I'm about to tuck my self to bed then I noticed my cellphone flashes and buzzing. It's Ziggy's text message.
(Ziggy) Best, my date with Bettina will be this weekend, right, Valentine's day?
(Me) Yaps, Not so excited, huh!? Btw, what's with the attitude, the walkout, the thing you did in school?
(Ziggy) Yes, I'm excited, and that one? I just got tired of your annoyances, that's all.
(Me) Oh really? You're so moody!
(Ziggy) Wait, what time should we go this weekend?
(Me) What we? It's your date, and I'm out of it.
(Ziggy) And who will take our pictures?
(Me) You, of course, selfie. I got here a monopod, and you can use it.
(Ziggy) No! you will come with us, or I'm not going.
(Me) OMG, I can't imagine, with such a manly physique, you still need a chaperone?
(Ziggy) Remember, it's your idea. You forced me to do it. If you're not coming, then I won't help you with your SG president campaign next school year.
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(Ziggy)Hey! Not replying?
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(Ziggy) Are you asleep?
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(Ziggy) Whatever, but I'm telling you, you got to come if you don't want to be called an incompetent leader. I'll dare you. You'll gonna lose your backstory.
(Me) Yeeeezz boss... I'm so sleepy already, and you are such an interruption.
(Ziggy) Hehe, okay, goodnight, my best.
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It's the night before Valentine's Day. The night before Ziggy and Bettina's date. As I'm staring at myself in front of the mirror, the pair of deep-seated dark brown eyes sparkle with the reflection of the dim light of my lampshades. She sure looks deep in thought, yet her emotions are unreadable. Those minds are busy winding back every image, every situation that had happened in the past few days.
Especially that moment when Ziggy walked out, I've been trying to pay no notice of it, but it just won't get out of my thoughts. There's something in it that I want to perceive more. I'm not contented with his reason when he said he just walked out because I annoyed him. It sounds so irrational and shallow. Then suddenly, something came across my mind. One word I truly remembered that I mentioned is the word "jealous," which makes me find my reflection agape; my eyes widened, and like soliloquizing on some realization.
"OMG! Could my best friend have feelings for me? And that's maybe why he acts that way and wants me to go with them because it's really me he wants to be with for Valentine's day? Eeeeh!! I let out a restraint shrill with such romantic impulse.
"But how can it be possible? He also seems to like my cousin, Bettina. It's got to be complicated, and I know Bettina has had a crush on him ever since. She might hate me for it, if ever. Besides, I'm happy and contented with my and Zig's present relationship. And if ever will happen that our relationship will turn into something more romantic, then everything's gonna be different, more complicated, and more sensitive. One LQ might ruin our friendly relationship, and losing it scares me more. I'd rather have us be friends forever and not break up.
The most awaited moment finally arrived—Valentine's Day. Day for Ziggy and Bettina's date, I am busy with some preparation, as I'm arranging a flower bouquet for their date. Somebody just put an arm around my shoulder. And it was Ziggy, and he looked so graceful and handsome in a slim-fit, cotton, 3/4 polo shirt, tucked in with a leather belt and a faded pair of jeans.
"Hey, Best, what's that?" He asked.
" Bouquet, and you're going to give this to Bettina the moment you see her," I explained to him with both hands busy tying ribbons on it.
"Is there really such a thing? Is it really necessary?" His voice and expression displayed dubiety.
"Do it, okay? What's wrong with just handing this flower over to her?" And I did it again, pushing him into something.
"Then okay, as you wish, remember I'm doing this for you. And by the way, here's for you." With a rose and a Toblerone chocolate, and conveying it finely unto me.
I'm losing my breath with surprise, but I strive not to be obvious. "Wow, I'm so lucky to have such a sweet friend. You're so sweet, as sweet as your chocolate. Geez! I don't have anything for you, and I'm so sorry!"
He holds me by the shoulder and gently squeezes it. "Best, you have already given me your Valentine gift."
"What? No, I haven't."
"Yes, you have. Didn't I ask you to come with us today? And you did. That's enough is the best gift that I can ask for." Cunningly pinching my chin as his tantalizing eyes meet mine makes me lose myself in a moment. Waiting for him to surprise me more with a kiss. A kiss!?
I blink to wake myself from my weird fantasy. Umm, I think we should get going. Bettina's probably waiting." I walk ahead of him.
Ready to go, in a taxi cab. I tend to ride in the front, but Ziggy insisted on letting me join them in the back seat. Got us compressed ourselves with each other, him in the midst. We got a not-so-chatty ride when I suddenly felt Zig's hand secretly holding mine, while Bettina was busy with her cellphone and completely unaware.
Flabbergasted, befuddled, and nervous struck me. OMG! Can my suspicions be true? What will I do? I was in deep thought when Bettina broke the silence. " Hey! Cloe, On what restaurant were we booked for a reservation?"
Confused and uneasy, I abruptly pulled my hands from Zig. "Umm, we're going to dine at Yakimix. It's at SM Seaside. It's a do-it-yourself grill, so it's kind of cool, and it's gonna take a lot of time grilling. Therefore, you can both have a lot of time to talk." But I noticed Ziggy's disapproving glance.
"Okay, so we're almost there." Bettina smiles as she agrees.
The place is not as crowded as when we arrived. Only a group of three female friends was near the entrance, and a family of five was not far from the counter. The place is massive, comfortable enough for a self-serving eat all you can grill.
We proceeded to the counter where various food to grill is displayed, and there were many choices of assorted sauces there, as well as some dessert. In a moment, Ziggy invited me, saying. "Come on, let's get some food."
I pushed him back to Bettina. "You both go first, and I'll be there in a while. I'm still confused about what to get, such a lot to choose from."
"Don't take long." He nodded and kept on with Bettina to the counter.
Shortly after they picked up their food, they went towards the vacant table, just beside the wall. Ziggy raised his hand to notify me of the place they were going, for me to follow after.
The truth was, I had already chosen what to get from the food displayed in front of me. Pork roll-on vegetables, garlic sausage, and beef in the marinade. It's just that my real intention is not to join them, but to give them some space.
Instead of sitting with them, and without a single glance, I go straight to a vacant table at the corner, far enough from them. Hoping that they too will not notice me and enjoy some quality time with each other. This is supposed to be their date anyway. Besides, if I'm right with my suspicions about Zig's feelings, his attention might shift towards me, and the situation will be a mess for my credibility in this project.
I'm the one who suggested and led to creating this program (The Blind Dating Game). Then it will just turn out that I will be the one dating? It would look ridiculous and might ruin my reputation- the reputation that I conserved so much.
I'm busy figuring out the situation while savoring my food. I failed to discern Ziggy's presence, sitting just across mine. His gaze fixed on me, maybe in confusion or just being annoyed again, puckered his brow. "Why did you sit here?" He asked.
"Do you really have to ask? I sat here to give you some space. It's your date, remember?" I continued nibbling some beef.
He looked displeased as he said, "What the. . . I didn't agree to come just to date with Bettina. Haven't I told you I'd rather not come here if you are not here? I want to take advantage of this moment to tell you this, Chloe, and I've been preparing for this for so long. I don't want to be your best friend anymore. I-I want to be your lover. Please be my girlfriend."