Bago umalis ng opisina, nagtungo ako sa powder room para mag-ayos ng sarili. I was happy to see my reflection in the mirror. Twenty five was the age I looked best. Mahaba na ulit ang aking bagsak at makintab na buhok. Makinis na ulit ang aking mukha. Tama lamang ang aking pangangatawan. Hindi payat pero hindi rin naman mataba. Kahit pa maraming pressures sa trabaho napanatili ko ang sigla sa aking mukha dahil masaya ako sa aking ginagawa. Ito yung mga panahong inspirado ako at masigasig na masigasig sa pagtupad ng aking mga pangarap
I gladly retouched my makeup. Kinapalan ko nang bahagya ang aking lipstick para medyo visible naman sa gabi. I was wearing a simple floral yellow dress topped with white cardigan. I sprayed the cologne I found inside my brown leather handbag. Hindi na ako makapaghintay sa Valentines date namin ni Dustin.
He was busy at work until late afternoon kung kaya't napagkasunduan naming magkita na lamang sa venue ng aming date. He worked as sous chef in a five star hotel restaurant. I was glad to know that we didn't not just nurtured our relationship but our careers too.
Nauna akong dumating sa dinner date namin. It was in a two floor Italian restaurant located in Maginhawa Street, UP Village. That time, tahimik pa ang kalsadang iyon at hindi pa gaanong sikat na food street sa Quezon City. Pagpasok ko sa restaurant ay magalang na tinanong ako kung may reservation. I mentioned Dustin's name and they instantly accommodated me. Mainit nila akong tinanggap at pati manager ay personal na winelcome ako. Hinatid ako ng waiter sa second floor. Our table was located in the cozy open terrace lighted with candles and lanterns. The waiter pulled the chair for me. Nakuha agad ang aking atensiyon ng magandang table setting. All utensils were classy and properly put in places as if they knew that they would be having a professional chef guest.
"Gusto niyo na po bang omorder mam?" tanong sa akin ng waiter.
"Hintayin ko muna yung kasama ko," ngiti ko.
"Pindutin niyo na lang po ang buzzer ma'am kapag may kailangan kayo," turo niya sa pindutan sa ilalim ng mesa.
"Yes. Thank you."
I waited ten minutes until I saw a black toyota sedan parking in front of the restaurant. Bumaba mula doon si Dustin. He was wearing a gray long sleeve and a black pants. I didn't knew he was already driving his own car after getting his local job. Ibig sabihin ay may sarili na siyang sasakyan nung mga panahong nagcocommute pa lang ako.
I fell in love all over again while watching him approach me. He gained more masculinity and seemed to earn respectable aura. Hindi ko lubos maisip na huling kita ko sa kanya ay may sakit pa siya. He had another bouquet of flowers in his hand. He kissed me on the lips at sabay inabot sa akin ang bungkos ng mga bulaklak.
"Thank you. Meron ulit. Pinadalhan mo na ako kanina ah," I said while trying harnd not to be very obvious on having butterflies in my stomach.
"Iba pa rin yung ako mismo ang nag-abot sayo." He sat in front of me. "Sorry di na kita nasundo, ang daming guest sa hotel kaya di ako makaalis nang mas maaga."
"Okay lang. I understand," simpleng sagot ko. I opened the menu. "Let's order." Nag-alala agad ako baka pagod at gutom na siya.
"I already ordered a set in advance. Alam ko ang specialty ng lugar na to kaya alam ko kung ano ang papasa sa taste mo," he said confidently.
I folded the menu. "Sige you're the chef so you're the boss now," I grinned.
"Do you like the place?" he asked.
I looked around and nodded. Napansin kong ang table lang namin ang occupied sa terrace. "Yes, it's classy and solemn at same time," komento ko.
"Kaibigan ko ang may-ari nito. He was once my best buddy sa mga culinary trainings namin," he proudly said.
BINABASA MO ANG
MAGICALLY YOURS,
RomanceDeanery Mortel was a single woman with fat pocket. But despite of wealth and success, she was secretly empty inside because of a man she let go. Her life was full of 'what ifs'. One day, she died and the next day she opened her eyes living in her pa...
