Chapter Text
Althea drummed her fingers against the steering wheel as traffic crawled along Manila's streets, her eyes occasionally flicking toward the phone sitting on the passenger seat. She had already checked it more times than she cared to admit, mostly because she was still hoping Mae would send her something, anything, that would explain what exactly she had gotten herself into.
Mae: Just ask for JR.
Althea: That's it?? Who’s JR?
Mae: You’ll see. Just trust me and don’t cancel this time.
Althea rolled her eyes before locking her phone and tossing it back onto the passenger seat.
She was thirty-six years old. She should have been old enough to know better than to let her friends drag her into blind dates, especially when the person arranging it refused to give her even the most basic information.
Who was JR? A nickname, a stage name, or just someone from Mae's endless circle of friends and acquaintances? Knowing her, it could be anyone.
Althea had never really understood why her being single bothered everyone so much. She dated occasionally, but nothing had ever progressed into anything serious, and honestly, she was perfectly fine with that. She had her work, her friends, movies she wanted to watch, collections she was working on, and enough things happening in her life that she rarely had time to feel lonely.
Apparently, that wasn't good enough for Mae.
A few weeks ago, Mae had dragged her to a bar with Celine, insisting that they were only going out for one drink. One drink had somehow turned into several bottles of beer and, eventually, an intervention about Althea's love life.
“You need a boyfriend. You need to date. You’re too comfortable being single.”
Althea had just laughed at them. She had also rejected every blind date Mae had tried to arrange since then, including the ones Mae insisted were "actually really good guys."
So when Mae finally got her to agree to one, Althea knew she'd probably never hear the end of it if she backed out.
Which was why she was now sitting in traffic, heading toward a restaurant to meet someone whose name she didn't even properly know.
JR.
"Whatever," Althea muttered to herself. "Let's just get this over with."
The restaurant was tucked away in one of Manila's older industrial pockets, where old warehouses and brick buildings had slowly been transformed into cafés, restaurants, galleries, and creative spaces. The building itself had caught Althea's attention months ago while she was looking for a possible venue for one of her collections, and she had liked the way the old structure had been preserved while the interior had been given a more polished, modern feel.
Warm lighting spilled through the floor-to-ceiling windows, highlighting the exposed beams and brick columns inside. Comfortable couches and low tables filled one side of the restaurant, while the other was lined with smaller tables for diners who wanted something quieter.
Althea remembered thinking that it was exactly the kind of place she would choose herself. Which, unfortunately, meant Mae had probably done at least one thing right.
A hostess greeted her and led her toward a quieter corner of the restaurant. Althea followed, adjusting the strap of her bag as she looked around, already bracing herself for an awkward evening.
Then she saw her.
The woman at the table looked up from her phone, and Althea paused for a moment. She wasn't sure what she'd been expecting, but it definitely wasn't this.
The woman was dressed simply in a crisp white shirt, the sleeves casually rolled up to her elbows, paired with dark trousers. Thick black framed glasses rested on her nose, giving her a slightly studious charm that somehow suited her. There were no flashy accessories, nothing that immediately gave away much about her. Her long black hair framed her soft oval face, drawing attention to her dark brown eyes and full lips, while the glasses only seemed to emphasize her youthful features.
She was very pretty, and judging from the way she looked, much younger than Althea had expected, she eyes narrowed slightly.
Damn you, Mae.
The woman smiled as Althea approached.
“Hi,” she began, “You must be Althea and wow, you look like you just stepped out of a photoshoot.” She gasped and covered her mouth in a nervous chuckle. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to say that out loud.”
Fascinated, Jules watched as a faint blush bloomed across the older woman’s cheeks. She was so captivated that she found herself leaning forward slightly, wanting a better look at the beautiful woman in front of her. My God, she had never seen such a beautiful woman.
Althea's elegant features were striking, from her smooth complexion and defined features to the way the camel-tone long-sleeve cashmere dress she wore accentuated her long neck and graceful figure. The almost corset-like black leather belt emphasized her small waist, making her look effortlessly elegant.
Jules dared herself to look even more closely at the harmony of her full lips and high nose before her eyes caught Althea's.
Oh damn. Her eyes.
They captivated Jules immediately, glittering with intelligence and carrying just enough of a judging look to make her feel like Althea was somehow always going to be better than everyone else.
Jules gulped and dared herself to look a little closer, taking in the effortless harmony of Althea's features, from her full lips to the elegant line of her nose. Everything about her looked polished without seeming like she had tried too hard. Then their eyes met.
Oh damn. Her eyes.
Dark, warm, and impossibly expressive, they held a quiet intensity that made Jules forget whatever she had been about to say. There was something captivating about them, a softness beneath the confidence that made it almost impossible to look away.
Should I kneel down in supplication?
“JR?”
Even the sound of the older woman’s voice sent a shiver down her spine.
“Ah, yeah. That's me.” Jules quickly nodded. “Julienne Robles, JR, but you can call me Jules.”
She blabbered slightly before their eyes met again, and she quickly lowered her gaze. Those eyes would be the death of me.
Althea nodded, "Jules it is then."
“Call me by my full name and I’d have to call you Mommy,” she mumbled under her breath, only to freeze when she heard an, “Excuse me?” coming from the woman in front of her.
“Uh, nothing. This is a nice place.” She quickly cleared her throat and smiled, wanting nothing more than to dig a six-foot hole and bury herself in it.
Luckily, their waiter showed up then, handing them the menus and explaining the specials for the evening before leaving them to browse at their leisure. Both quickly looked down at the elegant white menus with crisp italic lettering, letting the silence settle between them.
Althea looked up from her menu and raised an eyebrow when she caught Jules stealing another shy glance at her.
“Do you come here often?” she asked, breaking the silence, hoping to throw the girl a bone for some reason she couldn’t quite fathom.
“No.” A small smile appeared along with a deeper blush. “I rarely eat out, actually, but Ate Mae said you really like this place. You might have to recommend something for me because I honestly don’t understand half of this menu. French ba lahat?”
“You should try the duck confit,” Althea said nonchalantly, continuing her charade of looking through the menu even though she already knew it by heart.
“Du...ck?”
Althea looked up and saw the dark pink rush across the attractive stranger’s cheeks all the way to the tips of her ears. She couldn't help the smirk that formed on her lips. Cute. Very cute.
“I think I’ll just stick with chicken,” Jules murmured to herself, quietly thanking the universe when the waiter returned to take their orders before leaving them alone again.
Althea studied the girl, her brow furrowed in confusion and slight annoyance. What was Mae thinking? If she wanted to introduce her friend for a potential modeling job for her latest fashion show, it really didn’t have to be under the guise of a blind date. The girl practically looked like a painting come to life; Althea would be stupid to say no.
Having no patience to continue playing the game, she leaned forward, resting her clasped hands on the table.
“So… any catwalk experience?”
“I’ve walked dogs before, but usually I cat-sit. Never really tried to walk a cat, though. They’ll probably scratch me if I try.”
Althea blinked. Never in a million years would she have expected that answer.
“You’re not a model?”
Jules gaped at her before breaking into a wide, toothy smile that made Althea's heart beat just a half-beat quicker.
“No. Not a model. I’m a fixer. I fix things.” She paused, then added with a small laugh, “That’s actually how I know Ate Mae. Mahilig kasi siyang makasira ng kung anu-ano sa apartment niya.”
“Oh?”
Jules nodded. “My dad’s the building manager where Mae lives. He’s getting old na, so sometimes I fill in for him and help out. I’m actually really good with my hands.”
The moment the words left her mouth, Jules seemed to realize how that sounded. Her eyes widened and she quickly started stammering.
“I mean—good at fixing things. I’m good at fixing things.”
Althea blinked, not quite sure how to respond. She was definitely not a model. So did Mae really set her up on a date with a woman? Did she think that because Althea hadn’t shown much interest in dating men, she might be… what? Interested in women?
“So, are you?”
“What?”
There was a twinkle in Jules's eyes, a hint of mischief as she threw the question right back at the older woman. “A model.”
Altea rolled her eyes at the cheekiness but offered her a tight smile nonetheless. “No, but I do work with them a lot. I’m a fashion designer.”
“And you’re friends with Ate Mae?”
The shade was delivered so casually that it took Althea a moment to realize the young girl had just subtly dissed their mutual friend’s sense of fashion. Hiding the smile that was starting to form behind the wine menu, she muttered, “Mae is a lost cause.”
A light chuckle was the only indication that Jules had heard her. “I guess kaya siguro naisip ni Ate Mae na may something in common tayo.”
Althea held her tongue, about to ask what exactly she meant, when their waiter arrived with their food and left again with a polite “Bon appétit.”
As if she could read the older woman’s mind, Jules offered a more elaborate explanation.
“I design too, in my spare time. Ate Mae saw one of my sketchbooks and wouldn’t stop pestering me about it. Mine leans more toward architecture, though.”
“Architecture… takes a lot of patience, which I don’t have.”
Jules snorted at the quip, and Althea"s initially bone-straight posture relaxed slightly as she settled into the light conversation. “I think you could guess by now na patience isn’t really one of my stronger suits.
"Well, you seem like someone who knows exactly what she wants. But I guess not everyone can just jump right into your line of thinking.”
Althea considered it for a moment before nodding.
“I guess so. Although I have to admit, it’s really not easy working with me. I tend to have a very clear picture of what I want, so I push and push people to give their best too. I believe that when people really give their 101%, then from all that collaborative energy, something magical comes out of it.”
“Sorry, I can get really worked up sometimes.”
“No, I think you’re just passionate. I like passionate people.”
Althea's hands stilled for a moment as she cut into her duck, looking at the girl who now met her gaze with a confident, guileless expression. “I like passionate people too,” she replied with a small smile.
“Especially when they’re pretty,” Jules added, completely serious as she chewed on her grilled chicken.
A small laugh escaped Althea at the sheer cuteness of it.
“Speaking of pretty, you don’t exactly look like someone who’d have trouble getting a date. So…?” Althea gestured between them.
Jules shrugged, suddenly looking a little sheepish.
“Ah… that.” Jules shrugged, suddenly looking a little sheepish. “I don’t really have time to date, and honestly, hindi rin naman ako looking for anything.” She cringed, looking like a chicken that had just tasted lemon for the first time, trying to salvage yet another one of her blunders. “But this is great. I mean, you’re great and… and…”
Taking pity on the younger woman as she continued to ramble, Alteha chuckled and shook her head.
“So, ano ba usually pinag-uusapan nowadays on a first date?”
Jules eyebrows scrunched together for a moment as she carefully considered her answer, not wanting to ruin the surprisingly comfortable atmosphere that had already settled between them.
“Definitely not politics.”
She said it with all the seriousness she could muster, and her face lit up when Althea burst into an unrestrained laugh, her eyes crinkling at the corners.
“No,” the older woman managed between laughs. “I don’t think that would be appropriate for a first date.”
“Maybe on the third date.”
Althea chose to ignore the hopeful tone and continued. “So, you work with your dad?”
“Hindi, I just fill in for him sometimes. Mostly, I do odd jobs, anything that pays. I’m on a gap year,” she shrugged. “Design school is expensive.”
“So, what do you usually get up to when you’re not working?” Althea asked.
“Honestly? Kung ano lang trip ko. I draw, I watch movies, minsan I just walk around and look for interesting places. You?”
“I work too much,” Althea admitted with a small laugh. “But when I actually have free time, I like watching movies. Or just staying home.”
“That sounds boring.”
Althea raised an eyebrow. “Excuse me?”
Jules laughed. “I mean… peaceful. Very peaceful.”
“Nice save.”
They both laughed, and somehow, the conversation continued without either of them having to force it. They talked about work, family, food, movies, and everything in between, occasionally teasing each other along the way.
They found their groove over the delicious dinner, and Althea found herself irresistibly drawn to this soft-spoken, beautiful stranger. She couldn’t remember the last time a first date had felt this easy. Granted, she hadn’t been on one in years, but there was something about this young woman that kept her from coming up with an excuse to cut the date short.
“Ma’am, would you like some dessert?”
The waiter’s question stopped them mid-banter about whether you should put the cereal first or the milk, making them realize they were now two of the last guests left in the restaurant.
“No, thank you. Just the bill.”
It took him only five minutes, just enough time for Althea to win the debate, definitely cereal first, to return with the bill.
The older woman was taken aback when Jules also placed her card on the table, knowing that a meal here could set her back quite a bit on her budget.
“Let me.”
“Blind date rules. We should split the bill fifty-fifty.”
Althea wanted to argue, but judging by the stubborn look on the younger woman’s face, she knew she wasn’t going to change her mind. So Althea relented, letting the waiter split the bill evenly before handing their cards back.
By sheer force of habit, Althea's eyes followed the younger woman as she stood, slightly taken aback when she realized they were almost the same height. Jules had seemed much taller while sitting down. Althea couldn’t help but admire how well the contradiction of her masculine fashion blended with the delicateness and gracefulness of her features.
Jules opened the door and gestured for Althea to go out first before following behind her.
“Do you want coffee? Dessert? Or maybe we can just walk around?” She kept throwing out options, clearly not ready for the night to end. Her eyes wandered up and down the street, searching for somewhere else they could go before finally settling on Althea.
“Maybe dessert?”
“Perfect!”
Jules immediately brightened. “Wait here.”
Before Althea could ask where she was going, the younger woman had already crossed the street toward a small convenience store. Althea watched her go, shaking her head with an amused smile.
Less than ten minutes later, Jules came back carrying two ice cream cups and a couple of small snacks.
“You actually went?”
“You said dessert.” Jules held up the bag proudly. “May snacks din ako. Tara, let’s find somewhere by the bay.”
Althea laughed. “You really don’t take no for an answer, huh?”
“Not when it’s something important.”
Althea couldn't help smiling at that. It had been a while since she’d been on a date like this, one where she felt comfortable enough with someone to actually want the night to continue. Somehow, Jules seemed to make that happen without even trying.
“Tara,” Jules said, already starting to walk. “Let’s go.”
It was infectious, Jules’s youthful energy and enthusiasm, so Althea simply followed. They chatted aimlessly as they walked, the space between them slowly narrowing until Althea was almost certain that if she reached out, her arm would brush against Jules’s.
They eventually found an empty bench facing Manila Bay. The lights along the waterfront reflected across the dark water while the city glowed behind them, the noise of the evening fading into a distant hum.
“Okay lang dito?”
“Yeah. This is fine.”
They settled beside each other, opening their ice cream and sharing the snacks between them. For a while, neither of them said much. They simply watched the water and enjoyed the quiet.
They’d fallen into these quiet moments several times throughout the evening, and Althea found herself enjoying them more than she expected. There was something comforting about being with someone who didn’t feel the need to fill every silence.
She felt rather than saw Jules's gaze lingering on her profile. Althea waited for the younger woman to say something, but nothing came. Jules simply let the silence stretch, seemingly content to sit there and look at her.
Or maybe she was just looking at her face.
“Why architecture?” Althea finally asked, breaking Jules's focus.
The younger woman blinked several times when their eyes met, looking almost caught off guard by the question. She took another spoonful of ice cream, buying herself a moment to think.
“Do you want the long version or the short one?”
“The long one, I guess.”
Jules nodded, turning her attention back toward the water.
“Where do I start? I guess it’s the creative freedom. Since I was a little kid, all I remember is always wanting to draw, wanting to express myself through art. Everything around us is full of color, so why do people keep putting things into the same boxes just because that’s what’s expected?”
Althea smiled at that. “May favorite architect ka?”
“Gaudí.” Jules smiled. “His work has so much personality. Everything feels different, like he wasn’t afraid to make things his own. I think that’s how I want to live too. I want to do something I’m actually passionate about.”
Her smile faded slightly as she looked down at the melting ice cream in her cup.
“Mom keeps asking me to find a stable nine to five, secure job, all that. Pero I just can’t see myself doing that.” She glanced at Althea, her expression suddenly more uncertain. “Do you think I’m selfish?”
The cool night air filled Althea's lungs as she took a deep breath and shook her head.
“No. It’s your life. I can’t imagine doing something I’m not passionate about, or giving up on a dream just because it might not work out or make enough money.”
Jules looked at her earnestly. “So I should follow my dream, right?”
“In time, you will,” Althea said softly, giving the younger woman a warm smile. There was something about the way Jules spoke about her dreams that felt strangely familiar, like her heart was beating to the same rhythm.
The quiet between them settled again, but Althea suddenly broke it with a question she probably should have kept to herself. “So… kailan mo nalaman na you liked women?”
Jules turned to her, seemingly caught off guard for only a second before taking the question in stride.
“Oh gosh, teenager pa lang, I think. I’ve always had a thing for older women.”
“Ah…” Althea forced a small smile, suddenly aware of the age difference between them. She quickly picked up her ice cream cup and finished what was left, hoping Jules wouldn’t throw the same question back at her.
How was she supposed to explain that she had never actually been interested in women? Or had Mae already warned her? Should she even ask?
“Hala!”
“What?”
Althea turned toward Jules, following her gaze toward something happening further down the waterfront. Before she could see what had caught the younger woman’s attention, Jules quickly reached over and covered her eyes.
“No, no, don’t look!” Jules protested, laughing under her breath. “Grabe, kids nowadays. Why can’t they just get a room?”
Althea resisted the temptation to tease her that she could still be considered a kid too. Instead, she looked up and gasped when she realized just how close Jules's face was to hers.
The younger woman didn’t pull away. The hand that had been covering Althea's eyes moved gently, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
Althea felt her pulse jump and suddenly didn’t trust herself to speak. If this were a guy, she was almost certain he would lean in to kiss her, and judging by how the night had gone, she might even let him. But the woman sitting beside her, looking at her as if she were the most beautiful thing in the world, wasn’t a guy.
She had never kissed a woman before. Heck, she had never even seriously considered dating one.
Althea swallowed, her tongue unconsciously brushing over her lower lip. She caught the way Jules's eyes followed the movement, her expression suddenly more intense.
“I should probably go,” Althea said quietly.
The warmth in Jules's eyes immediately faded. She didn’t say anything, only nodded quietly before gathering the empty ice cream cups and the rest of the shopping bag. When Althea stood, Jules stood with her.
“I’ll walk you to your car.”
“I parked just a couple of blocks away.”
Jules nodded again. “I’ll walk you.”
The walk to Althea's car was filled with tension, and Althea wanted to smack herself for changing the mood so suddenly. She really liked the younger woman, and even though she knew there couldn’t be anything more between them, she still wanted them to at least be friends.
Her mind raced with what she should say. Should she let Jules down gently? Should she be honest and tell her she wasn’t into women, while making it clear that she had genuinely enjoyed their date? Maybe she could ask for Jules's number and suggest lunch sometime. But would that just give her the wrong idea?
She was so caught up in her thoughts that she barely noticed they had already reached her car.
“This is me,” Althea said, turning toward her. “Do you want a ride?”
Jules shook her head with a soft smile. “No, thank you.”
“Oh. Okay. Goodnight, then.”
Althea didn’t know what else to say. She watched as Jules straightened, her shoulders settling as a determined look crossed her face.
Althea's heart suddenly started pounding when Jules reached for her hands.
Her hands were soft, though there were small patches of calluses along the inside of her index and middle fingers. Then Althea felt something slightly pointed between their palms.
She looked down and saw a small folded piece of paper.
“I had fun tonight,” Jules said softly. “It’s really nice to meet you, Althea.” She gave Althea's hand a gentle squeeze before letting go. “Goodnight.”
Althea stood there stunned, watching as the younger woman walked away. Jules turned the corner and disappeared from sight before Althea finally looked down at the slightly crumpled piece of paper in her hand. The warmth from Jules's fingers still seemed to linger against it.
She unfolded the paper and immediately laughed at what was written inside.
"09XX-XXX-XXXX - That’s my number. Call me anytime you need a hand. I’m really good."