Be Careful What You Wish For (PUBLISHED)

(10) - An Unexpected Gift

“You look different?! What a lame observation for a supposedly intelligent man,” Kaye snorted derisively, “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Well, he did say that it was for the better,” Ana defended. It was Tuesday night; Kaye had just gotten back from a business trip to Osaka and it was Tessa’s night off. So the three of them were having dinner at home. Ana was heating leftovers in the microwave and Tessa was laying plates on the table.

“Wow, it’s like something out of High School Musical,” Tessa observed.

“Only they should be way past that stage by now,” Kaye retorted as she turned in response to the ping of the rice cooker. She opened it and began to scoop rice onto a serving plate. “But I guess its alright since you seem to have missed an entire period of adolescence, Ana,” she continued as she closed the lid and put the plate on the table. Ana stuck her tongue out at Kaye’s teasing.

“Ana?” Tessa tentatively asked as they sat down and served themselves.

“Hm?” Ana looked up as she reached for a bowl of week-old pork menudo.

Tessa tilted her head inquisitively, “Have you ever had a boyfriend?”

“Ayan na!” Kaye crowed, “Thanks Tessa, I’ve always wanted to ask.” She sat back and surveyed Ana, “Well, have you?”

Ana took her time answering, “We-ell, nothing serious, but I’ve dated a few times…”

“Define a few,” Kaye commanded.

“Uh, two.”

“And how long were you going out with them?” Tessa asked

“A few months…” Ana prevaricated.

“How many times?” Kaye persisted.

“A couple of times… Alex and I went out on six … no, five dates. The last one didn’t count since we decided to stop seeing each other then.” Ana answered.

“What about the other guy?” Tessa inquired.

“Uh, we went out twice.” At Kaye’s look, Ana gave in, “Ok, ok, once. He was my prom date, but he went to the after-prom party with me. So technically that’s two dates.” She didn’t add that he was an old family friend whose mother was a close friend of Ana’s mom. Tita Mildred had to make all sorts of promises before Robby had agreed to accompany Ana. When Kaye and Tessa exchanged looks of exasperation, Ana blurted out, “Why, how many have you guys gone out with?”

“I’ve had three boyfriends,” Tessa answered. She turned to Kaye, “By the way, my brothers only know about one.”

“Noted,” Kaye smiled. She thought Tony and Andy, Tessa’s brothers, were way overprotective of their little sister.

“And you, Kaye?” Ana asked.

Kaye shrugged, “I’ve had three serious ones and five not-so-serious ones.”

“What about Shiro, what category does he go into?” Tessa asked, referring to the young, Japanese IT executive Kaye had been seeing until about a couple of months ago.

Kaye smiled, “My bad. Make that six not-so-serious relationships.”

Ana shook her head, “And how many of those were in Tokyo?”

“Five,” Kaye answered as she spooned the last of the curry onto her plate.

Ana gaped at her, “That is absolutely amazing. We arrived in Tokyo the same time, yet I haven’t been on a single date.”

“Well, it is kind of hard to get close to you,” Tessa observed, “When I first got here, you scared me more than Kaye.”

Ana groaned and Kaye laughed, “Ann, this is serious! Tessa thought you were scarier than me! And I scare most people off with a look.”