“Did you like the noodles?”, Howard asked me while we were exiting the Shopwise.
“Yeah, definitely! Your combination of toppings is excellent. The sweet and spicy sauce compliments the taste of the noodles. Everything tastes perfect. I loved it so much.”, I replied with huge satisfaction with what we ate.
“I told you you’ll like it.”, he said. Slightly bragging.
“Ward, is that the same noodles that you used to order with your friend?”, I asked.
I noticed a sudden freeze on Howard’s face with my question and looked at me.
“What made you say that?”, he asked.
“Nothing. I just asked because you seemed to know the right combination.”- me
“Didn’t I told you that I always eat there?”, - Howard.
“Yeah but I noticed that your combination is different from mine. Even the meats are different. We were only similar at the sauce, sweet and spicy.”, - me
“What’s wrong with that?”, - Howard
“Nothing.”, I immediately cut myself. “Just forget what I asked. Where are we going next?”, I changed the question to divert his attention.
“Let’s watch a movie?”, he suggested.
“I’m okay with it. What movie are they showing?”, - me
“The cinemas are on the fourth floor. Let’s go and see.”, - Howard.
After taking three flights of escalator, we landed on the cinema floor.
“Now, what do you want to watch?”, Howard asked me again as we looked at the posters of the movies.
“There are so many titles to choose from.”- me
“How about Power Rangers?”, he offered.
“You think it’s good?”, I asked.
“I think so. How about “Life”, or “Kong”…..how about “Beauty and the Beast”?”, Our glances met each other at the last option and both of us made an exploding laugh at each other.
“Power Ranger it is. Wait for me. I’ll buy us tickets.”, Howard said.
“Wait Howard. Here’s for my ticket.”, I called him as I was pulling my wallet from my pocket.
“Don’t worry about it. This is my treat.”, he said.
“No. You don’t have to. You paid for our noodles already. Let me pay for this.”, I protested.
“I invited you to go out with me right? So I am paying.”, Howard said firmly.
“I am not comfortable with you paying for everything.”, I told him. Slightly embarrassed.
“Don’t be. Okay, listen to this. How about you pay for us the next time we go out. Is that okay with you?”, he suggested. Howard was very persistent on paying for everything that day. I did not insist anymore and just agreed to his suggestion.
Howard walked to the ticket booth and fell in line. I waited for him at the posters while scanning the other movies.
After about 15 minutes, Howard came back with our tickets. “Our movie is at 4:30. We missed the 2:30. Is it okay with you if we wait for it?”, he asked.
“That is okay. No problem. Let’s stroll the floor for now while waiting.”, I smiled at him.
“Okay. Do you like something to drink? It’s nice to have refreshments while we walk.”, he offered.
“That is a good idea also. Where is the nearest kiosk here?”, I asked and started looking around.
“I know a drink that I am sure you’ll love. But it is on the 2nd floor.”, Howard mentioned.
“You really do know where the good stuff is huh.”, I smirked.
“Haha, not really. I just know what you like.”, - Howard.
“What I like?”, I repeated to him.
“Ah, what I’m saying is that I am sure you will like it. Don’t think too much. Let’s go before we end up at the end of the line again.”, He replied defensively. Howard grabbed my arm and pulled me towards the escalator. From the 4th floor, we went down two more landings until we reached the 2nd floor. We walked a little distance to the south wing of the mall before we reached the refreshment Howard was talking about.
“Lemonade?”, I said with a slightly disappointing tone to him.
“Hmm, not the lemonade. It’s the calamansi juice.”, Howard corrected me.
“Why not lemonade?”, I asked.
“Because their calamansi juice tastes far better than lemonade!”, he bragged. “Miss, can I have two venti calamansi juice please.”, he ordered to the lady of the kiosk.
The kiosk was a small store half of which was walled by glass. We could see how she was preparing our order. I enjoyed watching her. She squeezed three large sized calamansi on her shaker. Then she poured the mixture into the venti glass. After removing the seeds, she put the peels into the drink. She added ice and syrup then sealed our drink using her machine.
“Here are your orders sir.”, she politely said while handing us our drinks.
“Thank you.”, Howard returned her politeness. “This is for you.”, Howard offered me one of the venti drinks.
I accepted the drink from his hand while looking at him. There was an odd feeling about how Howard was reacting to me since we got here.
“What?”, - Howard.
“Nothing.”, I lied and immediately took a sip with my straw. “Wow, this is good.”, I exclaimed.
“See, I told you you’ll like it.”, Howard smiled at me confidently.
“You know this is the first time I tasted drinks like this or even bought them because at home, mom usually prepared us these drinks.”, I told Howard. “This tastes good but my mom’s tastes better because instead of syrup, she used…”
“Honey.”, Howard finished what I was about to say.
“Yes. Correct. How did you know?”, I asked him. Wondering.
“Just a lucky guess. Honey is what is usually added into this right? This is a commercial. So syrup is added instead of honey compared to what we are adding at home.”, Howard explained. “Where do you want to go while we wait for our movie?”
“Are these drinks allowed inside Robinsons? I want to see their toys there?”, I asked him. “Why are you smiling?”,
“Nothing. Haha.”, He denied the obvious. “You always want toys but never buy them.”
“What is wrong with that? I love looking at toys. It doesn’t mean I have to buy them. How did you know I do not buy toys?”, I asked.
“I just figured it out. You don’t seem like the person who buys toys.”, Howard replied casually.
“Really?”, - me
“Really.”, he repeated. “Are we going to Robinsons or not?”,
“Haist, let’s go then. Who knows, you might also see something that you’d like.”, - me
“I don’t know. I haven’t seen any new Lego on the internet lately.”, Howard said.
“See! I am not the only one who likes toys!”, I reacted in surprise. We looked at each other and exchanged laughs. We walked back up to the 4th floor where Robinsons toys were while exchanging chats and laughter with each other.
We entered the store and proceeded to the toys section. At first, Howard was just looking at toys displayed on shelves. Unlike me, I almost touched, picked and examined every toy my hand could reach. After several more turns around shelves, we finally reached the Lego sections. And at that, Howard did not contain himself and grabbed all the boxes he could see. He definitely looked like a kid brought by his parents to a toy store.
I couldn’t help but love the smile on his face. If only Lego was not so expensive compared to other similar brands, I would have bought him one. A remembrance to remind him of this date we had. One small Lego toy was worth five hundred. It was too expensive for me.
“If you keep looking at the price tags, you wouldn’t be able to buy.”, Howard told me when he noticed my expressions on the boxes. “So, don’t look at it.”
“Is this really the toy you want?”, I asked.
“Yes, even when I was a child. My parents couldn’t buy me even one because its expensive.”, He told me.
“So Legos are your frustration?”, - me
“Maybe”- Howard
“What do you mean by maybe? You should be sure.”, I said assertively.
Howard looked at the Lego on his hand. “Jeff, reality bites. You cannot get everything you want.”, he said in a very discouraging voice. “I love Lego because you can build it into any form that you like. Regardless of the form that it is designed to be built into.”, Howard’s face went sad. “I am thinking that at least on these simple things, I can do what I want according to my liking.”
I felt sadness in his voice. I didn’t know where all these were coming from. I couldn’t only give him a pat on the shoulder to show him I care and I understand.
“I think we should stop this now. We are here to have some fun right?”, I said to lighten up the mood. I saw him return the Lego on its shelf and forced himself to smile.
“I think we should get back to the cinemas. We’re still buying snacks.”, Howard said like nothing happened. I could see the effort he put to compose himself.
“We just ate. We are eating again?”, I noticed.
“Yes we are. We are going into a movie. Snacks are mandatory.”, He said confidently.
I laughed at him and let him on his way. I’m just happy that because of food, he somehow forgot whatever it was on the Lego.
***
After watching Power Rangers, we decided to go home. Howard was eerily quiet while we were in the jeep. We took the “Muntinlupa” route because his subdivision would be missed if we took the diversion road. We were both quiet along the ride. Maybe because we were both tired of trolling the mall the whole day. I had a lot of fun. We really did enjoy ourselves from chatting, eating, watching movies and laughing at his jokes.
I wanted to thank Howard for inviting me out today but I felt like it was under rated already to do so. It’s a good thing I thought of something to return the favor. Before we entered the cinema, I excused myself to the restroom. He was about to join me but I convinced him to go ahead inside because he was carrying our snacks. He did not argue with me and went inside.
I did get in the restroom but I hurriedly ran back to Robinsons after I washed my hands. I did not know what Lego meant to Howard but I knew it's important to him. I noticed it when he held one earlier. I didn’t care if it’s expensive anymore. What’s important is that I’d make him happy. After getting back to the area where that Lego was, I grabbed it and ran to the nearest cashier. Luckily, there was no one in line.
After paying for the Lego, I ran back to the cinema. It’s a good thing that the Lego was small and could easily fit inside my pocket. Howard won’t notice it.
“Jeff, my jeepney stop is near.”, Howard whispered to me. “Thank you for going out with me.”
“Don’t mention it.”, I said. “I had fun too.”
“See you on Monday then. By the gate?” - Howard.
“Sure. But why do you have to wait for me at the gate everyday? It is not like I’ll get lost.”, I joked.
“Don’t argue with me. I will be at the gate on Monday waiting for you okay?”, He said. I did not argue with him anymore and just smiled at him.
After a few minutes, the jeep made a stop at the shed. “See you on Monday Jeff.”,
“Yeah see you. And Ward, this is for you.”, I handed him a paper bag where I wrapped the Lego I secretly bought for him.
“What is this?”, He asked. Puzzled.
“It’s my way of saying thank you.”, I said with a smile.