Erika was in her car. She was still bummed with her conversation with Brian this morning. She was hoping to at least get some response or cue that Brian would still want her. She knew it was not the right time. Rushing it would just be counterproductive. She was back in the Philippines for a few good months for work and she was hoping she could deal with unfinished matters.
Erika then remembered that she had to meet a friend at the town center. It was a journalist colleague named Eri. They met on some press tours on New York and she was Filipino just like Brian.
There was traffic in the early mornings of the town center and it did not help her mood one bit.
Oliverde's, Makati
Oliverde's was situated at a hidden alleyway in the north of the town center in Makati. It specializes in French and Italian cuisine as well as the local dishes. They featured pasta, vegan choices and gourmet foods. It was an expensive place but most people who eat there were loaded.
"So this is the brunch place you mentioned. Oliverde's, this seems like a restaurant out of the streets of Paris. How did you get a reservation?" Jane was amazed at the aesthetic.
"Oh, it's a membership restaurant. I hope you have a taste for truffle pasta and some braised chicken because it's the best thing in there." John suggested.
"Oh, I'm drooling," Jane jokingly said.
They sat down and ordered the pasta and chicken while the waiter poured some beverages. "Care for some complimentary champagne?" the waiter asked.
"Oh, sorry. I just had a bit of hangover last night. So, I'm fine with water." Jane politely refused. Alcohol was the cause of her worries and right now, she wanted nothing to do with it.
The waiter looked at John waiting for his response. "Oh, I'll have just water, too."
"Did not expect that. I kind of thought you were one of those guys who boast drinking in the morning." Jane commented.
"I feel judged, Miss Jane. But, I have a performance this afternoon and it helps if I'm sober." John answered.
"Lemme guess, you're a comedian?" Jane chuckled.
"No, I'm a musician but I would love to be a comedian. Ladies with pretty smiles dig funny guys. Don't you agree, Jane?" John had that charm that was slowly growing on Jane.
"But, why are you wearing a suit. I thought musicians wear fashionable stuff and carry guitars wherever they go." Jane's stereotypes shocked John that he could not repress his laugh.
She definitely has the humor. John thought.
"The thing is, I have a meeting with a studio. I'm writing a song and I hope to produce it with them." John explained.
"So, what song are you writing?" John noticed that Jane seemed to show interest in music.
"I mostly play indie folk music. Mostly about life. You should listen to my debut album entitled Sunrise. It is about new beginnings and hope. I would like to refer to some of it as philosophical but people just like the beat, rhythm and melody." John was passionate about his music and Jane could tell it from his tone.
John noticing Jane's silence quickly asked, "So, do you like music?" Jane was contemplating something. She did not know what music this Jane liked. She was a different Jane but ultimately, she just answered honestly.
"Yeah, I might have some experience singing since I was part of the choir when I was still a teenager. And honestly I like your genre, I am kind of a Phoebe Bridger's gal myself." Jane was a music lover. She loved timeless ballads.
"You should listen to me play sometime when you have time," John suggested.
"Sure, just call me." Jane gave him her number casually much to John's delight. He did not expect for Jane to just give her number like that but he hid his surprise and played it cool.
The food then arrived filled with a savory aroma that Jane just could not help but eat it right away. John laughed at the picture but he saw it as cute. John could see the embodiment of a teenager in Jane's behavior.
"Slow down, Jane. It's not a food eating contest."
"Sorry, haven't eaten a thing since this morning." Jane took a generous forkful of pasta and chicken. John could notice that despite the appetite, Jane had the etiquette of an elegant woman. He could not help but pensively admire.
They both ate and exchanged occasional jokes. They talked to what felt like hours but was just about an hour, really. John talked about music and Jane talked about random stuff.
"So, what do you do, Jane?" John's ordinary question was met with silence. Jane was a celebrity chef but it was not the true her.
"Oh, I'm a chef. I'm quite famous actually." Jane did not tell him she won Masterchef. It seemed to give too much information and it was advantageous for her to leave some mystery. Nevertheless, John was amazed.
"Oh, really? Then how might you rate the food here?" John jokingly asked.
"Umm. Oh, the taste was organic and the earthiness of the truffle really accentuated the acidity of the pasta." The reply was intuitive that even Jane surprised herself.
"You have been hiding some skills there, Jane. Kind of surprised you did not know this restaurant given that you are a chef yourself," John seemed like a detective as he briefly noticed the gaps of Jane's words.
Jane panicked a little bit but managed to let out an explanation. "Oh, I am mostly in Manila. I seldom go out to provinces." This was a lame excuse but Jane sticked to it.
John quickly noticed Jane's uneasiness. "I was only joking. I don't doubt you the least." He followed it up with a laugh which relieved Jane.
John checked the time and it was almost his meeting. "I would love to continue this lovely chat but I have to go to a meeting in 10 minutes so I better get going. I'll call you, I promise. Want me to take you back?" John suggested.
Jane was a bit sad of the notion of the lovely chat ending but she thought this distraction could not continue on forever. She had matters to deal with personally, which takes priority.
"Oh, you do not need to bother. I want to visit a few shopping places before I get back." Jane seemed to be a bit disappointed but shrugged it off with a smile. She took her purse and offered a handshake.
"Thank you for the lovely time, John. I mean it." John answered her handshake.
"Surely this is not the last time." John phrased it with longing while gazing at the Jane's figure slowly disappearing into the crowd.
Meanwhile, Erika just arrived in the town center in a hurry. She arrived in Oliverde's and bumped into Jane on her way out. Jane dropped her bag and tried to pick it up. Erika, knowing it was her fault, helped pick it up.
"Sorry, I was in a hurry. Are you okay?" Erika apologized. The blonde girl was stunning, Jane thought. Mutual praises of beauty was exchanged in that moment.
"I'm fine." Jane thanked Erika for the help and continued on her way.
"Oh okay. Sorry again." Erika also continued on her way but she looked back for a moment and thought. Where have I seen her before? Her wonder was cut short when she realized she still had a lunch date with Eri.
Eri was already in the table eating some truffle pasta when Erika arrived. Eri had dark hair and brown eyes, a few inches shorter than Jane but had that beautiful smile and a lean nose. She was of Japanese descent.
"Oh, sorry. I got hungry waiting for you so I just ordered early." Eri was unapologetically herself which comforted Erika. There have been too many changes in the people in her lives that Eri provided some safe space.
"It's fine." Erika replied with a smile. She then ordered some chicken and risotto.
"Hey by the way. I just interviewed that popular celebrity chef that won Masterchef here. Weren't you here to cover that story as well?" Eri asked while drinking some wine.
"Oh yeah but I just had some personal matters to attend to first." Erika answered with a sad tone. Talking about it seems to lower down her mood.
"Anyway, my interview got viral. I just hit two million views on youtube" Eri showed Erika the video of her interview with the celebrity chef. Erika ultimately recognized the woman being the one she bumped into outside the restaurant. She paused for a moment and thought. What a fateful encounter.