His Replacement Wife

Good Thing I've Met You

                                                                              [ROVERIE’S POV]

“let’s go” Frankie said

Our last class just ended and I feel so exhausted. Our professor already started his discussion and I was can’t process everything that he said because honestly, the topic was quite unfamiliar to me so I was thinking of having an advance scanning about the subject. We reached the gate and bid goodbye to each other. I need to internalize everything that happened today, I took the bus so that I could go home. I remembered what just happened a while ago at the cafeteria.

                                                                                   [Flashback]

“PINAY KA!?” Ken asked. [“you’re a Filipina?”]

“oo… pure pino……wait...” DID I HEARD IT RIGHT?? HE SPOKE IN TAGALOG? [“yes, pure Filipi….wait..”] 

“PINOY KA!?” I was looking at him with my eyes wide open, I’m on shock! [“you’re a Filipino?”]

“woah! There’s something we must know here” Tyler said while looking at Frankie.

“yeah right!” and they both laughed and tease us.

Ken and I just both keep quiet and continue eating. I still didn’t confirm if he’s really a Filipino *sigh*

                                                                             [End of Flashback]

I entered the house and I already feel hungry so I look for something to cook. Yeah right! I forgot that I’m out of stock, I need to buy groceries now so I immediately left the house and took a ride to the grocery store. I decided to buy some food first to sustain my hunger before going to the grocery store. After eating I walked to the grocery store and took all the stuff that I will be needing the entire week. I started from personal necessities like for hygiene before the foods. I used to buy in this store because they have grains here and I just can’t eat without rice. After taking all stuff I need, I moved to the counter and pay for the bill.

“I’m so sorry miss, do you have a cash?” the teller asked.

“uhm, I don’t think my cash is enough” I replied.

“we forgot to put notice in front, we are having some technical problems now and we do not support cards now, probably we can fix this soon we’re really sorry miss” the teller replied.

“what should I do with this?” I asked the teller.

“please include this” a guy spoke from my back.

“okay sir” the teller replied to the guy and smiled

I looked at the guy and he just smiled. OH GOD! HIS SMILE WAS SO ATTRCATIVE! I just turn back because I can’t manage to look at him. I took a deep sigh and faced him.

“I-I’ll pay you later, I just have to withdraw” I told him.

“No problem” and again he just smiled. Why he keeps on smiling? I’m too conscious here while he’s too cool. After the billing, we find a machine where I can withdraw money so that I can pay him. 

“can you wait here?” I asked him. He just nodded so I immediately process the withdrawal.

“here” I handed him the money. 

“Thank you so much for helping me, I’m now paid” I added.

“No! you’re not, you just pay me the money but not the effort that I did. So… you have to accompany me for dinner” he said.

WHAT THE--- 

“ARE YOU SERIOUS!?” I asked with disbelief. 

“do I look like I’m joking?” he answered.

“can’t you see I’m carrying a lot of things?” I told him.

“I’ll help you then” – Ken 

“No thanks, I don’t want to have a compensation” I told him.

“I insist, you don’t have to compensate this time” – he ended his words with a smile. 

He grabbed some of the stuff on my hand and started to walk, I just follow him to where he decided to eat. He looks very calm and speaks gently, and those smiles, he looks more attractive with that.

“You should try eating here” he stopped at a restaurant and open the door 

“after you” he said.

“thanks” I answered.

It’s actually a beautiful place, the lights and the ambiance are very aesthetic. He already ordered the food and I’m just looking at the entire place when he suddenly speaks.

“so, you’re a Filipino?” he asked.

“yes, I am, and you spoke tagalog earlier, so you’re Filipino too?” I asked him back.

“FilAm, half Filipino and half American” he answered.

“oh, that means that you’re my fellow-citizen” I mockingly said.

“yeah” he said while chuckling.

We talked about life here in America, the difference of living here from what we’re used to in the Philippines. To found someone who can speak on your mother tongue is a different kind of excitement and that what makes our conversation going. 

“namiss ko narin magsalita ng tagalog, dumudugo na ilong ko kakaenglish eh” I told him while laughing. [“I missed speaking tagalog, I’m having nosebleed for always speaking in English”] 

“ako rin dati hanggang sa nasanay na” he answered. [“me too back then, until I’m used to it”]

“buti talaga nakilala kita” I said. [“good thing I’ve met you”]

“ako rin” – Ken. [“me too”] 

O.K. I think I said the wrong word, that’s awkward. Can I refrain that?

“where’s the bill?” I asked him.

“no, it’s on me. I just asked you to accompany me, I never said that you’ll have to pay the bill” he answered. 

Is that it? Okay. As if I knew that you’ll be paying it, if ever I did, I might order a lot of foods. Joke!

“so, where are you going home?” I asked him.

“we’re on the same street” he said.

“what?” I asked.

“I mean, at Vilaville, fourth street” – Ken.

“really? I’m on third street, we are on same neighborhood, that’s cool” I told him. 

“let’s go so that I could also help you with your stuff” he said.

“dami ko nang utang sayo” I mocked. [“I’m having lots of debt on you”]

“ibig sabihin kailangan mo akong bayaran” he replied. [“that means that you’ll have to pay me”]

We took a ride on a taxi which is way better since I have a lot of stuffs with me and another awkward moment. I just decided to look outside pretending I’m enjoying the view, which in fact, I’m just conscious.

When I reached home, I immediately walked out and ask him to hand me over my stuff but he didn’t.

“you can give me my stuff now, I’m okay here you can go, thank you” I said.

“I’m coming with you” – Ken.

“WHAT!?” my eyes widen.

“No, I mean, I’ll help you with your stuff until you reach your house, this is quite heavy you know” he explained.

“It’s ok, I can manage” I told him.

“I insist” – Ken. I have nothing to do, it’s hard to say no and just push him away so I let him accompanied me towards the door.

“I’m good here” I told him.

“I guess so, thank you for accompanying me to dinner” he thanked.

“and thank you for helping me out” I replied.

“I’ll go ahead” he said and starts to walk away.

I entered the house and I just can’t help myself from smiling. I don’t know why our path always crossed but I guess something good is happening. Ever since, I don’t really believe in coincidence because I believe that everything that happened is what supposed to happen, everything is destined to happen and not just a coincidence. So, I guess there’s a purpose why we’ve met, consecutively.