maybe i spoke too soon.  maybe i jumped to conclusions.  maybe i even wrote things off this early in the game.  but whatever i did, there's no denying the fact that things can change in the blink of an eye.  the next day after i wrote my previous ranting entry, the woman whose name is associated with sweets, and i had lunch.  well, a late lunch at that.  i actually never saw it coming.  i mean, just when i let my foot off the accelerator with regards to pursuing her, we actually had our first date.

it was thursday morning, and i was looking forward to ending my work week and a team building session on friday night.  we were a little short on personnel on the management side, so my boss asked me to extend my hours until whatever time i can to help the closing shift have coverage.  i naturally said yes, it being my final day at the office and having no plans of watching a movie, which i normally do as i leave work.  i planned on extending for a maximum of two hours, feeling that is sufficient help enough for the closing manager to cover the floor.  she then arrives at her usual time and like clockwork, we exchange pleasantries.  we both went about our work, notwithstanding at times we would exchange short conversations whenever she would pass by my way and vice versa.

towards the end of my regular hours, during one of our short conversations, she mentions that she was getting hungry.  thinking that she would never say yes, i jokingly asked her out to lunch.  she replied that she doesn't take her lunch during their lunch break per se which was at 12 noon, but work can sometimes extend up to two in the afternoon.  "no problem," i said.  "i don't have nothing to do after work so it's ok.  plus i'll be extending my shift around two hours."  she then nodded in agreement.  while i was glad to have finally asked her out for the first time, it still came as a surprise she actually agreed to go out with me, even if it is just lunch.

we went to north park at ATC at past 2PM.  she was doing most of the talking, while i, of course mostly listened a lot.  i dunno if her being talkative is a sign of nervousness, but at least it made me ask less questions about her, like she's naturally telling me about herself.  she still talked during lunch.  she talked about her recent relationship which ended a couple of months ago and would sometimes ask me what i thought about what happened and the what if scenarios involving their break up.  from her stories, including her teen years and college days, i have come up with the impression that she's a strong-willed woman and someone who is not afraid of expressing herself.  she told me also about her dream of becoming a flight stewardess before, and i agreed that she'd make a gorgeous one at that, but she became afraid that she might not make it.  then i suddenly realized that she's not all devil-may-care, headstrong woman.  that she has also times of self-doubt and prone to weakness.  i told her that it's never too late to chase her dream.  to which she jokingly replied that she already has marks on her legs.  i almost asked her if i can see them, but common sense told me not to.  but honestly, who wouldn't want to see her smooth legs?  maybe next time, i told to myself.

i brought her back to the office after lunch and headed on home.  but not without finally getting her mobile number.  i admit that i had a good time getting to know her.  is this a sign of things to come?  i don't know, and i'm not thinking too much about it.  hey, i'm just hitching on a free ride with nothing to lose.  as i've said, i'm not expecting anything from what i have with her now.  to quote a colleague when i talked about my cancelled plans of seriously persuing her, "i'm no longer on edsa, but on the service road," or something like that.  but it's all good.  i was watching mighty ducks 3 on cable yesterday afternoon and one line from that movie summed up everything i need to do about her:  "don't be careless, yet not too careful either.  if you see a shot, take it.  don't hesitate."