“Fran….did you hear what I just said?” Gavin gazed anxiously into her eyes.
She blinked, trying to compose her thoughts.
Gavin reached for her hands and held them gently, his eyes never leaving hers.
“Fran….please say something.”
She took a deep breath. “Gavin….are you sure?”
His brows lifted in puzzlement. “Of course. Why wouldn’t I be?”
Fran looked down at their hands. “Well…..after what happened….in the past..”
Gavin gently squeezed her hands. “Fran, we have enough time to talk about that. In fact, there are a lot of things we need to talk about. I don’t want to pressure you…..but…..I need to know….how you feel.”
She gazed up at his gentle, handsome face. “Honestly, Gavin….I don’t know…”
“But…there’s a chance? I mean…it’s not an outright ‘No’?” His jaw tensed with anxiety.
She slowly pulled her hands away. “It’s not a ‘No’……...but….. it’s also not a ‘Yes’.”
His face visibly relaxed. “That’s good enough for now.”
“FRAN!” They both turned. It was Faye, calling to her from across the hall. “SI TITA SUSAN NASA PHONE…KAUSAPIN MO.”
Fran turned to face Gavin. “Uhm, si Tita Susan… yung tita namin sa New Jersey….”
He nodded. “Sige, go ahead….kailangan ko na din umalis…”
They gazed at each other, neither of them moving.
Fran let out a faint laugh, breaking the silence. “O sige Gavin…. Hinihintay na ‘ko sa loob…”
He smiled. “Sige, sige.”
“Ingat sa pag-drive.”
“Ingat din…mamaya.”
“Sige…pasok na ‘ko.” Fran turned to leave.
“Fran?”
She stopped and turned to face him again. “Yes?”
“Can I see you tomorrow? Dinner?”
Fran hesitated.
“Lunch, if you prefer.”, Gavin suggested. He wanted to ask her to hear Mass with him, but he figured, they would come to that in time.
“Lunch is fine.” It was a chance for them to talk, Fran thought.
He smiled. “Great! I’ll pick you up … around 11?”
She nodded, smiling shyly.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Fran studied her reflection in her bedroom mirror. She debated with herself. Should she let her hair hang loose or in a ponytail? Should she wear makeup? Should she change her sleeveless blue blouse to the aqua-green one with sleeves? Were her jeans too tight? Were her four-inch wedges showing too much effort for a tall date?
A date!
“Francesca! Hindi ka na bata!” She exclaimed, plopping herself onto the dresser stool.
