Please follow @beeyotchupdated on twitter for real time tweet if any story got updated. Thank you. 

#NY06 Chapter 06

It has been unbelievably long since I'd been on a date. The last date I went to was with Sean—and that was easy because we'd been friends for the longest time, and I was really comfortable with him. I could show up in a shorts and shirt and we'd have a good time.

But with Eli? I wasn't sure.

I was feeling all kinds of pressure even though I knew that he'd probably be fine with whatever I wear.

"Niles," I called when I saw her on the hallway.

She stopped while she was holding a cup of milktea. "Yup?"

I took a deep breath. I felt embarrassed even to ask her this, but I didn't want to look overdressed or underdressed. I was the one who initiated the date.

"Can I ask you something?"

"Sure!" she replied, smiling. "Ano'ng meron?"

I looked down and I felt like what I was wearing was appropriate, but it wouldn't hurt to have another opinion.

"So... I'm going on a date—"

Her eyes widened. "What?! Seryoso?! Move on ka na kay—" she said and then paused and called Yanyan. "Sorry, pwede bang isama si Yanyan sa conversation? Promise, hindi niya ipagkakalat."

I looked at Yanyan and smiled. "Sure," I said. I always see Yanyan out on dates, so I guess I could really use her help, too.

"So, sino ka-date mo, Kelsey?" Niles asked.

Yanyan's eyes widened. "OMG! Kayo na ulit ni Doc Sean?!"

My eyes widened, too. "No!" I quickly said because rumors travel fast in the hallways of this hospital. I needed to put a stop to that pronto.

"Sino ka-date mo?" Yanyan asked.

"Eli."

"Ooh, sounds yummy! Doctor din? Nako, Kelsey, unsolicited advice pero lumayo ka sa mga Neuro—napaka-sakit sa ulo ng mga iyon! Akala mo regalo ng Diyos sa sangkatauhan," Yanyan she said.

"Grabe ka naman! 'Di naman ganon si Marcus," Niles interjected. They argued for a while and I just stood there silently until they reached an agreement that Marcus wasn't like that—whatever they meant.

"So, doctor ba?" Yanyan asked again.

I just shook my head. "No. He's a teacher."

Yanyan cooed. "Awww. Teacher Eli!" she said.

I just smiled.

This conversation was starting to feel weird.

"Saan ba date niyo?" Yanyan asked. She asked a hundred of questions while dragging me to the quarters. They made me sit down while Niles began to straighten my hair and Yanyan asked for my make-up kit.

This was weird, but also nice.

Ever since the whole fiasco with Sean, I kind of avoided my friends. They just wouldn't stop talking about Sean and I was really over that already. I knew that most of them have a crush on him, but if they really wanted him, they should go talk to him and not me.

"Ang ganda, Kelsey. Parang ready ka na rin sa canonization mo," Yanyan said, but Niles quickly hit her arm. "Aray naman! Bakit ba? Parang anghel kasi vibes nitong si Kelsey! Sakto pa na white button dress iyong suot niya."

Niles and Yanyan walked me out even though I told them that I could walk myself out.

"Gusto mo ba ng dating tips? Hindi naman sa pagmamayabang, pero master na ako sa dating," Yanyan rather proudly said.

"Totoo 'yan, Kelsey. Kung school lang ang dating, may PhD na 'yang si Yanyan sa pakikipagdate."

I just smiled.

"Tip number 1: alamin mo agad iyong political stance niya kasi alam mo 'yun? Auto pass sa mga apolitical—unless apolitical ka rin... so I guess at least may common ground kayo?"

I shook my head. "I'm not apolitical," I replied. I just don't like posting online—I don't post anything. But I have lots of opinion regarding politics... more so when I did my internship in a public hospital. That really opened my eyes to the realities of this world. The health sector is really screwed.

Both of them just nodded.

Yanyan continued with her speech—and she was far from done when we reached the lobby. I smiled at them and thanked them both. They told me to go have fun.

Eli and I agreed to meet in this cute little café in BGC. I parked my car and walked towards the café. I immediately spotted Eli sitting on the patio of the café. I was about to wave at him, but he looked so deep in his thoughts. He was murmuring something, but too bad because I couldn't read lips... But he definitely looked nervous... and cute.

I stood there for a few seconds. I was torn. I wanted to give him time to... rehearse whatever he was saying, but also, I didn't want to look like a creep here and stare at him.

And the sun was scorching.

Taking a deep breath, I started to walk towards him.

"Hi," I said, smiling. I straightened the imaginary crease on my dress. Why was I nervous? He's already nervous! We couldn't be nervous together!

"Hi..." he replied, immediately standing up upon seeing me. He even almost fell on the ground because of how quickly he stood up.

"I'm sorry I'm late."

"Hindi," he said, pulling a chair for me. I thanked him. "Maaga lang ako dumating... Nasira kasi iyong sasakyan ko kaya nagcommute lang ako. Natakot akong ma-traffic kaya napaaga," he continously said and then smiled uneasily. "Sorry, ang dami kong nasabi agad."

I smiled back. "No, it's okay. How's your mom?" I asked again.

Eli didn't have to, but he was very detailed on telling me about his mom's recovery. I just quietly listened as he talked. He wasn't asking me about my professional opinion, so I just sat there and listened as a friend—or as his date. I didn't know. This was all new and frankly, quite confusing.

"Ang dami kong nasasabi," he said.

"It's okay," I replied with a smile. "Do you want me to talk, too?"

"Please," he said... more like begged.

I chuckled as I began to tell him some stories about my work—those that I could talk about. I was pleasantly surprised because he seemed to be enjoying my stories. When I was dating Sean, we rarely talked about work because we're already both so drained with that so we just talk about movies and books and random things. But with Eli, he makes it feel like everything that comes out of my mouth was fascinating.

"Grabe, totoo pala iyong mga ganon? Akala ko sa mga palabas lang," he said after.

I reached for the glass of water. "Well, oftentimes, reality is stranger than fiction."

The waitress got our order and we continued to talk. He told me stories about the kids in school—but he didn't tell me stories about Sammie because he said that that would be betraying Sammie's privacy. I agreed. She's my kid, but that didn't mean that I had the right to know everything about her.

We were both so immersed with our stories that it was quite a surprise that 4 hours already passed.

"Sorry, nalimutan ko iyong oras," he said. "May duty ka ba?"

"Yeah," I said as I got my wallet.

"No, ako na," he said.

"No, we can split the bill—"

"Pinaghandaan ko 'to, e," he said as he quickly snatched the bill from me. "Sa next time na lang iyong hati tayo. Ako may sagot sa first date," he continued, but he averted his gaze as his face began to redden.

I pursed my lips because I didn't want him to feel more embarrassed because he looked so cute while he's blushing.

"Okay, on the next date, we'll split the bill," I said.

"May next date," he said, his eyes still on any other object rather than me.

I nodded. "Unless you don't want to?"

His eyes quickly looked into mine. "May next date," he said, sounding panicked.

I chuckled a little. He's so adorable. "Okay. There's a next date," I replied, and he looked relieved.

Eli walked me to my car.

"Ingat sa pagda-drive," he said.

"Thank you. Text me when you get home?"

"Okay, pero dadaan pa ako sa bookstore," he said. "Bibili pa akong materials—ay, sorry. Minsan, sabihin mo kapag sumu-sobra na iyong sinasabi ko."

I immediately shook my head. "No, feel free to tell me anything."

He still looked nervous. "Sigurado ka? Kinakabahan kasi talaga ako sa harap mo kaya 'di ko napipigilan iyong bibig ko. Minsan sobrang dami kong sinasabi, minsan walang lumalabas. Tulad ngayon bakit hindi pa ako tumi-tigil sa pagsasalita?"

A smile formed on my face.

He's too adorable.

"It's okay," I said. "Talk as you please—I'm a captive audience of one."

He blinked.

I stared at him.

Okay... how do we end this date? We were standing in the middle of the parking lot. Sure, there were no people around us, but this was still a very public place.

"So... I need to go back to work," I said.

"Galingan mo—" he said, and then paused.

I chuckled. "I will." He looked like he wanted to punch himself. "Eli?" I asked. He looked at me, his eyes looked nervous as he waited for whatever I would say... but I just planted a kiss on his cheek and then quickly got inside my car and just as quickly drove away.

Okay, what was that?

* * *

The second date was so good that a third date was inevitable.

But the third date was equally good, so there was a fourth date.

I didn't know that it was possible to have this much fun with someone!

"Ready?" I asked. Eli planned this date. We usually just go to a café and talk about random things, but for tonight, he booked this place where we can choose a cake to bake, and we can use all the ingredients and the oven in the place. Eli rented the whole place, so we were alone. I kinda felt guilty because I knew that he's the one paying for his mom's maintenance and I knew how expensive that can be.

"Ano'ng prize ko kapag panalo ako?"

"You really need a prize?"

"Syempre, pinaghirapan ko 'tong cake."

"Fine. What prize?"

"Pag-iisipan ko muna," he said, grinning.

"Yeah, don't bother because I'm pretty sure I'll win," I replied, but he only laughed at me.

"Ang yabang, Doc Kelsey," he said.

I shrugged. "I speak the truth, Teacher Eli."

"Fine," he said. "Sabay nating ipatong iyon cake sa counter in 3, 2, 1," he continued and then we both placed our cakes. My lips parted when I saw his cake! His was so simple, but it was also so adorable! It looked a little bit rustic!

I frowned as he examined my cake with my stupid flower icing.

"Fine, you win," I said.

He laughed. "Pikon matalo, Kelsey?"

"What prize do you want?" I asked as I stared at his cake. "Also, can I take your cake home?" Because his looked pretty!

"Okay," he replied. "Kainin natin 'yung gawa mo. Saan mo gustong magdinner? Iyong cake mo na lang iyong sa dessert."

"I don't know. Let's just decide as we walk," I said. "What's the prize?"

Eli looked at me as I got the box and fixed it so that I could put the cake inside. He was silent for a few seconds, so I looked at him and I nervously laughed at the intensity of his stare.

"What?" I asked as I was making sure the box was good.

"Kelsey," he said.

"Yes?" I replied, my forehead slightly creased.

"Pwede bang... iyong prize ko..."

I stopped what I was doing at stared at him. "What do you want—" I said, but stopped when he took a step closer. I gulped at the proximity. I blinked when I was reminded of how good he smelled. "Eli—"

But my words were forgotten into oblivion when I finally felt his lips on mine. 

*** 

This story is already finished on Patreon (patreon.com/beeyotch)