Behind Her Shadow

Chapter 26

Maria Adelaida's POV

Kahit kailan, hindi naman ako naghangad na magkaroon ng isang date. Growing up naman, my mind wasn't focused on things such as that. Wala nga akong crush noong grade school, eh.

Palaisipan sa akin kung bakit kailangan ng jowa? Para saan ba 'yun? Bakit kailangan ng crush? Requirement ba iyon para maging tunay na dalaga?

Pero habang tumatagal, doon ko lang napagtanto na hindi naman pala talaga kailangan ng 'crush' para matawag na dalaga. At ang pagkakaroon ng boyfriend o girlfriend ay choice ng isang tao.

Ang date... I realized to have a date is such a romantic thing. Sa mga taong nasa paligid ko kasi, it's either they initiate the date or their partners ask them out for a date.

It made me wonder... will I ever get a date?

And now... here I am. On a date with the woman I just spent my Valentine's with.

"Are you good?" Asked by the woman in front of me.

Agad akong napangiti sa tinanong niya. "I'm happy." Mukhang hindi ko na nga kailangang sabihin pa iyon, dahil sigurado akong alam na alam niya iyon dahil kanina ko pa ramdam ang init sa pisngi ko, tanda na... kinikilig ako.

"I'm glad you are," her lips broke into a genuine smile. "I'm sorry I had to bring you somewhere far. I just want to go somewhere where people don't know us."

Nakakaintinding tumango ako sa kaniya. "It's okay. Naiintindihan ko naman. I actually like it here!"

"Seems like it," she teasingly said as she lifted her wine glass. "You looked like a kid excited for her cotton candy."

I can't help but giggle.

"First time ko kasi..."

"To eat in a steak restaurant?" She asked, tilting her head a bit to the side, emphasizing how curious she is.

Umiling ako. "First time ko magkaroon ng... date."

Akala ko ay mangungunot ang noo niya, dahil sa ilang dekada akong nabubuhay ay first time ko lang makipag-date, pero mali pala ako.

Mali ako dahil imbes na 'yung reaksyon na inaasahan ko ang makikita ko sa mukha niya, her reaction was very much different.

Her lips are pressed together to hide a smile, as if shy.

"I'm your first date?" She then asked again.

I nodded as a confirmation. "You are my first date."

"I'm your first date..." she repeated in a hushed voice, as if telling herself. Then, out of nowhere, she expanded her hand in front of me like she was asking for a handshake. "Hi. I'm your first date."

Namamanghang nagparte ang mga labi ko sa ginawa niya. Minsan talaga, hindi ko inaasahan ang mga lumalabas sa bibig niya! Kaunti na lang ay iisipin kong crush niya rin ako!

"E 'di ang yabang mo na niyan?" Pangaasar ko sa kaniya at agad na tinanggap ang kamay niya. "Hi, my first date. How was my performance?"

She smirked, "I'd say you're a four." She leaned toward the table and bit down on her lower lip.

'Di makapaniwalang tumingin ako sa kaniya. Kahit pa sobrang ganda niya sa paningin ko ngayon, hindi ko maiwasang mapasinghap.

"Four?! Out of what? Five?! Bakit hindi perfect? Hello? Ako na kaya 'to?!"

Elle sexily licked her lower lip and glanced at me, her hair sliding down from her shoulders to her chest. 'Yan! 'Yang ganiyang simpleng galaw niyang iyan ay kuhang-kuha na ako!