's what I hate about flings."
Flings lead to emotional stress. I don't want to end up crying over a guy who has been in my life for just a short span of time. You're not supposed to take flings seriously, I know, but I'm still not a fan of that kind of set-up.
"And I don't like him; I just admire him. There's a difference between the two." I clear.
"Whatever you say," Chinkay surrenders, raising both hands up.
"How about Modern Mr. Darcy," Ruth poses a question. She is strumming her fingers on the bench. "Is there a possibility for you to meet him? Did he already reply?"
"I haven't checked my email yet," I casually mutter while sipping on my milkshake. Though I really want to know the person behind the pen name, I still have no guts to ask Modern Mr. Darcy about it. What if he finds it rude? What if he stops messaging me because of it?
Changing the subject, Chinkay reminds us about the upcoming high school reunion. I decline, considering almost every one might have heard about my 'quitting the job.' Ruth tells me that it should be the least of my worry.
"Luis might be there, for God's sake," Chinkay is talking about my first boyfriend in high school who's been trying o get back with me since last year.
"Gosh, seriously, no," I plead, covering my ears. My friends know that talking about Luis will irritate me.
"Remember how you used to love him?" Ruth laughs at the memory. Back in high school, I claimed that he was my one true love. I cringe at the thought.
"Please, I was young. I don't know a thing about love," I reason out. But what I said is true though. "It's just infatuation."
"But you cried when you caught him cheating on you with a senior," Chinkay teases me even more, reminding me of that time when I lost my sanity and charged into my ex after catching them doing something behind my back.
Ruth continues to persuade me to attend the reunion with them, even asking Chinkay to stop teasing me so I will agree.
"No, girls, I won't be attending the reunion," I put both of my hands on the table. "That's final."
I go back to the counter to order another milkshake. While I am checking my wallet for money, I find the note from Marco.
Be fearless. Break free.
Marco's right. Why am I giving a shit on what others will say? It's my life. So what if I quit my job?
My best friends are happy when I tell them I changed my mind.
Well, it's finally time for me to face the current.
YOU ARE READING
Once Upon A Chance
Romanzi rosa / ChickLitAya is miserable at her job. She's thinking of quitting, but can't seem to realize the idea, until she comes across a newspaper editorial telling her exactly to do just that. She knows the editorial is not written for her, but it sounds like it is w...
