You didn't knew how to managed to reach the 41st floor without hyperventilating. You were actually thinking of pressing 21 too a while ago, and then proceeding to 41st floor if you didn't find Jia there. But even if you think this was the most stupid test of compatibility, like ever, you hated to cheat.
The door of the elevator opened, and your eyes were closed when you walked out of the elevator. When you opened it, Jia wasn't there. You went to the elevator across, where Jia was riding, and saw that it was already in the 54th floor. Was that it? Did it mean you weren't meant to be?
Because you think finding the fifty-peso bill with Jia's phone number and her finding that copy of the book again would be the most impossible of the most impossible things, you tried to stopped thinking about Jia. Yet most of the time, you still found yourself changing requesting for fifties instead of hundreds. You still look for Little Prince in all second-hand bookstores. What were the odds, right?
After admitting to Maddie that you really didn't have a girlfriend, the blind dates resurfaced again. You'd already been to 100 dates (yes, that was not an overstatement) since that night with Jia, and only one made it to the second date. Right now, you were on the "blind date" rest, because it was Ponggay's birthday next month and Maddie wanted to surprise her with your help.
You quickly saw Maddie sitting somewhere at the back of the restaurant where you're meeting. She's talking animatedly on the phone. You invited yourself to sit, and when Maddie ended the call, she said, "She just went to the ladies room. You'll like her." Which you really didn't understand.
"Who?" You asked.
"Who else? Your date!" Maddie said, rolling her eyes.
You shot her an angry glare. "I thought we were on a blind date rest!"
"Yes. But do you remember that club night na we're supposed to set you up with the cousin of the neighbor of Ponggay's classmate few semesters ago?" Maddie asked. Ofcourse, how could you not remember that? You just nodded, still mad. "She's your date today. And ironically, she seems like the girlfriend that you created in your mind. She loves libraries." Maddie said and it was your turn to roll your eyes.
Maddie's eyes averted and you saw her waved at someone on your back. You glanced backwards and to say that you were surprised would be the biggest understatement of the century. Jia, yes Jia, was walking towards your table. When she saw you, she stopped right there and then, and shaking her head, gave you the biggest smile.
She sat down beside you, and you just looked into each other eyes, both shaking your head in astonishment, and giving shy smiles. You were quiet sure that Maddie was looking at the two of you back and forth.
"I'm Bea de Leon," you said.
"I'm Jia Morado," she said.
You moved closer to her, or she moved closer to you. You couldn't remember. What you could remember was the sweetness of that first kiss, and that you were sure that you were going to marry this girl.
-END-
