Before the test date, Andy asked Niki about the details of the actual date first. Saan daw siya planong dalhin ni Jake, ano yung vibe, anong oras, etc. Thankfully, Jake didn't spare any detail so Andy knew exactly how to prepare Niki for the date. May bukas na establishments naman na, kaya lamang ay kailangan ng reservation o di kaya ay kakaunti lang ang pinapapasok.

Since semi-casual ang date, Andy helped Niki rummage her closet for an appropriate getup. They agreed on a powder pink pleated midi skirt paired with a baby pink camisole. Tapos papatungan ng structured and oversized cream coat. Niki would pair it with her slightly dirty white and tan skate shoes.

Naka-ready na rin ang tan crossbody bag ni Niki na paborito niyang gamitin pagpasok sa opisina last year. She would wear her hair in a half updo because she was still conscious with the curls that were starting to come out. Hindi pa siya sanay maglugay nang hindi unat na unat ang buhok.

The day before the actual date, Niki stayed in her room all day while Andy made preparations. He seemed excited with the test date. He probably missed going out. Simula nang tumira ito sa unit niya, hindi na ito gumala. Dala na rin siguro ng restrictions.

Niki would text Andy before she went out, even if it was just to go to the bathroom. Noong umaga, pwede pa siyang lumabas nang walang piring sa mata dahil nagtatrabaho pa si Andy. Nang dumating ang hapon, kailangan na niyang magpaalam. He would cook something for dinner at mag-pretend na lang daw sila na sa labas sila kakain. He was also preparing something in the living room. Pero hindi sumilip si Niki para masurprise naman siya.

She took a bath in the morning and spent the afternoon preparing herself for the test date. She took the opportunity to try different hairstyles para malaman kung ano ang babagay sa suot niya kinabukasan.

Hindi naman na niya kailangang mag-ayos nang todo dahil si Andy lang naman ang ka-test date niya, but she did miss putting on makeup. When she was done coloring her face, she almost cried with joy because she finally looked like the person she once knew in the mirror.

Andy knocked on her bedroom door at exactly 6PM.

"Close your eyes," he instructed before opening the door. Niki closed her eyes and opened the door.

She immediately reached out for Andy, para maakay siya nito palabas ng unit without taking a peek at his preparations. But Niki waited for a few seconds. "Dy?"

"Here. Sorry." He took her hand and closed the door behind her. "Let's go."

Niki could navigate the unit in the dark, but somehow couldn't walk without a guide when her eyes were closed. Thankfully, Andy was there to guide her where to step and how far they were from the door.

She opened her eyes when he said so. Nakalabas na sila ng unit noon.

He was wearing a black crew neck shirt underneath a soft brown unbuttoned sweater. He paired it with gray slacks and white shoes. Kulay puti rin ang suot nitong mask. He has longish bowl cut hair that was slightly parted in the middle. Sa malayo, mukha itong Koreano, lalo na't matangkad din ito. Pero sa malapitan, makikita ang kayumanggi nitong balat at bilugan nitong mga mata.

"Are you done gawking?" he teased.

"I've never seen you so dressed up before," she told him.

"What do you mean? This is how I usually dress for work," he pointed out. "Shall we? Or do you still have to dissect my outfit?"

"Okay. Let's go." Truth be told, with all the preparation he was making inside the unit, she was a bit confused kung bakit pa sila lumabas.

Andy must have seen her confusion so he offered her some explanation. "Since you will be spending the date outside, I thought that we should at least make it a bit more realistic."

"So sa labas tayo kakain?"

"Why don't you treat me like your date and stop asking unnecessary questions, hm?"

She playfully punched her arm. Kakapit sana siya sa braso nito dahil sanay siya pero pinigilan niya ang sarili. Kakapit ba siya sa braso ni Jake kung first time nilang magkikita?

Sa basement parking sila pumunta ni Andy. They walked to his car.

"Ano palang napag-usapan ninyo para bukas? Will he pick you up or will he meet you there?"

"I said I'll meet him there para hindi nya alam kung saan ako nakatira."

"Tapos? Pano pagkatapos ng date?"

"Papasundo ako sa 'yo," she answered. Andy rolled his eyes.

Pinagbuksan siya nito ng pinto. Niki gasped aloud when she saw the bouquet of flowers on the seat. "Bumili ka pa ng flowers?!"

"I'm raising your standards. You're welcome," sagot nito bago pumasok ng driver's seat.

"What if he has no money to buy me flowers on the first date? He's only 26."

"He's 26, not 16," he retorted. "Okay lang din naman. Plus points lang if he buys you one."

Niki put the flowers on her lap. It has been a while since she has received a bouquet of flowers. A long while. She didn't realize how much she missed receiving one.

"If he decides to pick you up, you should use this time to ask him questions, gauge his personality..." he told her.

"Are we actually going somewhere?" tanong niya nang makalabas sila ng basement.

"No. Iikot lang tayo nang ilang blocks."

True enough, umikot lang sila nang limang minuto tapos bumalik na sila sa basement parking. Niki brought the bouquet up to the unit. Binili raw iyon ni Andy para may dekorasyon sa coffee table niya.

"He should always open all the doors for you," sabi nito bago buksan ang pintuan ng unit. Niki nodded. They removed their masks before coming in. She was excited to see what he had prepared.

Before Andy opened the light in the hallway, she could already see the blinking lights from the living room. May fairy lights itong inilagay sa sandalan ng couch at sa mga kurtina. He only opened the light in the hallway kasi candlelight dinner daw ang dinner nila.

Niki placed the bouquet on the counter and let Andy pull a chair for her to sit on. Kanina pa niya gustong matikman ang niluto nito. The entire unit was smelling good all afternoon and she was salivating in her bedroom earlier that day.

"Puro favorite ko pa talaga yung niluto mo, ah," sabi niya rito. "Pwede nang kumain?"

Andy nodded. He placed his palms under his chin and watched her reaction. Ngumiti ito nang mag-thumbs up siya. "Sarap! Pwede ka nang maging chef."

Naiiling itong tumawa. Tapos ay nagsimula na rin itong kumain.

"You should order what you like," sabi nito maya-maya. "Wag kang mag-salad lang. Sasakit ang tiyan mo. You should order with the assumption that you will split the bill. Para hindi ka ma-guilty sa pagkain."

Tumango-tango siya. "Pag nag-offer sya, should I insist na hati kami?"

"Hm-mm. Pero kapag pinilit nya na sya na ang magbabayad, just thank him. Unless you didn't like the date. Then insist harder on splitting the bill."

"Why?"

"So if it goes bad, wala syang masasabi sa 'yo."

–

Itinambak muna nila ang mga hugasin sa lababo pagkatapos kumain. Pagkatapos ay lumabas uli sila ni Andy. He said they would just walk around the floor and pretend that they were going somewhere else.

"Kapag okay sya sa dinner, you can agree on a night cap, but don't take let him take you home."

"On a first date? Never!"

"Good." Tumango-tango si Andy. "If you didn't like him during dinner, there's very little chance that he would redeem himself after that. Pwede naman kitang sunduin kung kailangan mo ng sundo."

"Okay."

They stopped in front of her unit and she let Andy open the door for her again. This time, sa sala naman sila dumiretso. Nagluto ng popcorn si Andy, complete with the popcorn box na parang yung mga nakikita sa sinehan. He also had plastic cups with straws for soda drinks.

"Romcom or horror movie?"

"You know what," Niki answered with a grin.

Sa isang sikat na streaming site sila humanap ng panunuorin. Niki likes horror movies. The gorier, the scarier, the better. Si Andy... not so much. He was not scared but he could get a bit squeamish.

"Wala pang open na movie theater di ba?" tanong ni Niki kay Andy.

"Wala pa."

"So this is an unlikely scenario."

Binato siya nito ng popcorn. "I can't think of anything else to do. Shut up."

Niki let out a laugh. She has seen the movie before and it did scare her the first time. Pero kapag alam na niya ang mangyayari, hindi na nakakatakot ang palabas. Andy, on the other hand, was a bit jumpy. Halos mabali ang leeg nito dahil ayaw nitong tumingin sa TV.

He was also flinching because of the sound. Kasalanan din naman nito. He said he wanted to go for the full movie experience. So nag-DIY soundproofing system ito sa sala at naka-full volume ang movie.

Ponkan joined them a while later and he was eating the popcorn on the floor, yung mga nalaglag every time tumatalon si Andy.

At some point, si Andy na lamang ang pinanuod ni Niki dahil mas entertaining ito.

"If he's as scared as you when it comes to horror movies, is that a good sign or not?" natatawa niyang tanong.

"If he can admit to himself that he's scared, then it means that he can be vulnerable with you," sagot nito.

"You just made that up," nakangisi niyang sabi. Andy attempted to glare at her but the jumpscare caught him first. Napapitlag na naman ito at tumapon na namana ang popcorn mula sa box na hawak nito. Ponkan was busy munching on the floor.

–

Agad na binuksan ni Andy ang ilaw sa sala pagkatapos ng movie. He has his hand on his chest. He was looking a bit flushed, probably from all the screams he was not able to let out earlier.

Nakangisi pa rin siya rito.

"It's not funny!"

Tumawa siya.

"Gusto mong laruin yung Lights Out?" panunudyo niya. It was a game inspired by the movie they just watched. The player will be given a number of tries to reach the other player. They can only move when the light is switched off.

Andy made a face.

"Okay, fine. What's next?"

"Come on." Hinila siya nito patayo. Tapos ay pumwesto sila sa harap ng kwarto niya. "Dito na lang tayo."

Kumunot ang noo ni Niki.

"Pretend that this is the door to this unit. Or the entrance to the lobby. Naihatid ka na, kumbaga." He lifted his index finger in front of her face. "Even if it's just the first date, if you're comfortable with him... if you feel safe... kapag gusto ka nyang ihatid, magpahatid ka. But if you don't feel safe, then just let him call you a taxi."

"Should I let him kiss me on the first date?"

Andy looked offended. "Why?"

"Well, what if I like him?"

"So what if you like him? It's the first date."

"What about you? Do you kiss your date on the first date?"

Andy looked away. Niki thought of that as confirming what she was already thinking. Kapag si Andy ang hahalik sa date nito, okay lang. Pero kapag siya, bawal. That was a bit sexist of him.

"You would, wouldn't you? So why can't I do that?"

He sighed exasperatedly and rolled his eyes. "Fine. If you feel like kissing him, then just kiss him. I just don't want you to make it easy for him. He has to earn your affection, you know."

Niki smiled at him. "I know you mean well, so thanks for the advice. Thank you rin sa test date. I had fun."

He gave her a small smile. "You're welcome. I guess I needed this too."

"I know, right? Next time nga, lumabas uli tayo. Nami-miss kong mag-ayos."

"Okay."

Niki tiptoed and planted a soft kiss on his cheek. Kunot-noo nitong hinawakan ang pisngi. She smiled at him. "That's for cleaning up the mess. Thank you in advance. Good night!" She went inside her room before he could recover from shock.