John
Hi guys!
Hinu-hunting niyo na ba ako?
First, let me introduce myself because Sofia did her introduction din. I'm John Rivera. Realist.
I work as an IT professional and have been blessed with opportunities to travel and live abroad because of it. As a kid, I was athletic, did well in school and always achieved whatever I set my mind to.
That said, relationships were never my goal. I am ashamed to admit but I've been pretty cavalier about it.
My first girlfriend - I had a crush on her because she was one of the prettiest in school. She showed interest, so niligawan ko kasi everyone already had girlfriends so sige.
Nung naging demanding, break.
Medyo ganun yung naging pattern ko. As soon as I feel like nasasakal ako sa demands, I'd leave.
Over the years, it was more of that. Attractive, shows interest, girlfriend. Demanding na, break. I feel like faces just passed me by.
Until
One day, at my cousin's wedding, when my good friend Kevin and I were leaving, we rounded the corner and almost bumped into a group.
Everything seemed to stop and all I could see was this girl with bright blue eyeshadow...
... na nagpapa-cute kay Kevin.
And all I could think of was that it was charming and I couldn't keep my eyes off her.
But I never saw her again, so I shrugged it off and went on my way.
I didn't put too much stock on those things anyway... signs, fate, destiny. Bleh. It all boils down to choice.
Years later, when Donna told me that she was sending a package through a friend and I got to asking who this friend was... there she was, the girl with blue eyeshadow.
I had to smile at the coincidence. I smiled even bigger when I walked in that cafe and saw her reading a book I liked. It was a bonus to note that, without the blue eyeshadow, she looked even cuter.
I loved showing her around town. "There? That's the Chrysler Building."
"Oh! Yan pala yun. That one naman?" She asked pointing to another structure.
"Well, that's an office."
She chuckled. "Oh, sorry."
I've been away from Manila for a long time and also had to toughen up a bit. Kaya minsan, hindi ko narerealize that my words may come off strong to others or that my sarcasm may not be interpreted correctly. But I assumed Sofia would know.
When Sofia asked, "I was planning to see the Statue of Liberty."
I wrinkled my nose and said, "Daming tourista dun eh."
"Sorry," she shrugged then kept silent.
"You want me to bring you there?"
"No na. I can find tours that will take me."
When we got to the Hamptons, it was more of that. It got to the point when a friend of mine called me out.
It was the night when Sofia begged off from the party and turned in early. I commented, "I didn't realize she wasn't a party person."
"I don't think it's that," said my friend, who was a psychologist. Asking her to elaborate, she continued, "You have a certain tone with her, like you put her down or, at least, she seems to take it that way. She's said sorry to your for a million times in the two days we've been here."
