Conversations

"Good evening"

"Good evening, Dei...oh my goodness you look amazing."

"You don't look so bad yourself."

"..."

"Jay? You okay?"

"...uhh, yes. I'm just...I mean..."

"You're just...what?"

"Nagulat lang ako."

"Saan?"

"Sa'yo. Ang ganda mo ngayon eh."

"So ibig sabihin dati pangit ako?"

"Ha? Ano?! Uy hindi! Hindi ko naman...umm—"

"Biro lang."

"Whew."

"So ano, let's go?"

"Sige."

"Pawis na pawis ka yata. Did you run a marathon or something?"

"Kabado lang."

"Bakit?"

"Ewan ko ba. Don't mind me."

"Okay. So, where are we going?"

"Somewhere in QC."

"Ang laki ng QC ha."

"Basta. Surprise."

"Concha's? Nice!"

"Yup."

"But why does it look like na tayo lang ang tao dito?"

"Because we are."

"Bakit? Usually when I go here super busy, lalo na pag Saturday night."

"Well, I sort of own this place."

"Really?"

"Yes. One of the properties my parents left for me."

"Oh. I'm sorry."

"It's okay. Shall we sit down?"

"Yes, please. Gutom na ako. Favorite ko yung Okoy dito."

"Really? Ako din."

"Kakaiba siya. Malutong. Malinamnam."

"Thanks. Recipe ko yun eh."

"Talaga? You cook?!"

"Yes. Unbelievable ba masyado?"

"Hindi naman."

"Plus pogi pogi points ba?"

"Smooth."

"Biro lang. Ilang order gusto mo?"

"Ano, mga sampu."

"Ha?!"

"Biro lang. Kahit isa lang."

"Kuya Six, isang order naman ng okoy. Ano pa gusto mo, Dei?"

"Can I have the steak please?"

"Sige. Two steaks, Kuya Six. Saka yung garden salad."

"Pandan iced tea din please. With extra ice on the side."

"What she said. Thanks Kuya."

"Hmm."

"What's on your mind?"

"Wala naman."

"Parang ang lalim ng iniisip mo."

"Hindi naman. Curious lang ako paano mo na-manage 'tong place na 'to while in medical school."

"Co-owner ko naman yung kapatid ko so kaya naman."

"Ah. Ang ganda ng ambience ng place na 'to and no BS, masarap yung food."

"Thanks. My mom designed it."

"Oh. Sorry."

"You don't have to keep saying sorry. It's really okay, Dei."

"..."

"Okay lang talaga. Natutuwa nga ako kapag na-compliment yung place na 'to eh kasi siyempre my mom's memory lives in this place."

"She really had good taste, Jay."

"She did."

"If you don't mind me asking, Jay. How did umm...how did your parents you know..."

"Ah. Car accident. It was actually on the day I found out I got into my dream medical school. May celebration dinner kami dapat kaso di na sila umabot."

"Jay..."

"Bumabagyo kasi noon eh. Tapos nasa intersection sila at yung sasakyan na nasa kanan nila ran a red light. Iniwasan ng dad ko so bumangga sila sa poste. Di na sila umabot sa hospital."

"Jay, I don't know what to say."

"It's okay, Dei. Atleast they were together at that time. At nakulong naman yung driver nung sasakyan na nag-cause ng accident."

"That's good."

"Yes. Pero I can't help but think na kung sana hindi na lang kami nagcelebration dinner edi sana buhay pa sila."

"Hey, don't say that. They're happy for you kaya siyempre they wanted you to celebrate, Jay."

"Kaya din ako nagpatuloy mag-med eh. When they died, gusto kong wag nang ituloy eh. Pero my parents always encouraged me to pursue what I love so eto ako ngayon."

"I'm happy you did, Jay."

"Me too. Otherwise baka hindi rin kita nakilala."

"Anong connect?"

"Di ko pa alam pero malalaman din natin. Malay mo may connection pala."

"Ikaw talaga!"

"Lahat ng bagay may purpose. Lahat ng pangyayari may dahilan"

"Wow. Pa-deep. Kasing deep ng dimples mo."

"Atleast I made you smile. Ang ganda mo kapag nakangiti."

"Ay! Ayan na yung food!"

"Panira ng moment itong si Kuya Sixto eh."

"Mmm, bango!"

"Sige na. Let's eat!"

—

"I enjoyed tonight, Dei."

"Me too."

"Ang sarap mo kausap."

"Ikaw din. I have to ask though, and sorry kung it may seem na assuming ako but was this a date?"

"To me it is. And I really had a lovely time."

"Me too."

"Let's do it again sometime? Maybe a study date?"

"Mahirap yan. Baka daldalin mo lang ako."

"Oo nga. Sige, brunch date naman? Bukas?"

"Bukas agad?"

"Oo. I want to spend as much time with you as I can."

"Ikaw talaga pero sige na nga."

"See you tomorrow."

"See you."