Chapter 2

How should I look going to the date with Noah?

Sa totoo lang, I'm not that person who flawlessly go out with style. I'm too tired to pick up the best dress 'cause it will be good for the occasion but no, I wear what I think made me comfortable, iyon na agad ang sinusuot ko. I also don't need to impress to this guy, we're just going on a date and that's not a big deal for me. Ewan ko ba sa kaibigan ko at nadawit pa ako sa kalokohang ito. I won't seriously fall for someone lalo na kung hindi ko naman kilala, maybe crush pero hindi na lalalim pa roon.

"Tate, ready ka ba? Did Noah texted you na ba?" Pangungulit ng kaibigan ko. Naka-video call siya at pinapanood niya ako mag-ayos sa sarili 'ko. She's watching me to judge me completely, minsan hindi 'ko sigurado kung kaibigan 'ko ba talaga siya at palagi niya akong ino-okray. Pero sabi nila, once your friend do that to you, they only wants the best for you kahit sobrang sakit.

"Gwen, I am ready." Malumanay kong sagot sa kanya.

"So, are you excited? Girl, kung pwede mo lang akong isama, I will definitely go with you pero dahil gusto ni Noah ang privacy, ibibigay ko na sa inyong dalawa 'yon. Just tell me what will happen later, okay?"

I sighed, rolling my eyes. "Sure, just come over here kapag natapos na ang date-kuno namin. I hope it will just last for half an hour or so."

Sinimangutan ako ni Gwen, "Tate! You should spend every seconds, every minute with him! Minsan lang mangyari 'to! Sa dinarami ba naman ng fangirls ni Noah, ikaw na ang pinaka-lucky! You wouldn't want to waste it, baka pagsisihan mo in the end kasi masyado kang choosy when it comes to boys."

I grunted, "Gwen, he's not even my type. I'm just going to this date dahil you want me to and I want you to be happy. Gusto mo bang ikaw na lang?" Ngisi ko pa.

Her eyes widen and nodded her head continuously, makikita kong gustong-gusto niya talaga si Noah. "I would if may chance but I can't because you were picked by Noah. Ayoko namang sirain ang date niyong dalawa just because I'm his solid fangirl. Tate, I wouldn't mind if you will like or hate him at the end of the day, just try it. Wala namang mawawala 'di ba?"

I nodded, "I guess so..."

Saglit lang ng tumawag si Noah.

"Gwen, Noah's calling. I have to hang you up, okay?"

"Sure, good luck and enjoy besty!" She cheered and I quickly hang her up para ipasok ang tawag ni Noah.

Inilapat ko ang phone ko sa tainga ko at narinig kong bumungad ang pagbati nito sa akin, "Hi, Tatiana. Are you ready now?"

Napangiwi akong sumagot, "Yup, ready na ako."

"Oh, cool! I'm already outside of your house. Am I right that you live in this two-story, blue house with fairies planted on the lawn?" ngisi pa nito ng banggitin niya 'yon.

Nanlaki ang mata 'ko at nag-init ang tainga ko. He don't need to tell me that. He's trying to get me embarrass!

"Okay, stop right there. Lalabas na ako ng bahay, wait for me outside."

"Sure, I'll be waiting." He responded.

Agad ko namang binaba ang tawag at gusto kong magtitili-tili dahil sa sinabi. Ngayon pa lang ay nakikita ko na kung saan papunta ang date na 'to. I hope he wouldn't broadcast publicly what will happen to this date, kahihiyan ang tuluyang magpapabagsak sa akin. I've been getting enough humiliation and stupid remarks from school, ayoko nang madagdagan pa 'yon. I don't want to be the center of attention anymore but then, here I am going on a date with mister social media superstar.

Nang nasa likuran na ako ng pinto, humugot ako ng malalim na hininga at inabot ang doorknob pagkatapos. Dahan-dahan kong binuksan ang pinto at tumapon ang tingin ko sa sasakyang nakaparada sa harapan ng bahay namin. It is a black BMW M3 F80 at napamura na lang ako sa isip ko dahil alam kong mamahaling sasakyan iyon. At hindi ako makapaniwala na sasakay ako do'n.

I'm not ready to walk on hallways in Monday, for sure, hindi na naman nila ako titigilan sa pang-aasar.

Naglakad naman ako patungo sa sasakyan, binilisan ko na nang kaunti dahil nakakahiya sa kanya. Saglit lang din ng binuksan niya ang pinto ng kanyang sasakyan at lumabas siya mula roon. At that moment, natigilan ako sa paglalakad at umurong bigla ang labi ko. I swallowed so hard ng makita ko kung gaano siya katangkad. He's wearing a denim long sleeves and white trousers, it was folded inch up from his shoes. A white Nike shoes simply makes called one of the rich kids. Matapos kong usisain ang kanyang suot at tumapon ang tingin ko sa mukha niya, of course, hindi ko rin napigilan ang sarili ko at napatitig na lang ako roon.

What you see from pictures and videos is almost the same pero ibang-iba kapag kaharap mo na siya sa personal. I'm not really a fan pero sa tingin ko, mag-iiba iyong papanaw sa katapusan ng araw na ito.

He's already smiling at me, his cheeks simply made me simped for him too much. His wavy-curly hair just made sense, super perfect niyang tingnan. 

Nang tuluyan akong makalapit sa kanya, mabilis niya akong hinalikan sa pisngi. Mas mabilis pa sa isang super car. Doon ko rin naamoy ang super-strong na amoy panlalaki niyang pabango, he's already screaming luxury at ito ako, hindi 'ko man lang pinaghandaan. Doon ko lang din napansin ang ilang freckles niya sa pisngi na tumawid sa ilong papunta sa kabilang pisngi niya. Brown ang mga mata ito pero parang nanghihigop ng lakas ang mga iyon.

"How are you?" He asked, still smiling at me.

Nahiya naman ako bigla. Bakit ako tumiklop?

"I'm fine," hagikgik ko pa. "How are you?" Balik kong tanong sa kanya.

"We'll I'm excited for our date. By the way, you look so pretty in your dress."

Gusto kong sumigaw, sa totoo lang. You don't have to compliment me, mamaya mangingisay ako sa tabi ng kalsada. "Well, that's a first... thank you!"

Napakunot-noo naman ito, "What do you mean that's a first?"

I shrugged, "Well, people don't usually compliment me but I'm sure we don't have to talk about that right?" I asked and then he nodded, as if he agreed to it. "I'm also excited for the date, I never imagined that this will happen, that you will pick me."

"And how crazy is that, huh?" Ngisi pa nito. Wala akong nasabi, feeling ko namumula na ang pisngi ko. Pwede na siguro 'yon for natural blush. Why did I ignore Gwen's advice? Ngayon nagmumukha tuloy akong PA niya. "So, shall we? I reserved a table for us somewhere."

"What about-" pinutol niya ang sasabihin ko.

"You don't have to worry about paparazzi's or other people. This place will be private and you should be fine with it. I'm sure you'll like and one more thing, you can ask everything to me, anything you want. I would do it for you, is that good?"

Tumango na lang ako sa sinabi niya, I'm still out of words.

"Cool, cool! Now, let's go!" He cheered, and then offered his arm and I hook my hand on him papalapit sa sasakyan niya.

Pinagbuksan niya ako ng pinto at dahan-dahan naman kong pumasok sa loob. The seat already made me comfortable kaya mabilis kong naisa-ayos ang sarili ko. Saglit lang din naman na pumasok si Noah at umupo sa driver seat. Before he started the car's engine, tiningnan pa ako nito at nginitian. I could melt right away. Binatuhan ko rin naman siya ng ngiti at mabilis akong umiwas ng tingin. 

Is this the reason why Gwen was so in love with this guy? I do understand now!

"Here we go!" He said and then we drove away.

Agad akong nag-type ng message kay Gwen.

Shit naman girl! Bakit hindi mo naman sinabi na ganito pala 'to ka-gwapo sa personal?!!! Nakakainis ka! Ang bango-bango pa huhuhu!

Ilang minuto lang din ay nagreply na ito sa akin,

Gwen: Walang agawan bes! Pinagbigyan na kita pero akin pa rin uuwi 'yan si Noah! Akin lang siya haha! Anyway, enjoy ka talaga girl! Excited na ako sa mag iku-kwento mo mamaya!

"You're shaking," ani Noah at mabilis kong pinatay ang telepono ko. Natigilan din ako sa sinabi niya. "Why are you shaking? Are you nervous?" Though he's smiling it while asking. I just can't look at him right now. Mukhang lulubog ako sa mga sinabi ko kanina kay Gwen na hindi ako papatol sa lalaking ito.

"No, I'm not... hehe." Ngiwi ko pa.

Noah laughs a bit, "Don't worry about it, Tatiana. You'll be okay with me. Don't get nervous around me dahil hindi naman kita kakainin--oh that sound so wrong, anyway, gets mo naman sinasabi ko 'di ba?"

Tumango ako sa sinabi niya, "Hindi naman ako kinakabahan. This is actually my first time of going out with a guy and this is my first date with a guy and it is you, my first date."

He chuckles, "Wow, I never thought of that. It's nice to know that, Tatiana. I hope I can make your first date memorable."

"Yeah, I'm hoping too and you can call me Tate. Tatiana was a little too formal to use, so I guess mas okay nang gamitin 'yon right?" 

He nodded, "Yup, that sounds cute, just like you."

Isa pa, kukurutin ko na 'yang pisngi mo!

It was already seven in the evening nang pumarada na si Noah sa isang high-end restaurant. Sa hitsura pa lamang ay nasisigurado kong hindi kami gagambalain ng ilang taong nakakakilala kay Noah. Hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa rin ako makapaniwala sa nangyayari ngayon. My mother doesn't know that I'm going out with a guy so I hope this won't resurface online. Lagot ako kapag nahuli akong lumalandi. Pero kung si Noah naman, okay lang lumandi, right?

Bago kami lumabas ng sasakyan ay inabutan niya ako ng sunglass, ang sabi pa nito ay para makasigurado lang na makaiwas kami sa mga paparazzis. Hindi nga naman namin sigurado kung nakapaligid lang sila sa amin pero kapag nasa loob na kami ng restaurant, I'm free to remove it.

As we get out of the car, his hands were reaching for me. Nagtataka pa ako sa ginagawa niya kaya ng lapitan niya ako, kinuha niya ang kamay ko at sabay kaming naglakad papasok sa building.

He's holding my hands. It wasn't rough pero maugat, smooth din ang palad niya na kinulong ang maliit kong kamay. I'm not sure how tall he is pero mukhang aabot siya sa six foot dahil sa tangkad nito. I was only five foot and four inches, anong laban ng tangkad ko sa kanya. But he can easily carry me anywhere kung bet niya.

Nakapasok kami ng matiwasay sa buidling at tinanggal na namin ang suot na sunglass, I think those are guccis, binalik ko rin sa kanya 'yon dahil ayokong magbayad ng malaki kapag nasira ko 'yon.

We were attended by a staff and was asked for our reservation. Nang ma-confirm na naman ang reservation ni Noah ay idinala na nila kami nito sa isang private table. Feeling ko, hindi ako belong dahil sa sobrang plain ng dress. Nakuha ko pang mag-flats dahilan para tabunan ako ng height ni Noah. And this restaurant is too elegant for me, never pa akong nakapasok sa lugar na 'to and I never imagined that I would go on a date with someone popular.

"Sure ka bang dito tayo mag-date?" tanong ko pa while we're settling on our chairs.

He chuckles and nodded, "Yup, this is the place. Ang sabi 'ko magkikita tayo sa meeting place but I don't think that's a good idea kaya sinundo na lang kita sa bahay niyo and how was the ride? Are you still nervous? I can see that you're not shaking anymore."

Kumalma pero baka mamaya kumalampag ako, Noah!

"Yeah, hehe..."

Bumalik naman ang server at inabutan kami ng menu. I check the lists at halos lumuwas ang mata ko habang binabasa ang presyo ng mga iyon. Bumalik ang tingin ko kay Noah na seryoso sa pinipili niya. The only cheap dish on the menu is $80 and the expensive one costs $950 which is a steak fillet mignon with gold strips on it. Wow. As in wow.

"So, what's your order, Tate?" Noah asked.

"Uhm..." I looked at the cheapest one. "I'll take the Ceasar Salad and Mashed Potato."

Napakunot ang noo sa akin ni Noah, "Aren't you gonna take some meat or are you vegetarian?"

Umiling naman ako sa sinabi niya. "No, it's just..." hindi 'ko masabi! Paano ko ba itatawid ito?

But then Noah laughed, "Ah, I see what you're thinking. Ako nang bahala sa 'yo. She'll get the golden steak too, and no wines with alcohol please."

Tumango ang server habang nakauwang pa rin ang bibig ko sa gulat. "Are you--that's expensive for a dinner, Noah. I'm not taking you for granted, I don't want you to think of me like that--"

He cuts me off, "No, Tate. That's okay, I don't care how expensive it is. I just want to have this date memorable for you and how we will enjoy this. Don't worry about the price or anything, akong bahala d'on. And this happen once in a lifetime so why not, right?"

"Yeah, you're right... hehe." Napangiwi na lang ako kahit labag sa loob ko.

I tried to fix my posture on the chair and whimsically, clumsy me, falls on the floor and get people's attention around us on. Noah immediately come to help me stand up and when I hold his hand... I already thought of marrying him.

"Are you okay?" he asked and I nodded. "You'll be good, don't you worry." He smiled, his dimples crushes me. Help oh, lord!

Wait. Ang OA ko masyado, hindi naman nabagok ang utak ko at thank you na lang sa kahihiyan.

And my first date already became memorably embarrassing.