Serendipitous

A Series of Fortunate Mistakes

Drabble Challenge
AMACon4 Day 2
PROMPT: My Funny Valentine

"Hi, good evening! Reservation for C. Mendoza?" Dei cheerfully greeted the maître d' as she looked around the elegant façade of the restaurant where she's supposed to meet her sister, Coleen.

"Yes, right this way, mademoiselle. Your companion is already waiting at the table."

Wow, Coleen is on time? Miracles do happen on Valentine's Day it seems.

"Here you go, mademoiselle. Enjoy your evening," the maître d' bowed as he left Dei to her companion - WHO'S A GUY?!? What the heck?

"Excuse me? I think you have the wrong table, sir. I'm supposed to be meeting my sister and this is reserved--"

"Under C. Mendoza, who's a friend of my sister. I'm Rj, by the way," he said as he stood up, smiled and held out his hand to Dei.

She stared at his hand with an eyebrow raised. "What is this? A blind date? I'm sorry if your time got wasted but I don't go out with guys I barely know. Maiwan na lang kita dyan; enjoy your evening."

As Dei turned to go, Rj clasped her hand, making her gasp as she felt a tingling sensation where their hands touched.

"Miss, wag ka na munang umalis, please? I agreed to this setup for my sister - kahit sana one hour lang, pwede? At least I can tell my sister that I tried even if the date ended up pretty quickly. Please? For our sisters' sake who made the effort to set this up?"

Damn, he used the sister card. Gaaah, Coleen! You owe me, big time!

Rolling her eyes and sighing loudly, she said, "Fine. 1 hour. And I'm eating the most expensive dishes on the menu. Might as well eat good food while you bore me with your tales on why you need your sister to set you up on a blind date kahit na mukha ka namang tao."

He chuckled as he helped her to her seat. "Mukhang tao; first time kong narinig yung ganong description about me. Salamat at hindi ko pa kamukha yung aso kong si Globie."

"Oh, you have a dog? Anong breed nya?" Dei's eyes widened in excitement at this. She's a dog-lover and anyone who takes good care of their dogs is a check in her book.

"He's a Siberian husky. Eto picture nya o," he replied and showed her the picture of his dog.

An hour passed and they were laughing like old friends as they took their time with their appetizers. "Wow, sa La Salle ka din nag-aral? I was from DLSU too, sa CSB. Ang galing ha! In fairness to our sisters, this is one enjoyable date."

Rj looked at her with a teasing smile and asked, "So you are having fun... does that mean you're willing to go out with me again?"

"Hmm, let's talk about that over the main course. Malay mo, by the time dessert arrives, you've managed to convince me to go out again with you," she replied with an impish grin.

"Meng? Meng! Bakit nandyan ka? Kanina pa kami ni Mike naghihintay sayo!" Coleen said in an exasperated tone as she approached their table.

Dei looked at Rj and Coleen quizzically. "Umm, this is our table, isn't it? Table under C. Mendoza? Coleen Mendoza?"

"Our table is under C. Cruz, not C. Mendoza. Kasal na po ako kay Mike, di ba?" Coleen answered back.

"So... you weren't in cahoots with Rj's sister in setting us up on a blind date? Sino si C. Mendoza? And sino dapat ka-date mo?!?" Dei's eyes widened as she rattled off her questions.

Rj's phone rang at that moment. "Si Riza, yung kapatid ko. Hello? Oo, nandito na ako. Ah, hindi makakarating yung kaibigan ni Christine? I see. Okay lang. Uuwi na rin ako maya-maya. Bye."

Rj turned to Dei and Coleen with a sheepish smile. "My sister and her friend, Christine Mendoza, set me up on a blind date tonight. Apparently, my supposed date can't go tonight since may sakit sya."

"Buti na lang nagkamali ang kapatid ko sa table na pinuntahan kaya you still managed to have a date for the evening. Mukha namang nag-e-enjoy kayo so why don't I leave you guys alone so I can also have a date with my husband?" Coleen smirked at Rj and Dei and quickly left them.

"So--" they said in unison and laughed. "You go first," Rj said.

"So... it's like a series of unfortunate events noh? Puro pala tayo maling akala," Dei said with a bashful smile.

"No, I actually think it's a very fortunate turn of events. I'm glad I met you tonight, Dei Mendoza."

"Same here, Rj Faulkerson."

"Next date natin, ako na magpapa-reserve. At susunduin kita sa bahay ninyo, baka ibang R. Faulkerson pa na reservation ang mapuntahan mo."

"Feeling mo! Pumayag na ba ako sa sunod na date? You still have to convince me, mister."

"Then let's start with our main course. Baka pag busog ka na, mas madali na kitang makumbinsi," he teased.

"Hmm, I want to see you try," she challenged with an impish grin.

"Challenge accepted!"