Perfect Timing

[23] On The Spot

"Will you take a chance on me?" Kim repeated.

"Haler! Ano bang tawag mo sa pagsama ko sa iyo ngayon? Hindi ba ito 'chance' for you?" I retorted.

He looked at me sheepishly while he scratched his head. "Hindi ko kasi alam kung pumayag ka dahil gusto mo talagang sumama, o dahil sa sobrang kulit ko o dahil pinilit ka ni Sam na makipagkita sa akin."

I opened my mouth to protest but he covered my mouth and said, "Wag nang mag-deny, don't tell a lie, aminin!"

I grabbed his hand and removed it from my mouth then replied, "Hoy Rey Pumaloy, 1997 pa natapos ang segment mo. Wag mo na po i-revive ngayong 2002. And besides, I have never lied naman. Ang sasabihin ko lang kanina sana e pumayag na kaya ako sumama sa iyo a few days back pa. Kaya walang weight yung pangungulit ni Sam sa akin. And besides..."

"Yes?"

"And besides, I know Sam wouldn't have forced me to go on a date with you kung alam nyang ayaw ko talagang sumama. If I didn't think you're safe to go out with, kayang-kaya ni Sam gumawa ng alibi para hindi tayo matuloy sa paglabas. We're just out having a good time after all, no pressure di ba?"

"So gusto mo pala talagang sumama sakin," he teased me with a wide grin on his face.

"Hay naku, sa hinaba-haba ng sinabi ko, yun lang talaga natandaan mo?" I answered with a sigh as I rolled my eyes at him. "Pero now that I've answered your question, ako naman may tanong sa iyo."

"Game!"

"Why me?" I asked with a confused look on my face.

"Anong 'why me'? Bakit ikaw ang nililigawan ko? Yun ba yun?"

"Yes. Why me, why now, how do you even think this has a chance of working out?"

"Ang daming tanong nun ha," he muttered and I replied by slapping his arm - very lightly - before giving him a warning glare.

"Eto naman! Sasagutin naman yung mga tanong mo. Pero pwedeng over dinner na lang? Gutom na talaga ako e," he requested with a puppy dog look on his face.

"Fine. Kahit na alam kong stalling tactic mo lang ito," I said as I rolled my eyes at him.

"Uy hindi! Gutom na talaga ako. Yung snacks lang sa eroplano kinain ko for lunch e. Biscuit saka muffin lang naman yun plus juice and water." Suddenly, his stomach growled, making both of us laugh in surprise.

"O sige, naniniwala na po ako. Tara na at baka mahimatay ka pa sa gutom dyan, wala akong balak bitbitin ka," I teased him as I hailed a taxi at the same time.

"Mooon Café ta, nong," I told the driver as soon as I opened the door and slid inside the taxi.

The trip to this quaint restaurant in Guadalupe went quite fast. I pointed out interesting places along the way to Kim. Colon, the oldest and shortest national road in the Philippines; Fuente Osmeña circle; Cebu Capitol building, the building where the Governor as well as the judges of Cebu take office.

"Andito na tayo!" I exclaimed as we reached the restaurant.

"Sure ka? Restaurant ito? E ang gandang bahay kaya nito," he remarked as we walked on the gravel parking lot.

"Oo naman! They turned the house into a restaurant; may mga paintings pa sa loob. Dali! Mamaya na tayo mag-explore, kain muna tayo."