V-Day

I still remember it vividly. It was Valentines a few years ago. I called in sick so I could plan ahead of time. You had school the whole day and it was perfect. I woke up early and to go to the mall to buy the things that I needed for a perfect V-day date with you. It was after all, my first real V-day date with someone I love. 

In the mall, I found lovers everywhere. I snickered and told myself that I too will have my share of that mushy loving feeling later in the day. I grabbed the perfect stuffed toy for you - it was the biggest and cutest bear I could find. I went to the shirt store to buy the bear a shirt - I found a pink shirt. I also found buttons with "I Love You" written on it to match. I was in perfect V-day commercial mode.

I looked endlessly for the perfect flowers. I heard my phone ringing, it was you. I took the call. You heard noise in the background and asked where I was. I told you I was at the mall looking for something.

 "No flowers!", you exclaimed.

I laughed.

"Yeah, of course. What made you think I'd get you flowers?", I replied.

I breathed a sigh of relief. Finally, I can let go of flowers even though I had already imagined how you would have looked like when you received a dozen long-stemmed red roses on V-day. I knew you were a sucker for romance even if you don't say it. I finally decided to get you something else. Balloons and tons of chocolates!

I had everything planned out. Dinner at Gateway, then a movie. Coffee while strolling in the park. It would be perfect. It would be the best V-day ever. It would be my first.

You arrived at my place a few minutes after six. I told you I had something for you. You smiled. You found the bear sitting beside the TV wearing a pink shirt with the "I Love You" button pinned on it. You laughed when you saw the bear holding three heart-shaped balloons and a bag of chocolates - all of your favorites. I saw your eyes glistened. Were those tears forming in your eyes? I smiled. You hugged me tight and kissed me on lips. 

"Tarantado ka talaga!", you exclaimed.

I was just too happy to have made you cringe. 

I told you we're having dinner at Gateway. You smiled. We boarded a cab and proceeded directly to the mall. Gateway then was the place to be seen so we both decided to wear red. Who cares if people would look at us in a weird way. We were in love and it was our day. 

I felt stupid for not calling ahead of time to make a reservation. Who knew that people actually go out on a date on V-day? I was of course clueless. We were both pissed and hungry. It was good that we found this high-end Japanese restaurant within the vicinity. I did not really care how much  a meal would cost, I was hungry! As we entered the restaurant, we both heard our song.

"Moon river... wider than a mile..."

It gave us both goosebumps. 

"Hon, pati ba naman to, pinlano mo?", you asked.

"Of course!", I was laughing. 

I took credit for something that I totally did not have a hand in. We ordered the works - soup to sake, both hot and cold. You told me it was your first time to eat a Japanese restaurant. I was just too happy to have gotten it right. We were full to the brim after dinner. It was fun.

We had to catch the movie in a few minutes - Phantom of the Opera. The place was full of lovers holding hands. You drew me closer to you and you held my hands. 

"Thank you...", you whispered to my ear.

"It's not yet over...", I told you.

Coffee was next. We walked around the mall while sipping our grande mochas. As usual, we were laughing beyond control. The night was so magical that the mall became our park. The lights flickered around us. The air was cold and breezy. The stars were out and the moon, the moon was shining. It was our perfect night until we heard...

"TAHOOOOOOOOoooo...."

We both looked surprised.

"Hon, you want taho? My treat...", you asked.

I was almost close to tears. 

"Yes, please...", I replied.

As we were both sipping our cups of taho by the curb, you placed on your arm around my neck and whispered, 

"Hon, thanks for everything, I had fun. Sorry, taho lang ang kaya ko now eh..."

I smiled and looked at you in the eyes.

"Gago, hindi pa tapos...", I said.

As I tried to hold back my tears, I found myself whispering...

"The taho only made it more special..."

P.S. Of course, the night did not end with taho by the curb but I guess it's easy to figure out what happened next - it was a blast! This year, I am not planning for anything on V-day. I am, after all, single by choice. It's just fun to look back on my first and only real V-day date, so far.