I'd like to tell you that the place Mira chose for our impromptu date was somewhere private, a secret hideaway where we could be a bit... intimate. Surely, after our misunderstanding, my girlfriend would want to have some time alone with me — her alluring boyfriend — to make up for the bad times. Right?

Wrong.

Mira chose to go to a park. A freaking park.

The moment my girlfriend told me the exact location that she wished to go to, I felt a stab of frustration. Pero wala naman akong magagawa, dahil sinabi ko sa kanya na siya ang masusunod kung saan kami pupunta. So, I just acted enthusiastic and said something along the lines of, "Oh, a park? Yeah, that'll be great."

Really, what is with with Mira and parks? I most certainly haven't forgotten about the Enchanted Kingdom incident.

As soon as we reached our destination, Mira — excited as she was — had stepped out of the car without even waiting for me to open the door for her. I followed suit, suppressing a smile.

"Na-miss ko ang lugar na 'to!" She scanned the area, beaming. Ginaya ko naman siya at tiningnan din ang kabuuan ng park.

It was just a good old neighborhood park, with nothing really special that might suggest why Mira wanted to go here, of all places. A water fountain served as its main attraction, and as far as parks go, this one had lush flora. Flowers of all colors dotted its perimeter, growing on bushes that looked well-maintained. A bench could be found under the shade of every tree.

The park was pretty crowded when we arrived — a group of kids were chasing each other around the fountain, couples occupied the benches, and a few families were having midday picnics on the lawn.

"How'd you know of this place?" I asked.

"Malapit dito ang dati kong apartment — 'yong tinirhan ko bago ako lumipat sa inuupahan ko ngayon," she explained. "Hindi ko nga rin alam kung bakit ang lugar na 'to ang unang pumasok sa isip ko nang sabihin mong pupunta tayo sa kahit saan ko gusto."

"Oh. What are we going to do here, then?"

Mira shrugged. "Wala lang. Magre-relax."

"Alright. But honestly? I prefer going to Enchanted Kingdom. At least, there, we can keep ourselves busy with the rides," I told her with a smirk.

Tumawa naman siya. "Ang dami mo pang sinasabi. Tara nang humanap ng pwede nating maupuan."

****

"Never ka pang nakatikim ng dirty ice cream?" Mira stared at me in disbelief. "Seryoso ba 'yan?"

"I told you, Mom wouldn't allow us to have one," I replied, chuckling at her reaction. "She prefers store-bought brands. Have you heard of Carmen's Best? That's the one we stock at home. I believe it's the most expensive local ice cream."

Umiling-iling si Mira. "Kayo talagang mga mayayaman, tsk. Hindi naman nakamamatay ang dirty ice cream!"

"Why is it called dirty, then?" I countered her, grinning.

"FYI, Mr. Rich Kid, ginamit lang 'yan ng mga magulang noon bilang panakot sa mga anak nila, para hindi magpabili nang magpabili ng sorbetes ang mga bata." My girlfriend giggled. "Alam mo, hindi ka isang ganap na Pinoy kung hindi ka pa nakakatikim ng dirty ice cream. Come on, it's time for you to taste it."

She dragged me by the arm, causing me to almost trip as we headed towards a nearby ice cream cart.

"Dalawa nga po, kuya," Mira requested from the elderly ice cream vendor. I, meanwhile, stared like an idiot as we waited for our order.

"I'll get this," I told my girlfriend as the man handed her a cone. I retrieved my wallet from my pocket and pulled out a bill. "Bayad po namin," sabi ko naman sa nagtitinda sabay abot ng pera.

Both Mira and the ice cream vendor looked at me like I was a complete madman.

"Sir, wala po ba kayong barya?" The man scratched his balding head. "Bente lang po."

"Vren, okay ka lang ba? Isang libo para sa dalawang ice cream?!" my girlfriend exclaimed. "Uso ang barya, Mr. Montevilla. Papahirapan mo pa si Manong sa pagsusukli sa atin, e."

"What?" I gaped at her. "I don't carry loose change."

"Ako na lang ang magbabayad," Mira volunteered. "Teka, may bente ako rito."

"Nope." I turned to the ice cream vendor and handed him the bill anyway. "Keep the change."

****

"Why does this keep on dripping down the side of the cone?" I stared helplessly as the ice cream trickled down, threatening to make a puddle in my hand.

Pinagtawanan lang ako ng girlfriend ko. "Bilisan mo kasi ang pagkain. Kung hindi, mauunahan ka ng gravity. Tutulo 'yan nang tutulo hanggang sa wala nang matira sa'yo."

"Fine." I started devouring the ice cream like my life depended on it. "Whew, that was insane."

Mira peered at my face and giggled. "May chocolate ka sa gilid ng labi." She reached over and wiped the corner of my mouth as I turned red with embarrassment.

"I'm never eating dirty ice cream again," I declared morosely, which only made my girlfriend laugh once more.

We stopped walking once we reached an unoccupied bench.

"Now what?" I turned to Mira with a lopsided grin.

She returned my smile. "Umupo muna tayo rito at magkwentuhan."

"Okay." We sat on the bench and I draped an arm around her shoulders. She scooted closer to me, then rested her head against my chest. Suddenly, the air was filled with the smell of her floral perfume. "Hey... are you really not mad at me anymore?"

Mira nodded. "Sinusubukan kong lawakan ang pang-unawa ko. Ayokong paulit-ulit nating pag-awayan ang tungkol sa ex mo."

"Thank you." I kissed the top of her head. "Trust me, there's no reason for you to be insecure. Isabella and I? We're history."

"If you say so. I believe you." She glanced up at me, kind eyes twinkling. "May tiwala ako sa'yo, Vren."

****

Mira went crazy the moment a balloon vendor passed by our spot.

"Vren, gusto ko ng lobo!" Her eyes gleamed with excitement. "Get me the pink one."

"Mira..." I stared at her, trying to gauge if she was joking. "Balloons are for kids."

"Says who?" She pouted. "Bilhan mo na ako, please? Baka makalayo na 'yong nagtitinda."

I sighed. Apparently, she was serious in wanting a balloon. "Alright, wait here."

I caught up with the balloon vendor, tapped him on the back to get his attention, and said, "Hi. I'd like to buy all of that." Itinuro ko ang kanyang mga paninda.

For the second time today, someone looked at me like I'm a lunatic.

"Sigurado po kayo, sir? Lahat po ito, bibilhin niyo?" the man stammered.

"Yup. Here." I handed him another one thousand peso bill, just like what I did with the ice cream vendor. "Is this enough?"

"Sobra pa po ito. Saglit lang po, susuklian ko lang kayo —"

"No need. Keep the change." I nodded amicably at him. Soon, I was walking back to Mira, clutching a bunch of multicolored balloons.

"Vren!" My girlfriend's mouth dropped open when she saw me approaching. "Sabi ko, 'yong pink na lobo lang. Bakit naman binili mo lahat?"

"I just feel like it." I chuckled. "Do you want to go around the park with me? Ipamigay natin ito sa mga bata."

Mira's surprised expression gave way to an elated one. "Oh my God, that's an amazing idea. Tara!"

****

After our balloon giveaway, which rewarded us with smiles and hugs from the delighted kids, Mira and I were left with just a balloon each — pink for her, and white for me.

"What are we going to do with these?" tanong ko sa girlfriend ko sabay turo sa mga hawak naming lobo. "Play Pop the Balloon?"

"Baliw!" Mira giggled. "Hindi, 'no? Magwi-wish tayo, tapos papakawalan natin ang mga lobo."

"I see. Mirathea Custodio's version of wishing upon a star." I snickered as she jokingly hit me on the arm. "Alright, then. Shall I close my eyes?"

"Ikaw ang bahala," she replied with a shrug. Then she looked up, whispered something, and let go of her balloon. I did the same, and we watched our balloons gain altitude, until both were reduced to two tiny specks on the sky.

"Hey, what did you wish for?" I asked Mira as we walked back to our bench.

The corners of her mouth twitched. "Secret! Ayokong i-share sa'yo dahil baka ma-jinx."

"Shame." I let out a dramatic sigh. "Sasabihin ko pa naman sana sa'yo ang akin."

"Seryoso?"

"Yup, but only if you tell me yours first."

"Sige na nga. Ang wish ko..." She paused, hesitating, as her cheeks turned pink. "Sana ay ikaw na ang lalaking nakatadhana para sa akin."

"Really? That's a good way to spend your wish, Ms. Custodio. Napakaswerte ng babaeng makakatuluyan ko," nagpipigil ng ngiti na sagot ko sa kanya.

"Wow naman! Grabe, bakit kaya parang biglang humangin dito?" She managed a laugh despite her embarrassment. "Alright, your turn. What did you wish for?"

"Amazingly enough, you and I wished for the same thing," I confessed with a smile. "I wish — I hope — that you are the woman I'd eventually take to the altar. 'Cause if it's not you, then I'd rather have no one else."