Hay naku Lea, bumangon na habang maaga pa. Isulat mo na yung mga naisip mo for curriculum development ng client nyo.
Pwede bang 30mins pa muna maginat-inat?
Ganyan araw araw ang paglaban ng isip ko. Ang sarap kasi makipagchat sa blue******* na app. May sense kausap mga guys at hindi puro sex lang. Napupuyat tuloy ako.
Pero kagabi was something different. Ilang weeks ko na sya nakakausap pero simula nung Friday ay parang lumalandi. Kagabi…shet! Ang sarap mag-wet sa kwento nya paano ang first date namin. I played while he was describing how he would do me. Syempre patay malisya lang muna ako, I didnt even mention na I was playing. I was just laughing and faking surprise pero sa totoo lang kinikilig na ako.
Bruce is a typical guy next door. Di naman sya 6pack guy. Just right with a slight beer belly. Matangkad din naman sa height na 5’10. A good 8 inches taller than me. 5 inches lang kung mag heels ako. So konting tilt lang ulo at pwede na magkiss.
I’m a…slaaaave for you
Arghhhh! Panira naman sa daydreaming. Sino kaya itong tumatawag?
Matie. Ang bestie ko since college. Short for Matilda. Lunes na lunes o! Ano kaya gimik ng bruha?
After 6 rings, di pa din binababa ang call kaya sige na nga, sagutin na ang tawag.
“Good morning mapanira ng daydream! Balita?”
“Wag na kasi magdaydream! Totohanin na yan ng madiligan ka naman Lea Tigang!”
“Masyado! Aber kanino magpapadilig ngayong panahon ng pandemic? Ano yan…ligaya now, Covid later? No thanks! Lunes na lunes panira ka ng araw…naka ASG pa ako e!”
“Baliw! Hindi ASG ang tawag kung solo ka lang hahaha”
“Weh? Kung hindi ASG ano? Talino mo diba, daming alam!”
“Pawis lang yan! Mamaya malagkit na lang hahahaha kidding aside tigang, ano na nangyari dun sa binigay kong number sayo? Bakit di pa kayo nagdedate?”
“Gaga! Di pa ako desperada! Di ko sinave number nya. Sya kumontak sa akin at magset ng date. Magpaswab muna sya kamo ha at di ako mag stay matagal kasama sya kung di ako assured na safe sya from Covid.”
“Ay demanding! Ganda ka girl?”
“Oo naman!”
“Gutom ka girl?”
“Oo naman! Hahahaha”
“Okies. I-pass the message ko yang mga bilin mo kay Wayne. Happy Monday besh! Tayo na at magwork, tama na ang daydreaming…paghandaan mo na si Wayne. Bye!”
“Kung ganun sya ka-yummy bakit di ikaw ang tumikim! Lakas mo ibenta….Matie? Matie…tinamaan ng magaling, nagbaba agad ng phone!”
Makakain na nga! Ano kaya masarap na breakfast. Sana may jumbo hotdog pa tapos partneran ko ng 2 binating itlog…ayiiieee!!! Ay shet! Tigang ka na nga Lea hahahaha
——–
Hay Covid! Lumayas ka na nga. Kalokang WFH ito…walang oras ang trabaho. Ang toxic! Ano ba meron sa buwan na ito. Di kagandaham ang simula.
The whole week, toilet break, ligo, bihis at pagkuha ng delivery sa pinto lang ang alis ko sa work station ko. Even tulog dun na ako bumabagsak sa table ko.
Buti na lang Friday na. Pwede na bumalik sa landi time. Buong week ako di nakapag log in sa blue*******. Kmusta na kaya si Bruce…sana wala syang ibang kalandian in my absence hahaha hopia ka Lea, ang ganda mo hahaha
Whoa! 200+ msgs from Bruce? Namamaga ang puso ko….
Consistent sa greetings and good night…Pati checking in if I’m eating my meals on time..jowa lang kuya? Hihihi
Ang sad naman! Kung kailan ako available to chat…sya naman ang wala. May event daw sila sa office Saturday night kaya busy sa preparations ng Friday and Saturday. Mas marami kasi need asikasuhin now kapag wfh ang status. They are arranging for individual home delivery ng feast and package from their company.
Pero! Bawi sya. He wants to meet me Sunday for lunch. Hahaha Ligaw Intsik ka pala. Given ng hints kung san ang location ko ay nagpareserve na daw sya sa isang restaurant na walking distance from my place. Galing naman nya manghula. Para di na ako lumayo at baka di rin naman daw ako magpasundo pa dahil chat pa lang kami nagkakilala. Buti alam mo…kahit pa yummy ka!
No pressure daw if hindi ako available at ayaw ko sya i-meet. No pressure talaga? May reservation ka na? Iba ka din! Mukhang yayamanin nga sya gaya ng duda ko. Wala naman sigurong restaurant na may reservation na mumurs lang.
So…to go or not to go?
Lakas mangmanipulate din nitong lalaking ito. Alam ang mga da moves, confident. Nagpapamiss tapos offer ng meet-up.
Teka lang! Hanap ako ng kasya pa sa akin na damit. Meron pa nga ba? Pandemic body na yata itong weight gain ko since last year
I’m a…slaaaave for you
“Salita ka lang Matie at busy ako. I’ll put you on speaker ha.”
“Hmmm…hello? This is Wayne. I’m with Matie now. Sinugod talaga ako sa office and she called you so she’s sure na makausap na kita.”
“Ay naku sorry, thought you were Matie nga. Lea speaking, what can I do for you?”
“Hahahaha Are you still at work? Ang formal mo pala sumagot ng phone kung hindi si Matie kausap mo.”
“Oh no! Habit I guess. By the way, hello Wayne. Nice to hear from you.”
“Sorry at natagalan na nga. Pero someone’s not leaving me alone today if I won’t do this.. don’t get me wrong pero I do intend to meet you naman din eventually. Would you be free Sunday dinner time?”
Hmmm…di naman siguro kami aabutin ni Bruce ng dinner time diba. And 1st meeting pa lang. Hahahaha bruha ka Lea tigang. Lakas umasa?
“Dinner’s good. Sunday diba?”
“I’ll get your address kay Matie. 7pm good?”
“Nah. Don’t bother. I’m out on Sunday for lunch. I’ll just meet you sa mall if it’s ok with you”
“Sure thing. See you Sunday 7pm. Matie is smiling now. Have a great night!”
“Hahaha pabayaan mo sya. Happy weekend to you too!”
—–
Parang ang bilis maging Sunday. Half excited kasi I’ll meet Bruce na. Half dreading it kasi balik work na ulit soon.
Body clock at work, woke up at 6am and can’t sleep a blink more kahit anong pilit. Dilat lang at tulala, staring at the forming cobwebs sa ceiling…need to sweep that up soon. Gusto ko mag-isip but my mind is totally blank. I can’t even plan out my prep times, what would I do sa hair ko, sa make up ko…final na ba yung napili ko na damit. Is it appropriate? Both for lunch and dinner? Bakit ayaw sumagot ng isip ko?! Bahala na si Batman mamaya.
Hmmm…better set the alarm ng 9am, 915am and 930am. Ayaw ko pa tumayo. But latest 930 I should cook and eat breakfast then start to prep if I want to make it out the door before noon.
—–
Finally done with preps. Hinga malalim. Tagal na ng last date mo and now you confirmed 2 dates in a day! Bad ka Lea! Para mo sinabing either of them won’t spend extended time sayo kasi cut short mo agad si Bruce for Wayne na gabi na so maybe no coffee after dinner na at diretso uwian. At least di na mangungulit si Matie. Oh well.. let’s go Lea. Let’s enjoy today.
Final check ng bag…alcohol, extra masks, facial tissue, wet tissues, make up pang retouch, wallet. Ok. All set.
Of all places, sa hotel restaurant talaga nagbook. Automatic na may dress code. Nahirapan ako pumili sa mga kasya pang dress alin ang pwede pang lunch at dinner. Buti na lang kasya pa sa akin itong blue wrap-around dress ko. Medyo luwa nga lang ang aking boobies compared prepandemic. Half yata weight gain ko sa boobs napunta hahaha and nude heels… don’t give up on me please. And wag mo ako itapilok. I know I haven’t used you for more than a year…be good.
“Good afternoon Miss Lea, Mr. Bruce is waiting for you at your table. Orlan will escort you and will be your server”
Ay! Kilala ako by first name? Sige lang…baka pinakita ang photo ko. Sunod ka na lang kay Orlan. Wala na atrasan ito. Ay…wala sya sa table?
“Mr. Bruce will be back in awhile ma’am”
May gift! Bongga! Hahaha tumahimik ka Lea, cool ka lang. Kunyari keber lang. Ayan na sya!!!! Ang gwapo like his photo!!!! Smile Lea…wag sobra, mukha kang tanga. Old rose long-sleeves and dark brown pants and casual Oxford…yummy!
“Hi. Wag ka na tumayo…it’s ok”
Sabi ni Bruce when he reached out for a peck on the cheek. So formal…I like you better and better Mr. Bruce
“Kanina ka pa?”
“Just arrived myself. Kinamusta ko lang si James, yung head chef dito. High school classmate. Been meaning to drop by to try out his menu, finally got the chance today.”
On cue, Orlan gave me the menu. So hindi pa sya nag-order. Nice move. I hate it when guys assume what my order will be on the first date.
“Didn’t order for you since I’m not sure what you are in the mood for today. I remember you saying na you eat whatever your mood is”
“Naks naman naalala.”
“Pakita ko sayo later yung notes ko” wink wink
Shet nilabasan yata ako. I feel wet. Kalma ka lang Lea. Pademure smile ulit pero di mukhang high school…yes…yuko and look at the menu kunyari
“May recommendation ba si Chef?”
“French onion soup and steak. It goes well with the available salads today”
“And for dessert?”
“I was thinking of having coffee elsewhere after lunch if you’re into it”
“Oh, okay. But I’d like to order a slice of key lime pie to serve na agad. Then I’ll take chef’s recommendations plus a surprise salad.”
“A lady with a big appetite. That I like. I’ll be having the beef wellington and the sampler appetizer. Orlan, please check with Chef James for his available wines to pair with our meals.”
“So dessert as first course, ikaw pa lang nakita kong ganyan sa first date. Cute”
“You haven’t seen the movie Remember Me?”
“The 9-11 movie?”
“Yes. Got it from there. What if I die at the start of a meal, at least I die happy eating dessert”
Ang haba ng tawanan namin after. My gulay, if looks can kill…murdered by multiple stabbed wounds na ako. He is so attentive and parang di naalis ang tingin nya sa akin. I think very briefly lang nung kausap nya si Orlan.
“Before ko makalimutan, for you” he gave me the wrapped gift in a tiny paper bag sa side ng table nya
“You shouldn’t have bothered, first meeting pa lang natin.”
“Date. First date Lea. Kaya all the more a gift is just appropriate”
Tulala pa ako opening the Pandora box. May 7 charms – laptop, moon, star, heart, padlock, an amethyst (my birthstone), and a sunflower (my favorite flower).
“Ito na ba yung notes mo? Parang all charms are from our convo”
“Picked it up myself. Let me help you…”
Speechless na ako after that. Wag na natin pagusapan ang price. This is spoiling me to the max! Way beyond kilig!!! Good thing dumating na ang dessert ko. Naturally, I shared it with him. Yeah I know pandemic and all…from different ends naman kami and magkaibang mini forks.
Just before we were done with the pie, dumating na soup and appetizer…after that yung main course. It was super enjoyable na parang di ito ang unang meeting…I mean date namin. The conversation was so candid na we sometimes forget na 4star hotel nga pala ito. Buti unti lang ang tao. Chef James accompanied our server nung main course na. He introduced himself and binuking si Bruce na kinakabahan. Para daw balik high school sya na manliligaw. Sabi pa ni Chef na bakuran na ako since walking distance lang pala ako from the hotel. Baka maunahan pa nya daw si Bruce.
After the meal. Busog man kami, Chef James sent a complimentary raspberry chocolate mousse before we headed off for coffee. Change of scenery naman daw sabi ni Bruce and the restaurant is about to close for the lunch service din naman na since it was already 3pm. Even kami ni Bruce nagulat na 3pm na.
Typical of Bruce to choose a place na for sure unti ang tao. We walked to a hole in the wall type na Cafe. Even ako na taga dito lang sa area hindi aware sa place na ito. Mahina ang music, boy band songs nung 90s to early 2000. And ang bango ng coffee. He led me to a table, grabbing the menu along the way. Asked my order and he went to the counter.
“Iced black. I hope di ka inaantok sa date natin for you to need a strong dose of caffeine.”
“Mukha ba ako sleepy e tawa ta…