"Everything I do in my life is very instinctual and in the moment. If I'm attracted to something, that's it. If I have reservations, those don't change till they're resolved. My first impression is how I go."
-Andy Garcia
"Good afternoon Ms. Madrigal. Do you have any reservation or walk in?" Asked Lea. Lea is the receptionist at Mario's. As a loyal customers, the staff know us.
"Reservation under the name of Francis Madrigal, please." I said to Lea.
"Right this way ma'am." she said then a waiter came to assist me to my sit.
"Hi, are you Hannah's cousin?" I ask tapping the guy's back and he looked back at me.
"Yes. Just to be clear, nandito ako kasi nagmakaawa pinsan ko." He said. As if siya lang napilitan dito.
"So I guess we're on the same page. Nagmakaawa lang din pinsan ko. So I'm here." I fire back at him.
"So what's your name?" He asked. A conversation starter I guess.
"Alex, Alex Madrigal. You?" I said just to keep the conversation going
"Nico." he answered.
"Your name is NICO!?" Guess I said it loud enough for people to look at me.
"She's okay. Sorry." He apolizes to everyone. And I feel my face turning red.
"Bakit? Bawal ba?" He asked raising his left eyebrow.
"No. Sorry. Did Hannah or Francis told you that I'm in a relationship... with a guy named Nico?" I said to him.
"Oo, sinabi nilang may boyfriend ka pero di nila sinabi yung pangalan. Hindi ako interesado." he said answering my question.
"And I'm not interested with you either." I said answering him back.
"Big words from a small girl. Interesting." he said and gave me a smile.
"Sir, Ma'am, Mr. Madrigal already chose your menu and he already paid for it." The waiter said to us. And we both said thank you in chorus.
"So if you knew that I'm in a relationship why did you agree to this?" I asked. Well, I think I can asked him, right?
"Katulad ng sabi ko, nagmakaawa si Hannah." he said like he's not interested.
"Do you have a girlfriend?" I asked. I don't know what's taking him so long to answer a simple yes or no question. But those eyes that are looking back into mine says something that I can't figure out.
"Sir, Ma'am, just tell us if you want anything." Said a waiter, interupting the building awkwardness between us.
"Ano nga pala yung tanong mo?" tanong ni Nico.
"Kung may girlfriend ka?" I repeat myself.
He paused, "....Meron."
"So why did you agree on this?" I asked.
"Ilang beses ko bang uulitin na pinilit lang ako ni Hannah?" he said like looking like he's irritated. Jerk!
"Okay. I get it. We're both victims here." I said as if surrendering.
We have little chitchats while eating I'm studying him. So let's calculate my impression:
Key points:
* Skin: Fair
* Hair: Clean cut
* Attire: Good choice of clothes. No doubt.
* Height: I guess between 5'9-6'
* Asset: Eyes. Definitely those eyes. No, maybe his lips. Or his sexy smile. Or yung bad boy look niya. Or yung pagiging cool niya about everything. Oh God! I don't know what the hell is his asset! There's. Just. Too. Many.
* Language: maangas... in a good way. And hindi siya Taglish magsalita. I think it's cool.
* Humor: I don't know. But I think wala siyang humor. He's just too serious and I didn't even heard him giggle. At least I saw him smile.
** Final verdict: maybe pwede siya. May potential. I'm not sure kasi I think he's kinda mysterious. And parang ang dami niyang di sinasabi. Oh well, I can ask my cousin or Hannah anytime if I have questions about him naman.
"Pwede ba kitang hatid?" Sabi ni Nico.
Okay, pahatid lang naman. There's nothing wrong with that naman di ba? I mean, he offered in the first place and I guess I shouldn't decline. But there's Nico #1, the boyfriend. And he have a girlfriend. So I guess I answered my own question din.
"Maybe next time. I told Francis na din kasi na siya maghahatid sakin. Besides, we're both in a relationship."
"Alex. Pwedeng humingi ng favor?"
Okay, first meeting pa lang favor agad, Ano to blind date for a favor? Now that's something new. I need to hear this. Possible kayang mangutang siya? Now, that's the story I wanna tell everyone. First date nangutang agad. Hahahahaha. It would be freaking hilarious.
"Uhm. Yeah, sure. I guess." I said. As if I have a choice. Oh, I do have a choice. Damn it!
"Can you give me your number?" He blushed. I blushed. The world stops.
"Can I... Uh... Get your number na lang? Uhm. If you don't, uh, mind." I said, chappily.
Sh*t naman. Ngayon pa umandar ang "Uh-uhm syndrom" ko. I always tend to speak a lot of uh and uhm kasi when I'm nervous. Okay, there's no such thing as UUS or uh-uhm syndrom but hey, I need to call it something, right?
"O sige. So ito number ko." he said dictating me his number.
"OH SHIT! IT'S YOU!" I shouted.
