Good morning! :)

Kelvin's text message was the first thing that Celine saw that morning when she checked her phone. Agad siyang napangiti. Alas dos nang madaling-araw nang makauwi sila kanina. They didn't talk much, but the silence wasn't awkward at all. If anything, it was soothing.

Hindi pa rin siya makapaniwalang nagawa niya iyon. She thought that she would chicken out again. Baka pangunahan siya ng kaba o takot. Pero hindi iyon nangyari. And that little leap of faith was very rewarding.

Morning. :), she replied.

Halos kasi-send pa lamang niya iyon nang may bumalik na namang mensahe.

Had a good sleep?

-Yes. Ikaw?

The best one so far.

Hindi ba talaga niya gusto si Kelvin dati? How can she not? This guy is impossibly sweet.

What are you doing today? he asked.

Maglalaba, she typed, but then she shook her head and erased it. Wala, she replied instead. Her laundry can wait. Ikaw?

I'll watch a movie later.

-Ah. Sino kasama mo?

I don't know. I haven't asked her yet.

Kumunot ang noo niya. Her? Did he mean the woman who gave him her number? But he said she wasn't his type!

Wanna watch a movie? came another message.

Natawa siya sa sarili. Oh right. Ang hirap kasi ng unassuming. Nasa harap na nga ang sagot, hindi pa rin pinapansin. Of course it makes sense that he'll ask her out. They were holding hands all night last night, for crying out loud! If that isn't a sign, then she doesn't know what is.

Okay.

--

Celine chose a simple dress to wear. She was already used to wearing dresses dahil karamihan sa mga damit niya sa Chicago ay dress. When Kelvin lent her his apartment for two years, she found a closet full of new clothes inside. There was almost no space for her to put her own clothes in.

Kelvin told her that they're hers when she asked. Bahala na raw siya kung gusto niyang isuot ang mga iyon o hindi.

Noong una, hindi niya iyon ginalaw. They're too expensive for her. Kahit walang price tag ang mga damit, alam niya sa tela at brand na mamahalin ang mga iyon.

Pero makalipas ang ilang buwan, naengganyo na rin siyang isuot ang mga iyon, especially during fall and winter dahil hindi kaya ng mga damit niya ang lamig. The clothes fitted her well. Dahil sa mga damit na iyon, pakiramdam niya'y araw-araw siyang maganda.

She didn't know that clothes could boost her confidence that much.

May makeup din na nakahanda sa isang drawer and jewelries as well. Kelvin told her that she could use them all. Not only did he lend her his apartment for free, pinuno pa nito iyon ng mga gamit na kaiilanganin niya.

She's forever indebted to him because of that. He made her stay in Chicago comfortable. So she took care of the things he gave her and she used them well dahil alam niyang sasama ang loob nito kapag hindi niya ginamit ang mga iyon.

But of course, she didn't bring any of them home. She left them all in Chicago. What she brought home was her new found confidence and love for him, if it was indeed love already.

--

Kelvin was getting impatient. Celine's already thirty minutes late. What's taking her so long? She's not like this before. Dati, nauuna pa itong dumating sa usapan. So what's holding her up? Maybe she changed her mind. Maybe she decided not to go.

He shook his head. She would at inform him. Pero pa'no kung pinagtataguan na naman pala siya nito? Maybe she got scared again.

Bumuntong-hininga siya. Well if that's the case—

"Sorry na-late ako!"

He was muted for a few seconds. The irritation he was feeling earlier disappeared in an instant.

"Okay lang," he told her.

Hindi naman kasi niya ini-expect na mag-aayos pa ito. He was pleasantly surprised to see her in a dress. She's also wearing makeup and her hair was braided again and tied up. He likes that look now. Bagay kay Celine iyon. Lalo itong gumaganda kapag hindi nahaharangan ng buhok ang mukha nito.

"Nakabili ka na ng ticket?"

"Hindi pa. Would you like to eat first?"

"Bili muna tayo ng ticket," sabi nito.

So they headed to the ticket counter first. There's an animated movie from Disney na gustong panuorin ni Celine. He was hoping that they would watch the action movie, but he didn't complain because he let her choose. Mabuti na lamang at tinanong din siya nito kung ano ang gusto niyang panuorin. They ended up buying four tickets. Dalawa para sa animated movie at dalawa sa action movie.

Pinili nila iyong panghapong oras para may time silang gumala at kumain.

--

Some things never change. Kelvin's food preference is one example. Sa mamahaling kainan na naman ito nag-aya. Good thing she was able to stop him from going in the establishment.

"Gusto ko sa Jollibee," she told him.

"Jollibee?" He didn't hide his amusement. "Why?"

"Gusto ko ng spaghetti."

"There's an Italian restaurant near here."

"Jollibee na lang," she insisted.

He sighed. "Okay. Fine."

--

Kelvin ordered a lot. Bukod sa spaghetti, bumili pa ito ng chicken meal at burgers, tapos may fries pa at sundae. Hindi sana problema iyon kung hindi siya nito pinilit na kumain ng marami.

"May chicken ka pa," paalala nito sa kanya nang maubos nya ang spaghetti.

"Ayoko na," reklamo niya.

"Eat some more. Para tumaba-taba ka naman."

"Kahit isang buong letsong baboy ang ipakain mo sa 'kin, hindi ako tataba."

"Talaga? Can we put that to a test?"

She looked at him incredulously. "Ayoko nga. Atakihin pa 'ko sa puso."

He grinned. "I just want to see if you won't really get fat after eating a whole pig."

"Exaggeration kasi," she replied, making a face.

"Kumain ka pa." He pushed the plate towards her. "May burgers pa, o."

She grunted. "Pwede bang mamaya na lang ang burgers? Saka tulungan mo 'ko rito. Di ko ubos 'to."

He happily obliged. Hindi niya alam kung saan nito nilalagay ang mga kinakain nito. May blackhole yata ito sa tiyan. Ang dami na nitong nakain pero heto't kumakain pa rin ito.

Sila na yatang dalawa ang pinakamatagal kumain sa Jollibee dahil sa dami ng in-order ni Kelvin. Halos hindi na siya makatayo nang matapos sila. Dahil sa pamimilit niya, naipa-take out nila ang burgers at fries. Iyon na plano niyang kainin mamaya sa sinehan, although Kelvin insisted na bumili rin sila ng popcorn.

--

After eating, nag-window shopping muna sila para magpababa ng kinain. Well, she window-shopped. Kelvin shopped for real. Pero puro para sa kanya ang binili nito.

"I want to see you in this dress," he told her when they're inside a high-end store. He didn't even let her argue. Binili na nito iyon kaagad nang makitang kasya sa kanya. At one jewelry store, bracelet naman ang nakita nito.

"Can we have this customized?" he asked a staff while pointing at the rose gold chain bracelet.

"Sure, sir. How would you like this customized?"

Kelvin told her to move away first. Kunot-noo siyang lumayo. He then told the staff what he wanted, in a hushed voice. Tumingin 'yong kausap nito sa kanya saka ngumiti ng makahulugan. She didn't know what he told her, but she knew that whatever it is, it will surely overwhelm her, like everything he does.

Pagkalabas nila ng store, tinanong niya kung ano ang sinabi nito sa staff, but he just smiled.

"It's a surprise."

"Huwag mo na lang kasing bilhin. Gagastos ka pa, e."

"It's fine," he said chirpily. "Hey, daan tayo sa shop ni mommy. Okay lang? I just want to see if she's there."

When she nodded, he took her hand and led the way. She could feel her cheeks heating up. He was acting like it's no big deal pero siya, halos magwala ang puso sa kaba.

--

Kelvin's mother looked so surprised when they walked in. Not because they decided to pay her a visit out of the blue, but because of the fact that they were holding hands when they did. Celine was so tempted to pull her hand from Kelvin, but she couldn't do it.

"Hi, Ma!"

Even when he kissed his mother on the cheek, he still didn't let go.

"Hi!" She turned to her and beamed. "Hello, Celine!"

"Hi po."

"What brought you here?" Moira asked her son.

"We're just killing time," he answered. "Anyway, why are you here? It's Sunday."

"Well, a client called me last night and asked if she could make changes with the cake she ordered. Kailangan na kasi bukas. E, alam mo namang hands on ako sa cakes ko," paliwanag nito.

"What time will you go home?"

"Later," sagot nito. "Mabilis lang naman 'to. My staff will help me with decorations. Have you eaten? We ordered pizza for lunch, e. Meron pa yata."

"Busog na busog pa po kami," sagot niya. Ikinwento niya ang nangyari kanina sa Jollibee. Moira found it funny and even offered their bathroom, kung kailangan daw nila. Fortunately, wala pa naman siyang nararamdamang kakaiba.

There's still more than an hour left before the first movie starts, so Moira asked her if she wanted to learn how to make flower decorations for the cake. She readily said yes. Frustration nya kasi ang baking. Wala kasi silang oven kaya kahit gusto niyang matuto, hindi niya magawa.

--

Moira let Celine in first. May staff na raw sa loob na pwedeng magturo rito. He was told to stay behind for a bit. Kelvin knew that his mother would ask. Mukhang kaninang-kanina pa nito gustong magtanong sa kanya.

"So, kayo na ba?" tanong nito, her eyes twinkling in excitement.

"Not yet," he said.

"But you were holding hands earlier," she pointed out.

He grinned. "I know. Kagabi nga rin po, e."

Napamaang ito sa sinabi niya. "Kagabi?"

"Yeah. We went to Yuan's gig last night. She even got jealous because some girl gave me her number."

"Sure kang nagselos sya?"

Tumango siya. "She admitted it. Then she let me hold her hand. All night." Hindi niya maitago ang pride na nararamdaman knowing that he was able to hold Celine's hand. Sobrang laking achievement na iyon para sa kanya.

"Tapos ngayon, nag-date kayo?"

"I don't know if she treats this as a date, but I sure do."

His mother looked so happy to know that.

"I'm glad," she told him. "Sana tuloy-tuloy na 'yan."

"I hope so, too," he agreed.

--

Celine had fun making flower decorations for the cake. Yari ang mga iyon sa fondant. Noong una raw kasi, gusto ng kliyente na orchid flowers ang ilagay. Then she wanted them changed into roses at the last minute.

Ilalagay ang mga bulaklak sa pinakang-ibabaw ng three-tier cake tapos may nagkalat na rose petals sa bandang ibaba. Then, may vines and leaves protruding from underneath the flowers that cascade down the cake.

She was asked to make a few petals. Mabusisi rin pala. You have to roll the fondant, cut them into little circles and then mold them into petals. Pagkagawa ng mga petals, ang mommy ni Kelvin, together with an assistant, will assemble them to create a rose. Pinatulong siya nito sa isa, pero dahil baguhan siya, napakabagal pa niyang kumilos.

Nang sampung minuto na lamang bago magsimula ang unang movie, nagpaalam na sila rito. Moira offered to teach her with some other things. Pumunta lamang daw siya sa bahay nina Kelvin. She'll be taught how to make isomalt flowers and flower icing.

"She wanted to teach someone," Kelvin told her when they entered the cinema, popcorn and drinks and the burgers on hand. "Kaso puro lalaki ang anak nya. No one's interested."

"Si Kylie?"

"Kylie comes, sometimes, but baking's not her thing. She'd rather eat than bake. Good thing you're here."

He led her to their seat. Patay na ang mga ilaw sa sinehan, so they have an excuse to hold hands.

--

Sa kalagitnaan ng panunuod, naramdaman niya ang braso nito sa balikat niya. She didn't mind. She'd imagined that someone would do this to her eventually. It's a bit cold inside as well, so they also have an excuse to do that.

When she stole a glance at him, he was smiling. Napangiti na rin tuloy siya kahit nakakaiyak 'yong scene sa screen.

--

Guys, one small request: Please STOP using "pabebe" in your comments. Please please please. Para di ako mawalan ng gana pag-a-update. Feeling giddy and twitterpated is not equivalent to being pabebe. It's supposed to be romantic.