Mimi Turns Pretty - SOON TO BE PUBLISHED ✅

Chapter 19

The Valet opened the car door for me pero Chase waved him away, "Wait Mia. I'll help you out."

Sinunod ko lang si Chase at naghintay na makaikot siya hanggang siya ang naghawak ng pinto for me and offered his hand para makalabas ako ng kotse. I gave him his jacket when I'm sure my skirt did not hike up my thighs.

I smile at him, "Thanks."

He puts on his jacket and offers his arm and I take it. Naglakad kami papasok ng hotel, we're going to have dinner in a five-star restaurant in one of the hotels in Manila. I've never been here at mahilig akong mag-try ng different kinds of food so I'm pretty excited.

The hotel lobby is opulent and open, the walls are lined up with carved marble columns and at the center is a massive crystal chandelier surrounded by wood-beamed ceilings.

I bite my lip, I'm pretty sure expensive kumain dito, "You didn't have to take me here, I'd be happy with just a simple dinner."

He looks at me and smiles, "It's our first date, Mia. I want to make it special."

I don't know what to say to that so I just keep quiet, after a while he stops walking and faces me, "Hey. Are you uncomfortable? Is this too much?"

I touch his arm, "Uy hindi. Uhm, I just feel..."

Undeserving.

Like you're wasting your effort for me.

I shake my head, "it's nothing. I'm being weird again. Sorry."

He takes my hand, "Mia, I want to make a good impression. I want you to like me too."

My eyebrows shoot up, "What?"

He sighs, "Shit. Sorry, I said I'll take it easy."

He takes both of my hands in his and takes a deep breath before saying, "I like you. I know we haven't spent that much time together pero I want to change that sana. So I'm making an effort to make sure hindi ka magda-doubt sa intentions ko."

Feeling ko ang pula pula na ng mukha ko so I let go of his hands and touch my cheeks, "Feeling ko nagba-blush ako."

He chuckles, "I want to make you blush. I want to make you smile."

Napangiwi ako at itinakip ang kamay ko sa mukha niya, "Stop saying things like that. I told you hindi ako sanay."

He takes my hands again, "I already told you I'm pretty sure I won't be able to help saying things when I'm around you. Pero kung hindi ka kumportable I'll try to be a bit more normal about it."

I bite the inside of my cheek. I can't help but think about how candid Chase is, how open. Samantalang si Ollie can't even tell me if he likes how I look or not. Pwede ba 'yon? You're happy on one side and the other may ache pa rin para sa magkaibang dahilan? Para sa magkaibang tao?

Ngumiti si Chase, "Ganito, when I smile at you it means I think you're pretty. When I hold your hand it means I want to let you know I like you."

Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay, "I'm not used to things like this, pero ang pagkakaalam ko wala dapat holding hands."

He laughs and lets my hands go, medyo nag-blush rin siya, "You're right. Sorry."

Nagbuntonghininga ako, "I'm sorry I'm making this date weird. Pinag-eexplain pa kita. I'm comfortable naman Chase, I just want to let you know that you don't need to do too much para sa akin. I'm just... me."

Kumunot ang noo niya, "And I promise I'll just be 'me' too. I don't do this often pero it's nice to be able to go on dates like this with the girl I like."