All the girls went to my house the following day. It was like having the make-over part two. It was fun, actually, to have girl friends around to play with make-ups and dresses. I never had to experience that before.

My mom was equally excited for us. She even helped us with dressing up. She also knew about our ‘group date’ with Benjamin and his friends.

Last night, when Alicia and Robyn had dropped me home, Robyn immediately greeted dad and asked his permission for me to go with them to the amusement park. And Robyn really had a way with subtely convincing other people to agree with her. I was surprised that dad agreed. Of course, he was hesitant to give me permission at first.

“Pa, payagan mo na si Alex. Nasa malapit lang naman ang amusement park,” mom had told dad. “At saka good girl at responsible naman ang anak natin. Alam niya ang kanyang mga limitations. Hindi ba, anak?”

So this morning, my room looked as if a typhoon had stormed in and different clothes were scattered on the bed and floor.

“Dapat maganda ang outfit mo,” Robyn said. Joey chose a pair of gray pants and black hoodie. The girls shook their heads at her choice. They then agreed for me to wear a floral print shorts matched with a plain white blouse and pale pink cardigan, and paired with ballet flat shoes. I wasn’t used to wearing skirts, girly shorts and blouses –I was more of the jeans and shirts kind of a girl, like Joey. But Alicia and Madie said I looked nice. For the occasion, Madie curled the ends of my hair and left the rest of my hair down. They also removed my glasses and mom had me wore my contacts. Madie also copied ate Rachel's technique of "barely there" make-up.

"'No make-up' make-up look tawag dito sabi ni ate Rachel. Light lang na make up na parang natural look lang," Madie explained. "Tama lang daw ito para sa age natin."

Mom went upstairs to check on us. She was even more excited than me. She said I was like a caterpillar coming out of a cocoon and turning into a beautiful butterfly. Daniel, my kid brother, stuck his finger in his throat and made barfing sounds. So I threw a pillow on his face, but he just laughed and ran, yelling, “Yucks! Si ate pa-girl. Eeew!”

Little brothers –they’re annoying and yet adorable at times.

“Anak! Andito na sundo niyo,” dad’s voice boomed from downstairs.

The girls, and even mom, ran to the living room, their excitement was oozing from every pore of their bodies. Really. We were just going out.

I took the stairs one step at a time, anxious that Benjamin might not like the way I look. I was almost at the bottom of the steps when I saw dad was standing with his arms crossed over his chest with his feet planted apart, giving Benjamin an intimidated glare.

“Ano ang pangalan mo? Sino ang mga magulang mo? Alam ba nila na andito ka ngayon? Hindi ba masyado pa kayong bata para magdate? I’m watching you…” I heard dad said. Geez. I rolled my eyes.

My sudden movement might have caught Benjamin’s eyes for he suddenly took an intake of breath and slowly exhaled while saying, “Wow.” A blush warmed my cheeks. The countless hours of torture at the hands of mom and my friends during make-over round two was so worth it.

Dad turned his head and when he saw me, he looked as if he was about to cry!

“Ngayon ko lang napansin. Dalaga na pala ang anak ko,” he said. He turned again to face Benjamin and resumed his military bearing. “Alagaan mo ang anak ko at mga kaibigan niya. Alam ko ang takbo ng mga lalaking kabataan ngayon. Kapag hindi mo inuwi ang anak ko sa tamang oras…”

It was hilarious to see Benjamin swallowing and cowering before my dad. Benjamin Lucero, one of the most popular guys in school, the cool and sought after crush ng campus, and member of the Blue Knights, afraid of my dad.

“Pa, ‘yan ang napapala mo sa kakapanood ng mga teleserye, eh,” I joked.

Mom chuckled and thankfully intervened. “Pa, male-late na sila. Siga na, umalis na kayo. Enjoy!”

Did I ever mention how cool my mom was?

We were going to use two cars: One belonged to Alicia’s father with kuya Anton, their family chauffer, as our driver; and the other was Benjamin’s. I was about to join Alicia in her car when suddenly Robyn grabbed my arm and pushed me inside Benjamin’s car.

“Diyan ka. Samahan mo si Mads,” she said with a wink.

I glanced at my side where Madie was already seated, wearing a scowl on her face. Dave was beside her, sitting near the door.

“Lumayo ka nga ng kaunti sa akin, geek,” he was telling Madie. “Baka mahawaan ako ng geekiness mo.”

Madie looked as if she was ready to commit murder.

Benjamin sat beside me and closed the door. “Kuya Boyong, doon po tayo sa amusement park.”

There was an awkward silence inside the car. Dave and Madie were facing away from each other, with a clear disliking for each other on their faces. I was staring ahead. Benjamin was staring infront of him as well, but I could have sworn he was stealing glances at me when he thought I wouldn’t notice. I gave a small smile to myself.

Benjamin. THE Benjamin Lucero. One of the cool kids in school was sitting beside me, with less than half an inch of space between us. I could feel my stomach churning with so much nervousness and excitement at the same time. It was like this was something impossible to happen and yet it did happen. My very first date (well, sort of date). And it was with a popular and cute guy! If only everything were real…

We arrived half an hour later to our destination. Like I said, the amusement park was just near. From a far, I saw a girl waving her hand towards us. She was standing beside a boy who looked to be in a sullen mood.

We approached them and I later realized the girl was Francheska, the only nice member of the Pink Angels. And the boy was Arthur. This could be Alicia’s lucky day.

I was actually nervous the moment my friends decided to be scarce. Really why did they have to leave me alone with this awfuly cute guy? I mean, what would I do? I had no idea what to do! And my comrades had left me, giving me a wink, a thumbs up and a “good luck!” message. So much for the friendship!

So why did I feel nervous complete with knees buckling and hands turning cold? Simply because it was my very first time to have a sort-of date with a boy. I wasn’t sure what to do. What do you do in a date?

Last night, I was on the phone with Alicia. I had told her my problem.

“Hindi ko alam ang gagawin ko, Alicia,” I said to her last night. “First time ko… ano… lumabas na may kasamang mga boys.”

“Okay lang ‘yan, Alex. Kasama mo naman kami, eh. Hindi ka namin iiwan,” Alicia had said.

Now, however, they were nowhere in sight. What happened to “hindi ka namin iiwan”?

Benjamin cleared his throat. “Alexis?”

“Huh?”

“Are you okay?”

My knees were trembling; my palms were sweaty; my stomach was rumbling with too much nervousness, I was beginning to get afraid I might seek the comforts of the CR and deliver something nasty inside the toilet. And what would happen if he touched my hand and feel the slimes of my sweaty palm? Would he even touch my hand in the first place?

“Natatae ako sa sobrang kaba ko,” I said absent-mindedly more to myself than to him.

“Ha?”

“Ha?”

“Na a-ano ka?” he asked with a confused look on his face.

What did I just say? “Uhm, saan tayo?”

He suddenly smiled and said, “Tara, try natin ang mga rides. Gusto mo sa roller coaster?”

I already wanted to puke with too much anxiousness, and he wanted me to ride the roller coaster with him? “Sige…” I couldn’t exactly tell him I was on the verge of vomiting. I needed to act cool.

It was a near death experience once I stepped inside the cart of the roller coaster and the ride began. All the loops, turning and the “plunge of death” when the cart would drop from the highest track were nerve-wrecking. I thought my heart already jumped out from my mouth with my constant screaming of “ayoko na!”

That was so uncool.

But the coolest thing was, all those time I was screaming at the top of my lungs, Benjamin was laughing playfully at me while he held my hand and reassuring me I was safe.

Benjamin Lucero held my hand. For real. I could die and gone to heaven and it would be alright. Benjamin held my hand!

Snap out of it Alex! Why was I thinking like that?

When the ride ended, I thought my knees turned to jelly. My knees suddenly gave in and I was about to fall when I stepped out of the cart, but Benjamin was able to grab me by the waist and prevented me from making contact to the ground.

As I stared at his smiling eyes while he held me, I suddenly realized it wasn’t just my knees that wanted to give in and fall –my heart was already starting to fall as well.

***

#TheNerdClubAlexis
#AlexisAndTheBet