Shorts

VIII. Blind Date (2)

Maine looked at herself in the mirror. She was wearing a sleeveless, A-line, knee-length blush dress that accentuated her shoulders and her caramel skin tone. Then, she paired it with nude-colored pumps.

Much as she wanted to just come in jeans and a loose top, they were having dinner at a posh restaurant at that mall and she didn't want to be underdressed.

Since she still had some time, she went out to her balcony again, hoping to catch her neighbor singing.

He did not disappoint.

"Somebody... oooh, Somebody... can anybody find meeeeeeee... Somebody toooooo loooovvveeee..."

"Ay pumiyok!" She chuckled. Realizing she said it out loud, Maine covered her mouth. "Shit."

There was silence at the other side of the wall before a roaring laugh. "HAHAHAHAHA! Oo nga eh. Sorry!"

"Oh, god. Sorry, I didn't want to be mean! Nagulat lang ako," Maine explained looking at the wall separating them.

"No worries. Sablay naman talaga eh," he said.

"Anyway, papasok na ako. Sorry ulit!"

"Wait, pwede -"

But, Maine no longer heard the rest of what he said as she scrambled, embarrassed, to go in her unit and leave for the mall to avoid a chance encounter with her neighbor that she unintentionally insulted.

***

Rj was still in a good mood as he waited for Jerald at the coffee shop.

They agreed to meet there first and head to the restaurant together.

"Pare," Jerald greeted and assessed his white button-down shirt and jeans. "Sumobra naman yata yung pagpapa-gwapo mo! Baka sa'yo ma-inlove yung ka-date ko."

"Ewan ko sa'yo. Halika na. Pag okay na yung usapan, aalis na agad ako ha? Ayokong maubos yung buong gabi ko sa pag-chaperone."

"Paano naman yung kasama niya? Wag mo naman iwan, Tisoy."

"Hindi ko na problema yan."

"Sungit naman. Sige na. Libre kita ng kahit ano!"

Rj smiled. "Deal."

When they got to the venue, Jerald inquired about the table he had reserved. "Has my companion arrived?"

"Yes, Sir. She's already seated. This way, Sir." The wait staff then escorted Jerald and Rj to the corner table at the back.

They saw the girl in a light pink dress with long brown hair and a small face, browsing the menu. What caught Rj's eye was her full, pinkish lips, which she was currently biting.

When she looked up as the waitress stopped beside her table, Rj stopped breathing when he saw the most beautiful eyes that affirmed his first thought. "Ang ganda niya."

"Haha! Sorry, Brad. Ako ang date." Jerald approached. "Hi! Are you Val?"

The girl smiled, revealing perfect teeth. She stood up and offered to shake Jerald's hand. "Ay, hindi. I'm her friend, Maine."