Rafaelle's
THE MOMENT I realized that my Tinder account is flying off, I became so nervous. It was a spur of the moment thing. Mukha akong tangang iniisa – isa ang mga message sa akin ng kung sino – sino. There was even a guy asking me "ARE YOU LOST BABY GIRL?" and that is so creepy so I blocked him immediately. Hindi ko dapat ginawa iyon. Online dating isn't really my thing. Dating is NOT really my thing. I met Felipe in the streets of Italy. Sinuwerte lang ako kaya ko siya nakilala pero pagkatapos noon ay wala namang nangyari. If he didn't pursue me before, wala namang mangyayari. I would've died a virgin if he didn't become my boyfriend.
"What is that?" I didn't realize Pan was snooping around near me. We were having a lunch break in our combined office. Nasa last stage na kami ng planning para sa launch ng aming clothing line. Everything is set at tuloy na tuloy na talaga ang show naming this coming weekend. The models are now in their last fitting, adjustments in the garments are being done, the hotel function hall is booked, and I have drawn each of the look the models will have at the show. Nararamdaman at nakikita ko na talaga ang first collection ko. Thanks to Pan for trusting in me so much.
"OH! YOU'RE ON TINDER?!!! YOU'RE DATING?! LIKE O TO THE M TO THE G! I'M SO MASAYA FOR YOU LIKE FUCK!!!" Napalakas ang boses ni Pan kaya napatingin sa amin ang mga nakapalibot sa loob ng office niya. Nanlalaki pa ang mga mata ko. Tinakpan ko ang bibig niya para hindi siya mag – ingay masyado.
"Pan, bakit ang ingay mo." Natatawang wika ko. I feel a lot better since our talk. Palagay ko ang kailangan ko lang naman talaga ay makakausao and I have Pan now. Hindi na ako dapat masyadong mag-isip ng kung ano – ano. I should be happy because my life is where it is now. My parents are happy, my siblings are at peace too. Panahon na talaga para ako naman ang maging masaya pero hind isa Tinder.
"It's just a spur of the moment thing." I told her. Tumawa si Pan.
"Is there such thing? Why can't you sabi that you like it? Anyway, I'm so masaya naman for you kasi you're making subok again! Malay mo, you'll kilala a lot of potential boyfriends there! Or! Or! You'll meet an AFAM!"
"Anong AFAM?"
"Duh?! AFAM means - A FOREIGNER ALREADY IN MANILA! OMG! You didn't know that?!"
"Pan, most of the time, I have no idea what you're saying. I just nod so you won't get offended. Like, bakit hindi ka pa pwedeng magsalita nang paganito." Pan was pouting, oh she was so cute, napahagikgik tuloy ako.
"Eyyy! Why ba naman kasi? I was raised like this no! Saka my Papa used to think that it's cute because I talk like my Mama." Napakatulis pa rin naman ng nguso niya. Tumawa na lang ako. I looked at my phone again, it beeped and even before I look at the message, alam kong sa Tinder galing iyon. Napailing ako, pinagsisihan ko talaga iyong ginawa kong pag – sign up dito. I mean, I am a normal human gbeing, I should meet other people in a normal way. I made a mental note to delete the app later. I looked at Pan.
"Pan, do you know single men?"
"Of course, I do! You wanna date some of them?"
"I mean, sure? I realized that I should be dating so that I won't get stuck thinking of my ex."
"Awww! I love that you are trying, Rafaelle!" Sabi ni Pan sa akin. "But you know in order for you to be happy, you should let it all out." Ngumiti na naman si Pan sa akin. I don't know what she knows about me. Ang dating ni Pan sa iba ay mahadera, mayabang at dominante, but in real life she has a high Emotional IQ. She's observant and empathetic. Sabi naman niya sa akin, hindi naman daw siya ganoon dati, but when she married into Toto's family, she learned a lot of new things.
