=MIA=
"Mia, can I leave you here for a bit? You can eat first. I have to meet up with someone. I'll be quick." Kayla said while we were waiting in line at some fast food place.
"Okay, but be quick. I don't know a thing about this place." I said and she nodded before leaving. I had to wait for about fifteen minutes to place my order because there were about three individuals in front of me.
The woman behind the order asked for my order and stared at me while waiting for me to talk, and I started feeling anxious. I didn't know what to choose. I look back, hoping to see my cousin, but she's still not back.
Why isn't she back yet? I need help. I know I'm a grown woman, but I'm in a different country, and I get anxious when I don't know what to do, and it felt like the lady was looking at me impatiently. Help.
"The burger is good." I turned around and saw a tall guy wearing pink sunglasses and a bucket hat. He's next in line after me. Nainip na siguro siya dahil ang tagal kong mag-order.
"Is it really good?" I asked and he nodded.
"Sí." Sí? Isn't that the Spanish for Yes. I face the front to tell the lady my order.
"I'll get one burger, large fries and medium coke." Wait. It was that easy to order. Why did I panic? I'm an idiot.
"Make that two." Said the guy who just helped me. He is now standing beside me and gave his card to the lady.
Oh right. I have to pay. I took out my wallet, but Mr. Nice Guy stopped me. "I will pay." He said and dragged me to sit at the table in the corner after getting a number.
"How much is it?" I ask 'cause he has the receipt.
"No, no. My treat." He said.
I was about to ask him why he was treating a stranger, but he suddenly introduced his name.
"I'm Benito." He said and I did something rude. I laughed after hearing his name.
I apologized right after I realized what I had just done, "I'm sorry. That was rude of me. My name is Mia and my last name is Benito." I chuckled again after telling him that.
It looked like he wasn't offended because he laughed. Now that we were sitting opposite each other, I noticed that he has a septum piercing. Even though his facial hair is thick and almost covers half of his face, it still cannot hide the fact that he is a good-looking guy. His voice is deep, which I find appealing. I've always had a thing for guys with deep voices. It just sounds so good to my ears.
"Do you know what your name means in Español?" he asks.
"No. What?" I'm actually curious what my name means in different language.
"Mine or my. Your name would mean my Benito Martínez if we get married." He said, giving me a wink and causing me to chuckle.
"I didn't know my name meant so much better in Spanish." I wonder if my name has a different meaning in other languages. It's a good thing he told me that.
"Do you leave around here?" he asked.
"No pero nagbabakasyon-. Sorry. I'm not from here. I'm here on vacation." I just spoke to him in Tagalog. Stupid me.
"Wait, you speak Spanish? Habla Español?" He asked.
"I don't." I said but I suddenly remembered that some of the Tagalog words we use are derived from Spanish.
"Oh, wait! Maybe I do, but not quite. I'm from the Philippines, and some of the words we use are derived from Spanish. That's why you thought I was speaking in Spanish." I explained. I don't speak Spanish, but I'm from the Philippines so I can understand some of the words. The rest I can try and guest the meaning.
"I thought you know Español. I can understand Inglés pero mi Ingles, it's not good." He said.
I don't agree. His English is good and we can understand each other well. While we were chatting, a staff called our number. I was about to stand, but he stood first.
"I'll get it." He got up to get our order and returned soon after carrying our food.
He sat down and we started eating. "Oh, I forgot to thank you for the food." I said.
"De nada (You're welcome). Está bien la comida? (Is the food good?)" he asks.
Wow, I'm pretty proud of myself. I actually understood what he said. Those are some of the phrases I've previously heard from a video of a vlogger that I watched on YouTube. I nodded, "It's really good." I'm not lying, this burger is delicious.
"Have you been to the Philippines?" I asked before taking another bite off my burger.
"No pero meeting a mujer guapa in front of me makes me want to visit." he said and I chuckled. Obviously, I understood what he just said.
"Que? What's so funny?" he asked while smiling at me.
"I can't believe someone used a corny pick up line on me." It's corny, but still, it's nice to hear these corny lines from time to time. I don't hear it that often.
"It's not a pick up line. Mia, you are pretty." he says and he looks me with like a flirty look...I guess.
I'm not sure if he is flirting, but I looked away cause I can't stand those eyes. It's too captivating for me. I can see his eyes better now that he has taken off his sunglasses. His eyelashes in particular are really attractive, as are his eyes. He has longer eyelashes than I do. I am jealous.
I smiled, "Fine, gracias. You are also gwapo." I said in return and he smiled. He kinda looks familiar, but I can't remember where I met him.
"Do you also use guapo in your country?" he asked.
"Yes, but the spelling is different. In my country it spells as g-w-a-p-o and I believe in Español it's g-u-a-p-o." I said.
"Sí. What an interesting thing to know from an interesting woman." he said.
Interesting? Who? Me? As far as I know, I'm a boring person. "That's the first time I heard someone call me interesting." I told him. I promise I wasn't flirting or anything like that. It is the first time I have heard someone call me interesting.
"Are you serious?" he asked.
"Yes, and other than my family and friends, nobody else has called me pretty. Something must be wrong with your eyes." I jokingly said.
"Mujer, you're pretty. Muy hermosa. You never heard any man say that to you?" he asked with shock on his face.
"No. I also don't know why." aside from my friends and family. I've never heard a guy compliment me. Not that I needed to hear it from somebody else because I know how pretty I am. It is flattering to occasionally receive compliments from others.
"Ay dios mio!" he exclaimed, "Y qué?(So what?) Their eyes have problema." he said and it made me chuckle. Seriously though, I've never had a guy complement me this way. Finally, I met someone who is honest. I think we can be friends.
"I know, right. I knew it! I'm pretty but they just won't like me." I don't go out much, so it's rare that I meet new people. I turn 26 this year in August, but I haven't met anyone or experienced anything romantic. The closest romantic experience I have is when I watch romantic movies.
"They have bad eyes." We both chuckled when he said that.
"Thank you for helping me earlier. I was so anxious that I forgot how simple it is to order meals, just like when the lady asked for my order earlier. Since this is an unfamiliar place and I haven't been here for very long, I get anxious." I really appreciate his help earlier.
"You did seem nervous earlier, but I don't see you getting nervous around me now." he said.
"I know, right? I also don't know why I feel comfortable talking to you. I guarantee this isn't some corny pickup line, but it's like we've known each other for so long. It might be because you're attractive. I can't remember where or when, but I feel like I've seen you somewhere before." It just felt like I've seen him from somewhere before.
"You might have mistaken me for someone else." He said.
He did say his English is not good but I don't think so. He's pretty good. Sure he uses some Spanish but I still can understand what he is saying.
"I think so too. Oh by the way, where are you from?" I asked while finishing my fries. He eats pretty fast. He's already done eating his food.
"Puerto Rico." he answered.
"How is it there? Is it hot like the Philippines? It's super hot in our country. What is it known for?" I curiously asked.
"It is hot pero I'm used to it. It's known for... let's see... playas y rum." he said.
"I should visit someday and look at the beaches, but I won't go swimming. Simply dipping my feet into the water will do." I said. Forget the rum 'cause I don't drink. Well, I do, but only once or twice a year and only with drinks with a very low alcohol content.
"Why not?" he asked.
"I don't know how to swim. I even struggle swimming in pools." I said causing him to laugh so I rolled my eyes at him.
"Don't laugh. I just don't get along well with beaches or pools." I told him.
"You should visit my country. Hit me up when you come and I can be your tour guide." He offered.
While we were talking about some random stuff, a guy appeared and said something to Benito. Both of them began speaking in Spanish. I avert my eyes as I use the straw to drink my coke. They only exchanged a few words before the man walked away.
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNXgQii1TtU
