CHAPTER 9

JIN POV

Sa labas pa lang ng Fontte resort ay nakuha na ang atensiyon ko ng mga nagkalat na guards. Hindi siguro bababa sa trenta ang mga iyon. Dalawang araw na pinasarado ang lugar para sa mga guests dahil lamang sa date na to. Pati yung mga pribadong kalsada na tumutumbok patungo sa resort ay pinasarado rin para sa mga outsiders. I'd also heard that all staff were required to sign a confidentiality agreement.

Pagkapasok namin sa main gate ng resort ay bumungad sa akin ang daraanang may mga nakaarrange na rosas sa gilid. Sa tabi ng mga bulaklak ay nakahilerang mga kandilang may sindi. The sight looks familiar. I feel like I'm in a filming site of a romantic music video. Tumigil ang sasakyan sa main building ng resort. Sabay kaming bumaba ni Mr. Gun sa Lamborghini na ipinadala sa dorm ni Director Young.

Sinalubong agad kami ng receptionist. "Good evening sir. Welcome to Fontte Resort. This way please sir."

"I'll stay here," wika sa akin ni Mr. Gun.

Tumingin ako sa paligid ng malawak na lobby. "You'll be alone here. Is Director Young coming too?"

"No."

I feel a bit frustrated. Bukambibig siya lagi ni Mr. Gun and I knew that everything about this date was her idea. I thought I'm going to meet the meticulous director today too.

Dinala ako ng receptionist sa pool area. Pagdating doon ay napatunganga ako sa di ko inaasahang tanawin. The flickering lights of hundred candles were dazzling. A round dining table for two covered in white silky cloth with scattered petals of red roses on it is at poolside. The gleaming silver wares and candleholders make the table setting too romantic. The pool caught my attention next, nakalutang dito ang mga bulaklak na nakapatong sa kwadradong kahoy na may scented candle sa gitna. There are floating petals too on the water. There are petals and candles everywhere! I also noticed the heart shaped red carpet under the dining table with small yellow lights on the edges.

I laughed inside my head. This is overkill. What was Director Young thinking? We're here for a blind date not a wedding anniversary.

"Would you like to take a seat sir?" The receptionist gestured her hand to the table.

"Yes. Thank you."

"Ms. Young will be here soon."

"Alright. I'll wait."

"You want something to drink sir?"

"Thank you but maybe later. You can leave now, I'll just wait for Ms. Young," ngiti ko sa magalang na receptionist.

Habang hinihintay ang aking ka-date, naging abala ako sa pagkuha ng litrato sa paligid. I found the set up really amusing. This is quite a memory for my first blind date so I want to keep a souvenir.

"Uhmm...E-Excuse me, sorry if I just arrived."

Humarap ako sa nagsalita. It's Ms. Young. Dali-dali kong nilagay sa bulsa ang cellphone. I offered her a shake hand.

"Hi I'm Jin. Nice to meet you," yukod ko.

"Hi I'm Suzie. Nice to meet you too," yukod din niya. Malamig ang kanyang kamay na halatang kinakabahan. She's wearing a peach dress with white sling bag. Nakalugay ang mahaba at unat na buhok. She's smiling shyly. She looks like a cute innocent teenager girl and not a lady on her twenties.

I pulled the chair for her. "Have a seat."

She gently nodded. "Thank you."

Kampanteng naupo rin ako sa tapat niya. I stared at her with smile while she can't focus her eyes in one direction. Napansin ko ang kamay niyang nakapatong sa mesa na medyo nanginginig.

"Please feel comfortable. I won't bite you," pabirong saad ko.

"Ah yes. I'm sorry. I'm not used yet to this kind of formal meeting. D-Did you wait long? P-Pasensiya ka na madami pa kasing binilin sa akin ang ate ko kaya natagalan akong makaalis sa aming bahay," salita niya.

"Hindi naman ako gaanong matagal na naghintay. Besides, I'm enjoying the view kaya hindi ko rin napansin ang oras."

"Ah that's why you were taking pictures." She's very soft spoken.

"Yes," tatawa-tawang sagot ko sabay tingin ulit sa mga nakalutang na petals sa pool. "They are very romantic."

"But I found it quiet exaggerated."

Bagama't malumanay ang pagkakasabi ay hindi ko inaasahan ang diretsong opinyon niya.

"Pasensiya ka na sa ate ko. Ang totoo ay wala pa rin talagang experience sa pakikipag-date yun. Maybe she just got these ideas from the books she read."

"Ahh... that's a surprise. I thought she's well experienced in dating because she executed all the plan smoothly."

"That's just who she is. When she does something, she always make sure everything is perfect and spotless."

"I'm quite impressed too with her effort. Akala ko nga ay mami-meet ko rin siya ngayon," sabi ko.

"She's her. She's talking with Mr. Gun in the lobby. Hinatid niya ako but I guess she won't stay long. She's always a busy person."

Mabilis akong napatingin sa direksiyon patungo sa lobby. "Okay lang ba na iwanan kita kahit sandali lang dito. I just want to say hi to your sister. Gusto ko din lang magpasalamat sa effort niya."

"Sure go ahead. Bilisan mo lang baka makaalis na siya," medyo komportable na ang tono niya.

Tumayo ako at patakbong nagtungo sa lobby pero si Mr. Gun na lang ang naabutan ko doon.