Swipe Right

SLEX

"Ready, Maine?"

"Ready, Captain RJ. Let's go!"

Not gonna lie, muntik kong kantahin sa kanya yung A Whole New World. Yung part lang ni Aladdin ha? At that moment, I really did want to show her the world. The way her eyes sparkled with excitement, I was a goner even before we pulled out of the parking lot.

"So... RJ, tell me more about yourself."

Nakahubad ako matulog. Gusto ko anim magiging anak natin. Seloso ako. May pagka-OC. I see myself worshipping you from now until death do us part.

"Ano bang gusto mo malaman? Mahirap kasi kung baka ano ano na lang i-share ko sayo hahahaha! Tanong ka na lang tapos sasagutin ko."

"Ganun ba? Sige. What's your favorite color?"

"Yellow and black."

"Uy. Ako, yellow. Yung egg yolk yellow. Okay ano pa ba? Favorite ulam."

"Naku madami. Basta kung ano lutuin ng lola ko. Panalo magluto si Lola eh. Patin pinsan ko. Dun sa restaurant naman namin paborito ko yung laoya pati yung sinampalukang ma--"

"May restaurant kayo? Saan? Eh bakit hindi na lang tayo dun kumain? Is it in Tagaytay? Filipino cuisine ba? Do you have sinigang na bangus?"

Saan kaya pwedeng bumili ng singsing sa Tagaytay? Magpopropose na ko sa isang to. Tangina ang sakit pala ng matagalang nakangiti no? Now I know how the Joker feels.

"Teka isa isa. Mahina kalaban. Oo meron. Maliit lang. Concha's Garden Cafe. Sa may Cliffhouse sa Tagaytay. Pwede naman tayo dun, sige. And yes meron kaming sinigang na bangus. Yata. Hahaha! Yun ba favorite mo?"

"Sinigang na baboy din. Basta yung nagsiswimming sa sabaw at kangkong at sili. Who runs the restaurant, parents mo?"

"Pinsan ko, si ate April. Everybody helps out naman. Maski si Lola. Basta we all help with everything. Family-owned, family-run."

"Will your parents be there?"

"Si Daddy baka. He visits once in a while pag may time siya."

"And your Mom?"

"She's always watching over us. Siya pinakamahirap na trabaho. Imagine being the guardian angel to every single one in our family."

Nagulat ako when she took my hand and squeezed it. Buti matic ang dala kong kotse. Kasi after squeezing my hand, she laced her fingers with mine and didn't let go.

I smiled at her. Again. Lord, yun na lang ata kaya kong gawin. Natatakot kasi akong magsalita baka masira ko yung moment. So I just enjoyed the feel of her hand in mine.

Parang sasabog sa saya yung dibdib ko. Here I was, driving to god knows where with the sweetest, most amazing wo---

"AYAN MCDO DRIVE THRU KANAN KA KANAN DALI!"

Endorser yata ng McDo tong babaeng to kung makahiyaw sa tuwa. So habang hinahantay kong bumaba ang mga dapat bumaba sa dating kinalalagyan bago ako gulatin nitong kasama ko, I gladly obliged her and turned right.

"Nagulat ba kita? Hehehe sorry. I just really wanted a Frozen Royal and Chicken McNuggets. Ay kaso breakfast pa lang pala! Ay no wait, merong nuggets na Happy Meal. All day naman yung frozen eme nila diba?"

"Oo yata. Hindi ako sure eh. Try na rin natin."

"Thanks, RJ. So... hmmm ano pa ba? Ayun, you mentioned a younger sister before. Ilan kayong magkakapatid?"

"Four. Si Kuya, me tapos my two baby sisters. Yung isa 20 na pero yung youngest namin, 8 pa lang."

"Do you get along with all of them?"

"Ayos lang. Makulit kami pag magkakasama. Minsan nagkakapikunan. Pero at the end of the day, we still have each other's backs. Ikaw? Only child ka ba?"

"Ay no. Lima kami. Bunso ako sa babae pero pang-apat overall."

"Masaya?"

"Magulo pero we rarely see each other kasi may mga kanya kanyang eme na kami sa buhay. But we all try to go home to Bulacan every Sunday. Bukas, uuwi ako kaya next time mo na ko iuwi sa inyo."

Susmaryosep muntik ko na mabangga yung sasakyan sa harap namin sa drive thru. Lakas manggulat nitong babaeng to.

"Ay o, grabe ang tenga mo! Ampula pula! Parang mas mapula pa sa shade ng lipstick ko! Am I making you uncomfortable, RJ? Are you squirming in your seat? Kaya mo pa ba? I wonder what will happen if I kiss you on the cheek..."

Ah ganon.

Bubwelo na ko dapat ng nakaw na halik biglang...

"Hi! Welcome to McDonald's! I'm Ben, your drive thru attendant. What's your order?"

Buset. Saved by the Ben. Mamaya ka sakin, Maine.

*•*•*•*

Author's note: Hindi po ito isang guni guni. I really am posting a story here on Wattpad. Hindi pa po ako tuluyang nilamon ng sistema.

This is a supplemental story to Swipe Right over at Tap. A sort of behind the scenes look at what happens beyond the text conversations.

SLEX is the first part in a series of three that tells the story of their first date.

To those who have tweeted and messaged me on Twitter out of frustration dahil wala daw silang mapaglagyan ng kilig comments nila sa Tap app, eto po, dito po ninyo ibuhos ang kilig niyo.

Thank you for STILL reading my stories.