Going the Distance (Book #1 of Distance series)

23: Real

Bakit ba parang nagmamadali akong bumaba na para ba akong male-late sa isang appointment? Excited lang? In fact I just want this thrill feels to evaporate... and anticipation to end. Kaya gusto ko na siyang makita.

Pagkalabas na pagkalabas ko ng main door ng apartment building ay siya agad ang tumambad sa paningin ko. At ang boquet ng flowers na hawak niya. Calla lilies.

Nakatayo siya at nakasandal sa pinto ng passengers' seat ng kanyang kotse, suot ang suit na baon niya kanina. Suit... plus his casual ripped jeans. Crossing his feet to the other, he beams a wide grin as I walk towards him. I have to keep my dress in place while I walk because the wind is blowing hard. The sun is setting... and it's a fine, windy evening.

"Lilies..." he says while giving me the bouquet of flowers.

My brows wrinkle, wondering 'Ano'ng mayroon?'

Saglit kong inamoy ang bulaklak. "Thanks, Andy."

He leads me through the passenger's seat. As I settle inside, he quickly heads back to get to the door on the other side of the car.

"What happened to your event? Where are we going?"

"There's no event. I just made it up." He rubs the back of his neck. "I just really wanna ask you out on a real date, Sophia."

Kinikiliti nang todo ang tainga ko sa naririnig. Ito ba ang kauna-unahang date na napuntahan mo, Sophie? Kung natatandaan mo, ganito ka rin kakilig noong unang date niyo ni Tristan!

No, it was different. Kung mayroon mang pumapagitna sa puppy love at mature love, iyon ang nararamdaman ko noong mga panahong iyon. I know this time it's something more, uhm... serious?

It's not that I wasn't serious with Tristan before. In fact he was my first love. But I feel I'm kind of invested in this already. I've come further by being with Andy in person. This journey as a whole, from online to real life meeting, has given me a kaleidoscope full of emotions. I feel like a woman. Like a spectacular flower in peak season in full bloom.

"Wy didn't you ask me earlier at the party?"

"I needed to attend to a few things and... to buy those flowers for you. You like them?"

"I love them."

In a few minutes I find us slow down in front of what looks like a Danish house with a wooden sign that reads, "The Oak Bistro". Nag-park kami sa paid parking bago pumasok sa establishment.

Pagkapasok ng restaurant ay hindi ko inasahang ganoon kaganda ang loob. Simple lang tingnan ang labas ng restaurant pero sa loob ay napahanga ako sa modern country interior theme nito. Napansin ni Andy ang paglilibot ng mga mata ko sa paligiran. I catch him smile.

We are greeted and ushered by the waiter to our reserved table. "Let me take you to the al fresco dining, sir, ma'am."

Their al fresco dining looks dramatic, which is a dressed up walled garden, roofed with a large red tent and flooring made of classic wood decking. Decorative plants are all around the place. May bamboo plants sa bricked walls, may potted and hanging plants, crawling vines at cute wall-mounted lamps. Naupo kami sa isang corner, sa isang candle-lit table for two.

"Do you like the place?" tanong niya.

"This place is beautiful," sagot ko. Pero 'di ko maiwasang isipin na baka dito niya rin dinadala si Sarah noon. O si Paola.

Looking at him looking at me back with a boyish smile in face, I remind myself to ignore those crazy, nonsense thoughts. I don't want to ruin this evening myself. This our first date.