I had to look again para makasigurado ako na talagang si Charlie yung nasa harap ko.
"Hi Pat."sabi niya. I pinched my arm lightly. Okay, I'm awake.
"Uy. Anong ginagawa mo dito? How did you know I'm home?"sabi ko sa kanya.
"You messaged me na pauwi ka na."sabi ni Charlie. Napakunot yung noo ko. I'm pretty sure kay Agnes ko sinend yung message na yun.
"I did?"
"Yeah. You told me pabalik ka na from LA."sabi niya tapos pinakita niya sa 'kin yung message ko. So I didn't send the message to Agnes. So she probably thinks nasa LA pa ako.
"Oh. Oo nga 'no."
"Anyway, uhm. Are you free tonight?"sabi ni Charlie.
"As in... now na?"
"Well, sana. If... if you're not available then..."
"Wait. Uhm. Magpapalit lang akong damit."sabi ko sa kanya. Pinapapapasok ko siya pero ayaw niyang pumasok so Charlie just waited for me outside. Paglabas ko, she was just staring at me.
"Sorry ang tagal."
"No it's okay. You look nice."sabi niya. I smiled. I think this was the first time na Charlie complimented me.
"Saan pala tayo pupunta?"tanong ko sa kanya.
"Secret muna."sagot niya then she smiled.
"You look surprised."sabi niya.
"I... I just didn't think we're going out tonight."
"So you forgot?"
"Wait, did we agree to go out?"
"Oo? I told you we'll have dinner once you get back. I told you nung magkavideo call tayo last time. I thought, that's why you also messaged me na pauwi ka na from LA?"sabi ni Charlie. Oh my God. She might have told me, pero bakit hindi ko maalala?
"We can cancel."sabi niya.
"Ah hindi. Okay lang. Tara?"sabi ko sa kanya then inunlock ko na yung sasakyan.
"Uhm. Actually, nagbook na ako ng Grab."sabi niya. "Para hindi ka na magdrive and I actually have a surprise for you."dagdag niya.
And as if on cue, may nakita akong dumaan na sasakyan but my heart stopped when I recognized the car. Kay Agnes ba yun?
Pero nung binabasa ko na yung plate number puro ilaw lang ang nakita ko dahil sa kasalubong na sasakyan. Then right on cue, may nagpark na sasakyan sa harap namin ni Charlie.
"Well, here's our ride. Ready ka na?" I nodded. Pinagbukas ako ni Charlie ng pinto at sumakay na rin kami. I don't know where she's taking me pero sumama pa rin ako sa kanya. Charlie was sweating and I can tell she's nervous. Nung malapit na mag-park yung sasakyan, biglang nagsalita si Charlie.
"I'll blindfold you okay?"sabi ni Charlie. Pero hindi pa ako nakakasagot, naramdaman ko na nilagyan ako ni Charlie ng blindfold.
Wait, is this what I think this is?
