Golden Ace

chapter eleven

Neil: Is 3pm at Satchmi good for your sched?

My jaw drops as I read the text from Neil because I honestly have no idea that we arranged a meeting for the film or anything. Maybe he's just wrong send, yeah that's probably it.

I reply to him that the number he texted is Sam and then he replies in an instant that he knows and asked again if I'm free at that time tomorrow. My mind is completely boggled I literally pinch myself to make sure that I'm not dreaming. First of all, he replied in an instant which he never did ever since we met. Second, I don't know where this is coming from. I mean, when did I agree to this? I checked my calendar and it's not there as well.

I have work tomorrow until 4pm so I'll just say that to him. He replies that if I'm not too tired from work, I could meet him in Satchmi at 5pm and he'll be waiting for me. His text seems to be important and urgent. Is it about the film? Is he going to drop the project? I hope he doesn't because I don't want to delay that project of mine. I said that I'll go and then calls Faye right after.

Faye chuckles, "What's the harm in going? At least then, you'll know why he's asking you to meet him. Is Bryan gonna tag along with this one too?" I said to her that Bryan went home to Australia a few days ago so I don't have an escort with me.

I went to work all distracted that I almost spilled coffee to myself earlier. Good thing I love my job so much that I didn't mess anything up on that area. I'm driving from Pasay to Megamall and Neil's right to give me a 1 hour drive time because I'm sure it'll be traffic once I arrive at EDSA.

Pre-occupied is the word I'm looking for to describe what I am today. I've been thinking about that for hours and thank god that is over. I turn up the radio and the song is an old school. I guess 70s or 80s? But I'm not really in the mood some old music right now so I don't know the song and I changed the channel until I hear a modern OPM song. It's called Laro by Autotelic. I'll always remember this song because my cousin introduced me to that band and they were simply amazing, especially in Live. The song is about a guy, sarcastically telling how fun it is to play games in love and then at the end of the chorus he says that she'll probably leave her. At least that's what I think the song means from the lyrics.

The traffic doesn't seem so bad because I'm already in Guadalupe. I'm still thinking that I should've just asked him in the text but I really don't like to discuss serious things over text or social media so I guess it's okay to leave all my questions until we see each other in person. I'm looking for a parking and I'm still thinking about it. I'm stepping out of my car and he's still on my mind which makes total sense because I am meeting with him right now. There are so much words in my head right now, I feel like Eminem is rapping inside.

I'm rapidly walking inside the mall like I'm going for the restroom. Megamall is still the same; it never runs out of people because it literally has every store you could possibly need. I can already see Satchmi from afar. It's an old school café that also sells 35mm films, vinyls, and turntable. They even have this listening room where you can use their turntable and listen to some of their vinyls; their brownies are to die for by the way and the staffs are accommodating. There was even a time I went there when I was still depressed, I played a vinyl of The Beatles and then across the universe came, I just cried there in the listening room. There's no one bothering me; just me, the café, and the caress of that song. Wow, I feel like I just made a whole review about that café. I should put that up on their website. But kidding aside, it's one of my go-to places.

I walk inside the café and there he is, sitting all tall, nervously rubbing his hands, wearing a simple black shirt and pants. He sees me walking towards him and I smile to him as our eyes lock. Our eyes should really stop with the locking because I need to stop feeling this way around him. My head is like spinning yet I feel home. Like a hangover, my head hurts I can't even stand but it's okay because I'm comfortable with where I am, I'm home. I know it's odd but that's the only analogy I could think of right now.