“You are qualified Ms. Martinez but I’m sorry to say that you submitted your form late. You can try applying to our sister company. Please do not return this call. Thank you very much.”
*TEEET*
I screamed in frustration. Every time I try to apply for a new job, I always get my report on the answering machine. My last resort was the “secretary slot” on the nearby company that sells liquors. I sighed because I didn’t want that secretary job at all.
I removed all my garments leaving only my sports bra and white boxers then sprawled myself on the bed. It was exhausting to hunt for the perfect job. I’ve roamed around the city just to see if there’s a job looking out for me. I’m sure that when I finally get a job I wouldn’t need to ask my dad for allowance. That’s what I call real independence.
“Hey Lei wanna grab some ice cream?” I stopped in the midst of my thoughts. It was Lorenz on my door holding two pints of Häägen Dääz ice cream. “Yeah right, you’re busy.” He hauled himself downstairs. I was sure that I saw him red as tomato when he saw that I was only on my almost underwear.
I laughed. “Hey hey! I want some ice cream! Wait up!” I pulled an oversized shirt over my head and ran after him. He stopped in his tracks and turned to look at me with his eyes closed. His hands were shaking as he handed me the pint. “Idiot. You can open your eyes now. I’m dressed.” I grabbed the pint.
“Will you ever learn to put a shirt on after you removed your clothes?” He asked.
“Well Lorenz, will you ever learn to at least knock on my door or use the damn doorbell?” I pointed out. We both laughed. “Yeah right, we both will never learn.”
Lorenz and I have been hanging out a lot in the past few weeks, talking about good and bad stuff. It was really cool having him around mainly because I found someone to talk with and partly because he seemed different from all the guys I’ve met in Canada.
“I’m sorry—”
“For the nth time Lorenz.” I cut him off. “It’s not like you haven’t seen me in it last Tuesday when you also barged in my apartment.”
“I mean, it is never my intention to see you wearing those. It’s just… that’s how we do it in Leyte, we just walk in, since we don’t have doorbells…”
“—or doors?” I ate a spoonful of ice cream.
He gave in and sighed. “I’m sorry.”
I gave him a warm smile. “Yeah, yeah. I understand. Filipino people.”
“You always say that. It’s like you’re implying that being a Filipino is pathetic.” He said while I admired the black orbs in his eyes. “Want me to show you how living and being a Filipino is fun?”
“I’ll pass on that. I don’t like Philippines after all.”
“Then why are you here?”
“I have no other place to go. This is like a temporary address.”
I think I heard him mutter, “Hayy foreigner talaga.”
Pregnant silence enveloped us. “Oh so… did you drop by here just to eat ice cream with me? How sweet. You’ve been doing this ‘drop by’ thingy since the first day we ever met. I’m thinking you have a huge crush on me.”
“Ewan ko sa’yo.”
“Shut up.” I said. “We had this agreement right? No speaking Tagalog in front of me.”
“Whatever. But sorry to press your ego, I don’t have crush on you.” He pulled his wallet from his jeans’ pocket and handed me a paper. “Tita Therese asked me to get the rental fee. It’s due today.”
“Oh. Good excuse.” I smirked, got my wallet and gave him five thousand pesos.
“Whatever you think. I’ll take off. Bye.” But before he went away he said, “You gotta think about the Philippine fun thing. It’ll be enjoying, you know persuading you and bonding with me.”
I just waved my hand after him and I noticed that he left half of his ice cream. I ate a spoonful and nearly choked when I knew it was Pistachio flavored.
The next morning came and I knew something was different because I woke up extra early like 3 hours early. I got up, brushed my teeth but didn’t bother fix my hair. As I was going down, I smelled something—someone was cooking! I ran to the kitchen only to see Lorenz wearing a shirt with the print ‘I suck in cooking.’
“Good morning sunshine!”
I ran my hand through my hair. “What the hell is with you? It’s still 8, for Heaven’s sake!”
“I prepared something for you.” He smiled sweetly. “It’s called Tapsilog.”
“What the heck. Topsilog?” It smelled good however. “What’s with you Lorenz?”
“It’s Tap-si-log—beef, egg and fried rice. I’m just teaching you stuff.” He smiled again. “I know you can’t resist this.”
We ate together and I admit, the food he prepared was great contradicting the ‘suck-y cooking’ his shirt says.
“So is this the Filipino thing you told me yesterday?” I helped him with the dishes.
“Not really, it’s a part of it. You know, just to warm you up. I suppose you liked it, didn’t you?” I didn’t answer because I didn’t want to flatter nor flatten him. “I take that as a yes.”
After washing the dishes I decided to take a bath and leave him there. When I was done, I saw him sitting perfectly on my couch. “You can go home now Filipino tutor-Mr. Patriot-or whatever. I have lots of movies to watch today.”
“Oh is that so?” He said like trying to imply something. I sat beside him and turned the TV on. But he stood in front of me, covering the TV and said, “Get up, couch potato. We have some more things to do.”
“Oh really?”
“Yes really. Now, get up.”
“I don’t believe you.” I played along.
But that didn’t help much because he scooped me in his arms like a bride and brought me outside. “You better believe me.”
The sun hit my skin and I didn’t like it. I looked at the man who carried me and again, admired his black orbs. A smile played on his lips and he said, “To start off, I’m glad you noticed one of Filipinos’ attributes. I see how attracted you are to my eyes, aren’t you?”
I just prayed that I heard him wrong.
