BERNADETTE'S chest throbbed violently. That day was her first meeting with Leandro or Daniel. Mrs. Raymundo personally called her earlier that day to remind her. She couldn't help but sigh. She had barely slept yet. Last night she couldn't sleep thinking about Leandro. How could she fulfill what was written in their agreement when it was just about to start but she already wanted to call it off?
"Sorry, I'm late."
Her gaze flew to the man standing next to her. She awkwardly stood up and told her to sit on the chair in front of her. She stammered a bit.
"Sorry, I got caught in traffic," he said apologetically. Roxanne might be right. He was just forced to obey his wife.
"It's all right," she almost babbled.
"It's embarrasing that I always make you wait."
She lifted her head up to meet his eyes. "You're right, you always make me wait," she said meaningfully.
He cleared his throat before he got the attention of one of the waiters.
"Choose anything you like." He handed him a menu. That simple gesture brought him somewhere else.
"Love, please choose anything for me," she remembered telling him everytime he'd hand him the menu.
But Leandro would always tell her, "Choose whatever you want to eat and don't think of me. You are so sweet for being too submissive and I appreciate that, Love, but you are free to choose when it comes to food that you eat."
"Berna?"
Bernadette straightened in her chair as she heard him call his name. She didn't even notice that Leandro was talking to him.
"What's that, again?"
"I was asking the food you want to eat so we can tell the waiter. Their scallops are awesome, you can try it."
"Okay, I'll have it."
She turned to him when the waiter left.
"I do not know what your plans are, Mr. Raymundo, and why you are doing this to me."
"You also don't like the idea? But I thought my wife has already talked to you," he said coldly.
My wife...
That echoed in her ears. It was very sweet to witness such possessiveness of a man. It was just sad that he was no longer referring to her. It was Jasmin Raymundo now.
"She previously mentioned it but is it really necessary?" She looked directly in his eyes and waited for his reaction.
"My wife is talking about something deeper than that, Berna...more than knowing each other's names, if you know what I mean."
She raised an eyebrow at what he said. Was he really decided to pursue this nonsense?
She nodded in disbelief. "Okay, then. So here we are. What are we gonna do next?"
Boredom was evident in his face. Now she believed that he was just forced by his wife. Maybe he also didn't want to see her but because of Jasmin, he was persuaded.
'How lucky of you, Jasmin…'
"Clueless...Honestly, I also don't know what to do." He shrugged his shoulders.
"Okay, let's have a question and answer first. Anyway, we are complete strangers from each other, right?" She intently looked at him again.
"Shoot. Ask first."
She sighed. She didn't know what's in his head and what are his reasons for doing this to her, but she had no choice but to play his game.
"What is your favorite color?"
Leandro smiled. "Hmmm...I don't know. Dark colors maybe."
Another joke. She had known Leandro for having no interest in colorful things. They were together for six years while he has been with Jasmin for only three years. She had known him better.
"Your turn," he declared.
The waited came and served their food so they started eating while conversing a little.
"What is your favorite movie?" he asked after a few moments.
She was amused with the question. He could have asked other questions but it was the one he had chosen to ask first. Did he remember that she really loved to watch movies then?
"Foreign or local?"
"I think, you prefer to watch foreign movies than local. Am I right?"
She paused for a while and threw him a sharp look. "Are you making fun of me?"
"Hey, what did I say?" He looked puzzled.
For a few moments, she didn't know what to tell him. "Okay, I'll give it to you." She wiped her mouth with her serviette. "You're right, I love foreign movies than locals. Top on my list is Dear John by Channing Tatum. I also love Ashton Kutcher's movies. I love all movies that were taken from Nicholas Spark's novels. I also love Keannu Reeves, Brad Pitt and—"
"What is the common denominator of all these actors?"
She frowned. "I don't know. I simply enjoy their movies."
"If you will get to watch them hosting TV shows or being one of the casts of a comedy film, would you still love these guys?"
"What are you trying to point out?"
"Answer me."
She avoided his eyes because she couldn't meet his gaze. But come to think of it, she suddenly became comfortable. He was now trying to make a real conversation. For a moment, she decided to forget the past and focused her attention to his question.
"I don't think I would still like them given the said situation. I dunno."
"You know why? Because your preference is limited when it comes to movies. You only want romance and that is the common denominator of those actors. That makes you one real romantic, Berna."
The smile disappeared from her lips. "Define romantic, Leandro." He deliberately called him by his real name and she saw how his forehead creased.
"It's Daniel, Berna, not Leandro." He seemed so amused.
She leaned towards the table to look at him carefully. "Oh, sorry. I forgot that you've changed your name from Leandro to Daniel." She laughed to make it appear like a joke.
"By the way, I think you are right. That's the reason why I love those actors. I love romance movies and that makes me romantic."
"Can I ask something personal, Bern?"
She nodded without looking at him.
"Are you a single mom?"
She was dumbfounded and that was the final straw. She slammed her fist on the table and looked at him sharply. "What is it that you really want?! Tell me!"
He looked astounded and it was funny that his eyes widened as if he really didn't understand what she was saying. "What did I do this time?" Maybe he didn't expect her reaction and she just hated him more.
"This is enough! I want to go home now!"
"But why? What did I do to make you upset like that?"
"Nothing! Convince yourself of what you want to believe because I don't care a bit!"
She stood and threw the cloth on the table, but Leandro grabbed her one arm.
"Bern, please don't shout. People are already looking at us—"
She waved his hand and looked around. He was right. Some people in the restaurant began to look at them. She breathed hard and sat again.
"Okay, I'm not gonna ask you personal questions if that's what you want. It's your turn to ask me. Is that okay with you?"
She closed her mouth as he stared into his eyes, but she couldn't see any sign of guilt in his face.
"Are you sure you still want to continue?" she asked in a dangerous voice.
He nodded slowly.
"Okay. What is your full name? As in your real full name?"
He seemed surprised by that question but he just smiled before he continued to speak. "My name is Daniel...Daniel Martin Raymundo."
"I said your real name." Her voice became soft. Someone seemed to be whispering to her that she should believe 'Daniel.'
"That's my real name. What else are you looking for?" There is irritation in his voice.
She felt like wanting to catch her breath. She was really confused now. "Where do you live? Answer me with the truth!"
"Davao City. Jasmin said...I mean, I was born in Davao City but I studied in Bulacan, the reason why I do not know how to speak their dialect."
She was stunned for a moment. Unfortunately, he looked so serious while talking. "Have you tried checking your birth certificate?"
He chuckled. "What are you trying to imply? What are we talking about, Ms. Polintan? Does it make sense?"
"Have you?" she insisted.
"But of course! That was the very first thing I asked from—"
"What?"
"Look, it's getting late. My wife told me that this meeting shouldn't take long—"
"When is your birthday?" she interrupted him.
"What?"
"When is your bithday, Mr. Raymundo? I need to know the date you were born."
"Why? What does it have to do with us? Can't we just talk about other things?"
"When were you born?" She was getting crazy but she didn't care. Her chest was now throbbing very fast.
"January 25, 1977. Does it make you happy now?" Daniel was the one who stood this time. He stared disappointedly at her. He took a one thousand peso bill from his wallet and put it on the table while his eyes were fixed on her.
"It was nice meeting you, Miss Polintan. Have a nice day." He turned his back on her and left.