Undress For Me, Athena

[ ‘Love…is something that seems so great, something that will make you happy when you find and have the right one but, that was what I thought when I was young. Eventually, when you grow up, realize life, achieve things, wanting love is turning to be miserable. Even more miserable when you are doomed with unbearable unluckiness in life. Unluckiness such as having so much desire to love but you can’t because…just because…’ {deep sigh} ‘ Rhie, aren’t you going somewhere?’ my good friend called outside the room, cutting my emotionally discouraging thoughts. Today, I decided to give it a shot! I finally accepted a date. Twenty-six-year-old women are marrying, having kids, and kissing a man they chose to bear the weight of life burdens together, yet here I am, even a date is like breathing with something stuck in my nose with a size of a grapes. {deep sigh} ‘Yeah, I’m going!’ I answered in so much doubt. I looked at myself in the mirror and smiled little. I am wearing four layers of clothes, trying to convince myself that, somehow, someone out there would be brave enough to love me along with my unluckiness. The date is set up in a restaurant downtown. Along the way, the palms are getting sweaty. If I could, I would run away now but I just couldn’t this time. My friend’s effort to set this one is too much to put into a waste. The car stopped and I stepped out. A man wearing an elegant, fine suit approached me with all smiles. “Hey!” Shet! Is he the one I’m meeting? He’s…he’s freaking good-looking. Like those dreamy men you’d see in movies and dramas. I’m stunned. I never even thought such being exist in a world I exist. Usually, men in my perimeter don’t look like this. Sometimes, there are those who have that average-look but they don’t like me or in some cases, they don’t really prefer girls. Ok, calm down! ‘Hi,’ I answered back shortly. I should contain my emotions or I’ll be busted. He smiled and offered me his arms to go inside. He even pulled a chair for me and assisted me to sit. Gentleman! In fairness, Nari did a very good job. I just hope that he’s not pretending or what. 'I ordered already. I hope you like it,' he gently talked. Nah! This cannot be happening. He's totally awesome. I remained silent. I cannot risk to say something that is odd. He'll find me weird. I'm not sure he's ready for that. In fact, he'd never be ready with my weirdness. 'Hm, Nari told me you're designing landscapes and structures?' he initiated the conversation, trying to save the moment to fall into silence while we wait for the food. 'Yeah. You?' I asked back. 'I cook!' WHAT? Ok. Now, it's over. All smiles to a total downfall. Why cooking? … Of all things, he cooks. Great! The first plate came and I could see his excitement. 'Actually, I cooked it. The truth is, I know you for quite sometime now. And according to Nari, you are very certain with your foods and…that you hate cocky and boastful guys. But I am not a dishonest person. I own this restaurant and I made sure that everything that we will eat is prepared by only me.' He shyly detailed. 'That's all?' I reassure him that I appreciate him. 'Ah, yeah! You? Like to share more?' 'No! I think that's good enough. Let's eat?' My hand trembled as I took a spoonful. It looks delicious. And that's not good. 'Please help yourself. I hope you like it.' I took a bite and immediately, I started sweating profusely. 'This…is…delicious,' I barely said in so much tension as my fear started happening. The first layer of my clothes just vanished. Good thing I put on four layers. I'll probably make it. Maybe I could pull this off. This is my curse. I cannot have so much emotion or I'll end up naked, anywhere at anytime. That would be a nightmare. When I feel so much emotions, I sweat excessively. My endorphins do this unusual thing in my body. When I get excited, the sweat has insanely increased amount of acidity. And that's not all. It becomes worse when I like a food. I become terrified liking it too much that I may end up eating an ingredient that could trigger my allergy. My doctor said that I should really be careful trying other foods beside my cooking because this rare condition of mine could worsen when accompanied by an allergy. Like, I could turn into an ugly naked bumpkin, or die. How can someone be so unlucky? ' Great. Thank God you liked it. So, the next one is something that I have been working on and I want you to be the first to taste it.' He nervously explained. I knew it. He's taking the opportunity here. But, it's not a bad thing though. My family owns the biggest and top-rated restaurants around cities and some people of the family are known food critics. 'There's another one?' 'Yeah. I prepared four dishes.' Now, this is not going to be good. Four? I'll be naked by then. 'Could I just take the last one home? For Nari. Three is so much already. But I do appreciate it,' 'Oh well, ok!' he lit into a smile. We ate and shared things, calming down my nerves. He's a good man. 'Now, here's the third one and this is my favorite.' 'Ok, let's taste that.' I smiled nervously. This is not a date anymore. I became a food tester. And I will only have one layer of clothes left. 'This is delicious. It's very, very good!' I beamed in so much excitement. And there goes my third layer. But I felt something wrong. I looked at my food and saw something that thrilled me to death. 'There are nuts?' 'Yes. You knew it. Wait…something wrong?' he asked in so much concern as my face expression turned pale. 'I have to leave,' 'What?' “I really need to leave,' I grabbed my phone to dial Nari's number but since I have mentioned that I have this unexplainable unluckiness, I bumped into the person I least wanted to see. 'Rhie?' the man in front me greeted. 'Hey Frin!' I trembled. I cannot give in, or this will be worse than nightmare. 'Wait! You're doing it again?' he almost blurted into laughter. I am having a panic attack now. I can't breathe. My date beside me looked so worried, I just couldn't imagine his look when I lose it. I should hide. I need to hide. I dialed on my phone while running to the comfort room and locked it up. I don't die with nuts, I swell. 'Hey, you ok?' my date, who I forgot to ask the name, banged on the door. 'Yeah!' I answered weakly. I'm losing it. 'Help!' I whispered. I am sweating so bad, I lost the last layer of my clothes which means I'm naked, plump, and terrified. I plunged down the floor and everything went blurry. A door opened, not sure what door is it, all I know, I am crying already. I am such a disgrace once again. That even my parents don’t want to get associated with me. 'Crazy.' I heard someone say before passing out. *** I woke up in a soft bed with comfortable pillows, nice-scented mattress, and…a warm hug. Hug? Someone is hugging me. And that person is naked! A warm person cuddled tight next to me with his skin touching my…bare skin. Is it a he? Wait! I am naked too! 'Hey. Let's get more sleep. I'm still tired!' a voice behind me mumbled sweetly with the sexiest morning tone I have ever heard my entire life, giving shivers throughout my body. It is a he! I turned to face him and instead of an awkward face, he's smiling while his eyes are still close. 'Who are you?' I asked nervously, getting terrified what might have happened that I end up here…with him. 'Later, ok? Let's take some more rest.' He said and tucked me in his chest for a tighter hug. And for the very first time, I felt calm.] *** “That's it! Thank you for listening everyone. Catch up on Rhie this coming Saturday for the next episode of 'Getting Unlucky with Him. See you!” masayang saad ko saka ini-disconnect ang connection. Mabilis na napawi ang mga ngiti ko nang tuluyan kong shinut-down ang laptop saka malungkot na pinagmasdan ang madilim na repleksiyon ko sa screen nito. "HAAAH!" malalim na buntong-hininga ko sabay walang-lakas na pumahingalay sa sandalan ng swivel chair ko. Tumingala ako sa kisame at binabagot na agad pag naiisip ko ang mga gawain ko sa buong araw. Parehas na gawain na paulit-ulit kong ginagawa at gagawin habang humihinga ako. Nagpaikot-ikot ako sa upuan, nagbabakasakali na antukin dahil maaga pa naman pero bigla na lang akong nagulat nang mag-vibrate ang cellphone ko. Sinagot ko ang tawag na di na tinitingnan kung sino ito. "Put on your bra! Fix your hair!" malakas na sigaw ng pamilyar na boses sa kabilang linya. Sa gulat ay napatuwid ako ng upo saka saglit na tiningnan ang caller id para masigurado na di ako nananaginip. Si Ate Stella nga. "Anong pinagsasasabi mo Ate? Napakaaga eh!" nagtitimping sagot ko. "Mag-suot ka na ng bra, ayusin mo ang buhok mo!" "Tinagalog mo lang, iba ang tanong ko," umiirap-irap pa ako, saka bumuntong-hininga na naman dahil may kakaiba akong nararamdaman base sa pananalita ni Ate. "Put on a f-cking bra for f-ck's sake, darating na ang dress mo!" Nanlaki ang mga mata ko sa gulat kaya naman para akong binuhusan ng kumukulong tubig na mas mabilis pa sa segundo na napatayo. Parang sa isang iglap ay na full charge and tinatamad kong katawang lupa. Bukod sa puyat, pagod pa talaga ako sa pag-ngiti ng halos kalahating oras sa live ko. It's not that I'm faking it for views, I'm just not used to smiling anymore. Ilang segundo pa bago nag-proseso ang utak ko at sumagot. “WHAAAAT! No way!” “YES WAY! Aattend ka sa ayaw at sa gusto mo. I talked to your friends. You have to get laid tonight! O, malalaman ng lahat na may sakit ka at malapit ka ng mamatay. Tapos kakaawaan ka ng lahat at paplastikin ka na nila hanggang burol mo!" At ayon, pinutol na niya ang tawag. Shit! Di ako prepared. Hayp na yan. Anong gagawin ko ron. And besides, they are not my friends. Before, maybe. I thought they were my friends but then everything sucks when I realized the truth that they were just good to me because they needed something from me. At naputol na nga ang pakikipagtalo ko sa sa sarili ko nang may motor na pumarada sa harapan ng gate namin. “Delivery po!" Naitapon ko ang cellphone ko sa dismaya at marahas na napapunas ang mga kamay sa mukha ko saka napasabunot sa buhok ko. "AARRGGHH! BWISIT!" Pamartsa akong lumabas ng bahay at labag sa loob na tinanggap ang parcel. Mas kaya ko naman magpanggap kesa tiisin ang pamamamlastik ng mga tao na biglang babait sakin dahil may sakit ako sa kabila ng katotohanang buong buhay ko ay hinusgahan nila ako.