“Oh well… so be it.” I hurriedly washed my face and put makeup on it.”…just be you, Liza… no false pretences.” And I went back to face reality.

As I was about to draw near our table, I saw Gabriel talking to someone I’d rather say had a thing with him in the past. She was statuesque in figure, sophisticated, has a perfect hair and skin… now what? I’m having a self-crisis here. Sheesh! She’s as perfect as He is… They’re a perfect fit. “Hey, Liza… This is Sophie…” So as her name fits her personality, “…a very good friend of mine.” Yeah right. She is. I find myself comparing my physical attributes to this lady sitting beside Gabriel. “Oh well, let’s see… If she’s got Venus Raj’s alluring poise, well, I got Hayden Panettiere’s petite body and I’ve got good skin too! Insecurity, that is. I blushed when my mind went hilariously imaginative, but as I gazed back on them, I just sighed. They really need some catching up to do. I just thought it would be the most romantic dinner of my life—the start of my “happy-ever-after” love story, but then again, some stories are left as it is.

“Liza, Sophie often plays piano here. She’s going to play for us later. Would that be exciting?” And he flashed a BIG smile. I mean, BIIIIG. Say what? She played that thing? I just played torotot noisily every New Year’s Eve to drive out bad omen.  “…just be ME, huh?” I got teary-eyed. I can’t accept the fact I was such a mediocre who doesn’t know any musical instrument but torotot… I mean, does that even count? Like I want to try any instrument just to impress him, but you really can’t have it all. I dance like Beyoncé and sing like Alicia Keys but I still felt like I have to do extra effort to please him. I haven’t been this desperate in my whole life! This has to stop.

As Sophie played the piano, a classic “Right Here Waiting” tune, a hand reached out to me, but before I could release a syllable… “May I have this dance?” Gabriel invited me to dance at a cafeteria? “Woah mister, I think this is not a good place to expose my quirkiness and did I tell you I have two left feet?…” Gabriel raised his brows. “Quirkiness? Who told you Beyoncé has two left feet? And yes, I totally forgot how I bragged about being the most sought-after hip-hopper in town. Screw it.

Gabriel led me to the dance floor, I mean, to a little space just adjacent to our table. He smiled at Sophie as if they agreed on something. “…you okay?” Gabriel whispered as he drew me closer to him. The music started. People inside the cafeteria were all eyes on us, but I never felt shy. I was so drawn to him as if we were the only people there. “Wherever you go, whatever you do, I will be right here waiting for you…” Gabriel sang and put my hand to his chest. I just couldn’t breathe. It was that scene from Twilight—Bella and Edward happy in each other’s arms. But I always knew that every happy memory has its own twelve o’clock limit like that of Cinderella’s. After the last note of the song, the magic wears off, that’s just the way it is.

I was so engrossed to the fact of letting myself out of the mess I had made, but as I try to do so, I always fail. Well, actually, I don’t even know how to get myself heck out of this! “I know I shouldn’t have agreed to the deal!” I was bursting out with anger and annoyance but something did strike me. What if he recognizes me, and just pretends that he doesn’t? Or maybe I’m just too super duper over very reactive…exaggerated! Whew! That’s a lot to say. This guy has something up on his sleeves. I wonder what he’s really up to.

As I was about to let go, he tighten up his grip. “Liza…” he said in a vague, yet still in a gentle voice. As I gazed at him, he could hardly look me in the eyes. He continued to bow his head, and threw stolen glances at me. He seemed sorry for what he did to me. I intently examine the features of his face. He’s cute. He’s got eyes like those of Chris Tiu’s, nose like Daniel Radcliffe’s, lips like Robert Pattison’s and he’s got dimples! I was more like hypnotized than being irritated by his presence! It took a minute for me to extinguish the anger that I felt until I decided to cool down and befriend this lad for once. “Seeing how sorry he was, let’s give this man another chance.” I said to myself, and then I turned to him. “You know what?” he looked at me when I spoke. “I’m hungry, let’s go and find something to eat.” I sounded like a mother reprimanding a naughty child, though I think it was quite effective.

As we stride our way to a cafeteria, I began to show enthusiasm to eating that I ended up blabbering mouth-watering foods which made me somehow look like a trying hard idiot. “You sure are hungry!” he said in a yet moderately shy voice. I suddenly got so blushed hearing him talk again. “I-I’m really sorry about what I did a while ago. It’s just that…” before he could speak any further, I butt in. “Oh, that’s just fine…really. Shall we go inside?” That very moment, I was full of enigma, trying to figure out what I’d really want to act or say since my feelings were all twirled. He then assisted me in opening the cafeteria’s door made of glass. The place was really out of my league. It’s fancy, cozy and really stylish…in the sense that it’s just made for people who have gold in their pockets. People were having coffee break from the day’s work, yet still can’t get enough of discussing their daily profit, accounts, projects and all of their business stuffs. College girls seemed to enjoy their little delights while gabbing about their popular Romeos’ in their university. “Not really a place for me…” I sighed. “Here’s our menu, ma’am…sir…” A menu was handed over by the waiter to both of us as we were seated. “The foods’ sure are delectable but they priced like diamonds!” I murmured to myself as I took hold of the menu “…I wonder why he brought me to a place like this, what really is he up to?”

Gabriel’s from a well-off family. He studied at a prestigious university here in Manila. He once told me…well, texted me, that he first studied abroad but had just transferred school here in the Philippines since he wants to share his success to his home land. He’s fine-mannered and friendly. Unlike any other stable and ‘can-afford’ people, he’s completely grounded and humble. He’s very approachable as you try to look at him personally without knowing him that yet. He’s just every woman’s heartthrob. Although I’ve got lots of good things to say about him, my mentality still insists its notion to me, that this lad here, shouldn’t be wandering off to elegant places with a person like me—so ordinary…so low-levelled! I tried to reflect well on it. Then drew my attention to Gabriel’s actions and examined it. “Something wrong?” he asked. “Oh…I…” startled, I find it hard to make an excuse. “I…” I realized that I wasn’t just fit for a place as grandiose as this, but I think it’s not just that…I’m completely out of his league.

I then cleared my throat and gained some courage to ask one little question that might put a period or maybe a comma to this. “Am I worthy to dine with you in this…this…well-engineered-stylishly-furnished-high-class-futuristic-renown-most-advertised-state-of-the-art…” but before my big mouth could garrulously mention all adjectives… “Yes.” Gabriel simply answered the question. “…these things are nothing without someone special to share it with.” He then smiled sweetly at me. As soon as he uttered those words, I couldn’t help my heart from beating so fast and I feared that it might jump out of its place! I got so flushed that I had the urge to excuse myself and go to the comfort room to freshen up a bit. “That was such a pressure back there!” I said as I wipe my sweat and gaze my reflection at the mirror in the female’s C.R. “You’re such a mess!”I said giving my reflection a smirk and chuckled. “…a freak, I guess.” I began combing my hair with my fingertips making some styles to look pleasant. “…a beautiful, charming and appealing freak…” Thoughts of Gabriel suddenly flashed in my mind and it seemed that those smiles of his just can’t be taken off my hypothalamus! “…that smile.” I smiled as I remembered Gabriel’s face smiling at me a moment ago. I then turned to the mirror again and sighed. All my emotions were being stirred in just one occasion…an occasion that stirred all my emotions into one distinct feeling that I myself couldn’t grasp to its true meaning—have I fallen for that stranger, for real? “You’re in big trouble Liza, you’re in big trouble.”

I never expected to finally meet him in person. He’s been a total stranger to me. I was even more surprised of myself, for accepting such agreement to which I swear I would never give in—which I did, obviously.

I felt jitters every time I watch people passing by, hoping to see the person I was looking for. “I’ll be wearing a red polo shirt and denim jeans.” I recalled his last message he sent me. How am I going to recognize a person who, in my entire life, had never met before? Well, of course, I’m not used to this sort of socialization. Wait, how am I going to smile? Do I look good in this…”You should wear something feminine, haha!”…agh! What in the whole world had gotten into my mind, letting myself agree to what he wanted me to wear?  I really hate dresses! I walk, I study and I live with just simple tees and jeans! And now here’s this unknown specie waiting to be discovered, now meddling my own fashion sense!

It’s past 6 in the evening. I’ve been waiting for almost an hour or two! If that grouchy weirdo wouldn’t be here within five minutes…I’m out! “God, I’ve made a total fool of myself! “ I said, still scratching myself to death with the dress I wore with ruffles all over. I incessantly look at my watch almost every tick of the second-hand until…”Excuse me, miss. Can you please tell me what time is it?” a seemingly familiar voice suddenly gave me butterflies in the stomach. “Oh it’s quarter to seven”…I gave the man a calm and casual response. “You must be in a hurry to even forget your…” As I glanced at the person I was talking to, he was…he was wearing red polo shirt and denim jeans! “….watch” I added flabbergasted. He was busy looking at a fine restaurant when I talked to him. “Then maybe, I’m too early…am I not?” he glanced at me. But as he laid eyes on my dress…”She must be wearing that dress an hour ago. I’m too late.”  He sighed. “No you’re not. You’re…you’re just in time.” I blurted out. Did I just say that? It felt like my heart’s going to burst! How could he be so darn blind and…okay, DUMB! He left no room for possibilities—that I might be waiting for him by this time or I might be the person he’s looking for. Disappointed, I left.

“Liza!” I heard the man called me with my name. I paused, but then I ignored him and continued walking. I never felt so disappointed in my whole life! Am I not too obvious in my dress? “Okay. I hate to say this, but I’ll be wearing a ruffled pink dress…Eeww!” I remembered texting that to him as clear as a glass. He’s late on our date, and he’s even late in realizing that I really was Liza—the one he’s “dying” to meet! “Liza!” he continued shouting. I was so preoccupied with so many things and my emotions were all stirred up that I didn’t notice him grabbing my hand. “Liza…” he said panting. “I’m sorry…” he added. I didn’t know what and how to react that I ended up staring at my hand being grasped by his. But I let go.

Smile and the whole world smiles at you :)