"But, how did…"
"I told you I wanted tonight to be perfect. You never told us why you joined Erin Aikins' company…"
"Jesse said that you guys figured it out that night…"
"At the festival, yeah, but I didn't know that you bought land; I just thought that you were going to donate your prize money or something. Don't get mad, but I wanted to help out too, so I made a few calls and found out that this place is yours. I though it would be nice to have dinner here."
Liz continued looking around again, not knowing what else to say. The waiter was now escorting the two to their table.
Liz abruptly sat down before the waiter had a chance to pull the seat back for her. Takeshi took his seat across from Liz.
"Hello, my name is Kuya and I'll be your waiter for tonight. Would you like to start off with anything to drink?"
"Uhh…champagne is fine," Takeshi said.
"And you, Miss Ricarro?"
"The same, I guess," Liz answered.
Kuya smiled.
"Two non-alcoholic champagne, coming up."
As he walked back to the other table to get the drinks, the chef was busy preparing the meal over two small table-top stoves. Next to the stoves, were two covered trays with several plates and utensils on each side.
When the waiter was coming back with their drinks, he stopped in front of a small stereo on a table and turned it on. After a few seconds, they all heard the smooth sounds of a saxaphone playing.
"Your meal will be ready in just a few minutes, but in the meantime, we have some freshly baked potato rolls and a platter of delicious tropical fruit," Kuya said, with a wide smile.
Takeshi thanked him, but Liz was eyeing him when Kuya walked back to the other table.
"That guy sure has a lot of teeth," she mumbled.
"Liz, shhh! He might hear you," Takeshi whispered.
"Didn't you get a weird vibe from him?"
Takeshi shook his head as he took another sip of champagne.
"This is nice."
"What is?" she asked.
"My new girlfriend is already looking at other guys."
"I'm not che…wait, what did you just call me?"
Blushing, Takeshi looked down at his glass.
"M-my, you know…" he mumbled.
Liz leaned forward a little.
"Your what?"
Takeshi looked back up at her and blushed some more.
"M-my…my girl-"
"Here we are!" their waiter cheerfully said, as he placed the platter of fruit on the table.
Liz and Takeshi snapped back to reality. Kuya left and came back with some plates and utensils, and a basket full of potato rolls, with some packs of butter spread.
Liz used a spoon to scoop up several pieces of fruit, while Takeshi started spreading butter on his rolls. Kuya walked back to the other table again.
"So, anyway, what were you saying about Kuya?" Takeshi asked her.
"Something about him is bothering me; I just can't pinpoint it," Liz answered, with her mouth full.
"I think I know what's going on?"
"What?"
Takeshi put down his roll, folded his arms on the table, and leaned forward.
"I think that you're purposely trying to find something wrong with our date."
Liz raised one of her eyebrows.
"Why the hell would I want to do that?"
"Beats me. Maybe, since the night is going so smoothly, you think that eventually something or someone," he said, motioning towards the waiter, "is going to ruin it."
"Oh, so, now you think I'm paranoid ?"
"I didn't sa-"
"Because I'm not!"
"Okay."
"Fine."
"Alright then."
Both of them became silent as the waiter came back, rolling a small table cart with their food.
Kuya stopped near their table, slung a hand towel over his left shoulder, and removed the covers fromm off two plates.
"Dinner is served," Kuya said, with a wide smile.
Takeshi and Liz smiled as the delicious aroma of grilled baby back ribs with a side of mashed potatoes sprinkled with basil, filled the air. Kuya removed the platter of fruit and replaced it with their dinner on the table.
As Liz was laying a napkin on her lap, Kuya dropped his towel on the ground, next to Liz.
As he bent down to pick it up, a huge smile appeared on his face.
"I find you quite alluring, Miss Liz Ricarro," he whispered to her.
When Liz looked at him, his smile quickly faded. She continued looking at him as he got up back up.
"Enjoy your meal."
"Tell the chef, 'Thank You,'" Takeshi said to him, unaware of what happened between he and Liz.
"Will do."
As Kuya walked over to the chef, Liz leaned forward.
"Did you hear what he said?"
Takeshi was already eating one of the ribs.
"What? 'Will do?'"
"No! He said to me a few minutes ago, 'I find you quite alluring, Miss Liz Ricarro.'"
Takeshi put down the rib amd loked at her with a serious look on his face.
"Liz, that weird vibe you said you felt…I think I know what it was."
"…What?" she cautiously asked.
"You finally found a fool, I mean a fan."
Liz was silent as she looked at Takeshi; no expression on her face whatsoever.
"Oh, come on," he continued, "so, he complimented you. It wasn't like he was flirting with you."
"First of all, when you whisper to someone that you find him or her alluring, when he or she is on a date, with someone else, that's flirting and disrespectful."
Takeshi just sighed as Liz continued.
"Second of all, it's the way he said it."
"Ok. You're right…I'll go over there and tell him off."
"N-no…just forget it. Maybe, you're right; I keep thinking that something will go wrong tonight."
Takeshi placed his hand on top of hers and smiled.
"Liz, I'm sorry for acting like a jerk, but I'm a little nervous, myself. I will go over there and tell him off though."
Liz looked down at their hands and grinned.
"No, it's ok. I'll try to relax…and I'm not nervous."
Takeshi grinned at her.
"Yeah, you are."
"No, I'm not."
"Yes you are."
Takeshi let go of her hand and they both continued eating their dinner.
"Were you really going to go over there, Takeshi?"
Takeshi looked up at her and winked.
"Why wouldn't I? Nobody hits on my…girlfriend."
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Sorry it took so long for me to upload this chapter. Chapter 5 is next!