“SO WHAT do you wanna do first?”
Thaddeus looked around the amusement park full of rides, arcades, and other gaming stalls that would definitely make all the visitors happy—especially him. After Tamara convinced Mark to limit his visits to her apartment because her landlady doesn’t want frequent visitors on her building, they planned to go out on the day that he won’t drop by in the house.
“It’s a good thing that Sky Ranch Pampanga’s ride-all-you-can tickets is always sale online, we won’t have to wait in the long lines of ticket booth just to get a pass here,” Tamara said and looked at Thaddeus. When he didn’t answer her, she nudged her in the waist. “Hey, I’m talking to you.”
Thaddeus turned to her, and Tamara saw in his eyes how he was excited to be in this place. “I’m sorry, I’m thinking on what to ride first.” He looked at the giant rides again. “Should we try Viking?”
Tamara knotted her forehead. “Is it your first time here?”
Thaddeus nodded. “My parents never let me run out of the palace—” He stopped, then laughed. “I mean, temple. They never let me go out of the temple because they’re afraid that I might encounter bad spirits that could attract bad energies towards me.”
“I see,” she said, nodding her head. “Young shamans are more vulnerable to bad spirits because they’re still not aware of their skills, am I right?”
Thaddeus shifted his gaze to the arcades. “Yes, you’re right,” he replied without looking at her. “I think we should eat first, I got hungry on our trip.”
Tamara laughed. “Me too, I didn’t expect that going to Pampanga from Manila would take us hours.” She rubber her back. “My lower back hurts.”
“You do?” Thaddeus went on her back and pressed his knuckles on her lower back. “Does it hurt?”
“What are you doing?” she asked when he started to move his knuckles up and down. The people passing are looking at them because they’re doing the massage in the middle of the way. “Hey, let’s save it for later.”
Thaddeus stopped then peeked at her from her back. “Later?”
It was when Tamara realized the meaning of what she said. Her face reddened as her cheeks started to feel warm. “I mean, let’s do it when we get home—” She covered her mouth. It’s just getting worse. “Let’s just eat!”
Thaddeus suggested eating at a restaurant inside the Sky Ranch that offers noodles. But, Tamara told him to try the Filipino version of Ramen, which is Beef Mami.
“I haven’t tried it,” Thaddeus told her excitedly. “But it looks yummy.” He smelled the steaming soup and noodles. “Wow, it’s nice to meet you too, Mami.”
Tamara couldn’t help but laugh at Thaddeus. She didn’t expect that he has this cute side. “You said that your mother is a Filipina, then how come that you haven’t eaten any Filipino dishes?”
“Both my parents live in China. My father told my mother to never cook Filipino dishes because he doesn’t want his children to look for Pinoy food and soon come here in the Philippines,” Thaddeus explained and took a sip on the Mami soup. He closed his eyes as he savored the taste of Beef Mami. “Now, I know why he said that. Filipino delicacies has a unique taste that will make you ask for more.”
“But you still end up here in the Philippines,” Tamara said and laughed. “How could your father prevent his children from visiting Philippines even if his wife is a Filipina? His kids are all half-Filipino.”
“It’s a long story,” Thaddeus replied, then focused on his food. “What matters now is I know why my father doesn’t want us to visit Philippines,” he added then laughed.
“Does your parents know that your profession as a shaman brought you here in the Philippines?”
Thaddeus choked on the noodles and coughed repeatedly. Tamara quickly gave him a glass of water and rubbed his back.
“Careful,” she said then shook her head. “You should eat it slowly for you to enjoy its taste.”
Thaddeus caught her hand rubbing his back. “Thank you, Tamara,” he said out of the blue. “Thank you for proving to me that Philippines is worth to visit.”
Tamara frowned at his poetic remarks, then laughed. She hit his shoulder jokingly. “It’s nothing,” she said, blushing. “After you finished your Mami, we’ll try all the rides that you want so you could absorb a lot of good energy that you’ll bring in my house.”
After having their light meal, Thaddeus dragged Tamara to the roller coaster that Tamara thought would go forever. When they got off the ride, both of them almost threw up the noodles that they eat.
“I asked you if you really wanted to ride that roller coaster…” Tamara drawled. Her knees wobbled as they walked towards the next ride. “My gosh, I don’t think I can still ride another one.”
Thaddeus draped her arms on his shoulders and hooked his arms on her waist. “Let’s try the easier one,” he said, looking fully energetic even after the wild ride. “Come on, I’ll carry you.”
Before Tamara could protest, Thaddeus lifted her in his arms easily. She gasped when their faces were just a few inch away. “Y-You don’t have to carry me…” she said, blushing.
“It’s okay,” he said then looked at her. “I want to carry you.”
Tamara felt as if her heart is going to leaped out her chest. Its beats per minute raised to over one hundred, and it’s increasing constantly because of Thaddeus’s closeness to her. Tamara thought that Thaddeus might feel her hearbeat because they’re chests are pressed against each other.
She looked up at him and her gaze landed on his lips. Then, a memory hit her like lightning. Her eyes widened as the scene replayed in her mind. “Oh, my gosh…”
Thaddeus looked at her, their lips almost touch because she’s also looking up at him. “What is it, Tamara?”
Tamara covered her mouth. “D-did you kiss me?”
Thaddeus knotted his forehead, then after a few seconds, he burst out laughing. “So you remember it now?”
***