Something Phenomenal

Phenomenal: Eight

Day 9 out of hospital

Matapos ang ilang araw na pangungulit kay Shane, finally he set me up on a date with his former engineering classmate. So here I am in front of the mirror deciding on what to wear and what make-up look should I be aiming.

I decided to go with a white dress with a black jacket and boots, and a light make-up to finish it off. This isn't me at all, girly, dandy and cute. Oh well, I don't wanna scare him on the first date.

The jacket perfectly hid the bruises on my arms. It's perfectly sunny outside but I gotten used to jackets, cardigans and sweaters. Though the bruises surely have a kick in my confidence.

I was humming when I went down the living room. Iñigo was watching basketball game again in the flat screen TV. Ah, guys and their never changing love for basketball games.

He scrunched up his nose when he saw me. Akala mo nakakita ng 'di kaaya-aya. Sapakin ko 'to e.

"Saan ka naman pupunta?"

"On a date," ngisi ko. Hah, akala niya ah.

"With Kuya Shane?"

What unpleasant words. "No."

Binalik niya ang tingin sa TV. "Pangit mo."

Muntik kong kunin ang sapatos ko para ibato sa kanya. Then I remember, I should be prim and proper. Bawal ang magaslaw ngayong araw. And knowing Iñigo, kapag sinabi niyang pangit, it means for the first time I look presentable.

I arrived at the coffee shop five minutes early so I grabbed some drinks. Caramel macchiato for me and a chocolate eclair. While waiting for my order, Shane checks on me.

Dumating na date mo? He texted.

The barista called my name while typing my reply to Shane. I sent it immediately and went to the counter to get my tray. Not yet. Maaga pa naman.

Binuhat ko ang tray paakyat sa second floor ng coffee shop. Mas konti ang tao at mas tahimik. Unlike below with the continuous pour of caffeine searching people.

As I was putting my tray on the table my grip and balance suddenly loosens and before I know it, the tray and my coffee and pastry came dropping down the floor in a mess.

Oh my God.

It was all a mess. A few of the people on the second floor stares at the commotion I've caused. Thank god there's only four of them. Buti nalang umakyat ang isa sa mga staff ng coffee shop at nakita ang kalat. Bumaba siya ulit para kumuha ng panglinis at para palitan ang natapon kong pagkain.

"I'm really really sorry," sabi ko habang mina-mop niya ang sahig. Pinalipat niya ako sa bakanteng table habang hindi pa natutuyo ang table na nilinis niya.

"Okay lang, ma'am," ngiti niya. "Mag-isa kayo?"

"I'm waiting for someone."

When the mess was cleared, I sat back on my newly cleaned table with a new set of coffee. I told Shane yesterday that I didn't want my date to know I'm sick... for now. But I guess it couldn't be helped.

I was halfway from my caramel macchiato and people-watching, when I noticed the time. Late na ang date ko ng thirty minutes. Good thing I brought one of the book Shane and I bought on my first day out of hospital.

After an hour and ten chapters, he's still not here. Did something happened? I checked on my messenger. Shane gave me his Facebook account the other day and he looks decent to be honest. Should I chat him?

Biglang nagmessage sa'kin si Shane. Musta date?

I typed back. Still not here.

It took him a while to reply. The typing bubble keeps appearing and disappearing in our chat box. Then out of nowhere he called me.

"Wala pa siya dyan?" tanong niya sa iritadong tono. It's a bit noisy in his background. Baka nasa internship pa siya.

"Nope," sagot ko.

"Ilang oras ka ng naghihintay?"

"An hour, I guess?" I played it down since it's Shane and I don't want him to worry. "I'm good though. Uwi na din ako niyan."

He cursed under his breath. "Text me kapag nakauwi ka na."

"Will do."

But of course, hindi ako uuwi agad. Sayang naman ang pagpunta ko sa mall. So I searched on my phone for what's showing in cinemas right now. At sakto, there's a decent movie I've been aiming to watch since I saw its trailer.

So from the coffee shop, I went to the third floor cinema and lined for my ticket. I also bought a huge tub of cheesy popcorn and bottled water. I was hurling the entire thing to the entrance gate with my ticket, and the good guard helped me set it down to tear the ticket stub and open the gates.

I was emotionally wrecked by the movie's realistic depiction of a mother and her kick-ass daughter in a conservative catholic school. By the time I was walking out of the cinema, Shane already had five missed calls on my phone. Ano'ng problema niya? I called him back almost instantly.

"Hey-"

"Akala ko umuwi ka na. Nandito ako sa bahay niyo."

The heck? Masyado siyang nagpapaniwala sa'kin. "Nandito pa ako sa mall."

Bumuntong hininga siya. "Okay, sunduin kita."

I was sipping milk tea I bought and lined for for fifteen minutes when Shane texted me he's already in front of the mall. He looks pretty annoyed noong pumasok ako sa sasakyan.

"What? Galit ka?" paghahamon ko. Ganda ganda ng mood ko, pati lasa ng milk tea sinisira niya.

"Tinawagan ko kaklase ko kanina, sabi niya may importante siyang lakad," sabi niya habang nagmamaneho. "Damn him. Sana sinabi niya ng maaga."

"Okay lang. I enjoyed my free time. Matagal din akong hindi nakagala nang mag-isa." sumipsip ako sa milktea. "Looks like the first one's a fail, huh?"

He whipped his head in my direction. "There's no second time," mariin niyang sinabi.

I dismissed his statement off. "It's just coincidence and it's not like it's new."

I remembered in high school whenever someone shows interest or tries to get close to me, they either don't show up on dates or had change of hearts the next day.

"Do I scare people away?" tanong ko kay Shane.

Bumaling siya sa'kin. "You're scary," sabi niya. "You're a warrior."

Ngumiti ako. That's the exact words I expected from him.

***