First Date
CROISX loves Japanese cuisine. He texted earlier that he already made a reservation in his favourite Japanese restaurant, which I agreed to. Ayos lang naman sa akin kahit saan kami kumain. I was actually kind for considering his preference because this is his first-ever date, and it should be memorable.
Habang hinihintay ang pagdating niya, I'm responding to all the emails I need to respond. I have an incoming shoot for a TV commercial for a popular fast-food chain in the Philippines, which makes me excited because it's my first time shooting for a fast-food commercial.
After showering and lathering myself in essential body products, I threw on a fancy outfit for the lunch date and blow-dried my hair. After making sure my hair was dry, I made my way to the living room.
I'm wearing a champagne-hued halter Dalmatian-printed dress with a tie-back line reaching the middle of my thighs. On my feet were my Louis Vuitton one-inch sandals. I applied subtle make up on my face because we're just going to have lunch. Then, I sprayed my favorite perfume- Baccarat Rouge 540.
I kept looking at my phone as time passed by. Anong oras ba matatapos ang klase ng isang iyon? He told me he just had a quiz, and they will dismiss. It's almost 12 noon at wala pa siya, nagugutom na ako.
At exactly noon, a knock on my door ascended. I stood up and opened the door, welcoming the person I'd been waiting for. He has a sheepish expression on his face as he stands in front of me. I surveyed him from head to foot.
His hair is a little damp from showering. He's wearing a sky blue vertical-striped short-sleeve shirt, khaki cargo pants, and gray athletic shoes. He was wearing a white canvas messenger bag. On his right wrist was a black leather watch. Not gonna lie, he looks like a K-pop idol with his outfit.
I cocked a brow. "Nice pants! What are they made of? Boyfriend material?"
He abruptly blushed, making my smirk turn into a wide grin.
"Y-You look marvellous," he muttered, a bit stuttering. "So beautiful," he muttered, looking at me with flush cheeks.
"You're not so bad yourself," I praised. "Anyway, let's hurry, and I'm hungry!" I declared and hooked my arm on his, making him stiffen.
He looked down at me. "I-I apologize for making you wait. We had an unscheduled laboratory class today," he explains
"No biggie. So, how's the quiz?"
"Perfect," he answered.
"Good job," I praised him again, and he abruptly turned like a hot tomato with his rosy tone.
Nakarating na kami sa parking lot na nakahawak pa rin ako sa braso niya. He didn't protest, but I can feel that he isn't breathing anymore. I kept my face straight when I caught him looking at me.
"Where did you park your car?" I asked in curiosity because I wasn't sure if we would use his or mine.
He blinked in anticipation. "Huh? I-I don't have a car."
My lips parted in aghast. "What?! Are you expecting us to commute?!" I blurted out and pushed him slightly.
He nervously licked his lips. "I have a bike."
"Bike? Are you kidding me, Croisx?" gigil na tanong ko.
He gulped, looking away. "I'm sorry. . ." he said in soft voice.
I sighed. "We should use my car. I'll drive," I offered.
His expression saddened.
"Don't be discouraged. It's fine!" I smiled, a sweet one. "That's my car!" I pointed to my Porsche, and my eyes flew to the next vehicle, a big white with red and black linings ducati big bike. "Look at that big bike, it looks cool." I praised.
His expression lightened a bit. "That's a Ducati Panigale," he answered.
"You're familiar with it?"
He nodded. "That's my bike."
I gasped. "You mean your bike is a fucking Ducati?! As far as I know, that kind of big bike costs at least a million."
He nodded innocently. "It's almost 2 million, to be exact," he said without sounding arrogant.
Damn. How could he afford that? Is he rich or something?
I cleared my throat and grinned. "That's dope," I commented. "Do you wanna drive?" tanong ko nang nasa tapat na kami ng porsche, baka kasi gusto niya magdrive.
He shook his head. "I-I don't drive cars," he says apologetically.
I shrugged. "Fair enough. I'll drive, then."
Tumaas ang sulok ng labi ko nang lumakad siya papunta sa gilid ng sasakyan at pinagbuksan ako ng pinto sa drivers seat. He looked at me shyly, and I only snickered, not minding his chivalrous manners towards me.
My lips rose in amusement when I noticed his hand on the hood of my car, preventing my head from getting hit on the hard hood of the car. Psh! What a gentleman.
Pumasok na ako sa loob at siya na mismo ang nagsara ng pinto sa gilid ko bago umikot pasakay sa passenger seat. I already have my seatbelt on me while I leaned on the chair, with my hand on the steering wheel and the other is on the gear stick.
He was wearing his seatbelt when I glanced at him. "You want to listen to music?" I asked.
He looked back at me. "It's fine. Do everything you want to do," he softly said.
"What if I want to kiss you?"
He instantly blushed and was stunned to speak.
Napangisi ako. "Kidding," I snickered. "Please, type the location of the Japanese restaurant on the infotainment," I ordered, and he nodded.
He started fiddling with the screen while I was manoeuvreing the steering wheel, and not just a minute, we were transiting the roadway. Then, I pressed the talk button on the steering wheel, causing the voice command to turn on.
"Play Style by Taylor Swift," I command, and afterwards, the music started to take charge inside the car.
Kung biniyayaan lang sana ako ng magandang boses, edi sana singer na ako ngayon. I mean. . . I'm a singer pero sa ibang paraan nga lang.
A long silence prevails over us.
I gave him a sideway glance to check what he's up to. Nakita kong nakalagay sa hita niya ang magkabilang kamay habang nakatingin sa bintana.
I cleared my throat to break the silence between us, making him flinched.
"Be comfortable with me, Croisx. Tell me what you want. Tell me what you need. Tell me everything. Communication, Croisx. That's how relationship works."
He nervously licked his lips. "I-I'll take note of that. . ."
"You should. How does our relationship work if you won't talk to me and if you aren't comfortable with me?"
He bit his bottom lips. "I'll do better. I'll be better," he said in a soft tone of voice.
I nodded with a small smile. He didn't talked but his flushing cheeks were enough to know what is my effect on him.
"That's the restaurant," turo nito sa isang malaking establishment. "There's a parking area on the side. You can go straight and park the car inside of it,"
Tumango na lang ako at gamit ang isang kamay, I maneuver the steering wheel. I parked my car before we disembarked and entered the restaurant. Pagpasok namin sa loob ay kaagad kaming nilapitan nang nagpakilala na manager ng restaurant. Japanese 'yon kaya si Croisx na ang kumausap, although I can understand them naman since I am multilingual.
Napataas ang kilay ko nang biglang nalipat sa akin ang topic nila. Nagpanggap akong walang maintindihan at tahimik na nakinig na lang.
It's really an advantage that I know how to speak different languages because I can understand if someone is trying to harm me without them knowing I know what they're planning.
I love acting dumb, but what I love even more is when people think they're smarter than me.
"Kanojo wa utsukushiku mieru. Kanojo wa anatanokanojodesu ka?" (Translation from Google: She looks beautiful. Is she your girlfriend?)
Nahihiya niya akong sinulyapan. I gave him an innocent gaze and smile, concealing that I understood them.
He slowly nodded to the woman, and a small smile tugged on his lips. "Hai. Kono utsukushī on'nanoko wa watashi no gārufurendodesu," he answered in Japanese, too.
(Translation: Yes, this beautiful girl is my girlfriend)
I bit my bottom lip when I heard what he said. I look away nang sabay silang mapalingon sa akin. The woman smiled, so I awkwardly smiled back. She gave us a menu, and I scanned it quickly.
Croisx pulled a chair for me, and I thanked him for doing it willingly.
"What do you want to eat?" Croisx asked, making me look at him.
I would like to answer 'you', but we are not yet close, and he will surely blush.
"Why don't you recommend me your favorite? I'll try it."
He looked rattled. "Are you sure?"
I nodded. "Go on. Hindi naman ako mapili sa food. I eat everything and anything," Even dick.
Tumango na lang siya at sinabi na ang mga order namin. Habang naghihintay ng mga order, tahimik lang kami. Tinapik ko ang kamay niyang nasa itaas ng lamesa, bahagya naman siyang napatalon. He looked at me innocently.
"What's with the silence? If you have a question about me, give it a shot while we're still waiting for our food," I break the silence.
"I-I have a question actually," tumango naman ako, encouraging him to continue. "H-How many ex-boyfriends did you have? If you're not comfortable answering it, don't answer-"
"I only had 2," I interjected him.
"Just 2?"
"Yup. Just 2, but I had several bedmates and flings before," I confessed.
His eyebrows knotted. "Bedmates? What is bedmates?" he naively asked.
I gestured for him to come near me, and he did. "Men who aren't my boyfriend, but I had sex with," I explained through muttering.
He blinked before he nodded as if comprehending it. "Okay," he says in a neutral voice.
"You aren't turned off that I am not a virgin anymore?"
I looked at Croisx and examined his reaction to what I said.
I may not be a virgin, but it doesn't mean that I am a slut. People must stop stigmatising people who ain't virgins. Kapag hindi na virgin, pariwara na. Kapag hindi na virgin, maluwag na. I'm so tired of this misconception.
First of all, Sexual intercourse doesn't permanently stretch the vagina. Simply because a woman's vagina is naturally elastic. It may stretch a lot, but it will still go back to its natural state. No amount of sex will make a vagina loose.
Moreover, the hymen is not a reliable method for determining virginity since it can be torn or ruptured by things that are not sex. There are women who had sex that still have intact hymen.
Besides, People have their own choice. It's my choice to have sex. And if some people wanted to wait for marriage, then go. It's their choice, your choice. But no one should have the say to judge me and the other women who aren't a virgin.
He shakes his head. "No. Of course not. Your worth as a human being is not tied to a piece of tissue between your legs. Your self-worth should have nothing to do with whether you have had sex or not, and it shouldn't diminish your worth in any way."
My heart did a summersault when I heard what he responded to me.
I saw him pursing his lips. "No one should be ashamed for having sex because having sex is natural. Whose business is it, whether you are a pure or not? Exclusively yours, not mine or with other people." I heard him loud and clear.
A wide smile tugged on my face. I leaned in and gave him a quick kiss on his lips, making me giggle because he suddenly coughed in embarrassment.
Finally, our food has arrived. I licked my lips when I heard my stomach grumbling in hungerness. Before we eat, kinuha ko ang cellphone ko sa loob ng aking bag. Then, I raised it and focusing it to him. I took a picture of him, not showing the entire face, just up to his jaw.
I pressed my lips together, stifling a smile when he caught me taking a photo of him.
"Are you taking pictures of me?" he asked shyly.
"Yup," I didn't denied. "You can start eating na." I gestured the mouthwatering foods.
He shakes his head. "I'll wait for you," he insisted.
I just grinned. I opened my Instagram app and posted the picture in my story. Since he doesn't have an Instagram, I just put a caption instead of tagging him.
"Sushi date with my Engineer." that's what I wrote and posted on my story. I also posted a photo of the food and the place.
As much as possible, I need to publicize our relationship so that my psycho stalker wouldn't dare to go near me. It's not my thing, but that's the only way to make it believable.
"D-Did you post the picture?"
I hummed. "Hmm. I didn't tag you, though. Since you don't have Instagram." I paused. "Do you have other socials? Facebook? Maybe Twitter?"
"Nothing. I don't have one," he says.
My shoulders dropped. "That sucks. Create an Instagram account and follow me. I don't have other socials, so you don't have to worry,"
"I-I actually created last night," he trailed off before he looked down with rosy cheeks. "For you."
My smile widened. "Really?! You made one because of me?" I chirped and chuckled lightly. "Follow me! Khriz.Saint is my username,"
He nodded innocently and took out his phone, fiddling it. Seconds later, my phone screen flashed.
Holy.Croisx started following you.
I abruptly looked at him with a smile. He look shy and blushing, making me chuckled. I view his profile at napangisi nang makitang isa lang ang fina-follow niya at ako iyon. His followers are only hundred at wala pa siyang post ni isa. He just made it last night, yet he already gathered a hundred followers, not bad.
I followed him back and held down my phone. "I followed you back. You may repost my story if you want," I muttered, making him nod. "Let's dig in!"
Ilang sandali lang at nagsimula na kaming kumain. I started eating the ramen, then the fried dumplings, tempura and, of course, the various sushi flavors. I was enjoying the food when I heard a snap.
Croisx took a photo of me!
"S-Sorry. . . I-I just want to-" he stopped talking when I smirked and drank my water.
"If you want to take a picture of me, just ask me. Take another shot at baka hindi ako maganda sa unang kuha mo."
His lips slightly parted.
Ngumisi ako at napailing. "Nevermind. Kain ka pa." sabi ko at nilagyan siya ng california maki.
He blushed. "T-Thanks. You should eat more, too." he says, and put some sushi on my plate.
After an hour, natapos na kaming kumain. Croisx paid for the bill even if I insisted on paying.
"I was the one who invited you for a lunch. . . So, I'm the who should pay for it," aniya at mabilis na nilabas ang wallet sa bag at naglabas ng card.
I just pressed my lips together while eyeing his card. Black card- he's really rich. Maybe he really came from a wealthy family, but he was just lowkey. His future wife is lucky indeed.
I've met a lot of boys in my life. . . Friendly, Gentlemen, kind and there are a few that only thinks about their dicks, but Croisx is different.
I wonder why he doesn't have a girlfriend before. Is it because of his condition? But he has a hyperbrain. That's actually impressive and an advantage since he has the highest intelligence.
When Croisx finished paying, I asked him to go for a walk. We walk on the clean sidewalk with towering skyscrapers and commercial hubs as our view. I can't help but inhale the not-so-fresh air.
His expensive scent whiffed my nose as he walked beside me. He smells so clean, citrus and fresh. I'm not sure about his perfume brand, but it's addicting. Lacoste, maybe?
I hooked my arm with his and rested my cheek against his shoulder when we reach the Manila baywalk. Naramdaman ko ang paninigas niya at ang paghinga niya ng malalim.
Ngumisi naman ako at hindi na nagbigay komento.
Binitawan ko lang siya noong naglakad ako palapit sa bench na gawa sa semento at umupo. I tapped the space beside me. He pressed his lips together before he sat quietly next to me.
A long silence prevails over us.
I looked up to see the clear blue sky and smiled when I caught an airplane. The blue sky was suddenly awash with rainbow light, a good omen of what was to come. What a beautiful daylight.
A soft and calm tone suddenly ascended, breaking the silence.
"Don't you have terms and conditions in our relationship? I-I just saw on the Internet that some relationship has rules."
Mabilis akong lumingon sa kaniya at tumitig ng matagal bago matunog na ngumiti. "Keep your communication with me always open, and don't cheat."
His mesmerizing midnight gray eyes lingered on mine. The reflection of his eyeglasses from the blue sky caused his eyes to turn into a beautiful shade of blue.
"I won't cheat on you. That's suicidal. I'll be the perfect boyfriend for you. I won't waste your trust in me," seryosong aniya.
I grinned and ruffled his hair. Nagulat siya at akmang hahawakan ang palapulsuhan ko nang ako na mismo ang nag-alis ng kamay ko sa kanyang malambot na buhok.
Nakita ko kung paano mamula ang pisngi at tainga niya habang nakayuko siya ng konti.
I smiled widely. "You don't have to be a perfect one. . . Just be you. That's enough."
I saw how his lips parted a bit before he bit his bottom lip.
"I hope you enjoy your first-ever date experience even though it's not fancy enough, and we just ate." sabi ko at tumingala sa kalangitan, nakangiti.
I stiffened when he swiftly cupped my face and pulled me against his body. Then, he planted an unexpected kiss on my forehead. My heart instantly thrum against my chest.
Napakurap-kurap ako at napaamang sa ginawa niya. I was caught off guard, of course!
His hand on my back tightened, but enough for me to breathe. "Being with you today is the best thing that happened to my first-ever date experience. I am blessed to have you as my first girlfriend, Khrizanta. . ."
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