Chapter 5 - The Big Night

Andie is very restless. She couldn’t concentrate on the lecture that the instructor is doing. She’s anxious to go out of the building, as she’s not sure if she will see Josh outside waiting for her. It seems like that’s the only thing in her mind the whole day. She’s afraid that all the days they’ve spent will just turn into a memory. That’s one of the things she knows will make her so frustrated if she still continues to see him. She knows for sure that it will suffer her momentum on the review.

She doesn’t know what to expect instead she held herself up and said that no more thinking, she really needs to stay away from him. But it confused her more.

Her heart pounds so fast as if it’s going to displace when she heard somebody called her name. When she turned around she saw Josh coming. It nearly rains and she’s firm enough to walk away from him. She walks across the other street going to another cafeteria when the rain pours. Josh was a bit damped by the drops of the rain so he hurried to catch her up while Andie covered herself with umbrella. Josh walks with her while Andie is not talking.

“Hi, Andie,” he said in a very calm voice. But Andie is not talking. She felt so hurt whenever she kept silent with Josh but she’s resisting her emotions.

They just walked along in silence when they approached the end of the road. Andie couldn’t think of where she’s going now, she then realized that she had walked on the wrong side of the street.

She’s still not talking. Josh is waiting for her reply. He stood behind her. He wants to hug her that moment but he couldn’t. When she’s about to speak, Josh started talking.

“I know, I’ve been such a bane of your existence, just tell me that you don’t want to see me and I’ll go. I couldn’t spoil your eagerness to pass the board exam, but please don’t spoil my life by not talking to me,” he said. “I can be more than happy if you tell me to leave but I will not tolerate that you’ll treat me cold,” he added.

Then finally she’s decided. Andie saw an FX coming, she’s lucky that she found another route where FXs pass, but she knows she couldn’t go yet without telling him what’s on her mind.

After she signaled the FX, she told him quick, “Pick me up on Saturday night at exactly 7 p.m., we’ll plan our date that night and go, bye.”

Josh’s eyes widened when he heard her. He’s not sure of what he heard but he knows it’s something about their date that she finally agreed on. He just waited until the FX is out of sight then he shouted a loud “yes” and started to jump and run toward his truck feeling so blissful.

He went home directly to tell Manang that Andie finally agreed on their date, which made her more excited. He read the next page of the story in the notebook. He also read the past writings he read from it, memorizing it, so he won’t screw their date up.

While still in the FX, Andie couldn’t believe herself that she impulsively agreed on their date and much more when she’s the one who gave him the idea of it.

It was only Tuesday when he told him about Saturday night’s date, so she still has three more days to back off, but for her, it’s a no no when you finally said yes to a guy for a date, but what she’s more anxious of is the guy not being serious on their date. She knows it happened to her a lot of times before that a guy asked her out but stood her up when their date is nearly approaching. She’s not sure about Josh but she’s yet to find out.

There came Wednesday afternoon. “I knew it, he’ll screw up! He’s just like some guy I knew, some other guy!” she said. “I’ll never ever talk to him anymore!” she added.

She really felt disappointed when she didn’t see him that afternoon. She then went home immediately when she felt that he didn’t come to see her, but she doesn’t know what exactly happens to Josh.

She already finished reading her books and all her routines at exactly 11 p.m. when her cellphone rang. She felt odd when she finds out that she’s not familiar with the number and it’s not saved on her phonebook.

“Hello?” she asked in a wondering tone.

“Hello, Andie?” the sound of a masculine guy on the other line shocked Andie.

“Yes, who’s this please?” she asked in an even more curious tone.

“Andie, this is Josh, I-I’m sorry I wasn’t able to catch you at the center a while ago. I was in a hurry but I still didn’t catch you up, I think I’m so late but I arrived there,” he defensively said.

“What are you talking about, I didn’t see you there, and you’re telling me you just came late?” she said in a disappointed tone. “And how did you get my number anyway, I don’t remember giving it to you?” she added.

“I just rushed to the hospital to get my ankle checked and x-rayed, I sprained it during our basketball game. I couldn’t walk much so Manang accompanied me to the hospital. I tried to catch you up as much as I can but I couldn’t step on the gas heavily as my foot hurt so much. I hope I didn’t disappoint you. I know you might think that I’m just playing with you, but our Saturday night’s date is still on no matter what happens even if I die that moment.” He told her on a firm voice.

Andie is shaking all over after hearing his words, as she felt so unreasonable to him. “Ah-I didn’t know that….forget what I said, you better rest now. Does that hurt still?” she asked in a concerned tone.

“Yes, a bit, and it’s swollen all over but I can handle this thing, I want to see you tomorrow so I will park at the same place at exactly 12 noon, so you better not be late,” he told her teasingly.

“Silly! You don’t have to see me tomorrow, you have to rest you know coz I don’t want to be carrying a guy on my back when he couldn’t walk on a Saturday night,” she said teasingly so. “Plus, you cannot get what you want if you lack strength,” she added.

Josh laughed so hard after he heard her stole his words.

“You know what? That’s one of the main reasons why I’m so fond of you,” he said while laughing.

“And now I think I’m beginning to get used to your lame words, ha ha ha!” she said after releasing a hard laugh.

That night seems to be one of the greatest talks they had. Andie knows it’s going to be the start of something good but she also knows that it’s the start of splitting her attention into two aspects, her love life and her future.


Josh is already standing outside his truck when Andie came out.

“You’re late,” he told her while wrinkling her top hair.

She just smiled and pushed his hand away from her head. He was wearing a mid-shin length pants for the first time so it could not hinder him from changing the bandage. She felt so weak when she saw his foot bandaged around and she definitely sees it’s swollen.

“Let’s go!” he told her while acting to walk her on the passenger side limping.

“Where do you think we’re going, Mr. MVP?” she asked him.

“I’ll drive you around, so we can get to know each other better,” he said teasingly.

She then laughed while pushing him to stop joking.

“No, we’re not going anywhere. Look at you, you really want your foot get so stressed?” she said.

“I couldn’t let this day pass not seeing you, so please hop in, we’re going to plan our date,” he added.

Andie couldn’t agree more but she couldn’t resist either. They went to Bluewave again.

Andie volunteered to buy them a drink, which made Josh so embarrassed.

“I really don’t want you to do that for me, I’m not used to it and I’m still able you know, you’re just so strict on me,” he told her.

“I’m already thirsty and I don’t like my drink to keep so long to quench me, if you’re buying it while you’re still limping,” she told him.

“You’re so bad, it seems like I really don’t know you sometimes,” he said jokingly.

“But seriously, I already planned our date for Saturday night. You just have to come along with me. I’ll pick you up at 7 p.m., then we’ll go to that place I’ve already reserved,” he added.

“Reserved?” she exclaimed nervously.

“Oh no, don’t get me wrong, it’s a wholesome date,” he said seriously.

“Wheew, you almost got me there!” she said in relief while holding her chest.

“You honestly think that I can do such thing to you?” he asked seriously with no reaction on his face.

“Oh please, don’t start on me again!” she added.

“But you’re the one who started it,” he told her.

“Okay, enough of that, come on drink your medicine now,” she ordered.

“Yes, boss!”

At the parking lot, Josh is trying to loosen up his bandage and put a new one so it will give a hard press on it to ease up the swelling. Andie saw him having difficulty changing the bandage so she insisted on helping him but he’s embarrassed.

“Hey, let me help you, it’s my job you know?” she said.

Josh is amazed how she puts even pressure on his ankle and the touch of her skin makes him shiver. He felt so fine whenever her soft skin touches his.

“Okay, all set, are you sure you can drive, because it’s freaking me out?” she added.

“You just have to trust me, I could even drive while I’m sleeping,” he said boastfully.

Then they headed on each other’s home. She told him not to come by the center the following day so he could rest his foot as she knows the swelling is getting worse. She might have to postpone their date if that worsens, she told him, but he’s adamant to keep their date while he agrees on her order to rest first.


“Hello, what are you doing?” Josh asked on the other line when he called her up on her cellphone.

“I’m reading,” she said.

“I’m reading too,” he continued. He smirks because he’s reading Andie’s notebook reviewing her notes about dating.

“Can I call you on your landline coz your voice is getting choppy, my battery is low,” he said.

She’s about to text him her number when their land phone rang.

She’s surprised when she learned that someone is calling on the phone, it’s Josh.

“I’m so curious, how’d you get all my contact numbers?” she asked. “You’re really my chronic stalker, aren’t you?” she said.

“Yes, I’ve been stalking you even before you were born,” he said while laughing.

“Funny, he he!” she said.

Their conversations went for hours and hours. They’re amazed that they just finished talking after 5 hours uninterrupted.

“Josh, I’m tired, I need to sleep now,” she said.

“Wait up, one more hour.” “Come on don’t be so lazy,” he said teasingly.

“My eyes are giving up and I couldn’t absorb your stories anymore,” she added.

“Okay slumber, but don’t hang up the phone, I want to listen to the sound of your sleep,” he said in a serious voice.

“Are you serious?” she asked in an amazed tone.

“Yes, dead serious, come on sleep now,” he told her.

He called her when he couldn’t hear her speak on the other line.

“Hey, hey you still there?” he asked. “You sleeping already, hey Andie?” he interrupted.

“Hello, sorry, I jut got a catnap, I’m soooo tired, I really need to sleep, night Josh,” she told her.

“Okay sweetie, I think I need to let you go now, I’m just so excited about tonight’s event, good night my dear,” he told her.

After hearing his words, Andie immediately hang up the phone so she can go to her bed.

Andie received a text a few minutes later

“hey, get a gud nyt sleep
4 me ok, ms. dancel?
i cudnt sleep yet
coz im stil thnkn
abt our date 2nyt.” His text goes while Andie reads it.

“gud nyt, josh,
I’ll c u 2nyt.” Then her text goes.

Josh couldn’t contain his emotions and almost close to telling her how special she is to him. He could almost tell her how much he missed her everyday even if he sees her, more so, if he doesn’t. After kissing Andie’s photo, he then placed the notebook on his side table then turned off the lamp.


***

Hey Andie, Josh is here already,” mom told her after she opened the gate for Josh.

“Just wait for her in a minute,” her dad told Josh.

Andie’s parents also had a good conversation with Josh, as he is very polite and entertaining. Andie sees him as he walked down the living room. He looks so handsome on his black La Coste jacket with inside white printed shirt, a pair of dark jeans with back fade and a lime green Puma suede and leather sneaker. She was so touched to see Josh getting along well with her family. She thinks that he’s not faking everything up, she just knows Josh is a kind of person who can deal with every sort of people. She knows coz she witnessed it.

“How’s your trip here?” she asked him.

Josh was fascinated by how beautiful she looks that night. She’s wearing a pink criss-cross forearm length blouse, a little plunging neckline with white halter undershirt, a pair of dark denim jeans and a half-inch black stiletto.

“Uhmm it’s fine,” all he could say while her looks disorient him at the moment.

“Let’s go?” she asked him while thanking her parents for allowing them to go out.

“Mom, dad, we’ll go out first, but we’ll not take long, I’ll drop her home later,” he politely told them.

“Okay Josh, you take care and be safe in driving,” dad said.

He let Andie walk out of the house first and immediately opened the gate so she could pass. He then walked her in the passenger seat. Josh drives from Fairview passing the stretch of EDSA.

“Where exactly are we going?” she asked him.

“Just relax, let me be your boss for tonight,” he told her teasingly.

Andie couldn’t believe what he said so she poked his shoulder teasingly. Josh turned on the radio and started searching for FM channel. He stopped at the disco channel. Andie is annoyed so she searched for FM 96.3 station. Good timing, Andie kept silent when he heard Sergio Mendes’ song “Take This Love.”

“You like that song, do you?” he asked.

“Yes,” she just told him and smile.

It’s almost 8 p.m. when they’re approaching the place. The place looks familiar to Andie and when they parked she couldn’t believe that they’re exactly at the same place where they first bumped into each other.

“What are we doing in this hotel?” she asked her.

“Uhmm I couldn’t think of any place where we can set our first real date together, and I thought this is the perfect place, this is where we first met a couple of months ago, right? Today seems like our anniversary celebration,” he told her in a delighted voice.

Andie is so moved by his ways and started to release some tears from her eyes but she resisted it.

“I really can’t believe you, but you really impressed me this time,” she told him while secretly wiping her eyes.

“Let’s go inside?” he asked her while scooping her arms as if escorting her toward the facade of the hotel.

He led her to the elevator and they stopped at the 5th floor. It was a ballroom hall where Josh was able to reserve a special table for them.

“Reserved table for two.” he told the usher.

The usher walked them to the reserved table by the window. When they’re seated, the waitress brought them glasses of service water and then the pianist started playing. When the music “The Way You Look Tonight” is being played, Josh stood up and laid his hand to her. She reached for his hand and they started to dance with the mellow music.

Josh held her left arm up and scoop the other and place it on his left shoulder while his left hand was wrapped around her waist. Andie felt some electricity flowing along her body when he came so close to her.

“Hope the song won’t last even if I’ll stay in your arms forever,” he sweetly told her.

She just smiled at him while his face leans so close to her.

“God, why do he have to be so handsome?” she asked herself while smelling the sweet scent of his masculine cologne.

The song ended and the waitress already served their food. The waitress waited till they sit so she could set the dishes.

“You like that salmon and steak, right?” he asked her.

“Yes,” even if she’s not sure of the taste, as she hasn’t eaten salmon before, she thinks it tastes good.

“Wait, it’s your turn to lead the prayer,” she told him.

“What?” He said while he pouts his lips. “No, you lead, I’ll just follow,” he insisted.

“Josh, it’s okay, come on now, start so we can eat already,” she added.

“No please, just lead it, pretty please,” he insisted furthermore as he’s really not into that tradition or whatever they call it (especially during his date in a hotel!).

Andie finally led it but she could sense that he moves his face towards her to listen to her as she speaks softly. He straightened back after.

“I can see that you’re embarrassed,” she teased him.

“Of course not!” he exclaimed defensively. “You’re the one who’s embarrassed. Look at yourself when you pray, you are looking down, while I’m looking up, see who’s embarrassed then?” outrageous comment came out from his mouth.

“Ha ha ha, you’re so silly, how could you say that?” she said. They both laughed so hard. She couldn’t believe that he just cracks an amusing joke.

“I didn’t know that you’re that religious,” he told her.

“You don’t really know me yet,” she told him.

Their conversation came so overly polite and they don’t even argue on a single topic. They also laughed when they realized that they didn’t have any disagreement that night.

Josh toasts his glass of wine to hers and said, “To our great start and beyond friendship.”

She just smiles and knows exactly what he meant. The dessert was already served. It amazed Andie when the strawberry and choco banana split ice cream in an even bigger container was put right in front of her.

“Wow, this is huge!” I couldn’t consume all of this,” she said.

“No, you will eat all of that!” he commanded her while grinning.

She’s thankful that she didn’t screw up on their first date. She didn’t spill any food on her or her date nor she didn’t slip any glass and spill the drinks. After their nice dinner, Josh asked for a final dance with her and so they did. “Take This Love” in instrumental keys were being played. Josh requested the pianist to play it for them. Fortunately, the piece is readily available.


She asked him to wait for her first as she’s going to the bathroom for a moment. She fixed her hair and makeup. She sprayed some perfume, which lingers its fragrance.

“Did you take the bathroom too?” she asked.

“No, I just waited for you, let’s go?” he said.

While she’s about to walk, Josh held her hand while he’s walking in front of her and still limping. She wanted to let go of his grip but he held it tightly. She couldn’t take it so she just let him hold her hand. Josh slightly slides his palm on her and interlocked his fingers to hers. Intense electricity struck Andie that moment, but it really felt good for her. She didn’t react.

He then opened the door and helped her sit first. Josh rested for a moment and tested his foot if it didn’t numb.

“Can I hold your hand until we get to our next place?” he asked her politely.

She just nods. They stopped in the parking lot for 10 minutes while Josh is still holding her hand. He wants to feel her touch at the moment to remind him that she’s really there with him. He leaned his head on the seat and slides it toward Andie’s direction so he could see her face while they’re still holding each other.

“I’m so happy that we finally had our first real date, and now that I have your hand, I won’t let go of it anymore,” he told her.

Andie doesn’t want to reply, as she doesn’t know what to tell him. She only knows she likes to be with him but she’s not so sure of what she really feels for him or yet she’s still suppressing her feelings. She doesn’t know.

“I hope you understand what this part is telling you,” he told her while putting her hand close his heart.

She just squeezed his hand suggesting that she understands him. Josh started the engine and he drove toward Bluewave while his hand on hers, but every time he needs to change gears, he has to let go of her hand and then hold it again. Andie smiles whenever he does that so she just wraps her forearm on him so they’re still kept in touch.

They finally arrived Bluewave. Josh immediately clasped his fingers on hers and massaging it while they’re walking inside. After they ordered they sat on the vacant table sitting so close to each other.

“Hey man!” somebody called Josh while they’re approaching. “Hey Benj, hey Joy, how are you?” Josh asked the approaching couple to sit with them. “This is my special friend, Andie. This is Benj and this is Joy,” he said while introducing them to her.

The guy sat beside Josh and the lady beside Andie.

“Paul is coming home from the US and he wants to stay in Baguio, so I’m preparing the place already, just let me know if you want to come, you can bring Joy,” Josh said.

After a few minutes of silence, Joy asked Andie about her. They both learned about the stuffs they do at the moment. Joy learned that Andie only knew Josh for a couple of months and she also learned that she will be taking the stateboard exam in Guam soon. This made the lady so interested as she has a friend who is a PT who would like to apply abroad. She told her about the employer who hired her immediately. When Joy’s boyfriend signaled her to go, she said goodbye to Andie.

“Can I have your contact number so if ever my friend would like to, I can call or text you?” she asked. “Sure, sure, just text or call me and maybe I can help, just ring my number so I can save your number also,” she said. Then they waved goodbye.

“What did she ask you?” he asked.

“Oh, nothing, she’s interested about my application, she has a friend who is a PT also, so maybe I can help them.” She told him.

“And what did your friend ask you?” she asked.

“Nothing, but I told him that Paul is coming home and we’re spending vacation in Baguio, I just invited them,” he said.

Andie didn’t say any word, as she’s not sure if he’ll invite her there considering it’s his vacation with his friends. Even if he does, she wouldn’t come either because she’s shy to meet his friends, she knows they’re rich and all. She doesn’t want to look like a second-rate social climber if she’d be spending time with them.

When they’re on their way home, Josh’s phone alarmed. It’s his schedule set to visit his brother’s rest house in Subic. Idea came out of his head immediately after he read his phone.

“Can you come with me tomorrow?” he asked her.

“Where?” she asked.

“Just say you’ll come with me, I just need to go to this place,” he said.

“Oh, no, not tomorrow, I need to read 15 chapters the whole day,” she told him.

He didn’t insist at all. He just pinched her cheek then continued to drive.

Josh dropped her home at exactly 1 a.m. He opened the door for her and held her hand while walking her toward their gate. “Good night, Andie,” he said while holding her both hands and kissed her on the cheek. She’s actually guarded but she couldn’t resist his kiss so she just said good night to him also.

“I hope to see you tomorrow. If you change your mind, just let me know immediately, okay?” he told her then he hopped in his car.

“im home alrdy!
gud nyt my dear.” The text goes.

When he didn’t receive any reply from her, he tried ringing her cellphone but she’s not answering it. Two more missed calls but she didn’t answer. Now, he thinks she’s really asleep.

***

No confirmation from Andie that afternoon, so it is obvious that she’s not going with him. Andie didn’t receive any text from Josh either so she thinks he already went.

Exactly 10 p.m. her cellphone rang, “Hello Andie?”

“Hey where are you?” she asked.

“I’m on my way home from Subic,” he told her.

“What are you doing there in Subic, I thought you’re just going to visit some place?” she asked in curiosity.

“Yes, this is some place, I need to check my brother’s rest house and do some retouches,” he added.

“Why didn’t you tell me you’re going to Subic then? Sayang! I really loved Subic!” she said in a disappointed tone.

“I didn’t tell you because I know you won’t come also, but I didn’t know that you like this place,” he said.

“Are you driving?” she asked.

“Yes.” “Okay, pull over, pull over,” she said. He then pulled over.

“Why did you ask me to pull over?” he asked.

“Coz you’re calling me and you’re driving, I can’t risk you for that, explain why you didn’t tell me you’re going there anyway?” she sounds like he escaped from his cage.

“I thought you won’t come if we’ll go this far, but I still want to bring you here, just let me finish the retouches then we’ll go okay?”

“Come on, are you mad again?” he asked sheepishly.

“Of course not, I’m just worried, I didn’t know how far can you go sometimes and I really don’t know your whereabouts so I’m just worried,” she added.

“Oooppps, feels like somebody misses me already and you’re curious about my whereabouts, huh? Don’t worry I’m all yours,” he said teasingly.

“There you go again, thanks for always teasing me Mr. Singson,” she said.

“No, no, no sorry, come on baby don’t cry now,” he told her while laughing.

Andie released a good laugh also.

“I’ll text you when I get home already, you don’t need to answer I know you sleep like a hibernating bear, I was texting and calling you last night but you slept on me,” he told her.

Andie chuckles after hearing his words. “You bring yourself home safe okay, I’ll kill you if you don’t?” she told him teasingly. They then hung up the phone.