Habang sabay kaming naglalakad palabas ng subdivision, nag uusap lang kami. Sa may gate pa kasi pwedeng sumakay. And i don't know where this girl take me.
"So Liam, tell me. What is your ideal girl?" tanong nya. Napatingin naman ako sa kanya. Diretso lang yung tingin nya sa dinadaanan namin. "Isn't it obvious?" tanong ko din, this time napatingin na sya sa akin. Confuse.
"Cinderella, Snow White ---" ini-isa-isa ko na yung mga princess sa story na gusto ko nang magsalita sya para pigilan ako. "I mean, the REAL kind of a girl! Not the princesses in your fairytale. Celebrities maybe?!" sabi nya.
"You're the ONLY person I know, who doesn't like fairytale! What's wrong with you? I don't know much about female celebrities though." sabi ko naman sakanya. Tinignan nya ako and medyo napa step back ako. Kakaiba yung expression ng mukha nya. Malungkot, na parang may malalim na dinadamdam.
"I used to believed in them once, until I don't" sagot nya. nag iba yung mood nya. Nakokonsensya tuloy ako. "Jules, I'm sorry if I--" pagsosorry ko pero hindi ko na naman natuloy kasi nagsalita nanaman sya.
"That's alright Liam. Don't mind me. O there is our ride!" pag iiba nya ng topic. Sumakay lang kami ng tricycle papunta sa sakayan ng FX.
Hindi na kami ulet nag usap ni jules hanggang makarating kami sa place na pagkikitaan namin nung sinet-up nya sakin for this blind date. Coffeeshop/Restaurant.
Prince café & restaurant
"So tell me what is she like?" tanong ko kay jules habang papasok kami ng coffeeshop. "Who?" tanong nya din. "The girl you're setting me up with, tonight?" Sagot ko naman. "Oh, I thought you never ask. She's like a princess, your type."
Tuluyan na kaming pumasok sa loob. Hindi kami magkasama sa isang table obviously. Umupo lang sya medyo malapit sa akin.
Wala pa yung makaka-'blind date' ko. Pero hindi din nagtagal, dumating na sya. Wala akong idea kung anong itsura pero nagulat ako ng biglang may babae na nagsalita sa harap ko.
"Excuse me, €are you Liam?" tanong nya. "Y-yeah?" sagot ko. "Hi! I'm Serah, Jules set me up for this date." todo ngiti nyang sabi. Nakipagshake hands lang kami sa isa't-isa tapos umupo na sya katapat ko.
I thought, jules said serah's my type and she's like a princess? I don't think so. For me she's more like jules! Sleeveless top, skinny jeans and high heels? She's a Supermodel. Not my princess!
Nag usap lang kami ni Serah habang kumakain. I want to know her, I asked her about what she likes, what are her hobbies and my MOST IMPORTANT QUESTION. If she's a fairytale fan.
She's not. For me, turn-off. She's a Big fan of Project Runway, and all sorts of fashion thing. But all in all. I really enjoy her company. It's really nice talking to different people once in a while.
Right after we parted -Serah and I. I meet up with jules who's secretly peeking at us while we're talking.
"How was it?" masaya nyang tanong ng palapit na sya sa akin.
"It was fun." Nakangiti ko ding sagot sa kanya. Mas lalong lumapad yung ngiti nya. "Haha! You like her already!" tawa nya, habang tinuturo-turo ako. "Actually I don't" sagot ko sa kanya. Biglang nagbago yung energy nya nung marinig nya yun. "What?!" tanong nya.
"I don't like her," sabi ko. "Why? You just met her, give her another chance!" sabi naman nya. "I'm gonna call her and set up another date for you guys." sabi nya tapos kinuha nya yung phone nya at mabilis nag dial ng number. Pinigilan ko naman sya.
"Jules stop, she already know that I don't like her. I told her, we're not meant to be and It's fine with her." sabi ko. "What?! You told her that?!" Parang binagsakan ng langit at lupa yung expression ng mukha nya ngayon. "But I thought... You we're smiling while she's talking and all of that! Why?! Why doesn't you like her?" sabi nya.
"We're different. We don't share the same interest. And you told me she's my type, princess like. When the truth is, she's like a 'supermodel' kind of girl. She's pretty though, I thought Serah and me, we don't do well together as couple." pagpapaliwanag ko.
"She's FIERCE with a capital fashion 'F' for God's sake!!" Nag frown sya sa akin. "You and me, we're different. We don't share the same interest. But we work well together!" sabi nya. Teka, bakit ba pinipilit nya sa akin si Serah? "We're not a couple, and you're different from her. Though she's prettier," pagbibiro ko, napasimangot naman sya sa akin.
"just kidding. hahaha... seriously, I like you!" sabi ko. Parang nagulat naman sya sa sinabi ko. At napansin ko din yung pamumula ng pisngi nya.
"You like me?" gulat nyang tanong. "Yes! Of course I like you, you're my friend." sagot ko sa kanya. Sabay akbay ko sa kanya. "Well then, I like you too my friend. I guess she's not 'it'. We'll find you another princess next time."
Ewan ko, pero may kakaiba akong nadama sa puso ko nung narinig ko yung sinabi nyang 'I like you too'. Pero hindi ko na pinansin pa yun, siguro i'm just exhausted.
Tapos umuwi na kami.
