Serendipity (Thalassophile)

Eight

The first thing that comes to Dylan's mind was Mall of Asia, Seaside kaya't doon nga nya dinala si Krislene. Since he can't find a decent parking at the seaside, he choose to park his car at the parking space inside the mall.

While they're walking inside the mall, Dylan remembered they haven't eaten lunch so he asked, "Lene, we haven't eaten yet. Where do you want to eat?"

Krislene looked around and her gaze settled on the nearest fast food. "KFC tayo?"

"Are you sure?" Dylan asked just to confirm. This is their first date— well... first bonding together, yeah, so he wanted to make sure that Krislene will enjoy it.

Krislene nodded. "Oo naman. That's one of my favorite! Tara!"

At habang naglalakad sila papunta sa KFC, napansin nyang napatigil si Krislene habang may tinitignan ito.

"Why Lene?"

And when Krislene turned to him, there you go. He saw that smile that always captivates his eyes. Honestly, napansin nyang tipid ito ngumiti kanina pa, but now, Krislene's genuine smile is back.

Then Krislene pointed her index finger on a stall. "Bibili lang ako ng milktea Dylan."

"Oh sure."

And as soon as he agreed, Krislene went running towards the Milktea shop that made him chuckle. Krislene looks like a kid who's really excited to buy a milktea. She's also smiling from ear to ear.

With that though, he followed Krislene and heard her ordering maybe her favorite flavor. "One strawberry cheesecake milktea. 75% sugar and less ice please. And pa-add ng Nata de coco."

Wait. Why does it sound familiar to him? Saan nga ba nya narinig ito?

But he went back from his reverie when Krislene turned to him, still with a smile on her face. "You want?"

He shooked his head. "I'm good."

Then Krislene went 'Oh' that made him confused. He was about to ask when Krislene spoke, "Oo nga pala, mas gusto mo ang frappe." Sabi nito na ikinagulat nya. Alam ni Krislene na gusto nya ang frappe?

"How did you know?" He curiously asked.

Krislene looked away before she answered, "Uhm... I just guessed. Am I right?"

Why is it that he's not convinced with Krislene's answer? Though he wanted to ask, he just let it go for now. "Yeah."

"Sige bili tayo mamaya." Krislene said and he nodded.

When her milktea is done, Krislene was about to pay for it when he held her hand with the money, and instead, he gave a 500-peso bill on the cashier.

"Why—"

"Lene, it's my treat right?" He asked and Krislene nodded as he handed the milktea to her. "So let me pay for this."

He noticed Krislene blushed and that made him chuckle. So adorable.

"Sige na nga! Pero ngayon lang 'to ha? I mean, it's your treat so papayag ako. Ayoko kasing nagpapalibre talaga eh."

"Okay. No problem. Parehas talaga kayo ng Ate mo."

And from that moment, he noticed Krislene's smile faded and her expression just went blank. Just like earlier, on his car. And he can't help but to think thoroughly if he said something wrong again this time. Wala naman syang sinabing kakaiba dito kaya hindi nya alam kung bakit— wait... Looks like he had an idea already. But he choose not to ask about it, for now. He wanted to see first kung tama ba ang hinala nya.