Love At First Sit Read online

  “The what?” She frowned.

  He walked up to her, closing the gap between them. Roxanne didn’t think she’d be swept off her feet on February the 13th, but there she stood looking into the most gorgeous eyes she’d ever seen in her life.

  “We won’t be finding out anytime soon whether this speed dating thing will be successful or not,” he mumbled, his face now dangerously closer to her. Her eyes widened but she tried to keep calm. “It’s time to move on to the...next...stage.” He leaned toward her, and her eyes slowly shut.

  Maybe speed dating wasn’t so bad after all.

  Chapter Two

  Light and Butterflies

  Just when Roxanne was about to lean in more, Wish’s stomach rumbled. They locked eyes and laughed.

  “I think we should go find a place to eat,” Roxanne whispered. Their faces were still inches apart.

  “Let’s go.” Wish smiled.

  “Let’s just walk. I’ve been drinking and the traffic is so heavy.”

  He nodded and walked with her down the busy street of the business district.

  They shared a few laughs people-watching while looking for a place to eat. They tried to spot doppelgangers, people who looked like people they knew or well-known movie stars, as they walked by. A group of five young gangster-looking teenagers cursed out a taxi driver for enforcing the four-passenger rule. A man in a nice suit carried a bouquet of flowers as he walked across the street.

  “Makati really is just one huge mess,” she commented with a sheer cheerfulness in her voice. She was enjoying their walk together. She quickly texted Mina that she’s going to hang out with Wish. Her friend teased her with a reply:

  “It’s about time to water your withering plant, girl.”

  Roxanne gasped when she read her message.

  “You, okay?”

  She turned scarlet. “Y-yeah, just a bit tipsy.”

  “So, where do you like to eat?”

  She inhaled the smell of what the vendor from a Jollijeep[1] was cooking. Roxanne wiggled her eyebrows. “What do you think?”

  “Are you kidding me? We only have an hour till it’s February 14.”

  “So?” she asked. “Is there a need for a grand gesture?”

  Wish was bemused.

  “You don’t want to do anything special on Valentine’s Day, then?”

  She shook her head. For Roxanne, Valentine’s Day was just a day. Any day is what you make of it—whether it’s a made-up holiday, or the day you finally land a date, several years in the making.

  “We’ve only known each other for a few hours, Wish. Isn’t it a little too soon to celebrate Valentine’s Day together like a thing? Besides, all the good places are booked this time of the year, especially the motels,” she said, and deliberately coughed.

  Wish’s eyebrow quirked as he ran a hand distractedly through his already disheveled hair.

  Roxanne started to blush. “So, are we eating here or what?”

  “No way,” he said disapprovingly. “You never know if the food there is safe or clean, or free of bacteria and vermin.”

  “I always enjoyed a dirty, fried bologna from time to time,” she confessed. “But I would like to hope it’s not that dirty.”

  “Okay. Fine,” he finally agreed, shrugging but smiling anyway.

  Great, their first unofficial date together - in a Jollijeep!

  They observed more of the city after buying a giant vanilla sundae cone from a convenience store.

  Roxanne asked about his job to fill in the silences. She was a curious little thing and had quick comebacks for his vague answers.

  “So, how long have you been working as a bartender?” Roxanne inquired while they walked along Ayala Avenue.

  “About a year. I am just an amateur. How about you? You said you’re a call center agent. Tell me about it?”

  “Well, yeah, I’ve been a call center agent for a couple of years now. I’ve been through a lot of different jobs in the past four years. Back when I still lived in our province, I was once a tour guide, a caddy, a waitress, a wet nurse—”

  “Wait, what? What did you just say?” Wish suddenly stopped walking, his brows meeting in the middle. “Wet nurse?”

  “Yeah, like breastfeeding? Something wrong with that?”

  “No, nothing. That’s...hot,” he mumbled, dropping the last word.

  “What?”

  “I said noble, yes, that’s...that’s a noble job,” he stammered.

  “Let me just emphasize that I was never a nanny. I only provided breastfeeding advice and support to the mothers. I first became a wet nurse when my twins were two months old to nourish the babies who were affected by the super typhoon that hit our town in Bacolod.”

  “Twins.” Wish swallowed the lump in his throat. “You have twins.”

  “Yeah, I’m a mother of two cute little angels. Are we scared yet?”

  Wish chuckled. “What are you talking about? Go on,” he encouraged her.

  Next thing they knew, they were seated on the grass at Ayala Triangle Gardens, a park in the middle of a very busy part of Makati. The place offered a quick fix for the stress in the big city, with a food strip offering various cuisines. Since it was midnight and now Valentine’s Day, there was a light show flashing in time to the beat of music.

  “Glad we were able to catch this,” said Roxanne. She was enchanted when the 800,000 LED bulbs came to life and danced in synchronization with love song medleys.

  “This is the first time they’re doing it on the eve of Valentine’s Day,” Wish said over her shoulder.

  “Perfect timing,” she murmured to herself.

  “Yeah, we had a perfect timing,” Wish whispered.

  When their eyes met, it was as if the world around them fell silent. Again, Roxanne felt the breath-taking somersaults of the butterflies in her stomach.

  “Yeah, so, where was I?” Roxanne blinked rapidly. When the light show ended, she turned and walked along the jogging paths to hide her flushed cheeks.

  Wish caught up with her. “Your jobs. You were talking about your jobs.”

  “Yeah, in four years I jumped from being a tour guide, a caddy, a wet nurse, a bar singer and a cashier at a convenience store, and when we moved here to Metro Manila call center agent...”

  Wish occasionally nodded while Roxanne told her story. He asked her some personal questions about herself and her family. She seemed to answer everything honestly and without much hesitation.

  “So yeah, that’s it; their father is an asshole, and I am a hopeless romantic, young and gullible,” she concluded, as soon as she finished.

  He stared at her for a while and then turned away.

  Roxanne briskly matched his pace.

  “Hey!” She nudged him on the back. “Why is it that I’ve been the only one talking?”

  “Because you are Ms. Talkative.”

  She made a face at him. “That’s unfair.”

  He chuckled.

  They’d lost track of time. She didn’t have to wine and dine because it felt like they knew each other already, and like she didn’t have any façades to keep up, no pretenses to preserve.

  “Thank you for tonight,” she told him as they walked out of the park. “I totally had fun.”

  “I had fun too, Foxy.”

  “It’s late; I’d better go.”

  “Do you need a ride home?” Wish asked.

  “No, I’m okay. I’ll just get myself a cab,” she declined and smiled.

  “All right.” Wish nodded.

  He idled behind her watching as Roxanne flung her arm out into the road, trying to hail a cab.

  “Well, why don’t we walk back to the bar where I parked my motorcycle and I can take you to your place myself.” Wish offered, after Roxanne’s several failed attempts at getting a cab.

  Roxanne turned around to face Wish who was looking expectantly at her.

  “You ride a motorcycle?” he checked.

  Roxanne nodded. “Yeah. I’v
e ridden with my father many times. Really, I appreciate the offer, but I live in Tondo. It’s out of your way. It’s alright.”

  “Look, I promise you I’m not a psycho.”

  “I don’t think you are, Wish,” she chuckled. “Don’t worry, I’ll be fine.”

  “I’m always up for a mini-road trip. I don’t mind really,” he insisted.

  Roxanne contemplated for a few seconds. “Okay. Come on then.”

  They walked back to the bar, leading her over to where his motorcycle was parked.

  “Just wait here.” Wish went inside and came out with a helmet, sealing it over her head. “It’s a good thing my friend, Andy, got some spare.”

  He opened the compartment and pulled out another helmet. He climbed on the bike and patted the seat behind him indicating for her to sit. Roxanne hopped on.

  “Foxy, you better wrap those arms around me and hold on tight. I don’t want to lose you somewhere on the bridge.” He winked.

  Under her helmet, blush filled her face. She scooted closer to him and held onto his shoulder.

  “You ready?” he asked looking back at her. Roxanne nodded.

  Wish put his helmet on and revved up the engine. He drove out of the parking lot and headed down the road.

  “Oh!” Roxanne squeaked as she wrapped her arms around his body tightly when they suddenly took off. Forget about being embarrassed, she was going to fall off! Wish chuckled lightly at her reactions but decided to go faster.

  He squeezed her hand as if silently asking if she was okay. She held out one of her hands for a thumb up.

  Soon they were crossing the Ayala Bridge passing between cars and weaving through traffic. When they reached Abad Santos, Roxanne used her hand to direct Wish toward her house. Wish slowed down until he completely stopped, putting his feet back on the ground and turning the bike off as they pulled in front of a gate.

  She didn’t feel like letting go of him just yet, and she gave herself another ten seconds of just holding him. She was feeling good, and from what she could tell, so was he. He seemed relaxed as she held onto him.

  “We’re here.” He broke the silence a few second later.

  “Ah…yeah.” Roxanne got off the bike and so as Wish. He took off her helmet first before he took off his. For a solid five seconds, time seemed to stand still as they looked at each other. He had broken the gaze, only to put the helmets on the bike.

  “Thanks, Wish, I really appreciate you giving me a ride home.”

  “You’re welcome.” Wish smiled and walked closer.

  “You see, I don’t do this a lot; take rides from strange men and then invite them in.”

  “Of course.” A crooked smile crossed his face. “It was nice meeting you, Foxy”

  “Same here.” There was that feeling from earlier again. The butterflies in her stomach were fluttering like crazy.

  The two of them continued standing there, looking at each other.

  Wish gingerly rubbed the back of his neck. “Well, I should be going.”

  He placed the borrowed helmet inside the compartment and got on his bike.

  “Wish,” Roxanne called before he could put on his helmet. “Be safe on your way back.”

  “I’ll see you around, Foxy.” Wish gave her a peck on her cheek. He put on his helmet and quickly drove off even before Roxanne could react.

  “See you around,” Roxanne whispered as she held her cheek.

  She watched for as long as she could, then went inside the house with a big smile on her face after Wish had gone out of her sight

  “Mommy!” Daniella squealed and hugged her tightly. Maximus saw them and ran to give her a hug too.

  “We missed you.” Maximus clung onto her.

  “Why are you still awake?” She kissed their cheeks. It was two in the morning. “Where’s ate[2] Tinay?”

  “Listen to her snore, would you?”

  They went silent for a second and burst out laughing.

  “Where have you been?” Daniella asked and crossed her arms over chest, her brows pulled together in the middle.

  “Sorry to keep you waiting, baby.” Roxanne held the twins on her lap. “As you know, I went to accompany a friend to an event, but I found myself bored and walked around the city instead,” she explained.

  “Did you walk around with that man who gave you a kiss?” Maximus asked.

  “No! It wasn’t a kiss. It was just a goodbye gesture. He is a nice man and he even gave me a ride home.”

  “Is he your boyfriend?” Daniella asked.

  “No, baby.”

  “Is he going to be our new dad?” Maximus inquired.

  “No, he’s just a friend I met at the event. He wouldn’t like me for sure. I don’t think I’ll even get to see him again.” The thought made her gloomy. “He would go for someone beautiful and single.” The last word was almost a whisper.

  “You’re beautiful, Mommy. We love you,” said Maximus, and they both hugged her.

  Chapter Three

  A Night in the Life of a Call Center Agent

  As the sun set in Manila, Roxanne prepared to start her workday on a Monday night.

  While the typical workforce began to settle down for the night, the faceless army of call center agents was preparing to go to work.

  “Mommy, you’re leaving?” Daniella mumbled without opening her eyes when Roxanne went to their room to say goodbye.

  “Yes, baby. Mommy needs to go to work.”

  “Bring me donuts tomorrow,” she mumbled again.

  “I will.” Roxanne kissed her lightly on the forehead. She turned to the other bed to tuck Maximus securely with his blanket and kissed his forehead before turning the lights off.

  Having a child at a young age was very difficult. Becoming a single mom proved to be very hard for Roxanne, especially since she had twins.

  Chris, her first love and the father of her children, had gone AWOL after she revealed her pregnancy.

  Young love, that’s all they’d had. Immature, fierce, and full of unrefined lust.

  “Tinay, I’m off to work. Make sure to lock up, okay?” Roxanne instructed the nanny.

  “Yes, ate,” Tinay bade her, and sealed the door from the inside.

  Dressed in her usual business casual work outfit—gray blazer, white tee, black skinnies and flats—Roxanne walked along Hermosa Street.

  Gone were the days for which the famous Tondo Street had become so notorious due to petty gang wars. People could now walk the streets at night without fear of getting mugged.

  She reached Abad Santos LRT station for a twenty-minute train ride to Gil Puyat Ave. A jeepney[3] on queue was already waiting to be filled with passengers when she got off the station.

  Upon arriving at the Advance Customer Solutions building, Roxanne fumbled for her proximity card to gain access inside. She almost turned her bag inside out, but neither her ID nor her access card could be found.

  “Damn! I left it at the bar last Friday,” she cursed under her breath.

  Carlito arrived, one of their Spanish-speaking agents. At age fifty-five, he diligently worked eight hours every night for his son who was taking up law.

  “Roxanne what are you still doing here?”

  “Daddy Carl, I forgot my ‘toot-toot’ card. I can’t get in,” she said in a low voice, scratching her head.

  “Come on, I’ll sneak you inside. I’ll hold the door open; follow behind me. Just use your ID and pretend it’s your access card,” the thoughtful old man suggested.

  Agents started coming in and out of the building premises. The guard keenly checked their belongings and gave a curt nod to signal clearance for entrance.

  Both of them moved a little farther away from the entrance, and away from the guard’s suspicious eyes.

  “That’s the problem, Daddy Carl. My ID and access card are on my ID holder together. Roxanne glanced at her watch. She only had fifteen minutes to log in. She couldn’t afford to be late. Aside from a clean track record, 1,000 pesos was g
iven to agents with no ‘late’s.

  Carlito shook his head as he said, “Tsk, tsk, tsk. You’re so forgetful.” Carlito took his own ID from the card holder hanging from his neck and handed it to her. “Just follow me, okay? Here’s my ID. I’ll go first. Act normal.”

  Roxanne eyed the ID for a moment. If they were caught, they’d be reprimanded for piggybacking. She looked at her watch again. Only ten minutes left before 9 P.M.

  “Take it,” Carlito pressed.

  She sighed and reluctantly took his ID. “Sorry, Dad.”

  “Just act normal and follow behind me,” he reminded her.

  They walked up to the door and gave the guard an unusually big smile.

  “How is it going, pare[4]?” asked Carlito as he surrendered his bag for inspection.

  “The usual,” the guard replied in an unwelcoming tone. “You may get inside,” he told Carlito. “Miss, your bag please.”

  Roxanne opened her bag, shaking.

  “You okay, Miss?” the guard asked.

  “Y-yeah,” she stammered. “J-just hungry.”

  “Okay, clear.” The guard let go of her bag.

  Carlito opened the glass door and held it for a moment longer, giving Roxanne the chance to tap his ID on the sensor and look as if she’d used her own access to open the door. She quickly stepped inside.

  “Miss?” the guard called.

  Roxanne froze. Droplets of cold sweat formed on her forehead.

  “Yes, Manong[5]?”

  “Eat well, okay? You look pale.”

  Carlito let out a chuckle.

  “Thank you, Manong.”

  She frantically pressed the elevator button and let out a breath of relief as the doors creaked open.

  “That was close.” Roxanne shook her head and squeezed Carlito’s hand. “Thank you, Daddy. Thank you, thank you.”

  “I thought you’d pass out. If you only could see your face,” Carlito teased, laughing. “Next time, check your belongings before you go to work. I’ll go ahead.” He tapped her shoulder and got off at the smoking area on level two.

  Roxanne almost flew to the biometric fingerprint scanner to log in when the elevator reached the production floor. The scanner dinged and the small screen registered 8:58. She’d made it.