Perfect Timing

[22] Take a chance on me

"Dei, thank you for agreeing to this date. I know you promised to stay with Sam this weekend pero you still spared some of your time for me," Kim said with a delighted grin on his face.

"No problem. I did promise to give you a chance, didn't I? E kung lagi na lang 'No' ang sagot ko, paano na di ba? Besides," I said with a shrug. "Hindi daw ako papapasukin ni Sam ng bahay kapag inindyan kita." I answered him truthfully.

He chuckled and stared at me once more. "Pakisabi kay Sam, thank you kamo. I'll buy pasalubong for her, ano bang gusto nya?"

"Naku, foodie yun so if you can find good food na pampasalubong, pwede na yun," I replied with a smile.

He wasn't answering for a while so I turned to him and asked, "Hoy, napano ka dyan? Di ka nagsasalita! E saksakan ka kaya ng daldal pag nasa phone tayo!"

"Wala, naninibago lang ako sa iyo. It's the first time I've seen your hair na wavy at naka-dress ka," he said as he touched the edges of my hair. "I feel privileged to see you like this. It suits you; you should style your hair like this more often. You should also wear more dresses kasi bagay sayo."

I was wearing a blue, striped dress which could be tied at the waist and soft, comfortable sandals that I bought from the US. I honestly wouldn't have worn this if not for Sam's doing.

*****

"Sira! Magpapantalon ka at t-shirt? Bru, mag-ayos ka naman today. Ako maghahanap ng damit for you," said Sam earlier that day as she stalked off to my bedroom and I followed.

"Sam, mas maganda na makita nya kung paano talaga ako mag-ayos noh! Paano pag sinagot ko sya at mag-expect sya ng ibang ayos pirmi? False advertising ang dating ko!"

Sam took a deep breath and muttered before turning to me with a smile. "Dei, Dei, Dei! Di ba naging classmate mo yan ng college? You're just showing him another side of you. A Dei na medyo lady-like, okay?"

"Pero--"

"I found it! Now get into the shower while I look for your pretty yet comfy sandals. Wala nang reklamo! Hindi na nga kita papalagyan ng make-up! Dali! Pupunta pa tayo ng spa saka salon."

I sighed in defeat then picked up my towel and toiletries. As soon as I opened the door of my room, I saw Rich as he was drinking coffee and watching the TV while standing.

"Handa ka na sa date mo?" he asked as he turned to me.

"No, maghahanda pa nga lang," I answered with a blush.

"Basta, text o tawagan mo lang kami kung may problema. Pupuntahan ka namin agad nila Sam."

"Grabe naman, I don't think magkaka-issue naman. Pero yes, if ever meron, I'll call you guys up. Happy?"

He was silent for a few seconds before he gave me a wry grin and said, "As long as happy ka, happy na rin kami."

*****

I blushed furiously but hid my embarrassment by slapping Kim's arm in retaliation. "Privileged ka dyan! Hindi po para sa iyo ito! Nagkataon lang na nag-bonding kami ni Sam sa salon today. Alangan naman na nagpaayos sya tapos ako hindi? And for your information, once a month e nagpapa-haircut and pedicure kami ni Sam, kaya wag kang feeling dyan!"

He clutched his heart and told me, "Ouch! Ang sakit naman nun! Masakit na yung braso ko sa palo mo, masakit pa ang puso ko kasi binara mo ako!"

I rolled my eyes at him. "Ang drama mo. Mas madrama ka pa kesa sa akin. Tigil-tigilan mo ako kung hindi bababa ako sa taxi ngayon din."

"Ay, wala naman ganyanan. Sayang naman ang pagbisita ko dito sa Cebu kung iiwan mo ako agad. Sige na, tiisin mo na pagiging makulit ko, just for this evening, please?"

"Fine! May magagawa pa ba ako? Nandito ka na tapos hindi ako papapasukin ng bahay ni Sam pag umuwi ako agad. Saka maganda na rin siguro na makita mo kasungitan at katakawan ko, baka sakaling mag-back out ka na sa kalokohan mo," I teased him.

"Mag-back out? Yan ang hindi ko gagawin! Tiniis ko nga lahat ng lecture ni Prof. Side Bangs for one term kahit na tinatalsikan nya ako lagi ng laway sa klase, tapos eto susukuan ko? E mas importante ka kaya kesa kay Sir."

"Hay, tama na nga yang pambobola mo! Mataba at bilugan na po ako, di na kailangan madagdagan pa," I countered.

He stared at me and shook his head. "Ayan ka na naman sa mataba ka. Susunod nyan yung maitim ka. Tsk. Why do you always have to keep on repeating that? Why do you think you can push me away if you say that?"

"Eh kasi..."

"Eh kasi, what? I've known you since we were in college. Nakita ko how you looked like before you gained weight and after you gained weight - it isn't an issue for me. And Dei, you aren't dark-skinned. You have the perfect tan that almost all caucasians want to have," he huffed.

"Galit ka ba?"

"Hay! Hindi po ako galit. Nagpapaliwanag lang po."

"Good. Kasi nandito na tayo sa first stop natin - Magellan's Cross. Baba ka na dyan."

"Magellan's Cross is one of the places to visit if you're visiting Cebu for the first time. Sabi nila, this is the cross that Ferdinand Magellan brought to Cebu when they came here in the year 1521. We'll only visit this place and the Sto. Niño before we go off to dinner."

"Okay, you're my guide for this afternoon, Ms. Mendoza.

We went around the places that I promised to show him. We even lined up so we could view the Sto. Niño up close and personal. We both took our time praying when it was finally our turn.

"Sto. Niño, please help me make the right decisions. Kung hindi talaga dapat, please let it end before I start falling for him. Hindi naman po ako nagmamadali. I'd rather be successful sa career ko at this point in time than have a lovelife. Please help intercede for me. Give me a sign. Amen."

As soon as we left the church, I asked him, "Ano ba yung pinagdasal mo? Ang tagal mo dun e. Nauna pa ako matapos considering na buong pamilya ko kasama sa dasal ko."

"Sure ka gusto mo malaman?"

"Naku, hindi ko gustong malaman. Tinanong ko lang kasi curious ako," I replied sarcastically. "Of course gusto kong malaman! Itatanong ko ba kung di ko gusto?"

He took a deep breath as he placed his hands in his back pockets. "Pareho sa iyo, I prayed for my family, good health, my work, etc."

"O yun lang pala e, ayaw pang sabihin."

"But most of all," he continued. "Most of all, I prayed for guidance."

"Guidance for what?" I asked.

"Guidance sa kung ano ang dapat kong gawin so you will believe me about how I feel about you. Dei, will you please have pity and take a chance on me?"