Love Charade

Chapter 20: Date

Naguguluhang napatingin ako nang tahakin namin ang daan pauwi habang nakasakay na kami sa sasakyan ni Archie.

"Oh, are we going home?" nagtatakang tanong ko at kunot-noong tinapunan ito ng tingin. Akala ko may cinema pa?

He chuckled not living his gaze from the road. "Nope. Just relax, Baba. I'll gonna pull this off no matter what."

I shrugged my shoulder before saying, "Okay!"

Napatingin siya sa akin ng ilang segundo kaya hindi ko agad nabawi ang tingin ko sa kanya. "I'll never fail you today." He joyfully announced and winked at me.

Oh, my heart suddenly reacted and do an Olympic-winning cartwheel.

"We're here!" Archie excitedly turned off the engine of his car when we parked his car near the City Hall.

Anong gagawin namin sa City Hall? Pero hindi na ako nagtanong pa. I don't want to spoil the moment. Hayaan ko na lang sumakay sa trip nito ngayong gabi.

Mabilis itong bumaba ng sasakyan habang ako busy pa sa pag unbuckle ng seat belt ko.

I was surprised when the door next to me flew open revealing the smiling Arhcie. Ang gwapo niya talaga, paps!

He took my hand and helped me out of his car. Gentleman pa, paps!

"Let's go to the plaza!" yaya nito at pinagsiklop ang kamay naming dalawa.

Tahimik lang ako sa tabi nito. Nilibot namin ang left side ng plaza. We sometimes stopped to take pictures of each other. Puro garden ang left side ng plaza kaya maganda ang view at ambiance nito. Agaw pansin din ang man-made lagoon na nagbibigay ng nature vibes sa paligid.

Ilang beses na akong napadaan sa lugar na ito sa tuwing babyahe kami papuntang Bacolod dahil nasa gilid lamang ito ng national road pero ngayon lang talaga ako nakatapak dito.

The center was just plain cement overlooking the front façade of the City Hall. Naglalakad kami ngayon dito papuntang right corner.

Unti-unti na ring dumidilim at paunti-unti na ang mga estudyanteng tambay roon. Samantalang parami nang parami ang mga nagbebenta ng street foods sa plaigid.

We finally reached the right corner of the plaza, kung saan naka-shape ito pabilog gaya ng isang arena. May mga concrete chair na katulad ng nasa Coliseum ng Rome. Tila mga paru-parung nag liliparan ang palamuting fairy lights sa paligid, giving the plaza a romantic vibe.

Humaharap ito sa isang malaking LED TV. Sikat ang Vitorias dahil din sa LED TV o mas tinguriang amphitheater nila kung saan libreng nakakapanuod ang mga tao sa tuwing may laban si Pacquao o kaya'y Miss Universe.

Unti-unti na akong nagka-idea sa gagawin namin nang yayain ako ni Archie na umupo sa isang concrete bench paharap sa LED TV.

I looked at him in pure amusement and disbelief. He grinned and gave me a salute.

I let out an excited laugh. Iba talaga pag rich kid, maraming connections!

"I hope this will compensate to our cancelled cinema date."

Cinema date? Are we on a date? Now, we really looked like on a date!

"This is more than enough... and better!" I said playfully and gave him a thumbs up.

Ilang minuto ang lumipas, nagsimula nang mag-play ang movie sa LED TV.

We were comfortably seated when I felt his hands reached for mine. Guess what, he intertwined them together like it's their rightful place.