Calling Elle Mendoza.....

Dialing......

Ringing......

Elle picked up.

"Hello Elle, where are you?" Sandro asked.

"At my cubicle po sir, why?" Elle asked back.

"Magbihis ka. May pupuntahan tayo."

"What? Why? Where are you pala?"

"Here at the HQ, reading the letters of the kids."

"Owwww, nakabalik ka na pala sir, this quick?"

"Yeah, about 30 minutes ago already."

"Wow! Ang sipag naman yata, trabaho agad?"

"Eh wala ehh, excited ako for the kids' letters." Sandro giggles. "Kaya sige na, make yourself ready. I'll call you again after 20 minutes. Bilisan mo ha?" he commands.

"Saan nga po tayo pupunta?"

"Basta, wag na maraming tanong. Bilisan mo na, bye admirer!"

"Pero sir..."

Right before she could finished talking, the call ended.

Elle eagerly went to her little wardrobe and find some clothes to wear. She chose a white floral puff sleeve and an ocean blue long skirt. It might be a perfect combination.

Fortunately, she already took a bath so she just need to fixed herself. Put on some lipstick and a face powder since she barely do her own make up.

She don't want to assume that it's a date but sort of. Elle was smiling at that little naughty idea on her mind because what if it's really a date, a Valentines date! But then, she slap her face as she noticed that she is preparing so much.

She look at herself on the mirror and starts talking like a fool, reminding herself to behave. "Hoy Elle, gising! Walang date, okay? Maybe yayayain ka lang niyang mamasyal kasi bored siya o kaya magtatrabaho kayo sa office overtime kasi...."

Someone knocked at her door while she is in the middle of her monologue in front of the mirror. She walk towards the door and open it. It was Sandro that she saw at her porch, wearing a white polo shirt and a wide smile.

"S..sir? Why are you here already, I thought you'll just call..."

He shrugged his shoulders. "Wala eh, gusto na kitang makita. Ang tagal mo naman." he pouted.

"Hala siya, excited? Hindi naman halatang ikaw talaga yung may crush sa akin ano." she giggled and realize where that words coming from again. It took her a lot more confidence to joke in front of Sandro.

"Okay you can say that." he give in. "Getting ready? Let's go na! I'm hungry." Sandro invited.

"Fine. I'll just get my bag."

They walk towards his car and Elle noticed that Manong Danny isn't around.

"Where's manong, sir?"

"On a date maybe with his wife?"

"So paano yan, tayo lang ang aalis? Ikaw po ang magda-drive? Di ako marunong ehh, honestly." she said.

"Ofcourse. Sino pa nga ba? Ako yung nagyaya eh." Then he open the right side door for her. "Come in, please."

"Hoy, this is so strange and awkward. Wag ka ngang ganyan sir nakakahiya..." saway ni Elle kay Sandro.

"Sus, strange and awkward, kinikilig ka lang Elle dahil kasama mo ako." He giggled. "Just relax, okay? I won't kidnapped you kaya sige na, get inside already." He continued.

"Saan nga tayo, sabihin mo muna." she pleaded.

"Fine, at the Paoay Church."

"Really? Oh, edi tara na. Bakit ba ang tagal." Elle hurriedly get inside the car. Sandro just chuckled while looking at her.

Elle is so excited since she haven't been to Paoay yet, since she arrived in Ilocos. On the way, Elle was so amaze by the scenic view of the dusk hours' horizons.

"Wow, ang ganda ng panahon. Umaayon yata sa mga may date ngayon." Elle commented.

"Kaya nga eh, umaayon sa atin." Sandro giggled. His eyes are still on the road.

"Luh? Sino ka diyan? Bakit, date ba tong lakad na 'to?"

"Gusto mo, date nalang tawag natin dito?" it was Sandro.

"NO!" Elle shouted.

"Eh diba nga, crush mo ako at gusto din naman kita, kaya date na tawag natin dito. Bonus ko sa'yo hahahahaha. Di ka na lugi niyan." Sandro laughed but sounds serious.

"Ngeeee feeling. NO!"

"Ahhh, maybe love mo na ako?"

"Sir, how will you spell NO?"

"Y-E-S" Sandro answered, chuckling.

"Hahahaha, hala siya! Naku sir, di ka pinag-aral sa London para sagutin mo lang ng mali yung simpleng tanong. Umayos ka po diyan." she said, but deep inside, kilig na kilig na siya sa mga banat at hirit ni Sandro. Buti nalang talaga medyo makulimlim na at kaya hindi nito nakikita ang namumula niyang mukha.

"Hahaha, ikaw kasi todo deny. Tama nga talaga si Anikka, queen of denial ka nga talaga!" he added.

"Hindi kaya!" she defend herself.

"Ayan, deny ka na naman. Namumula ka na nga diyan oh." he predicted.

Elle was stunned and looked away, slowly holding her face. Naka aircon ang kotse pero umiinit yung pisngi niya sa mga sinasabi ni Sandro.

She focus back on the beautiful views while Sandro focus back on the road now. They were both quiet after that. Several minutes passed, they've reach Paoay Church. Sandro put his mask and cap on first, before going out from the car.

Sandro lead the way for Elle in front of the Paoay Church of which the field is covered with lights and hearts. Food stalls are also around.

The trees became more beautiful too and even the benches. Elle and Sandro sat down at a bench where there's only less people around, and the view is still facing the church.

"Wow, this is really incredibly beautiful to look at. Alam mo sir, parang nakita ko na ito dati eh, sa isang pelikula. I think the title is Suddenly it's Magic ba yun..." Elle started sharing.

"Ahh yeah, I guess it's Erich Gonzales and Mario Maurer's movie diba?" He asked upon agreeing her.

"Yun nga. Mahilig ka din sa Filipino movies sir?"

"Hmmm, not really. But that movie kasi yung tumatak sa akin since they were shooting here in Ilocos Norte, particularly here in Paoay." Sandro shared his thoughts.

"I see." She nodded. "The story is somewhat relatable too if..."

"If?" He look at her waiting to continue.

"Ah, wala. Basta yun na yun. Anyway, bakit niyo pala gustong pumunta dito? At parang napaaga naman yata ang balik niyo. Supposedly, you're going to have dinner with your family ngayon." it was Elle, changing the topic.

"Well, actually nakapag dinner na kami with family last night. We made it advance since Pops has a campaign commitment today. Kaninang umaga pa nga sana ako kaso lang Pops ask us - me and my brothers, for a help. She surprised mom kasi."

"Wow, that's too sweet. I miss my parents tuloy. Usually kasi kapag Valentines, nagdidinner din kami. Ang epic nga no'ng last year eh, kasi surprise failed. Pero natuloy naman yung date nila. Kilig!" Elle giggled as she reminisce the moment.

"You're really a fan of your parents' lovestory ano?"

"Oo naman! Bunga kaya ako ng pagmamahalan nila. And tsaka alam mo ba sir na my dad ask my mom to be his girlfriend at a church also in Mindanao?"

"Talaga?"

"Yeah, and that's my favorite part of their love story because it's kinda romantic and..."

"What if I also ask you here the same question that your dad ask your mom that time, tonight...." he is looking at Elle. His eyes sparkles when the reflection of lights touches his face.

"Huh? A...ano po?"

"Nakakabingi ba yung tanong ko?"

"Ehh kasi sir ano, uhhhhmm...."

"Again, what if I ask you here the same question that your dad ask your mom that day? Right here, tonight." Sandro repeated.

Elle was stunned absorbing those words from Sandro. She froze for a while hearing such serious question and another confession from him. Like, on a Valentines day????!!!!

She composed herself first before giving answers to Sandro.

*** to be continue ***