What to wear on a first date?
I looked at my bestfriend when Google gives me no help at all. She's currently studying for Pedia and her case, having no clue I'll be out for a date today. I badly wanted to ask her what I should wear! I mean, Hurricane didn't give me any idea at all where we will go?
I don't know if it's formal.. but I chose 'sunset til sunrise', so maybe it's casual? And mukhang hindi naman si Hurricane yong type na dadalhin ako sa fine dining restaurant. Argh! Should I ask him nalang ba? But he'll think masyado kong pinaghahandaan to!
It's just.. we've been keeping this set-up for too long now. Ngayon lamang talaga kami makakapag-date because we're both busy sa pag-aaral. Siya sa law school, ako sa med-school. Sobrang demanding parehas ng tinetake namin. And I want this day to be special since this also serves as our break slash rest from all the loads.
I heaved a sigh as I rummaged in my closet. Sundress. A-Line. Mini. Fitted. Jumper dress—argh! Fudge this closet!
"Where are you going ba?" Ansel asked behind me.
"I don't know." I truthfully answered.
"What?" she chuckles, "Sino kasama mo?"
Ugh. Should I tell her? Parang hindi pa ako ready na malaman ni Ansel.. but whatever, maybe this is 'fate' telling me to admit everything to her already.
"Ansel.."
She's my best friend. She deserves to know. I closed my eyes as I turned around to face her. "Hurricane's courting me."
I waited for her reply but none came.. so I opened my eyes to see her reaction. She's smiling widely, like she already know everything kahit wala akong sinasabe. Damn, right?
"What's with the smile?"
"Akala ko di ka na aamin," she said teasingly.
"You already knew?"
"Sobrang halata kaya mga tinginan niyo! Lalo na kagabi! Para kayong PBB teens?!" she laughed then jumped towards me, hugging me. "You know, I am very happy you're opening up to someone again.."
Guard, so ganon kami kahalata? And all this time akala ko naman success kami sa pag-tatago.
"Stop being dramatic."
Her embrace tightened. Her breathing became heavy like she's in pain, "You don't know how big my relief was knowing there's someone who'll take good care of you."
I rolled my eyes as I tapped her shoulder, "Are you leaving or something?"
She pulled from her embrace as she looked at me adoringly. Her eyes twinkling with joy.. mixed with longing. Then she laughed it out, erasing the sudden emotion that played in her eys. "Guard, I felt like your mom! Okay.. so may date kayo ngayon?"
I carefully examine my best friend. She's already rummaging my closet, I frowned as I leaned on my closet's door. "Hey, are you okay?"
"Of course! So, saan ang date niyo?"
I looked at her for one last time before giving up. I heaved a sigh, remembering my date again. Guard, bakit ba problemadong problemado ako sa susuotin ko? It's just.. for some reason, I wanted to impress him. I am going crazy!
"He didn't say."
"Naks, may pa-surprise effect!"
She pulled out my ivory dress, agad akong umiling. It was backless, too revealing for a first date! Agad niyang ibinalik yon, her finger stopped at my one shoulder rose colored dress. I shook my head slowly. There's no way I'll wear that dress. It's too.. formal. Like I'm attending someone's wedding to be exact!
"What about this?"
She showed me my cream-colored silk dress. Spaghetti strap. Square. Fitted and ends on my mid-calf. May maliit na slit sa gilid. All in all it was perfect, kinda formal but not grandiose.
"Perfect, right?"
I nodded bago ko kinuha at sinukat. After we decided to go with this dress, inayos naman ni Ansel ang buhok ko. Bun plait or commonly known as side bun ang pagkaka-ipit. I put on a light pastel make-up and done!
Best friends really makes things easier talaga, no? Often times, I prefer handling everything alone but sharing some with Ansel makes it lighter. Hindi naman sa hindi ako nag-titiwala sa kanya kaya hindi ko sinasabe lahat, hindi lang talaga siguro ako ma-open na tao. Madalas nalalaman lang niya kapag tapos na but I know in myself, everytime I'm in confusion or in chaos Ansel's always there and I always find myself relying on my bestfriend.
"Thank you," I sincerely said, she only smiled as she gave me a peck on the top of my head.
My phone pinged at sabay kaming napatingin don, agad kong kinuha ang phone ko to check the message. It was from Hurricane, not surprising.
Hurricane : ready? :)
I bit the inside of my cheek to prevent myself from smiling since Ansel's watching me but I think I failed when she chuckles at my reaction.
Hurricane : I'm already here.Parking
"He's already at the parking." I informed my bestfriend.
"Then go!"
**
Agad kong natanaw sa parking ang kotse ni Cyclone. Looks like Cy's not going anywhere today to lend his car kay Hurricane. Malayo palang ako nang lumabas siya from the driver's seat. He's all smile, as usual. He's wearing white dress shirt na open ang dalawang upper button and black pants. It wasn't tucked in.
He's always the combination of pretty hot good dude, the one where you know you'll never get your heart broken kasi even tho he's a looker hindi naman siya player. Anyone can see it at first glance. I don't even know bakit ngayon ko lang in-acknowledge yong fact na'yon.
Gosh! I really can't believe I'll be at this point in my life where I just adore him so much! I used to hate this dude to the guts but now.. just wow.
Parang bibigay yong tuhod ko bigla sa klase ng pag-tingin niya habang papalapit ako. It seems like he's in actual awe and it really makes me somehow.. weak.. my insides were churning! Napahigpit tuloy ang kapit ko sa clutch na dala dala ko.
But his stare didn't make me conscious, in fact, it boosts my confidence.
"Hi,"
"Hi.."
He chuckles before giving me the bouquet he was holding. It was combination of peach, red, and pink colors. If I am not mistaken, peach is for sincerity, red is for love and pink is for happiness? But well, I am not sure and whatever! It was rare nowadays to receive flowers even on first dates.
"Corny, but thanks.. I appreciate this." I said. He gave me a warm smile before opening the car's door for me.
I heard him clearing his throat before maneuvering the car. It didn't really take me long to realize kung saan kami papunta. The way was too damn familiar since ilang beses nadin kaming pumunta ng Batangas. And it was really just near Manila.
Tumigil kami sa isang private resort. Pagkababa namin napatingin ako sa langit sunod sa dagat.. malapit ng lumubog ang araw. Inabot niya sakin ang kamay niya para alalayan ako lumakad. Masyadong mabuhangin kaya inalis ko na lamang ang kitten heels ko at binitbit. Napatawa siya bago kinuha sakin ang heels.
The staffs welcomed us warmly. Pero mukhang mas warm ang welcome kay Hurricane since hindi talaga maalis yong mata nila sa kanya. Napailing na lamang ako.
"Sir Tantoco? Everything's ready po." the lady asked. Napaangat ang tingin ko kay Hurricane.
"You made reservation?"
Hindi niya ako sinagot. He just smirked bago ako inalalayan papunta sa beach. The sand was white.. the sea mirrors the orange-purple sky as the sun starts to descend, kissing the water. The air was salty yet calming. The sound of the small waves hitting the sand and the birds chirping was all we could hear.
But it wasn't the beauty of the place that made me smile.. it was the one who brought me here.
"This is so calming."
I felt his hands on the small of my back. Napatingin ako saglit sa kanya, may ngiti sa mga mata niya. "Come,"
Hinila niya ako papunta sa.. what the..
Hindi ko halos mahanap ang boses ko nang mapatingin sa isang bangka. May mga petals ng peach, pink and red roses. May wood sa may gitna na nagsi silbing substitute table. May candle light na nakapatong sa may gitna at wine. May dalawang wine glass.. there's even a food na naka-cover.
I was staring at it the whole time.. frozen in awe. I watched him pushing the boat papunta sa may dagat bago niya inabot ang kamay ko para maka-sakay ako. He was too careful hanggang sa maka-upo ako ng maayos bago siya sumunod sakin. Then two staff came to push us farther. He's holding the paddles. Smiling softly at me.
"Hurricane.."
"I'm sorry.. I know dream date mo sa yate pero bangka lang talaga kaya ko sa ngayon.."
I don't know what to say.. this is beyond my dream date! I've never imagined someone doing this stuff for me.. I mean.. he doesn't know na it doesn't matter kung hindi sa yacht..
Him, taking me to the sea and preparing a date in a boat meant so much I am actually holding myself to tear up!
"You're smiling," he pointed out. "I hope this made you happy."
"Of course. This surpassed my dream date, you know?" I told him before looking at the sea. He's paddling, nilabas ko ang kamay ko para ilubog sa dagat then I found myself smiling even more.
We stopped nang medyo malayo na kami. The sun serves as our light.
"Sunset.."
"Hanggang sunrise tayo dito."
"You mean dito sa bangka?" gulat kong tanong.
He laughed before shaking his head. "Lalamigin ka. I rented two tents."
He securely put the paddles on the side before presenting the dishes. It was carbonara, lasagna and pizza. My top three favorite food in the world. I don't know kung kanino niya nalaman o kung sumakto lang ang pinrepare na food. Then he filled the glasses with wine.
While he was doing it I cannot help but fished out my phone. I promised myself not to touch my phone para focus lamang ako sa date na'to but I just can't help it! I took a stolen picture of him. Of the boat. The food. And the ocean. I even took a short video.
Hindi masyadong kita ang mukha niya dahil tumatama ang sinag ng araw sa mukha niya. Sun kissed effect.
"Do you want me to take picture of you?"
I smiled sheepishly before handing him my phone pero hindi niya inabot. Instead, phone niya ang nilabas niya kaya napailing ako.
"Smile, Chandrella."
"Iw. Stop calling me by my full name."
He chuckles kaya napangiti ako, sakto na nakuhanan niya, I saw how his smile grew wider. He asked me na mag-iba pa ng pose na ikinaikot lamang ng mata ko pero sinunod ko padin. After that we both keep our phone, we started talking about random things. Mga bagay na hindi namin masyadong alam sa isa't-isa.
"Actually.. I don't really have a plan on having a family, that's why I took med." He blinked at my sudden confession, napatingin ako kung saan tuluyan lumubog ang araw. "I already see myself as a doctor.. living alone. Maybe because my parents were both too busy for us I lost the interest in building a family. I have five siblings yet I still felt alone because deep down I was seeking for my Mommy and Daddy's attention. I don't want to have future kids if they'll only experience the same fate I had."
"I'm sorry.."
"For?"
"If you felt alone.."
I snorted as I smiled, "I'm actually okay with it."
"But you're not alone now."
"You should stop saying that."
He frowned, "Why?"
"Because you don't know.. maybe in the future we'll go on separate ways."
"I'm not promising anything.. I'm talking about the present, Chandy."
But it still sounds too futuristic.. like he's telling me na mag-mula ngayon hindi ko na ulit mararamdaman maging mag-isa. Dba? Or is it just me over thinking things?
"Ikaw? Why did you take up law?"
He shrugged as he sipped on his wine, "There's no deep reason really, I just wanted to protect the innocent victims. I wanted to be the voice of the oppressed. Maybe because I was watching too much news when I was a kid kaya din maaga akong namulat sa karahasan ng batas."
"Yet you accused me of something I didn't do at Cy's party."
He laughed out loud at my sudden reminder. "What? Can you blame me? I haven't talked to you for six years. Six years. It's been so long."
I rolled my eyes as I sipped on my wine.
"Because you just disappeared."
"Why? Hinanap mo'ko?"
"Asa."
He chuckles. I crinkled my nose as I smiled. This is so refreshing.
"Hindi mo'ko hinanap after that night?"
I shook my head. Telling the truth. Hindi ko talaga siya hinanap.. but I wondered where he is and why he just suddenly go poof! I know we're in the same University pero kahit ganon hindi talaga nag-tagpo landas namin. Hindi din ako nag-aksaya ng panahon sa kanya before kasi hindi ko naman talaga siya gusto..
"But why didn't you show yourself up again?"
Even to his family. I mean, every occasion wala talaga siya for six years. Ansel even asked Cy if something happened to him but Cy just said he's actually okay.
"Barb needed me that time. I.. I just can't go and be happy if she's suffering."
I was caught off guard at his answer. I already accepted that they're just best friends, I accepted it the time I told him he can court me. What they have is what I have with Cyclone.
I smiled at him.
I am actually in awe on how much strong their friendship is. He's such a good brother, a good best friend and a great person. Like what I noticed long time ago, he's always a spine to someone.
Nang makabalik kami sa pampang tumulong siya sa mga staff sa pag-aayos sa ginamit namin na bangka.
Napatingin ulit ako sa dagat at napangiti. I closed my eyes feeling the cold breeze. I felt so much peace and warmth.
"You're beautiful." He whispered. I smiled as I opened my eyes. He's behind me.
I hold on his shoulder as I tiptoed to give him a kiss on his cheek. He looked stunned at my sudden action. "Thank you."
For coming back again.. after six long years.