To Love Again

Liv

"Hey, sorry I'm late." Lander apologized as he got out of his white Audi R8-- the perfect car for a bachelor like him. He was wearing a white dress shirt rolled up to his elbow, beige chinos, and a pair of black oxford shoes, topped off with Ray Ban aviators. His get-up screamed sophisticated and handsome!

He cleared his throat, which brought me back to my senses. "Like what you see, Mrs. Zamora?" he smirked.

"You wish!" I rolled my eyes and tried to hide the blush on my cheeks. I made my way towards his car to open the door, but he hurriedly did it before me. Gentleman.

We were off to Quezon City to look at a prospective space for his new restaurant. It's smack-dab right in the city, surrounded by businesses and shops. We got there after about a 30-minute drive. And Lander, being the gentleman that he is, opened the door for me and gently helped me out.

We made our way towards the vacant space, it was in the middle of a Chinese restaurant and a Japanese restaurant.

"Competition," Lander pointed out.

The owner of the space greeted and urged us to tour the place. It was spacious, great for a restaurant. The place was clean and new. White-paint and tiled floors. Lander was carefully examining the place, as if he was picturing the interior of his restaurant.

"So what do you think Mr. dela Vega?" Mr. Sy asked.

"It's a great and spacious space, Mr. Sy. Very clean as well. However, I just don't think that this is the place that I'm looking for. Thank you for your time." Lander respectfully stated. He shook Mr. Sy's hand and then we made our way out.

"It felt too stuffy in there. Hindi presko. This environment is just too urban for my liking. Too crowded. I want something more 'fresh,' something more hidden." Lander stated as we made our way back to his car.

"So, no 'city' or 'urban'?" I clarified. He nodded his head. I took out my notepad and jotted the information down.

"Well, I guess we have to cancel on our next place as well, because it's in the same area. Just a block or two away from here. It's by the mall." I said.

"Yeah, sorry about that. I just don't envision the next La Casa to be in the city." he apologetically said,

"It's okay, Lander. You're the boss." I chuckled and gave him a salute.

Because it's 12 in the afternoon narin, we decided to grab lunch at an Italian restaurant nearby. I was craving for some Fettuccine Alfredo. He gladly obliged to my request, pasasalamat daw for accompanying me.

"Mahilig ka pala sa pasta," Lander stated as he watched me twist the pasta on my fork.

"Oo, pasta has always been a comfort food for me. Tuwing stressed na stressed ako, basta kumain ako ng pasta, na i-ease yung stress ko." I confessed,

"So stressed ka ngayon?" He asked as he took a sip on his iced tea.

"Hindi naman. Nag-crave lang bigla." I shyly replied. "Si Oli, grabe, pasta addict din yun. Palaging nag re-request ng Carbonara. Weekly basis." I added.

Lander chuckled. "Well, one can't ever go wrong with pasta. Kung gusto mo, pwede tayong mag-take out para sa mga bata. I got it covered." he suggested,

"You don't have to, Lander. Nakakahiya . I'll pay for it."

"Hey, I offered. Di mo na pwedeng tanggihan. And plus, you can pay for it some other way..." he meaningfully added. Bigla akong kinabahan, by the way he was looking at me right now. Parang may iba.

I gulped. "W-w-what do you mean?" I stammered,

"Hey Liv, it's not like that! Goodness no!" he quickly clarified, sensing the apprehension in my voice. He chuckled.

I gave out a breath of relief. "Naku, Lander. Kala ko kung ano na ha!"

"I was just wondering if you could help me pick out gifts. Kasi I've missed all of my friends weddings, kilala mo naman siguro sila. Sina Yohann?" I nodded. "Well, yeah. I wanted to buy them wedding gifts and ano gifts narin for the kids kasi I feel bad that I missed out. Para man lang makabawi," he explained.

"Ang thoughtful mo naman,"

"It's the least I can do. So, are you game?" he asked,

"Sure. Yun lang pala eh. Kala ko kung ano na," I stated. We both chuckled.

"What about this one?" I asked Lander as I held up a teacup set.

"Cliché." He nonchalantly stated, "Seriously Liv, how many times have people been given a teacup set as a wedding gift and di naman nagagamit? Pang display lang yan." he pointed out.

"Point taken." I replied as I put the teacup set back.

"The thing is, I want to give them something useful, pero I haven't been to their houses kaya I don't know what they're missing." Lander stated, not knowing what to do.

"It's the thought that counts naman eh. I think they'll appreciate anything."

"Maybe their wives will appreciate it. But knowing those guys, pagtatawanan lang nila ako." he explained, "Something erotic kaya? I'm sure ma-aappreciate yun ng mga gagong yun!" he jokingly added.

I cringed. "Eww, no. Wag, jusko! Que horror!"

"O.A. mo!" he stated before he broke out to a hearty laugh.

In the end, he decided to buy the four couples a set of matching kitchenware. Take note, yung mahal pa ha! Big time talaga itong si dela Vega.
He asked me if I wanted one for myself as well para daw gift nya din sa wedding namin ni Wes, pero tumanggi ako. Nagpumilit pa nga sya pero I explained that bago pa naman ang kitchenwares namin.

Dahil di magkakasya ang binili namin sa kotse nya, he just had the store hold the items so he can pick them up later. Next up, we headed to the toy store to buy gifts for the kids.

"So Seb and Celeste has two boys, Yohann and Steph has a girl and two boys, Riley and Camille has three girls, and Alonso and Leigh has one boy?" Lander clarified. I nodded. "Now, I have no idea where to start." he said as he scratched his head.

"We can get dolls for the girls and action toys for the boys. Or too cliché?" I suggested.

"Well, at this point, I don't give a damn about clichés!" he stated as we made our way towards the doll sections.

"Sa pagkakaalam ko, mahilig sa Barbie dolls sina Natalia, Estelle, at Alyannah -- yung mga girls nina Riley. And si Yna naman, yung anak nina Yohann, eh 1 years old palang so maybe we can buy her an educational toy? Yung mga boys naman ni Seb na sina Ash at Ken, very into LEGOs if I remember correctly. Yohann's boys, Alistair and Evander, are into robots and lastly, Alonso's baby boy, Dylan, is a Hot Wheels fanatic." I stated.

Lander was dumbfounded. "Wow. Wala na akong masabi,"

"Wesley and I used to buy the kids gifts during Christmas. Nakasanayan nalang." I stated, recalling Wes and I's yearly tradition. It's something that never stopped even after he was gone.

"Well, I've never met those kids and you know them more than I do, so I completely trust you Liv." Lander meaningfully said.

"By the way, what about Cassie and Oli?" he added,

"You don't have to Lander. Sobra sobra na, sapat na yung pagkain."

"No. I insist. It's the least I can do. Pasasalamat nadin kasi they have an amazing mother."

I felt my cheeks blush at his last statement. There's really something about him.