League of Life

Game 30: Blind Date

CHLOE
I look at the mirror as my friend, Hyena do my make up. This is my first date, first officially date to a guy. My hangouts with Frey were not considered because it was just a friendly date. Kahit naman minsan hindi ako tinuring ni Frey na higit pa sa isang kaibigan.

They say that on a first date, you should be happy. You should be nervous, you should be excited. But I don't feel anything. I felt numb! I don't want this date. I'm just doing it for the sake of forgetting my feelings for him. For him...and always because of him.

I hope this will work. Sana maayos naman 'yong lalaking blind date ko at magkasundo kami. I hope he can help me. I really wanted to end this feelings. Call me desperate or whatever but I badly want to end this.

"Hey bakit lukot 'yang mukha mo? Aren't you happy?" Hyena asked when she noticed that I'm spacing out. Kanina pa ako nakatulala lang sa harap ng salamin. Hindi ko nga narirnig na nagsasalita na pa siya.

"Hindi naman kinakabahan lang," palusot ko. Sana naman maniwala siya. Kasi kahit ako hindi naniniwala sa mga sinasabi ko. My own feelings betraying me.

"Sus! as if it's your first time to hang out with a guy." She chuckled and shook her head while looking at me weirdly.

This is actually my first time pero hindi ko na kinontra si Hyena. Ayaw ko nang humaba ang usapan. Isa pa, I don't want to talk about him. Gagawin ko ang lahat para kalimutan na siya. This is just my first step.

Nagpatuloy lang siya sa ginagawa at tahimik lang naman ako na naghihintay sa kanya.

"It's done, you're so pretty," she said and scanned me from head to toe. "For sure your date will drool once he saw you," kinikilig pang dagdag niya.

I stood up and I look at my reflection in the mirror. I fixed my clothes and straightened the creases with the plat of my palms and even wiped off the imaginary dusts on my shoulder that actually weren't there. Just the finishing touches I spray cologne all over my body.

This would probably do.

Yes I look good, no doubt about that. But there's something's missing. My hearts miss something that I know only Frey can fill.

I heaved a sigh. Hindi ko dapat iniisip si Frey. I decided to move-on and I have to do it. Para rin naman ito sa akin. Alam 'kong wala naman ako ng aasahan sa kanya. Kapatid lang ako para sa kanya. He set a boundary between us an I'm no strong enough to climb or break those.

Sinamahan ako ni Hyena sa meeting place na hinanda rin niya para sa blind date ko. Malapit lang naman sbaay.  But Hyena left me afterwards with my date's company.

"Hyena sure ka 'di to ha?" tinawagan ko ulit siya. Nagpaalam ako sa date ko na mag- Cr sandali.

"Oo naman. Dwayne is harmless mabait 'yan. Give it a try Chloe walang mawawala," I hear her answer at other line. Parang ngayon ang ako kinabahan. Syempre kahit naman sabihing kilala ni Hyena 'yong lalaki, he's still stranger to me.

"Okay." I heaved a series of sigh. Tama si Hyena. I should give it a try. "I hang up, nagpaalam lang ako sa kanya mag-cr sandali eh, naghihintay na 'yon," paalam ko sa kanya.

"Sure,"

"Salamat Hyena,"

"Enjoy your date girl!" kinikilig pa ring sagot niya.

I inhaled deeply as I hand up the call.

Frey promised na samahan niya ako. Ang sabi niya at hindi siya magpapahalata sa kasama ko. Pero kahit ako ay hindi siya makita. I looked around the place but he wasn't there. Saan kaya siya?

I closed my eyes. I have to focus with my date. Unfair rin naman sa lalaki kung may iniisip akong iba habang siya ang ka-date at kasama ko.

Bumalik na ako sa table namin ng ka-date ko. We haven't introduce ourselves to each other. Bigla kasi akong kinabahan at nagpaalam na mag-cr. 

"I'm Dwayne Wade Ty and you are?" aniya at nilahad ang palad sa harap ko. I can sense he's a nice guy. Hindi lang siguro talaga madaling nakuha ang loob ko o dahil sa may hinahanap nga akong iba?

"I'm Chloe Raymundo," I forced to smile as I accepted his hand. Nakakahiya naman sa kanya.

"What a nice name, Chloe," he smiled showing his whit pearly straight teeth.

"Thanks."

"Should we order first?" tanong niya habang nakangiti pa rin sa akin

Pinilit ko ulit na ngumiti sa kanya. Buti naman at hindi siya nakahalata na pilit lamang iyon.

"Sure," sagot ko.

The food was serve at nagsimula na rin kamin kumain.

"Among course mo?"

"Business Management,"

"Same here,"

The guy asks me questions na sinasagot  ko rin naman. We don't have deeper talk, parang nga tanong nga lang sa slumbook ang tinatanong niya. But I think it's a good start. Mas maganda rin na makilala ko siya at malaman kahit na mga malilit na detalye sa kanya. Sana lang nagkasundo rin kami. He looks fun and easy to be with. Katulad ni Frey, basketball player din.

I was just smiling the whole time while talking to him. Mukha naman siyang mabait at gentleman. Inalalayan niya ang bawat galaw ko. Ipinaghila niya din ako ng silya kanina. He even placed the table napkin in my lap. He's seems a nice guy and easy to be with. Parang si Frey lang.

Si Frey na naman!

We continued with out date without knowing that someone eyeing our every moves.

FREY
I went straight to the location Chloe sent to me after the game. Today was her scheduled with her blind date kaya naman pala hindi siya nakanuod ng game.

Before, she always cancel her schedules to watch my game. She even join the cheer dance squad so she can have also be exempted in class and watch my game.  In other words, me and our friendship is her priority above all.

It's sad to think but I'm sure things will be different from now on.

I want to blame myself pero hindi ba pagiging makasarili iyon? I want her to priorities me even though I can't priorities her in return. Chloe's very special to me but I know that I can't give her the love she's expecting from me.

Nasasaktan ako na makitang may kasama siyang iba. Na may nginigitian siyang iba. I can't understand what I feels. Or maybe nasanay lang ako na sa akin ang atensyon niya? Na ako lagi ang kasama niya?

Siguro nga, natural lang din na nagselos ako bilang kaibigan. Pero hindi naman ibig sabihin noon at nag-seselos ako bilang lalaki.

Hindi lang siguro talaga ako sanay na makita siyang may kasamang iba. Simula pagkabata ay kami na ang paging magkasama. I am her date on her prom, on her debut and every important even in her life. And she to me vice versa. Kaya mahirap lang talagang i-share siya sa iba.

I saw her smiling while talking to the guy. She seems enjoying his company. He look presentable. May itsura din parang familiar nga siya sa akin. I think I saw him someqhre Hindi ko lang maalala.

Habang nag-uusap sila, narito ako sa isang gukid nagmamasid lang sa kanila. I know I look like crazy. Siguro kung may nakakaita sa akin ngayon pinagtatawanan na ako. Para akong timang na walang kausap sa isang sulok ng restaurant.

Their date went well. Mukhang wala namang problema. Inaalalayan pa ng lalaki ang bawat galaw ni Chloe. Bagay naman silang dalawa.

Pagkatapos ng date ay hinatid naman siya ng lalaki sa bahay nila. I followed them to make sure that Chloe arrived home safe.

Pinagbuksan pa ng lalaki si Chloe bago siya sumakay muli sa kotse. Kumaway naman si Chloe dito at ngumiti.

Mukhang namang mabait at gentleman ang lalaki. Sana magkasundo sila. Sana mapasaya niya si Chloe bagay na hindi ko magagawa para sa kanya.

I drove away once I assure that Chloe entered their house. It's hard for me but if Chloe's really wanted that, I have to respect her.

This is the best for us...I guess.

🏀🏀🏀