D E N V E R
"You're so cute!"
I was shocked out of my wits when a strikingly beautiful woman suddenly approached me and sat beside me on the bleachers.
My fingers froze on my guitar strings mid-strum, nervous.
What is she doing sitting next to me? We don't even know each other.
"Ikaw 'yong kabanda ni Pat, right? Napanood ko kayo no'ng Battle of the Bands last month," she said. "I'm Mads, by the way. Short for Madeline. Your future wifey."
I turned sideways to look at her but I couldn't remember ever seeing her face. You don't easily forget someone with her kind of beauty.
She has gorgeous doe-shaped eyes, a delicate-looking nose, and lips that look like they could kiss better than the person who invented kissing.
She smells good, too. A little sweeter for my taste, but good still.
"Denver," I whispered, not sure whether to shake her hand since I don't even know what she's talking to me for.
"Wow. Pogi ng name. Bagay sa 'yo."
"Ah, t-thanks."
She laughed, revealing her perfectly white teeth. Even her breath smells nice.
"Mahiyain ka?" she asked. "Ako, makapal mukha. Bagay rin sa 'yo."
Is she high?
She grabbed my guitar and placed it carefully on her side. Then, when it was already out of the way, she scooted closer to me, grabbed my hand in hers, and put her head on my shoulder as we both stared out onto the open field.
"Sasagutin kita ng December para umabot tayo ng Pasko. Malungkot ako ngayon kasi bumagsak ako sa exam namin. Nag-review naman ako. First time ko binuksan 'yong libro namin do'n pero bagsak pa rin."
She held my hand tightly as she ranted tirelessly for about ten minutes.
I could easily push her away and refuse her company, but for some unexplainable reason, I didn't.
"You shouldn't study a day before an exam," I told her. "That's not enough."
"Eh, kasi naman! Ang ganda ng series na pinapanood ko. Grey's Anatomy. Alam mo 'yon? Mga doktor sila tapos... basta! Ang gagaling nila. From being interns, naging residents na sila. Parang gusto ko ngang mag-doktor, eh. Gusto kong makahawak ng scalpel—"
"Please, don't." I couldn't help but smile at her. "I don't want my future wife getting convicted with involuntary manslaughter."
"Hahaha. You'll help me naman run away from the police. We will wear shades and caps while we're waiting for our flight going to Russia. Tapos makikita natin sa TV 'yong mga picture natin. Headline: Prettiest doctor in the world and her husband, wanted for organ trafficking—"
"Organ trafficking?"
"Yeah, when we steal organs and sell them."
