Chapter 41 - Infatuation

I've made up my mind to visit the Pho restaurant again the next day. But surprisingly, many customers came to my hot spring.

What is this?! Yesterday, I have no customers at all. And now I have plenty! It's like, fate itself is preventing me from jumpstarting my love life!

Ha! As if that would deter my iron will!

When all of the customers finally left, I took my chances and quickly went there to see her again, even if it's night time already.

Maybe, just maybe, they're still open and serving dinner.

But sadly, the restaurant is already closed when I got there.

Darn it! I didn't catch her leaving! That would have been the perfect opportunity for me to introduce myself and ask her out on a date!

Disappointed, I walked back to the bus stop. Oh well, just look on the bright side, Teslan. At least I earned some good money today. And I've got nothing to worry about. I got all the time in the world. I'll soon get my chance...

As approached the waiting shed, I heard a beautiful voice. A woman's voice.

As I looked ahead, I saw a musician singing and playing her acoustic guitar. There's a small crowd listening to her, enjoying her music. The case of her guitar is on the ground, open. Coins and a few bills are inside.

Wow... What she's doing is seriously hard! That takes a lot of confidence and guts!

I moved closer for a better look. I also want to hear what song she's singing.

"~There was a time in my life when I open my eyes and there you are. You were more than a dream, I can reach you and touch you, boy, that was long ago~"

What I saw blew my mind.

The musician is the cashier I saw yesterday! What luck! Lady Fortune is finally smiling upon me!

Gosh, Nikita is so amazing...

She's one hard-working girl... I can clearly see that she have a dream, and she's doing her best, giving it all she got to achieve it.

Who wouldn't fall in love with her...?

And just like that, she stole my heart.

I really didn't care.

I'm more than willing to give it.

I really, really wanted to approach her after she finished playing her song.

I really, really wanted to talk to her, and know her more.

But I can't.

Seeing her performing like that and talking to the people around here, I suddenly got shy and insecure.

I've got nothing to show her yet, so I just turned and walked away.

"Someday, I'll return to this waiting shed, put a lot of money in your guitar case, and sweep you off your feet. You don't need to play your music here anymore. I'll get you a record deal and studio myself!"

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I came back home a little bit late in the night. Seeing Nikita and her honest efforts to become a singer got me into thinking on how I can help her and earn big money fast. But I realized that most of my ideas are next to impossible. For example, Idea #1 - Buy a ticket in the lottery, win a million pesos, and all of my problems are solved. I'm made for life. I can buy my own house, buy a good wedding ring, and afford a simple wedding. It's a very easy idea to execute, right...?

As always, the odds are against me. A show in National Discoverer Channel with the title "Million to One" says that there's a higher chance for me to get struck by lightning than to have the winning lottery ticket in my hand. They highly recommend to just save my money rather than spend it on the lottery.

Killjoys...

Idea #2 - Write a novel and earn millions of dollars just like G.K. Rawring or G.K.K. Tokein.

Sadly, I already did that and failed.

And finally, Idea #3: Join the "Who Wants To Be A Billionaire?" Game Show and earn one billion pesos.

Unfortunately, I'm not the only one who have that idea. Thousands of people are falling in line just for a chance to join the game.

I'm not the only one who wants to be a billionaire.

Oh, I almost forgot. There are three critical requirements that needs to be fulfilled in order to enter the contest.

Number 1 - You must have a talent (Singing, Rapping, Dancing, Poetry, Acrobatics, Comedy, Acting, Etc.)

Number 2 - You must look pleasing in the eye of the camera.

And Number 3 - You must be smart enough to answer all those twelve random trivia questions correctly. Do you really think they'll just give away one billion pesos that easily? I don't think so.

Sigh...

I never had those three things...

Sigh...

What the heck happened to me...?

I used to have dreams like that girl! Like, becoming a CEO and creating the prestigious Server of Iris! Driving a Toyota GT 86 Sports Car! Buying a big house of my own and travel around the world!

I'm "Mr. Positive-Outlook-In-Life-Despite-The-Great- Depression" and "Mr. Fighting-Spirit-Against-The-Worst-Economic-Downturn-Of- The-Century" when I was in College! I always say, "My future's so bright, I need to wear sunglasses men!"

What on freaking earth happened to me...?

"Reality."

"Pride shall be thy downfall" is the exact proverb for me, huh...?

Now... I always think and even see that the future is bleak.

My future is bleak...

And this country is to blame not me! There's no available opportunity for me! (If my Dad hears that, he'll definitely hit my head and say "What you are today is the result of what you have done yesterday, Mister! Is there's anyone to blame, if there's anyone at fault, it's not this country! It's you! Because you always play games and didn't take anything more seriously!)

But... I graduated top of the class! Top marks with flying colors...

Sigh...

Still, I've been left out by my friends and classmates, and missed out a lot of good things in life...

I guess it's really my fault... I've should have been more better...

Should have pushed harder, worked harder, been "more outstanding"...

I opened the door to our house and closed it quietly. I don't want to wake my parents from their sleep.

I silently walked to the kitchen to eat dinner and finally go to sleep after watching an episode of "Erased" (Two thumbs up. This anime seriously rocks.)

But I really got surprised when I saw my Dad is still awake, drinking hot milk.

"Sup, son. Where you've been?"

"Oh, Hi Dad. I... Just visited someone."

I sat down on a wooden chair and started to eat my meal...

Dad is still up. I think this is the best time to ask him about it...

I really need his permission and wise counsel about this...

"Dad... Can I ask you something...?"

"If it's about that Dahon Iceblade Super Motorbike you've requested as a college graduation gift, no. I can never buy that bike. And you'll kill yourself with that thing."

"No! No! No! Man, that brought back some memories. That was a long time ago. It's not about that though. It's something else..."

"And what is it?"

"Well... I... Uhmm... Met this girl..."

"Huh... You actually found one? Son, not that I'm discouraging you but, you're barely earning. You don't even have a house of your own. And you have the audacity to date this girl? You'll hurt yourself boy."

Thanks Dad. I feel the love.

"I don't even believe that you actually met her. You don't have the backbone to approach a girl, you cute little invertebrate jellyfish. You're too immature for that kind of romantic love stuff. You're still watching those silly cartoons! Grow up man."

THANKS DAD. I REALLY FEEL THE LOVE. AND THOSE ARE NOT CARTOONS, THEY'RE ANIME. THERE'S A BIG DIFFERENCE.

"Joking aside, Teslan, I'm not saying that career, business, status, a house, the clothes he wears, or the car he drives, is what makes the man. I'm not saying that a high-paying career is all that's needed to start a romantic relationship. And I'm not saying that job and business and money is all that's needed in a romantic relationship for it to be successful. No. Heart, morality, conviction, integrity, and character is what makes the man. But job and money is still a prerequisite. It's just being 'practical', son. Practicality. If you really love someone, you don't want that person to suffer hardships and poverty, right?"

"Yes Dad..."

"And If you really 'love' someone, you'll give the very best to that person, am I right or am I right?"

There's actually no choice in the options of your argument, Dad.

"Yes-"

"Of course I'm right! So son, always remember and do what I told you before. What did I say? Do you still remember? Say it to me."

How can I forget? You told me hundreds of times throughout my whole lifetime.

"Yes Dad... True love waits..."

"That's right. True love waits. True love comes at the right place and in the right time."

"But Dad! I'm 27 years old already! I've been waiting for 27 years!"

"Hey!"

My Dad pointed a finger at me.

"You were born 27 years ago! More than a year or so, we enrolled you to kindergarten, then to prep, then to Grade 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and after that, four yours in college! You cannot and you're not allowed to have a girlfriend at that time of academic learning, Mister!"

"Okay! That's a given. But Dad, I've been single for six years! That's a very long time!"

"Actually, you've been single since birth."

"DAD!"

"Oh Boo-Hoo! You've been single for six years, you'll maybe stay single for the rest of your life, so what?! Who cares?!"

"DAD!!! I CARE! FOR MY OWN SAKE!"

"You're just twenty-seven years old, son. You're still young. Don't rush it. Wait until you get thirty. In your case, forty's my best bet so stop whining!"

GOSH DAD, I LOVE YOU TOO! I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!

Sigh...

After a few minutes of silence...

"So... Dad... do I have your permission to court a girl...?"

"NO."

"But-"

"If I gave you my permission, I'll bet a hundred bucks you'll ask me to me advance your birthday gift money for one of your silly, over cheesy dates. To shame, Teslan. To shame!"

At that point, I didn't speak anymore. I just slowly stood up and went to my room.

"But if you made a way to make your hot spring earn more money, maybe I'll change my mind."

A smile crept to my face.

"Thanks Dad!"

"Don't make me regret this!"