You ran after the girl.
"Wait!" you shouted among the people who are walking against you. "Miss!"
She quickly turned around, with a puzzled expression in her face. You walked towards where she was. Now that you're a few inches away from each other again, you couldn't help but stare at her again. And then you found yourself lost in her gaze. It's as if you were the only two people in that place. The girl let out a giggle, and that made you realized that there are people around you. To save yourself from further embarrassment, you quickly blurted out your goal.
"Hi! I know this will sound creepy because we're strangers, but could you be my girlfriend for like an hour or so?"
The girl's eyes bulged out wide and her mouth slightly opened. "I'm sorry?" she asked.
You quickly explained to her the situation, adding, "I'm sorry I couldn't help but overheard your conversation a while ago. Maybe this will be worth the change in your schedule? Please, please, please. I'm just really getting tired of these blind dates and I swear, I've done all to stop them."
She just continued to stare at you. "I'm not a bad person. I swear. I go to Ateneo. My name is Bea de Leon. I have my IDs with me if you want to check," you quickly said. "Please, please, please? I'll pay you? I'll do whatever?" With that, she chuckled. Your eyebrows instantly furrowed. "What's funny?" You asked.
"You'll do whatever?" the girl said, still suppressing a grin. Could she be any cuter? "Damn, that's so tempting." She smiled sweetly. "I'll do it."
It was your turn to be surprised. "Really? You will?"
"Yeah. I don't have anything else to do anyway," she said.
To your overwhelming joy, you instantly hugged her. "Thank you! Thank you!"
"So this is the girlfriend?" Asked by a voice that you were sure was Maddies's. You detached yourself from the girl. When you faced your two bestfriends, you saw Maddie giving the girl a head-to-toe look.
You gave the girl a reassuring smile. "This is my friend Maddie. This is Ponggay. Guys, this is my girlfriend."
"Hi! I'm Jia!" The girl- Jia cheerfully blurted out. Then she put her arms around your waist. Jia winked at you. It's showtime.
The rest of the night went smoothly. Well, you're not actually sure. Because you spent most of the night just staring at Jia, and everytime she caught you looking, you were sure you were blushing. For that whole night, you felt special. Jia would hold your hand, would whisper things at you, would lean closer to you.
This. This is what you have been missing.
"Jia, do you know that Bea dances so well?" You shot Ponggay an angry glare.
Because that's the biggest lie in the history of the world.
"Babe, you haven't mentioned that! Let's see the moves you've got!" Jia detached herself from you and her loss suddenly made you uncomfortable. Maddie and Ponggay were already walking down the dancefloor. Jia looked at you, questioning why you are not standing up.
"Sobrang joketime ni Ponggay! Jia! Hindi ako marunong sumayaw," you said.
"Ako din naman! Pero let's have fun!" Jia laid out her hands at you, and to be honest, at this point, you felt like you will do whatever this stranger say.
You followed Maddie and Ponggay to the dancefloor, with the four of you just doing random steps, laughing hard. You realized, this is the fun you haven't had in years.
The lively dances stopped, and it was followed by a slow love song. Everyone around you stepped closer to each other.
Jia just stood a foot away from you awkwardly, maybe not knowing what to do too. You stepped closer to her, so close that it felt like you were hugging each other. "Do you mind?" You whispered in her ears while you put her hands on your neck. "I'm just sure Maddie was eyeing us."
Jia took a peek behind you. "She sure was," Jia said sarcastically, but with a smile in her face, because Maddie was actually not looking. You just made an excuse to get closer to her.
"Thank you for tonight, Jia. I hope it is better than spending your night at the library. I mean, I love libraries as well, but... you know," you offered, remembering what you overheard from the phone call a while ago.
Jia raised an eyebrow. "I'm pretty sure I love libraries more than you. I'd marry books if I can."
"Oh yeah? Why don't we meet at a library next time to find out?" you teased.
"Are you asking me out?" Jia asked.
Were you? You were caught off-guard. You weren't really thinking when you blurted that out. Sure you enjoyed tonight, but still.
What would you tell Jia?
OPTION 1: "If you want to. I mean, it doesn't have to be only the two of us." (GO TO CHAPTER 3A.)
OPTION 2: "Not really a date. I mean, I still owe you for tonight, right?" (GO TO CHAPTER 3B.)
