Chapter 11

Pink Dress

"Tita Mochi! I told you to wear the pink dress, e!" Haley's brows were all knitted up the moment Yuchi made it downstairs.

Nakapamaywang pa ang pamangkin niya habang nangungunot ang noo at tumatapik-tapik pa ang isang paa sa sahig.

Manang-mana kay Chiwo.

"The pink dress is a bit too much, beebie. This one's okay," she insisted.

"No! I don't like it. Ang ugly!" Haley's lips scrunched. Mas lalo ring lumalim ang pagkakakunot ng noo niya.

Her niece's disapproval was rather amusing than offensive. Yuchi's aware kids her age would always tell the truth. But in Haley's case, she's a little too honest with what she likes and more vocal with the things she doesn't. Just like her mom.

"It's not ugly nga. It's just simple. There's a difference," Yuchi corrected her.

"Still ugly."

"You're just used to your clothes and to your mommy's clothes. But my dress is fine—"

"Fine and ugly!"

"Hindi nga ugly."

"O? Bakit kayo nagtatalo d'yan?" Yuan asked, emerging from the stairs wearing his glasses and there was also a book in his hand.

"I'm going out, Dad. Ayaw ni Haley sa dress ko."

"It's so ugly, Wowo!"

"I told you it's not ugly," she argued, defending her beige dress. There's nothing wrong about it. It's just in neutral color, straight cut, and seemingly plain. Haley's not just used to it especially when her clothes were always lively and in soft colors with some ribbons here and there.

But if Yuchi were being honest, she wasn't used to her dress either. It's not her usual style, but it has to work. Simple is okay, she can make it work. Plus, she's not trying to impress anyone with how she dresses.

Coffee lang naman. She doesn't have to dress up for a cup of coffee.

***

Haley won the battle of dresses when she instinctively poured a glass of water on Yuchi's clothes from her sippy cup. She even said sorry, did her puppy looking sad eyes saying that she tripped and her sippy cup slipped from her hand causing it to spill.

It was devious for a four-year-old and Yuchi didn't let that slide. She eventually told on Haley when Marty woke up because she felt it was better if Marty would scold and discipline her kid.

Yuchi arrived fifteen minutes early at the coffee shop. She thought she should get herself situated first when their not-a-date coffee meetup didn't let her sleep last night.

She couldn't figure out whether she was nervous or excited, but her hands were definitely cold.

The chimes rang when she opened the glass door and the place was only half-full. Too spacious for her to immediately notice Dr. Montellano sitting and waiting at the booth adjacent from the register.

His eyes also went to the door when it chimed, and Yuchi was welcomed by the warm and calming scent of coffee, and his smile.

Yuchi tried to smile back, secretly taking in a deep breath as she walked to their booth.

Dr. Montellano waved and stood up for her, gesturing the couch. It doesn't take a while for Yuchi to make it to the table, but for her, it was a long walk. Probably the longest walk she has ever taken not knowing where to look.

Sa sahig ba? Sa mga upuan? Sa ceiling? Sa pinto? Kay Dr. Montellano? She doesn't quite know, but she makes it through. Hopefully not seeming too nervous in his eyes. Because the fluttering in her stomach when it finally dawned on her that he was wearing an  olive green button down shirt with its sleeves neatly pulled up to his elbow wasn't helping at all.

His hair, styled and brushed away from his face, each strand still fixed and kept after a long day of work. Plus, he still managed to flash her a charming smile. It's like he's not tired at all.

Hoy, Yuchi, huminga ka! Marty's voice tried to snap her back to her senses. But all Yuchi could think about was she's glad she changed into her pink dress. 

I guess Haley was right.

"Hi! Ang aga mo," he said, sitting down on the chair in front of her.

"Ikaw din, you're early," she replied back, trying to calm the fluttering inside her stomach.

"Hindi kasi natuloy sa appointment 'yong last patient ko. Kaya ito, early out. Sakto rin pala kasi ang aga mo. Nakakahiya if late ako."

"Ay, no. It's fine. I know you're busy with your patients. It's no big deal," she said.

"Really?" he tilted his head to the side. "Situational lang, kahit maghintay ka ng thirty minutes to an hour, okay lang sa 'yo? You won't leave?"

"Hmm . . . I can wait for thirty minutes without a heads up. But if kunwari you're stuck in traffic and I'd have to wait longer than thirty minutes, I'll appreciate a heads up. Pero if wala past thirty minutes, I'll leave. It's my maximum waiting time."

Dr. Montellano nodded. "Okay. That's fair."

"How about you, Dr. Montellano?"

"That's too professional," he said, trying to keep in a smile.

"Ha?"

"Dr. Montellano's too professional. Wala naman tayo sa ospital, kahit Levi na lang."

"Are you sure? It's all right for me to call you Levi?"

"Yes, Chandria."

Oh. Chandria.

She swallowed. "Okay. Levi it is."

"To answer your question, I value my time. Like you said, I'll appreciate heads up if kailangan kong maghintay pero kung past thirty minutes na rin wala pa, aalis din ako."

"That's also fair," she answered, nodding.

"Anyway, I just want to say sorry for that night. Especially for mistaking you as a ghost, dala na rin siguro ng kuwento nila sa ospital. Sabi kasi ng nurses ang dami raw nilang nakikita saka nararamdaman do'n lalo na 'yong mga naka-night shift. But I think that was rude of me, so I'm sorry," he said.

Yuchi doesn't want to admit she was a bit surprised by that, but her sudden pause might have given him the idea that she was.

She blinked. "Don't worry about it. Okay lang. I think I was also rude when you're being nice to me that night."

"Ayos lang. I understand. May migraine ka and we're practically strangers kaya it's given. Apology unnecessary."

"Okay, Levi."

His smile made a sound. "Levi . . ."

"Why? Did I say it wrong? You said that's your name, 'di ba?"

His smile was still lingering when he decided to reach for his water to take in a sip. He nodded right after, and Yuchi couldn't keep her eyes off him while he moved on a glacial pace by slowly putting down his glass, and wiping his lips with a napkin.

She breathed. Her mind has already memorized how he looks like, but seeing him and watching him as close as she is right now, it suddenly dawned on her how she missed some details.

There were tiny whirlwinds at the ends of his brows, and there's a little mole on his right temple.

"Wala naman." He finally catches on. "Ang cute lang bigla pakinggan."

Oh, kalma, she heard Marty at the back of her mind again.

"I see."

"Anyway, tapos na ang apology part. Ngayon ko lang din napansin, sorry. 'Di pala ako nakapag-offer agad. Pero anong kape gusto mo? O tea ba? Do you also want pastry or pasta? O baka sandwich? May fruit cup din ata sila pati salad—"

"You," she said.

Napahinto si Levi. His brows raised and his eyes widened. "Ha?"

"You."

"Ako?" he asked seemingly confused.

Yuchi sucked in a breath before she nodded. "Yes. You."