Missy
I don't really recall how the guy looks like except for a brief side profile in the dim light of the theater.
But I said yes to meeting him because I really did need my ID. May fee kasi if I have it replaced and ayokong magbayad (yes, #TipidHits).
We agreed to meet at a coffee shop in the mall where we saw the movie the other night.
"Okay with me. I'll be there at exactly 7pm in the corner near the counter. I'll text you what I end up wearing. If you ever change your mind about arrangements, please know it's perfectly okay with me."
I appreciated that.
Still, to be safe, I brought along my good friend, Kim. When we got there, we checked out the seats from outside. And our eyes widened when we saw the guy.
"Girl! He's a cutie!!!" Kim said.
"Ugh, I know. Why'd he have to be cute... couldn't he be ugly? Matetense ako nito eh."
Kim rolled her eyes. "Ano ka ba. Magpasalamat ka. And wag kang matense. Malay mo naman psycho yan."
"Ay. Wow. Thanks, friend."
She chuckled. "Just go in, get your ID and then leave."
"Magbantay ka ha!"
When I got her to promise, I slowly made my way to Yuan's table. But, a few feet before I was even close, he looked up and gave me a bright smile.
Lalo akong natense. Ang ganda ng smile. Please don't be a psycho...
He stood as I approached and then extended his hand. "Hi, I'm Yuan."
"Missy."
"Oh so Missy pala yung nickname mo. I wondered which of the four names I should call you. I recognized you from your photo," he said. "Do you want to sit for a bit? Or should I just hand you your ID?"
"Ummmmmm...." I looked to Kim who was seated nearby, hearing all of this. She nodded furiously, giving me a wide-eyed exasperated look. "Sige, okay lang naman to sit with you."
"Good. Should we invite your friend? Kawawa naman siya kung paghintayin natin?"
Okay, bet ko na siya.
Ay, hinde. I mean, mabait siya. Mabait.
He asked me to sit and then walked over to introduce himself to Kim. When we were all together, he took our orders and headed to the counter.
Kim and I looked at each other. "Please don't be a psycho..."
Then, we heard a big hearty laugh. "Grabe naman kayo sa akin."
He overheard us while waiting for our orders.
"Eh well, mahirap na. You never know these days."
"That's true. So, anyway, mahilig ba kayong manood ng movies?"
"Yes!" We both answered. I added, "And mahilig ako sa popcorn. Kaya sorry, hindi ko napansin na hindi pala akin yung kinakain ko the other night."
Yuan chuckled. "Solid yun. Dakot kung dakot ng popcorn eh. Muntik ko na din i-offer yung juice ko kasi nagworry akong mabulunan ka."
We all laughed.
"So tell me... bakit ang haba ng pangalan mo?"
I rolled my eyes. "Typical. Anyway, yan ang gusto nila. My dad, my mom, my lolo and my lola... hindi magkasundo sa ipapangalan sa bunso and only girl child and apo from my dad's side... so there."
"No way? Ikaw lang girl? Kahit sa magpipinsan?"
"Sa dad's side - yes."
"Wow, dating must be tough." He commented. When I raised a brow, he put his arms up, "Oops not for anything but I have one sister and a close female cousin and I'm protective. Paano pa ikaw?"
"And you? Bakit Yuan?"
"Juan yung totoo niyan. My lola wanted that and registered it. All my parents could do was tweak it so naging Yuan."
The conversation was spectacular. He was charming and very funny and a gentleman to boot.
"You must have a flaw," Kim said at some point.
"Oo naman! Ask my sister. I'm sure she'd tell you all of it."
He called his sister then and she said, "Oh hi! He's annoying, he's weird, ang vain niya sa hair niya. Feeling gwapo. I love him with all my heart but yes bwiset siya. When he's in love, he quotes all these baduy love quotes."
"Alena naman eh!" He complained.
"What?! It's true! When you first made ligaw your ex you even recited 'roses are red, violets are -'"
"Shut up."
"What?! You called."
"Hehe. Oo nga. Sige na bye. Don't scare my new friends away."
Just before he dropped the call, his sister jokingly said, "Unfriend him before he gets to his knock knock jokes! They SUCK."
As the night ended, he offered to take us home but we declined. He took note of the cabs we rode and checked up on us to make sure we got in safe. When I got in bed, the first thing I told Kim was, "Patay. Psycho nga yata. No one is that perfect."
"Yeah... pero ang saya niya kasama. Sana naman hindi."
"Sana nga."
Sana nga.
