It was unexpected and I was wearing overalls on my very first date.

I was 20 and it happened not so long ago. It was unexpected so obviously I did not have time to prepare otherwise I would be wearing a very sexy little black dress haha. Just kidding.

It was just an ordinary day at work. Yes, i wore overalls to work. We are allowed to wear whatever we want. I work as a web developer and one day this co-worker of mine out of nowhere sent a message saying that I look pretty today. (Today only???) Then I replied “You mean like a child” and he was like “this is my opinion, which is better?” and I casually said “I'd take both”.

I don't know why he would say that but I felt something was coming next. We don't really talk that much. He's a Vietnamese who works in my country and I never really thought deeply about him before. Although, I remember that during my first interview, he was the one who opened the door of the office for me and he doesn't speak Filipino. I thought, why is there a chinese guy in this company. I really thought he was chinese. I can vividly remember our meet cute haha but I didn't know during that moment that he would be something important to me later on.

A few hours later, during lunch. I was pretty much eating at my own time and some co-workers would eventually join me in the lunch room. I was about to finish when he entered the room and ask what's everyone having for lunch then he asked me “do you want something?” and then I was like, why is he asking me if I want something? I just said I ate already and went back to work.

A few hours later, he sent me a message again on skype asking me if he can invite me for a dinner. I was a bit surprised because it was out of the blue. So I asked him “what's the occasion?”

He replied “do we really need an occasion.”

And he asked if we can leave by 5:30pm. I told him “Yeah, I wasn't late in work anyway, I can leave early.”

“That's the occasion” he said.

He asked me where I want to go and what kind of food do I like. And because I am naturally shy, I just said I like everything (which is true). So he picked a restaurant at the rooftop of a tall building. We went there together after work, he offered to carry my bag which is sweet! He open doors for me even if it is not necessary. I didn't expect chivalry because I like to think that I am somewhat a feminist and that I am strong and independent. But I really appreciate him being a gentleman even if I didn't expect it.

So we ordered food. At first I feel so awkward and shy. I am an introvert and I don't talk so much. Situations like this makes me nervous but I muster all of the courage I can have tobe able to act like a normal person.

He said he likes me. Not that I am cocky but I am not surprised that somebody likes me (I can be charming sometimes! Wahahaha just kidding). He never really showed signs and I can usually sense the signs when a person is interested to me. We don't talk so much, only casual work conversations and jokes. Although there was one time at the KTV with most of the employees of the company, he was the only foreigner who came and everyone else is mostly speaking Filipino. I keep talking to him so he wouldn't feel out of place and left out. He opened beer for me and I asked him how to say thank you in Vietnamese.

Back to the date, we ordered food, we talked about things we can relate to like work and I eventually ask why he asked me out. And he was like “when you like someone, do you need a reason to? You just feel it when you like someone”. I was gonna argue that there is always a reason why but let's not do that on the first date. We also talked about ourselves to get to know each other better, a little bit of our past, what else we do aside from work, you know the usual stuff. We both have realistic views on relationships from past experiences. It was a great time. I offered to pay half of the bill but he wouldn't let me. So okay. Hahahaha.

After that we took a walk on the park, it was raining and the scene felt like being in those cheesy, romantic films. He asked me if I like him too. I began to question myself. Do I like him? Looking at him and how I know him in the office, I feel like I actually do. He's the funny Vietnamese guy in the office. Childish yet mature, really mature for his age (only a few years older than me), always looking at the bright side of things, he's confident and not afraid to say whatever he wants.

I notice him trying to make advances and not in a disrespectful way. He's really a gentleman to me. But because I am filipina, you don't easily give yourself away not because you are playing hard to get but because you value yourself and you just don't give yourself to anybody. He's a little confused but he should know that some asian girls are like that and of course he understands.

I don't actually know how to act. I've never been on a date. I've never had a boyfriend. Well, at least one that I don't have to hide to anyone. I wasn't allowed to have relationships while I was studying although I had a lot of flings when I was in school. We are somewhat traditional in the Philippines and courting is a must for some girls if you want to have a relationship with them. You have to meet the parents, get to know each other better before the girl would say yes to a relationship. It can take several weeks to months even!

I told him that it is not hard not to like him but I cannot promise him anything. He said, he is not expecting anything l, he did not promose anything either (I hate promises) and he will just be there while he can. How sweet! He is really persistent in pursuing me though. Even if sometimes, I make some kind of excuses not because I do not want to but because I am nervous about what's going to happen next.

Like what I said, it is a tradition here to meet the parents to show that you are sincere and serious about the girl. Does not necessarily mean you will marry her but just to show that your intentions are pure. He actually did meet my parents when he came to the house to inform my parents he is taking me out somewhere and it was rather a short conversation with my parents who can be critical especially in this kind of things but he did an okay impression. He was the first guy I ever brought to my house, the first guy I showed to my parents.

Long story short we're dating for a few months now. Even though we are still relatively new, I had a lot of memories with him already which is another story to tell some other time.

This relationship is still at the early stages and the sparks are still alive as most relationships in the beginning. We both know that. No cheesy promises of forever (that's so high school). We like each other today and that's for now so we will cherish what we have today. And we will see how far we can go.