Fidelity

51st

Date Night

The grand opening in Cebu was a huge success and I feel like I'm on cloud nine ever since. I was there for three days and Austin surprised me on the night of the event! Hindi ko alam na pupunta siya ng Cebu!

"Kiss!" everyone cheered when he came up to me with flowers.

Halos mabasag ang eardrums ko sa tiliian when Austin leaned down his face on me. He looks flustered at halatang hiyang-hiya rin. He's not very used to a huge crowd like this in the first place. Hindi ko lubos maisip kung paano siya naglakas loob gawin ito.

"Naku! Sunod niyan, Ma'am, kasal niyo na!" biro pa ng isa na tinawanan na lang namin.

Nauna ring lumipad pabalik sa Maynila si Austin dahil may pasok pa siya kinabukasan. He literally just flew to catch my event. Habang ako naman ay naging abala din agad pagbalik sa head office.

"Monica, anong oras ang fitting?" tanong ko sa sekretarya.

"Kakaconfirm ko lang kay Ms. Einj, Ma'am, 3PM daw po sila makakapunta."

Tumango ako. Ngayon nakatakdang sukatan ang ilan sa entourage ng kasal nila Raya. The final sketches have been approved and all we have to do now is get the body measurements of the clients. Pwede na kaming mag-commence sa pagbuo ng gowns at suits pagkatapos.

"Alright, make sure na may nakaprepare na snacks for them later."

She took note of that and continued briefing me on our schedule for the week. Karamihan doon ay para sa wedding wardrobe na bukod sa ilang ongoing projects at orders na pinagkakaabalahan namin.

My phone buzzed the moment she stepped out of my office.

Austin:
What do you wanna eat later?

Napanguso ako. Today's our monthsarry and ofcourse we're seeing each other later. Nasusundo niya na ulit ako ngayong balik na siya sa morning shift.

Napaisip ako sa tanong niya. I can't really think of anything for dinner but...

Solasta Aicelle:
I'm craving for those plant-based cookies I often get

Austin:
Yun ulit? How about a proper meal

I chuckled. I know he wouldn't be able to resist my request since it's a special day. At hindi nga nagtagal ay hiningi nya na ulit ang link nung pastry shop. Hindi ko tuloy mapigilang maexcite na mag-uwian na.

"Ma'am, nandyan na po sila Ma'am Einj kasama sila Sir Calcifer.." inabisuhan ako ni Monica kinahapunan. Aniya ay sinusukatan na ang mga ito.

"Alright, I'll drop by to greet them later after I finish these.."

It took me about half an hour to finish the reports on my desk and finally check my guests. Gaya ng inaasahan ay wala roon si Raya dahil sa makalawa pa ang balik nito. Hindi rin kumpleto ang mga kaibigan ni Cal mula sa Calle Nueva. Tanging si Einj, Aki, at Elcid lang ang namukhaan ko. The rest were Cal's relatives and friends from other social circle.

"May other commitments yung iba kaya hindi nakasabay samin.." ani Cal. "Yung flower girl at ring bearer may pasok sa preschool kaya baka by weekend makapunta dito,"

"It's fine, we'll set another schedule for them... We can't accommodate everyone in one go anyway,"

Kinuhanan na rin ng measurements si Cal at nanatili na muna ako roon para makipagkwentuhan. With Einj and Cal there, the room was full of life kahit pa hindi madaldal sina Aki at Elcid. May dalawang pinsan din si Cal na hindi nauubusan ng energy. I excused myself to wrap things up in my office when I noticed that it was almost already.

May dalawa pang susukatan at kung hindi matatapos agad ay mukhang kakailanganing mag-overtime ng ilang staffs doon. I was thinking of waiting for them to finish since it doesn't look like it would take that long anyway.

Pinatay ko na ang ilaw sa opisina at dinala ang bag nang bumalik sa fitting room. Pagbukas ko pa lang ng pinto ay rinig ko na ang boses ni Einj.

"Dali na! Andito si Cal oh!" there was a a natural trace of joy and excitement in Einj's voice. May kavideocall pala ito sa phone. "Ano sabi ng vet?"

Dalawa pa ang sinusukatan kaya't minabuti ko nang tumulong para mapadali ang trabaho. Tinabihan ko si Shirley na isa sa mga staff. "Ako na ang magsusulat ng measurement habang sinusukatan mo siya.."

"At risk daw sa diabetes.." there was a familiar voice followed by a sigh coming from Einj's phone. "Common daw sa cats kapag overweight.."

"Sabi sayo eh wag mo nang pakiinin ng matatamis!" ani Cal. "Lagi mo kasing pinapatikim—"

"Anong— Lagi?!" the voice sounded triggered. He even muttered a curse. Tila napikon sa sinabi ni Cal. "Kelan ko pinakain ng matamis?! Pinipigilan ko nga pagkumukuha, pinapagalitan ko pa!"

Humagalpak si Cal. "Oh bat ka nagagalit? Bat ka defensive?"

There was no humor from the other line as he threw curses at the cackling Calcifer. "Siraulo ka ba? Di ko nga pinapadapuan ng lamok yan tas sasabihin mo..."

"Sabagay mas mahal pa nga catfood niya kesa sa kinakain mo eh, diba. Sino ba talaga amo, ikaw o siya?" hagalpak ulit ni Cal.

Tinulak ni Einj ang mukha ni Cal. "Patingin na lang kay Lacey. Asan yang bebe na yan, kawawa naman.."

Muling dumungaw si Cal. "Nakaseatbelt pa talaga, ah? Passenger princess ka, Lacey? Isang meow naman jan,"

"Daan kayo rito, dali! Sabay na tayo kumain!" muling lumitaw ang enthusiasm sa tinig ni Einj.

"San ba kayo?"

"Dito sa shop ni Solace," Einj answered.

There was nothing from the other line and it was Einj who spoke again.

"Di ka ba papasukat din?"

"Nagpasukat na yan..." Cal said in a different tone this time.

Umangat ang tingin ko nang bumukas ang pinto at niluwa noon ang hinihingal pang si Monica. I thought she clocked out already since it's past office hours now.

"Ma'am! Nandyan na si Sir Austin!" ngisi nito. "May dalang sweets!"

"Wow... Anong meron?" hindi mapigilang kumento ni Einj. Cal looked at her with parted lips.

"Date night, di ba, Ma'am? Twenty-three ngayon eh!" she giddily shrieked, referring to the day Austin and I became official.

Einj was about to make another comment when Calcifer clicked something on her phone and Austin opened the door looking for me.