Chapter 15

The sound of the hair blower in the bathroom is the latest "first" in Cela's place. This is the first time that she's fixing her hair too. Today's meeting with Nate is should be without expectation but more of acceptance and closure but she wants to be a beautiful memory to him.

Looking at herself in mirror, many questions come to her mind. It may sound as regret but one of the things she asks herself is why she never found the time to find Nate much earlier before even if he's always in her memory. Why only now when it's already late?

Nate checks his looks in the camera of his phone. Like Cela, he knows this meeting should never more than something friendly. It's to provide closure for that one thing that is still roaming around his head silently and will never go away by simply ignoring. He has to face it and close it before moving on to a wonderful life that's waiting for him and that he deserves.

It's Sunday morning and most of the families coming to the park are attending church services. The park is more quiet than it's usually is most days of the week.

Nate arrived early.

"Hello!" He greeted Cela as soon he saw her enter the gate of the park. She waved at him. She looks more relax now.

"Are you sure no one is coming any minute now to get you in the car?" he asked implying what happened before.

"I left an instruction to the guard to not let anyone bother us today," she joked.

As usual, they sit on the extreme sides of the bench.

"Don't you realize that we've been meeting here every day this past week?" she asked.

"I know. And it's funny that we didn't even plan to meet, let alone here," he said.

"That's why I agreed to do this. Maybe, there really is something that we need to settle now and right here," she said.

"So, how do we even start?" he asked.

"Umm…maybe you have questions you want to ask me about that day?" she replied.

"It's kind of a boring because we already know why," he said.

"Wait. What if we imagine what could've happened that day if my mother didn't interfere and there were no other people around?" she suggested.

"Like it was just the two of us here? No obstacles and we just go straight to what should have happened?" he asked.

"Yeah but I think that's kind of a boring, don't you think?" she said.

"I agree. There have to be spices in everything. It's different if there's struggle somewhere in between as compared to getting to your goal straight," he said.

Both turned to each other and smiled. They are starting to agree to each other's opinion.

"How do we really want to go about it?" she asked.

"I don't know. You are the writer," he said.

"And so?" she asked.

"You think. You write," he said.

"Okay. So you mean, I'm the boss. And as one, I say I run quickly and reach this bench even before my Mom's car can enter this park," she started.

"And then as her car entered, two of the tires ran on something sharp and got flat. It suddenly stopped," he added.

"Oh, I don't think I like that," she commented. "Gosh, this is harder than I thought."

"So, let's say you got here because your Mom was late to come so she couldn't do much trouble about about our meeting," he said.

"Okay, that sounds better. It's like she learned about late and she couldn't do anything anymore," she said.

"Yes, and by the time you arrived, I just finished my sketch of this place," he said with excitement in his tone.

"Timing!" She feels the excitement too.

"It was my first present for you," he said.

Cela didn't expect it. She's silent for a moment and lets him lead the imagination that he seems to be enjoying.

"And I was happy?" she asked.

Nate looks to her with a nice smile. "Yes. In fact, you're about to cry because of so much happiness," he said.

"Oh, really?" she asked. "Your imagination is over the top!"

"It's fun!" he said.

"But I didn't bring you anything," she said.

"It's alright. Your presence was enough," he said.

It's just Nate's imagination but Cela felt it too. She's silent for a moment.

"You okay?" he asked.

"Yeah. Let's continue. It's getting fun like you said," she said.

"Were there things about me that you wanted to ask me then?" he asked.

The question came as a surprise for her.

"Got it. I knew I wasn't really interesting to you," he said.

"Oh that's not true. It's just that, I was so naïve about dating that I didn't know how to handle it as a teenager," she said.

"So we were dating back then?" he instantly asked.

Cela blushed. Her heart suddenly beats fast. She's caught off guard.

"Were we? It's okay if I was just mistaken," she said defensively.

"You know that you said that, I'm relieved now that we were both aware that we dated before," he said with a naughty smile. "Yes, we did."

Cela is relieved too but still embarrassed.

"I know it's too late to ask but for the sake of imagining of what could have been, I would want to know the basics – your favorite colors, songs, food – small things like those," she said.

Nate smirked. "Okay, for colors, black or white. Food is any street food. Song? I am not really into it. I can jam but I don't have any particular favorite songs even now," he answered. "Basic information are no less information."

"Exactly. I agree," she said.

"Pink has always been your favorite color, right?" he asked.

"Oh yeah. Like now. Smart guess," she said. She's actually surprised that he noticed that and not to mention - flattered.

"Guess? That's obvious. Your earphones were pink and so was your bag. Well, not entirely pink but most of your things back then were pink," he said.

Cela tries to calm herself. It's heart fluttering to know that someone had been observing her.

"Food – I have no idea but for sure you have one. All I remember was you only had sandwiches for lunch. And I never saw you eat in the canteen," he told her.

Cela agreed. "Caldereta is my all-time favorite. In fact, Nanny Rita just sent me a big bowl yesterday," she said.

"Songs – honestly, I couldn't tell. I wish I was able to ask," he said. "Actually, I thought you were listening to whatever was available in your gadget because the truth was, you just didn't want to be bothered by anyone," he added.

"But you were persistent," she said.

"Oh that's a nice word. I thought you'd say I was annoying," he said.

"I was being polite," she said.

They laugh and the mood continues to lighten.

"Listen, I must say that I really appreciate that you noticed those simple things about me," she said.

"Because I was really interested in you," he said without holding back.

Their eyes met for a moment before she lowered her head to avoid his eyes. How come knowing someone's basic information like their favorites can make her heart dance.

He is still looking at her as if waiting for her reaction.

"Well, thank you. Was that the right thing to say when someone's said he's interested in you?" she asked.

Nate smiled. "Should be fine, I guess. No one has ever said that to me so I am not sure," he said.

They look at each other for a moment once again.

"You've got rosy cheeks," he said.

Cela's eyes got bigger. "I only put skin tone face powder," she said while covering her cheeks.

"What's the matter?" he asked seeing her suddenly looking uncomfortable.

"Nothing," she said but she feels her cheeks have really turned red.

Nate couldn't keep his smile. "So you really are blushing because you're not wearing make up," he said as if teasing her.

"But why would I blush?" Cela asked. She's caught off guard but ironically, it feels okay. She's at home with him again just like before.

"I don't see anything bad about that. It actually looks good on you," he said.

"Please stop now," she said. She just can't stand the compliments.

Nate realized that he might be causing her some stress. He knew from way back that she wasn't good at handling situations where she was the main subject of whatever topic.

"I'm sorry. You're right. I should stop now," he said.

"It's okay. I'm still learning to handle this kind of situation but I should be fine," she said.

She chose not to tell him again that she appreciated him being mindful of her condition.

"Brave girl," he said.

Cela smirked. "Me? Girl? I'm tired of being treated like one," she asked.

"I'm sorry. That's the last image of you that I knew before the long period that we hadn't seen or heard from each other. I'd always remembered you that way until I saw you again," he explained.

"You have an alibi. I accept that," she said.

"Isn't it nice. This moment?" he asked.

"It is! Actually, I'm happy to see once again the version of you that I knew from back then," she said.

"Oh, I have a new version?" he asked.

"Yeah. You seemed stiff and a little cold when we were meeting unplanned last week but I could understand that pretty well. We have a different situation now," she answered.

"Thank you for trying to understand. I didn't intend to be anything but natural," he said.

"And the best thing is she knows about me and that there's nothing to worry about," she said.

Something must have come to him after she said that Nina had nothing to be worried about.

"How about you? Is there someone who would be jealous? I'm sorry. It completely slipped off my mind. I should've asked before inviting you here today," he said.

Cela's mind has a thousand reasons to say to him but can't say any of it.

"I hope there's nothing for anyone to worry about," he said.

She just nodded. It's best not to give an answer.

"Are we still okay?" he asked.

"Yeah," she replied. "Where are we now in our imagination?"

The sun is already high but the air is still cool. Soon, it will be lunchtime.

"Can we continue this in my car? I mean the back of my car. I parked it under a tree facing this view," he suggested.

"Oh, so we are not going to finish before lunchtime?" she asked.

Nate's eyes seem pleading. "I hope we could stay here a little longer," he asked. "I bought some drinks and snacks."

Cela thought for a moment. "Yeah. I'm okay with that. It should be fine," she said.

As a teenager dreaming of being on a date, she got ideas from books and other reading materials that a date must be romantic. She would imagine herself being picked up from home and taken to a fancy restaurant for a nice dinner that actually does not involve a lot of eating but more drinking and conversation.

As she matured a little, her idea of a good date turned in to a nice casual dinner followed by watching movie in cinema and then some coffee to cap off the night.

Eventually, her idea of dating became going on picnics or trips to the beach.

As Nate prepares the back of his car for a cozier set up, she realized how them being together never gets fancier than mere meet ups like the one they're having today. A nice lunch would make a wonderful memory of this day but this is all he could do for her. Despite that, she's thankful. She certainly understands his situation and where she stands in it.

And they are not on a date anyway.