5
Date
It's four-o'clock in the afternoon. I just got out of the shower and I am still wearing a robe. I've been staring at my clothes inside my closet and I don't really know how long I've been looking at them.
I didn't come to work as per Lea's instruction. She already marked me absent. I guess it's no use attending my work when I'm already considered absent.
It's pretty good that I didn't go to my work or else I would be rummaging through my closet, looking for a dress.
Chesca said I'd be meeting the guy in an Italian restaurant somewhere in BGC at seven pm.
Should I go casual? A bit formal? Or formal?
Shit. I don't really know what to wear. It feels like I forgot how to dress up as I haven't done this for years.
Right? I should choose something effortless. Pairing clothes is too much. I should choose a dress or a onesie.
I chose this simple gray dress. It has a velvet finish. It's not too tight but huhs my curves perfectly. It's casual yet a bit formal, since it has sleeves on it. I also chose a white sling-back pump and a black classic flap bag.
Right, I'd look good in this yet effortless.
I wore the dress and covered it with my robe. I don't want to ruin the clothes while doing my make-up and hair.
I decided to put my hair into a messy bun. I let out a few strands of hair to make it messier but in a dramatic way. It also gives life and volume. I don't like sleek-type hairstyles. It's just too intimidating and I'm not into that unless I'm attending a very formal event.
Right after my hair, I started doing my make-up lightly. I made sure that it would look a bit natural yet can highlight my features. I applied a bit of concealer to hide my dark under eye and heavy baggage. I did a few strokes of bronze on my crease to define and deepened my eyes. I also added a thin eyeliner on top of the eyeshadow. I also did my eyebrows, tho it wasn't too defined nor sleek. I just filled empty spots to make it fuller.
After curling my lashes, I added some volume with my mascara. I didn't bother to add some bronzer and instead, I used my blush to lift my face. Lastly, I applied a nude lipstick.
After setting my make-up with a setting spray, I removed my robe and stared at my reflection in my mirror.
I look so plain.
I wore a thin white gold necklace and wrist watch. I finished the accessories by layering a few rings.
I look so plain earlier and now I look like I made some effort.
Now I can't help but to wonder. What kind of clothes would this guy wear on a first date?
I hope he isn't wearing a suit. It's too intimidating for me.
I finished styling myself around 5:30. Before leaving my unit, I sprayed enough perfume on my neck and wrist. I don't want to be late. It's not that I'm excited but I think it's disrespectful to be late.
Clara told me I shouldn't bring my car but that would be a hassle for me. I decided to bring my own car.
"Shit." I blurted out when I got stuck in the traffic. It's 6:00 pm already and I have an hour left.
I don't really want to be late.
I can't help but to curse. Even though I've got a good playlist playing on speaker, it doesn't help my nerves. The tension and nervous feeling keeps digging into my body.
"Thank God!"
I almost yelled when I got out of the traffic jam.
It's already 6:24 pm and I have to be there at exactly 7 pm not to mention that I'm still kilometers away.
Why do things aren't go my way?
I just can't help but to curse myself every time I get stuck in traffic.
When I got outside the restaurant, I immediately parked my car.
"Shit." I took my bag and looked for my mirror. I did a quick glance at myself.
I checked my wrist watch and almost blurted a curse when I saw that I'm 29 minutes late.
I'm fucking 29 minutes late. Fuck!
Before I went out, I checked my phone. I got text messages from Clara and Chesca asking where the hell I am. Obviously, my date is already there.
Good thing the restaurant has a valet and I don't need to worry about my car.
"Thank you." I said and tried to almost run.
The moment I got inside the restaurant, the receptionist welcomed me.
"Bonjour! Do you have a reservation Ma'am?" the receptionist asks.
"Oh yes I have a reservation under Chesca Sy." I said quickly.
"This way Ma'am." She said and guided me
"Uhm.. is someone already there?" I was hoping she would say that no one is there.
"Yes Ma'am."
"I see. Thank you." I just thanked her and felt shy.
Each step I take gets my heart weaker. Each step I take, I get a glance on his back. He's still there. God! How should I approach him? What should I say? This is embarrassing!
Should I ditch him? Then, what? I'd feel guilty for not showing up?
Each step feels heavy. My heart feels like a drum. Every beat gets louder as I step closer to him.
I badly wanted to run away as soon as we got in front of the table.
Shit. I cursed under my heavy breathing.
I even thought of pulling the receptionist back when she left me beside the guy I'm dating.
He looked so serious as soon as our eyes met.
He looks at me as if wondering why am I standing in front of him awkwardly.
"Hi!" He looks so serious.
Shit I even tried to show a small waive and an awkward smile. I also tried to sound cheerful but it was getting harder as his facial expression hasn't changed.
"Are you Alice?" he asked so I nodded in silence. I honestly didn't know what to do. I'm just standing awkwardly.
Suddenly he smiled and stood up.
The moment he stood up, I slowly looked up as my heart started beating loudly. Why did I even agree to go on a blind date?
Did I mention that I'm standing 5'10? This guy in front of me is freaking taller than me. I think he's more than 6 feet tall.
"Hi! I'm Ian Romualdez," he had this thick english accent. He offered me his hand and I immediately accepted it.
I even saw my own hand trembling and I think he caught that too as he chuckled when he reached for it.
"Alice Alcantara," His brows furrowed a bit but he still smiled at me.
"Nice to meet you. Let's sit?" I guess he felt awkward and well. So I decided to calm myself. I should know how to act and socialize. I'd been training my whole life for that skill. He stepped out from his seat and tried to help me with the chair.
"Thank you!" I said in a very small voice. He also sat after I sat.
"I just really have to apologize. I'm really really sorry for being late." I said after making myself comfortable. I felt so bad because I'm not late for just a minute or two. I'm almost half an hour late.
Good thing he didn't leave.
Lesson learned, I should leave the house two hours earlier than the agreed time. Not that I'm expecting another blind date.
"I'm sure you have your own reason." He said in a monotone voice.
Is he just this kind or just really trying to be professional?
Is there such a thing as a professional in blind date? How would I know? I have never gone out on a blind date before.
"Yes and I'm sorry for that." I tried to smile a bit.
"It's okay. Should we order?"
I nodded, feeling shy. He raised his hand and a waiter came to our table.
While he was waiting for the waiter to come, I was able to look at his face for a moment. I was too nervous earlier that I didn't really notice his looks.
He has this a bit darker skin tone, a very Filipino feature. To be honest, I'm more attracted to people with fair skin. However, he is different. The lighter brown shade looks perfectly on him. I mean I can't describe it really well. I'm just really bad at describing people.
It is not that I have something against moreno but I just really find myself more attracted (romantically) to people who have fair-skin. He has thick eyebrows that don't miss a spot, unlike mine and he has thick lips.
Another thing that I really noticed is that he's wearing a suit which made him more intimidating in my eyes. I am not really fond of a guy-wearing suit. I mean I like something on the street yet with a class. Suits look intimidating for my taste. I have a very specific type.
Almost everything about his physical appearance is the thing that I don't usually get attracted to. Compared to Henri, Ian is the opposite. Henri has chinky eyes, thin lips, and fair skin. In Filipino terms, chinito. I am into that.
Even before Henri, most of the guys I find myself attracted to, have the same structure of features.
I find myself more attracted to them, not that I don't find them otherwise unattractive. I just found myself attracted to those traits that I said.
As if the bubble popped, I lost track to I'm thinking when the waiter handed the menu to me. I felt suddenly more shy when I noticed a ghost smile on his lips. Did he catch me staring at him?
I decided to hide behind the menu. Good thing, I am not really an indecisive type of person when it comes to food. I always choose the food that I think I am familiar with and would love to eat.
I am really hesitant to try food that is new to my taste palette.
"Do you drink?" Ian suddenly asked while still browsing the menu. "Sorry, I was thinking of ordering wine or champagne." I just nodded
"I like champagne better."
When we finished ordering our food, we went silent again. This is awkward. But I think that's just fine since it's my first time. I don't know about him though.
"Do you mind if I ask you something a bit personal?" he suddenly asked.
I felt nervous with the sudden request.
"Sure. But I have the right to reject or not to answer the question right?" I laughed with my remarks. He just smirked and nodded.
Yes Alice, build your lost confidence.
I am confident as far as I can remember. I should build my confidence. IT'S A MUST!!!
"Of course."
"Then, throw your question." I said trying to be confident. Before he could even ask, the champagne that he ordered came.
We watched the waiter opened the bottle and pour on our glasses.
"Thank you." I said and took the champagne glass.
"So, my question, is this your first blind date?" he asked. I did not expect that. I expected something more personal like work and stuff.
"Yes." I admit. I took a sip from my glass trying to hide that I'm observing him.
"I don't know if you'll ask but this isn't my first time." He said as if throwing a bomb. Is he trying to make me not like him?
"Well, based on your body language I must say it's quite obvious."
Alice, just a little more push and you will be able to build your lost confidence again.
"Really? You do know how to read body language?" he said as if I said something so shocking.
"It's not that I really really know, I'm just somehow good with people." He nodded as if he really understood me.
"So sorry, I just really have to ask. What do you do for a living?" every word he drops has a certain cautionary. I see. He's being careful to avoid offending me. I guess he's really a well-off person.
"I am currently a senior pr consultant in a company." I said confidently.
"Pr." He said he was really amused. "Which company? Sorry I'm just really curious." I don't think he's lying as I can really see in his eyes that he's really curious.
"It's okay. I work at DMG Corporation." His eyes suddenly widened.
"You are? Ohh!"
"Why?" I said with so much curiosity.
"Nothing. I just know that DMG is a big corporation. I must admit that they really knew how to handle a crisis and projects." He said, looking really amused.
"This is awkward. But I should admit that."
"I remember when their new CEO suddenly died seven years ago." He said, almost reminiscing the past. "Back then, it was chaos for them. Good thing Lea de Guzman was there to shoulder the heavy responsibility." I showed a small smile and didn't bother to take a notice in his latter sentence.
I almost lost my will to this date. Fortunately, the food came that I lost my attention to the conversation.
"So Ian? What do you do for a living?" I asked with hastiness to switch the topic.
I just don't want to continue talking about the de Guzman's
"Well, I'm currently managing an investors corporation." He answered as if my question wasn't really something to be bothered about.
"An investment company."
"Yes we actually started as an investment company until we expanded our reach and scope." I nodded. "You seem to understand a lot of things in business. I mean considering that you are a PR consultant and not a business consultant." He said.
"Well Lea, my boss has been consulting me when she has new business ventures. So I'm a bit familiar on how the business works. Not to really brag but my brother has been running my father's company. I was actually training with my brother." Admitting things where I grew my business knowledge.
"Really! What company?" he asked curiously.
"It's a technology company." just one of the subsidiaries of our family company.
"Really? I quite know a lot of tech-company." He seems really surprise. "I'm sorry. We should eat properly." He said and laughed. I really noticed that he likes talking about business and stuff.
It's not really a full course meal. So we didn't eat for too long.
Somehow, I felt comfortable with him. It's not that I'm expecting to be uncomfortable.
"Are you up for dessert?" he asked. I'm quite tempted. "Uhm… I'm not really fond of fancy dining." He awkwardly said while playing with his glass of champagne.
"You don't look like one."
"I know. Well it's up to you but I'm suggesting, maybe we can go somewhere else?"
WHAT???? Somewhere else??
Calm down Alice.
"Somewhere else?"
"Yes. Like a coffee shop? Coffee as dessert?" What a plot twist. I like that.
"Sure. I like that." I don't know if it's obvious but I felt like my eyes were shining the moment I heard coffee.
"Great." He raised his hand again and called a waiter. "Bill out." He said to the waiter.
I took out my bag and my card from it.
"Here." I said, offering to split the bill.
"No. It's on me." He said, rejecting my card.
"No. I really should pay for what I consumed." I said feeling shy about it. I don't really like someone paying for me.
"No it's okay. It's a date." He handed his card to the confused waiter. I had no choice but to put my card back.
"Thank you." I said. He just shrugged his shoulders and smiled playfully.
A few minutes later the waiter came back with his card.
"Let's go?" he asked. I just nodded and stood up. He also did the same and walked beside me.
I really look so small beside him. I'm tall but next to him, I look so small.
When we got out of the restaurant, he took out his car key.
Oh right! I brought mine. This must be the reason why Clara asked me not to bring my car.
I also brought my key out.
"You brought a car?" he asked. "I see." He chuckled when he saw me clicking my car key.
"I'll just follow you." I said.
"Just don't leave suddenly!" I laughed at his remarks and nodded. "See you."
I went inside my car and he also did the same. His driving just ride. Not too fast nor too slow. Not really trying to show off.
Can I mention that the coffee shop he chose is my favorite shop?
He's really gathering a lot of points.
We parked our car side by side right outside the coffee shop.
When he got out, he immediately went beside my car.
"Is this coffee shop okay? I get my coffee here all the time so I chose this." He said, worried that I might not like his choice of shop.
"Yes. I actually get my coffee here all the time." He looked amused as I said that.
"You do? What a coincidence."
When we weny inside the shop, I noticed that he was carrying a paper bag.
"What's with the paper bag?"
"I was planning to change my clothes." He said as we walked towards the counter. While ordering, I took my card out.
I must pay for this one.
"Here. I'll have the classic latte." I said. He was about to give his card but the lady already swiped mine. "Nope. This time it's on me. You paid earlier. I should have paid for this." He looked at me with amused eyes but then he just shrugged.
"Silly. I'll be quick. I'll just change my clothes." I nodded and let him walk away.
I looked for a vacant table. Good thing my favorite spot is available. I went there the moment I got our orders.
I was sightseeing when Ian sat in front of me with his wet hair. He isn't wearing the suit anymore. He's wearing a white printed shirt inside his black suit. The sleeves are folded right on his elbow. He is no longer wearing slacks but boyfriend jeans and a pair of white sneakers.
That's street and formal in one. He should've worn this earlier, I might not have felt intimidated.
"Why is your hair wet?" I asked. "Did you take a bath?" I said, trying to pull a joke. Is it because he's no longer wearing a suit so I felt more comfortable around him?
"Kind off. I don't really like my sleek hair." Did I just find something common between us? "Actually, I came straight from a business meeting. That's why I was wearing formal clothing earlier and the truth is, I was twenty-minute late." He admitted.
"I didn't know that." I said and gave him his coffee.
"Yes. I was really hoping that you're late. Thank goodness you were." He took a sip on his cold coffee and looked refreshed after the sip.
"I was so sorry earlier because I was late. How could you?" I said trying to pull off a joke even though I wasn't funny.
"Funny!" he said, trying to bite into the joke I threw. Mean! "Anyway, before you came I was actually planning to change but it might take too long. So, I chose to stay dressed like that. Was it bad?"
Maybe because we're no longer in that fancy restaurant and we are starting to throw a lot of funny stuff, I really felt comfortable with him around.
"Oh yes I have a question. I'm really curious." He said after he sipped on his coffee.
"Sure. What is that?" I wait for him to put down his cup of coffee.
"Well, who is your brother? I know a lot of people in the tech-industry. I might know him." He leans on his chair trying to wait for my answer. He looks like he is hoping that he might know my brother.
I won't be shocked if he says that he knows my brother.
"Aviel Alcantara." I answered. His eyes widened a bit and let out a funny-sound laugh.
My eyes narrowed as I watched his reaction.
"No way! I had business lunch with him last week."
This time my eyes wide, not because he knows my brother but he's connected with my brother in terms of business.
My brother has a wide network and whenever I need that kind of connection, I run to him and get that connection..
"My brother knew a lot of people. I would sometimes use his connection whenever I needed something for my job." I said, admitting the truth.
I often ask for my brother's help, especially when I need someone from media outlets. I would ask my brother about the person's contact information.
"That's nice. But you know what? I'm really curious. Why aren't you working in your family's business?" he suddenly asked. A lot of people have already asked that. He's not the first person to ask this.
I put my coffee down before I answered.
"I begged my father that I would commit myself to our family business after I get married or after I turn 32 if I'm not married by that time."
After I said that, he leaned forward and rested his right arm on the table.
"Why? Don't you like your family business?"
He looks so curious as he asked that. It seems like my story is weird and just really unusual.
"It's not that I don't like the business. I just don't like the pressure whenever you're working under your family's name. It may sound selfish but I really talked to my Dad and Aviel. I said that I would like to work in our company after building my own name. I want my own identity. And also, the business won't die just because I'm not working there. There are a lot of competent employees inside that company, more competent than I am."
I find Ian a cute person. He listens attentively to every word I say. As if, if he misses a word, he wouldn't understand the whole story, as if everything wouldn't just make sense.
"Good thing your father and brother understands you. It's rare for a tycoon family to let their heiress do whatever they want to do. You're lucky."
He exclaimed.
"Aren't you happy?" I blurted out. His eyes narrowed trying to understand my question. As if I said something shocking. "I mean in your career. If you had a business meeting with my brother, I must say that you're a big person in the industry." I said trying to make sense out of my sudden question regarding his happiness.
"I actually took an Engineering course. But being the first born, I have to follow my father's legacy. He is a bit old to still work under pressure. My younger brother is five years younger than me. As of now, he's still building his name and reputation. My family has no one to lean on but me. After graduation and passing the board, I immediately took my father's responsibility." His eyes weren't gloomy as he said that. It was as if he was telling a story.
"I wonder if my brother felt that too." Suddenly, I can't help but to remember my brother. Was he also like Ian?
He had the same responsibility as Ian.
"Don't worry. I think your brother loves what he is doing. He is passionate about his job."
I can't help but stare at Ian. His words are somewhat comforting. It's like saying that I shouldn't feel guilty for doing what I really want.
I lost track of what I was thinking when I heard his phone ringing. He fumble on his pocket as he tries to get his phone out.
I took my time drinking the almost cold coffee.
"Hello…yes…No, I'm actually out right now…what?.... email me everything…okay I'll wait for it." When he pulled his phone away, I saw him ending the call. He suddenly looks at me with an apologetic smile.
"You have an urgent thing?"
I asked nonchalantly. It's easy to understand.
Clara and I are always together. So there are times that one of us would receive a call and have to leave in the middle of what we are doing.
"Go on, it's fine." I said.
I took my bag and prepared myself to leave as well.
"I'm really sorry Alice but it's really nice to meet you. Really." After he said that, extended his arm. I accepted it and it only last for a second or so.
I immediately stood up, ready to leave.
"I also had fun." I smiled and pulled my hand back. "Shall we? Let's get out here." He just nodded and walked out of the shop together.
"Take care. Thank you again." I said as I tried to open my car. He also went to his car trying to open it.
I was about to open my car when I heard him again.
"Alice..." I stopped when he suddenly called my name.
I turned around and looked at him with a question in my eyes.
He suddenly walked towards me. His steps were big, as if he's in a hurry. As soon as he closed the gap between us, he said "Can you insert your number here?" he handed over his phone
It was already open and I only needed to insert my number.
I am kind of hesitant.
He looks shy with his small smile. He even scratches his head. I showed him a small smile before I took his phone and inserted my number.
He had this big smile the moment I gave him back his phone.
"I'll message you." I just nodded, trying to hide the shy feeling.
I feel like a rotten tomato. My face probably looks redm
"Take care." I just nodded and waved at him before I went inside my car.
I saw him stepping away from my car as I drove out of the parking space.
When I got out of the parking space, I lowered my car window and waved again.
He waved back and watched me as I drove myself away.
I looked in front of me, trying to concentrate.
However, on my way home, I found myself smiling while thinking how I had a good time with Ian.