It was like a week that I haven't heard an update from Dale. I was hoping that at least she would give me an update about the status of our company magazine. Though we sometimes received calls from the company she's working at, but it was always her secretary calling to our office.
With that, I decided to pay for a visit on her place by Sunday. I just hope that she's there and not having an overtime at her studio.
"Good evening sir." The receptionist of the hotel greeted me.
"Good evening. I shortly replied.
As I grab a newspaper at the counter since I only have time to read the news at night, the lady informed me that there's someone waiting for me at the lobby. I thought that it could be Gab or one of my friends. But to my surprise, it was Dale sitting in the couch while reading a magazine.
"D-Dale? What's up? I mean, what brought you here? It's kind of late." I exclaimed.
"Did I surprise you? Sorry for that. I just thought of visiting you because I can hardly find you these days." She calmly replied.
"Oh, I'm sorry for that. It's just that something came up so I seldom checked my e-mails and phone. But I called you up this evening unfortunately I can't reach you." I explained.
"My phone's battery shut down the moment I came here." She said.
"Oh, sorry. It's not my intention to talk things here. Would you like to visit my place so that we could at least have some snacks?" I insisted.
"Sure. No problem, perfect that I'm already hungry waiting for you here." She joked around.
"(laughs) Is that so? Don't worry; I'll cook something tasty for you." I teased her too.
"Nice. You know how to cook huh?" She asked.
"Not that much but I can." I tried to act normally but right now, I'm actually feeling excited to cook for her. I also do this with Gab but I'm totally different when I'm with her. I just hope she won't notice it because I don't want her to get awkward to something.
Upon we entered my hotel room, Gab called me up for dinner. So, I answered her that I have someone with me tonight for a dinner. It's good that she didn't anymore ask questions.
"You have a nice place Dilann. It's quite unusual for a man so busy like you to arrange your place this neat." She commented.
"Thanks." I answered from the kitchen area.
"Sorry to ask but is this your sister from U.S? She showed to me the picture frame of I and Gab last Christmas in Singapore.
"No. She's actually my best friend, Gab. The one I'm talking to via phone a while ago." I said.
"I see. She's pretty huh?" She commented.
"Yeah, she is just like you." I teased her. But, seriously, her simplicity is a beauty for me.
" (laughs) You're joking, right?" She asked.
"Of course not! Alright it's almost done." I said from the kitchen.
"So, what did you cook? It smells good." She asked while walking towards me.
"I didn't actually. It's just a bowl of Salad and a home baked pizza." I replied.
"Oh, that sounds tasty. Shall I help you prepare the table?" She asked.
"That would be great if you want to." I said.
We ate our light dinner and after that we ordered an ice cream from the nearby department store. We talk random things when I asked her if she wanted to go outside for a short ride by the beach. She's into it so I get her a jacket and decided to buy some snacks from the nearby store. It took almost fifteen minutes before we get there.
"You're also a beach type person, don't you? She asked out of nowhere.
"I am but secretly.” I replied that made her eyebrows narrowed.
“Why secretly?” She asked me.
“It's because I'm not like you who's obviously fond of it. I'm not someone who would have reasons to visit a beach, like you. I am just simply and secretly a fond of it.” I said.
“May I know your story why you're secretly in love with a beach?” she asked me.
“Well, I was raised by my grandparents when I was on my childhood days near the beach. We actually have a beach house in the south managed by my Uncles right now. Even my school when I was in grade school was by the beach so that's perhaps the reason why I'm so attached to it." I explained.
"I see." She replied while blankly staring at the sea.
"How about you? What's your story? Why you're fond of it?” I asked her back.
“We honestly have almost same reasons. The only difference is that we don't own a beach house. But, growing up, I was exposed to the life by the ocean. I grew up with the ocean with me. I also have lots of experiences with it.” She narrated.
“Whoa! It's pretty interesting.” I said as I look at her.
“Yeah, it is! If you got time and happen to visit my place, you'll totally understand why I'm so attached to it.” She said.
“Why? Do you have something strange in there like sea shells or fishes in an aquarium?” I curiously asked her.
“No, it's not sea shells but sand. I collect sand every time I visited a beach. And just for you to know, I hate seeing fishes in an aquarium. I would totally prefer to see them freely swimming in the sea.” She said and that made me totally admired her attachment to the ocean life.
“Whoa! That's totally amazing! I haven't heard that from anyone before.” I said feeling amazed by her.
“You don't? What about Gabby? Isn't she a beach person?” She asked me.
“No she's not. She's more of shopping and food. She has a skin to protect, I guess.” I said.
“What do you mean by that?” She asked again.
“She hates tan skin and that explains why she's not fond of swimming unlike you. I don't even know whether she can swim in the ocean or simply in the pool.” I said.
“I see. You should try to invite her for a swim sometimes. She might love it the way we see it.” She said.
“I tried hundreds of times already. She does come but she just took photos of it and then sleep the whole day in the room. How about you? Aren't you afraid getting a tan skin after a swim?” I asked her.
“No, I don't. That's actually my color-tan.” She replied.
“I see. Well, it suits you well. You're like a real Filipina.” I complemented her.
By ten o'clock, I walk her towards the basement of the hotel where she parked her car. I insist to drive her home but she says she can manage to drive. She's really an independent woman. It's like she doesn't need any of us in her life.
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