"Mina, I'm so sorry. Please tell your friend. Malas lang talaga kahapon!"
My friend chuckled. "It's okay, Laura. That incident with the dog was epic."
I was on the phone with my friend who set up the date. "Hay nako. Sobrang hassle. Favorite shoes ko pa naman. Pero wala na. Anyway, I hope your friend didn't get offended that I stood him up."
"No, don't worry. But, it looks like I'm going to have to find someone else for you," Mina shared.
"Why naman?"
"May pagka-superstitious kasi itong friend ko na ito. Feeling niya hindi agree si destiny na kayo ang magmeet," she said.
"Ay wow. Eh di fine."
"I have another person in mind. Sabihan kita kapag nakausap ko na," Mina said, then bid me goodbye.
Weird guy, I thought, but shrugged it off and headed to the pantry to get my lunch. I found my container at the fridge, got it, heat it, then headed back to my workstation.
"Bakit beef steak ito?"
I was sure I had vegetables and fish for today, so I must've gotten a different container.
I headed back to the pantry, and a guy was just putting something in the refrigerator so I waited for my turn.
There was my empty food container. "You took my baon!"
"Huh?" The man turned.
"Oh my god! You again?!"
It was the owner of the dog from last night.
"Uy, hi," he said, sheepishly. "I'm Ethan."
"You took my food!"
"Huy, grabe ka naman mangbintang. How do I know you didn't take my food first?"
"Because ito o?" I held the container up. "Ibabalik ko pa nga dapat sayo eh. Pero yung pagkain ko talaga, ubos na."
Ethan looked contrite. "Sorry naman na. I didn't mean to take the wrong one, but nakasubo na ako when I realized the mistake. Babawi ako next time. Sorry. Kainin mo nalang yung food ko."
"But, I wanted my vegetables," I complained. "And fish. Nag-da-diet ako eh."
"Diet? Naku, wag na Miss. Tamang-tama lang yung katawan mo."
"Manyakis."
"Uy hindi sorry. Kung ano lang naman ang gusto mo, pero kung diet para magpapayat, suggestion ko huwag na," he said.
Shucks, cute pala ito. I shook my head to clear it. "Hay nako. Fine. Next time double check before you get food."
"Yes. Promise. Sige na, kainin mo na yang beefsteak. Ako nagluto niyan. The best yan."
I made a move to leave.
"Wait."
"What?" I asked, turning back.
"Ummm, ah... anong name mo?"
"Laura Claveria."
He extended his hand. "Hi Laura. I'm Ethan. Ethan Rivera. Baka lang... ano... baka lang kailangan mo ako hanapin."
"Bakit naman kita hahanapin?"
"Kapag... ibabalik mo na yung container ko!"
I rolled my eyes. "Iiwan ko nalang sa ref, with your name."
In his defense, masarap talaga and I finished the entire thing kahit na mukhang two cups of rice yung kasama.
Cleaning the container, I headed back to the pantry and left it with a note:
Masarap nga yung ulam. Thank you.
- Laura
*
That weekend, I decided to meet up with a few friends for dinner, but because of the heat, I left the house a few hours early so I had time to go around the mall and head to this cafe I like.
It was recently opened and was tucked in an inconspicuous corner of the mall, facing the gardens and the fountain. Add to that, they had a wall filled with books donated to the owners and you could spend your time hanging out and reading. They also had a small section of books for sale - some new, some used.
I was giddy as soon as I walked in. I truly loved being around books, so after purchasing a cup of coffee and a slice of cake, I chose a spot and then headed to the shelves to select a book.
I saw a novel by a popular writer that I hadn't read yet so I reached for that... at the same time someone else did. "I'm sorry but I - ikaw na naman?!"
Ethan chuckled. "Ano 'to?! Destiny na ata ito ha."
I gagged. "Destiny is crap. Stalker ka siguro."
"Ang bitter mo naman. And no, hindi po ako stalker. Baka ikaw yung sumusunod sa akin."
I rolled my eyes. "Ewan ko sayo. Sayo na yan."
"No, no. Sa'yo na. I owe you one... or two... basta. Sa'yo na. I'll pick another one."
Not wanting to debate anymore, I happily took the book and headed to my seat.
I didn't notice the time pass. When I checked my watch, it had been two hours since I got here and it was time to go meet my friends.
As I was gathering my things, one of the wait staff approached. "Ma'am, may nagpapabigay po."
"Sa akin?"
When the staff nodded, I took the package. It was a book by the same author.
A post it was attached.
"You looked so engrossed with that other one, I knew you appreciated the author's work. This is another one, which I hear is much better. Enjoy. - Ethan"
Hmm, that was sweet. I should thank him the next time I see him.
Pero okay lang din if I don't see him. Creepy na ha.
And no, hindi ako naniniwala sa destiny.
