Short Stories of the Heart-Part 4: Paraluman

Prologue IV

Paraluman

It’s 1982.

I met her at PLDT Makati. She worked in the Planning Department, where a few of my classmates also worked. Their office, which is conveniently located across the street from Shakey’s Pizza, was one of my hang outs. One Happy Hour, when the beer had flowed for a while and the live band was still playing out loud; I mentioned that I will be attending a wedding that weekend in Bulacan. I was invited by the groom - another classmate in DLSU. It turned out that she is a friend of the bride and was also going to that same wedding. How lucky could I get? I just picked up a date by not even trying.

At the reception, the bride and the groom came by our table, and innocently asked much to our surprise, “When will you two get married?” Wow! Were we startled! We looked at each other and immediately I saw the look of whose love just got ignited. I must admit it did cross my mind that maybe I have been looking and naively wishing it is still 1980. We were so quiet on our trip back to Manila. Our thoughts were somewhere else. No one wanted to break the silence and say the first word. I dropped her off in her apartment and immediately went to Rustan’s to order a dozen long stem roses with a simple, “Thank you” note.

When I showed up at PLDT the following Monday, I could hear the silent whispers around me. The whole office suddenly wanted to meet me. But not everyone was thrilled. My sparring partner in DLSU pulled me to the side and asked, “What are you doing?!” I said, “I merely sent roses as my way of saying thank you for being my date.” It was a long argument between good friends as one of his officemate had been courting her for two years then and still his love had not been reciprocated in kind.

And so I had to stay low profile. But how could I? I am an American on vacation and very eligible.

The three of us – the suitor, my friend and I – were invited by her to their fish pond along Laguna de Bay. The inihaw na tilapia was really good. And so was the talk of the picnic. Good and not a surprise. Every once in a while, someone will come by and introduce himself. The word of the roses must have spread fast and wide.

I asked myself then, “Now what?!” Sometimes, being trained as an engineer is not all that good. There is always a Plan B in everything I do. Such notion as spare girlfriend just does not work in the affairs of the heart.

I can only fall in love once. And that’s in 1980.