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.
"Hi," I utter as he stands up from his seat and leans to me to kiss my cheeks. I'm comfortable with him doing that and plenty of other people do that to me. I'm simply shocked because he did it. He never did that before even when we were in college. I should stop reading into anything he does. It's probably nothing and maybe that's his new normal greeting to everyone.
We both sit and then I suggest that we should order. He mutters, "Is it okay that I already ordered for the both of us? I anticipated you'll order Iced Latte and their brownies because you talked about it before. We could still order if that's not what you want to eat."
I suddenly smile like a fool as I hear him say that, like I'm so important in this scenario. I chuckle, "That's actually great. Wow do you have telepathic powers now that I should know of? I'm kidding, thank you." He chuckles and then I add, "But seriously, if you have that kind of powers you should tell me." We both laugh while the staff serves our food and beverage. We also both said thank you to the staff and then I look back to Neil as I try to ask him what the hell are we doing here? I stutter, asking why he asked me to meet him because if I was the one who fixed this appointment, I honestly forgot about it.
He smirks, "I knew you forgot about it. But one of those drunken moments in El Nido we both decided that I should read your novel already because it's been 8 years and I still haven't read it." He grabs something in his bag and raises my novel, saying, "Look, I bought one earlier. I'm ready."
I sigh with relief, saying that I'm glad that's it because I really thought he's going to cut off communication with me, and drop the project or whatever. He chuckles that he won't do such thing. We already lost communication for a long time and he wouldn't want to do that the second time around.
What is happening? Why is he being sweet? I mean, he's a natural gentleman but never this sweet. May I remind myself that he has a girlfriend so maybe this is just an evolved version of him, I don't know. I utter, "You should start reading it because it's a bit long. Good thing today's Friday so I'm guessing we both don't have work tomorrow." He smiles and says that I guessed that right. He utters that the title itself is already confusing and then I laugh, saying that I'm actually going for 'confusing' because the whole damn book is confusing. He laughs and starts reading while I chunk on my brownies and sip my coffee.
He laughs, stating that there are tons of references and he's still on the fourth chapter. He chuckles, "But it's you so there will never be 'too much reference' for you." I laugh and say that I'll take that as a compliment. He chuckles and says that I should. He continues reading and smile from time to time. I try not to interrupt him but I can't help it. What is he laughing about? What sentence did he find funny? Is it a joke of mine or is it a cringe-y situation? I smirk, "What are you laughing at?" He smiles and says that it's the thought of the protagonist. He chuckles, "It's quite entertaining. I just can't believe I'm reading this."
I can't stop myself from smiling and I don't want to because this is stupid. I feel like a teenager for smiling like this. We should've done this a long time ago when we were in our early 20s. Now we're almost 30 and he still makes me smile like crazy. Okay enough! He has a girlfriend, take note of that! We're both innocent and he's only reading my novel to criticize it. That's all this is. I ask him what chapter is he on and then he chuckles, "I'm on chapter seven. You know if you keep interrupting me I might not finish this tonight."
I laugh and said that it's the actual purpose why I said before that he should read it to me in person. So that I could see his reaction on every part of it and that means that I'd have to interrupt him sometimes. He laughs and says that he's kidding and that he wants to share his insights instantly. But then he closes the book and whispers, "Let's go have dinner first then we'll continue this. Sounds good?" I suggest for us to have a take-out and we'll eat at the back of my car while he reads. I smile, asking, "Sounds good?" He smiles and state, "Lovely."
