"Come on Scotia. Makikipagkita ka lang naman." Pakikipagkumbinsi ni Melissa sa akin habang kumakain kami ng breakfast sa counter ng kanyang condo.
Melissa asked me to meet this 'unknown guy' that happened to be the cousin of her boyfriend, Trevor. And the nonsensical reason is, his cousin wanted to meet someone new and unique from the other girls he dated before kaya nag-request siya sa pinsan niya na mag-set up ng blind date at nagpatulong naman ito sa kanyang girlfriend. Ang ending, Melissa asked me to accept the unknown stranger's invitation since wala naman daw akong boyfriend at kailangan kong mag-mingle ng konti sa mga tao dito dahil introvert daw ako.
Tinukod ko ang siko ko sa mesa sabay tingin sa kanya. "Hindi ko ma-gets ang trip niyo." I retorted making her grimace in return.
"The point is, you just need to show yourself and be civil. Its not like huhubad ka sa harap niya Scotia."
"I still don't get it."
She face palm herself in exhaustion. I don't care if I'm being irrational. Big deal yung ganito sa akin kasi never in my life naka-experience ako ng ganitong ka-ekekan and I really don't like the idea of meeting ups kasi walang kasiguraduhan na may mapapala ako dito. I'm undeniably unattractive and poor. Wala akong maipagmamayabang na anak ako ng isang tanyag na businessman o in-demand na surgeon. My life's hella fucked. Hindi ko nga makayanang tumayong mag-isa, yung lalaki pa kaya?
"okay okay. Let's settle na lang to this plan. You won't have to pay for your rent in my condo for the next two months and may five thousand ka pang bonus galing sa akin. Ayaw mo nun? Konting push na lang at fully paid na yung binabayaran mo?" Melissa bribed. It was like selling your soul to a heartless demon. Kunsabagay, demons are heartless. And free rent for the next two months? Its fine by me. Nahihiya kasi akong makitira lang na hindi nagbabayad though, parati niyang sinasabi sa akin na ipunin ko na lang yung pera na binabayad ko sa kanya. Sadly, hindi ako marunong makinig kaya wala siyang magagawa kundi tanggapin ito.
Marami ring benefits pala ang makukuha ko sa bribery shits niya. Kokonti na lang ang pag-iipunan ko para tapos na yung ipon ko pero still, hindi talaga ako komportable sa ganitong ideya.
I sighed. "I'm not pretty. My nose aren't on-point. My lips are not that pink and pounty. My attitude sucks and I have this uncontrollably moody personality. I get mad easily. I overthink. So tell me, who would even dare to stand a woman with a very disturbing personality?" I asked her apathetically. She just smiled at me.
"You are just afraid of risking it. And besides, why don't you make your insecurities your main turn-off factor? Baka in that way, mawawala yung interes sa'yo nung pinsan ni Trev at hindi ka na niya gagambalain pa." Okay. That was partly convincing but she's right.
I'll let that unknown guy see me personally at pagnakita na niya ako, mawawalan ito agad ng gana sa akin kay agad akong magpa-detach without hassle. Makikipagkita lang ako and makaka-save pa ako. Easy as pie saka expert naman ako diyan kasi hindi naman pala ako pala-kaibigan.
"Fine fine! I'm in!" I exclaimed knowing na pipilitin at pipilitin niya ako hangga't pumayag ako.
Her smile widens as she heard me accepting the challenge. She didn't say thank you instead, Melissa placed her phone in her ears joyfully with patalon-talon pa. "Heard that honey? She's in!"
I was such a sucker for money. But wise men say, be practical nowadays.
