✔ The Casanova's Angel (Filipino Novel)

Kabanata 38

Makeup - Check!
Black sling bag - Check!
Earrings - Check!
Off shoulder A- line dress - Check!
Heels - Check!
Date ready.......no check.

Yes, as usual, my nerves are all over the place. Pagkatapos kong aminin sa sarili ko na I am actually falling for Nic ay nagiba na ang lahat. Mas mahalaga na sakin kung ano yung magiging tingin niya. Hindi na katulad ng dati na wala akong pake. Kung dati, ang bawat galaw niya are scripted for me, ngayon nabibigyan ko ng meaning kahit hindi sinasadya. 

And finally as of this moment,  narealize ko na I can finally say that I have moved on from Gerard. The butterflies that I felt from him before, I'm feeling to someone else. At ang sarap sa feeling. After harboring mixed feelings with him, wala na lahat yun kahit galit, wala na rin. He's just someone from my past - a stranger I once knew.

At yung taong nagparealize saakin nun is the same person na makakadate ko ngayon.

The one and only Nickko Romano, my savior, my friend and now my crush. 

After I was discharged, Nic came up and asked me if I was free this friday. Nakakagulat kasi wala namang tao nun, it was just us. Ayoko umasa pero sana he feels the same way I do with him, no contract, just two people liking each other. Hopefully, pero syempre gising muna tayo sa realidad. Mahirap na, baka naman gusto lang lumabas nung tao with a friend dahil even without the contract and the feelings, I will forever consider him as one of my friends. 

Pagkatapos ko mag ayos ay saktong 6pm narin, ang pinagusapan naming oras para magmeet up. Hindi naman ako binigo ni Nic kasi he's on time like always. Hindi pa nga ako naka upo ay nagring na agad ang doorbell. Breathing in and out and collecting myself, I proceeded to the door. Pagbukas ko ng pintuan, bumungad sa mukha ko ang bouquet of mixed red roses and sunflowers. 

"Hmm..." Ang sabi ko na napapa-ngiti. 

"Hmmm?" He repeated, smiling.

"Ang sweet natin ahh.." Sinabi ko na nagkukunwaring naghahanap ng mga audience sa labas.

"Ano ginagawa mo?"

"May hinahanap ako." Ang sabi ko still searching the corridor.

"Sira, ano hinahanap mo andito naman ako?" 

"Feelings mo." 

Oo. Bumanat ako. I found an opening kasi para isingit yun ng slight. Syempre hindi ko na papalampasin ang pagkakataon na makita si Nic na unguarded. And just like I was expecting, natahimik siya and started to look at me intently. 

"Joke. Hahahaha. Ang seryoso mo naman." Kinuha ko ang flowers sa kamay niya at binuksan ng medyo malaki ang pinto for him to come in. At dahil nafefeel ko na, na para bang umiinit ang mukha ko sa pagtingin niya ay agad akong pumasok at iniwan siyang nakatayo sa labas. Very rude, I know, pero masisisi mo ba ako? 

Tinignan ko siya ulit and he's still in the same place he's been. "Umm, papasok ka ba or aalis na tayo?"

"Hmm."

"Hmm?"

"Hindi ko kasi alam kung nananaginip ako or nasa gag show ako eh." Sabi niya while showing his signature panty dropper smile. 

"Hmmm, pwedeng both?" I said, smiling back. 

Walang sense pero just like that we got over our "mini" awkward moment. 

Hopefully this evening goes as carefree as this moment. 

___

And luck must be on my side because everything went well. 

The ride to the restaurant was smooth. We talked about our likes and dislikes. At one point, we even played 20 questions. Ang nagstick lang talaga saakin na sinabi ni Nic ay ayaw niya sa seafood which is very opposite to me. I love seafood because I'm allergic to Chicken kaya ayun ang naging go - to food ko ever since. I guess he'll have the chicken while I'll have the shrimp from now on. So in the future..if ever may future kami, we'll have a food arrangement. 

Anyways, after we parked, we entered the packed Alfredos, an A-class steak restaurant. It's friday kaya naman madami talaga ang tao. To be honest hindi ko rin naisip na ganito siya ka puno. All I thought about is spending more time with Nickko. 

But as usual, he had everything planned - reserved seat, classy red wine and scrumptious steak ordered already. Now I know why he asked me if I liked steak before hand so he could order it in advance. 

Everything worked perfectly and I love his efforts. After we ate, nagulat pa ako sa dessert which is the Tri-colored Chocolate Mousse. And Ohh emm gee, it's over flowing with chocolate just the way I like my dessert.

"Wow." I said while taking the first bite. 

"Wow good? Wow bad?" He asked. 

I looked at him and smiled. Bad? bakit naman niya iisipin yun? Kahit lasang basura na yung kinakain ko ngayon, feeling ko ang tamis tamis parin ng malalasahan ko dahil sa ginawa niya sa araw na ito, it made me feel extremely special. 

"Everything is perfect, Nickko. Thank you."

"I'm glad you liked it." He cleared his throat and smiled. "Actually, I want to tell you something."

"Hmm? What is it?"

"I don't..."

Hindi ko narinig ang sinabi niya because I saw someone. 

Someone very familiar. 

Someone I missed very much. 

"Imposible." Ang hindi ko napigilang sabihin kasabay na rin ito ng hindi ko mapigilang luha sa aking mga mata.