Fit Her Shoe [Gottfred & Lorin]

Kabanata 20

For someone having a picky palate and with mouth and appetite only recognizing expensive foods, I was surprised that Gottfred brought me to a beachside diner where Filipino cuisines were the specialty. Hindi naman sa minamaliit ko rito, but having known him, he was a five-star restaurant kind of a man.

Panay ang irap ko sa kaniya habang naghihintay kami roon sa mga inorder niyang pagkain. I would love to act like I did not care at all about this date, but the smell of Filipino foods were not helping. Sa loob ng tatlong taon ay nasanay ako sa burger, pizza, sandwich and anything American foods, kaya naman sobrang namiss ko ang kumain ng mga ganitong pagkain.

But Lorin, you could not be easily pursuaded with food!

Habang pumapasok kami rito kanina at labis-labis ang panggigigil sa kaniya ay nakaisip ako ng paraan para gantihan siya. There was no way he would demand things to me. No way he would impose his masculinity. And just like what I had already said, I would give him a date he would never forget.

“Nanay Tonya missed cooking for you,” biglang kuwento niya na agad na nagpalungkot sa damdamin ko.

Hindi ko siya pinansin kahit pa ang totoo ay gustung-gusto ko nang magtanong ng tungkol sa kanila.

Our food was taking so long, might be because of his extensive order from the menu the reason why, pero mabuti na lang din iyon dahil umaayon iyon sa plano ko—sa plano kong takasan siya at pagmukhaing tanga rito mag-isa dahil iniwan ng ka-date niya. Mabuti na lang at pamilyar ako sa lugar na ito. Kayang-kaya kong umuwi nang hindi siya kasama.

“Excuse me. I need to pee,” paalam ko.

Hindi ko na hinintay pa ang tugon niya at mabilis na umangat sa upuan ko. The whole diner was jampacked with customers and he surely wouldn’t notice that I went the wrong direction later after peeing.

Dahil totoong naiihi na ako!

Sa mabilis na lakad ay pumasok ako sa banyo ng diner. I peed and while washing my hands, I could not help but to get nervous at my plans.

“Relax, Lorin! Hindi naman niya mapapansin na umalis ka! You just have to move real quick,” I cheered myself up.

When done washing my hands, I walked to the door and held the brass handle in discreet manner. Dahan-dahan kong pinihit ang seradura at binuksan ang pintuan. Sticking my head out, I peeked outside to make sure that Gottfred did not follow me here. Napahinga na lang ako nang maluwag nang makitang wala siya sa kahit saan ako lumingon.

I hated him for making me do this. Pakiramdam ko tuloy ay isa akong kriminal na kailangang magtago makalabas lamang dito.

But never would I go on a date with him! Sumama ako sa kaniya and that was already enough. Wala naman sa usapan kung ilang oras ba dapat magtatagal itong date na ‘to.

Maingat akong naglakad at sumalubong sa mga tao. Nanghaba ang leeg ko at mas nagkaroon ng lakas ng loob na tumakas nang makita ang likod ni Gottfred habang siya ay naroon pa ring naghihintay sa silya niya.