I am torn between two men.

I am unsure of my emotions, of which really is which.

Contestant #1:

Ralph delos Reyes. That good-for-nothing b*stard! But I will skip bitterness for a while just for the sake of narrating. Anyhow, he was my boyfriend and also intended to be my escort until he broke up with me using the same ol' rotten lines that have already been signed, sealed and delivered by God-knows-how-many men.

He was holding his car keys and I reckon he was about to start the engine when he suddenly uttered, "This is not working."

"Your car?"

"No, Wendy. Us. It's not working out anymore."

If I'd have known any better, he's just using it as an excuse so he could go back to his dating game again. But Carrie said that that's not the kind of Ralph we know, which is true. He may have broken my heart, but I could still tell everyone that he is definitely a good guy. How ironic on my part, don't you think? Still praising him and all. *sigh*

---

As for our next candidate...

Contestant #2:

Gerard Sanciongco. Now, who is he? Where did he come from? My dad decided to coin him as the Heaven-Sent Guy. Well, I won't deny the fact that he has an angelic face; and absolutely smells like heaven, ergo heaven scent! Haha.

But kidding aside, is he really a signed, sealed and delivered package from God? Am I starting to like this guy?

Well, God must have really liked me then because with Gerard I can cut loose. I can be giddy as a goose, laugh all my heart out, bawl like a four-year old, sing out of tune, dance like no one's watching, act like a loony...

When I'm with him, I could release my fear of someone casting a slur upon me. I can be plain, true, and unembarrassed of my acts in front of him -- no pride and prejudice drama.

I was the one who saw him first, talked to him first, and asked him to be my escort in my upcoming debutant ball. Mind you, out of nowhere.

It happened in one of my habitual visits to my favorite church. I was just thinking of how my mom who would surely remind me again for the nth time about the escort thing-y. She was like practically placing figmental post-its in my thoughts with flashy letterings that goes:

FIND AN ESCORT OR I WILL TAKE ACTION! (For effect, just imagine lots of confetti to go with the banner. Haha.)

But just like any unessential figment of my imagination, I would also repeatedly wave it off. Haha. It takes a whole lot more if you plan to threaten me, Mom, but yes, I know, and I love you, too.

I decided to take a seat on one of the benches outside the church and silently talked to God.

"Okay, God. I will give it a try to find an escort just to fulfill the demands of my concerned mother and to prevent any forms of dismay. I will close my eyes and I will ask the first guy who will pass in front of me to be my escort, just to be fair enough. But God, it wouldn't hurt if it'll be Brad Pitt or any guy who's as handsome as he is. Hehe.

So, as for you, Destiny, I am openly challenging you to meddle with my fate just this once. I will close my eyes now and open it after 10 seconds," I said before I finally closed my eyes.

God, please help me. All the angels and saints in heaven, I beg you to please pray for my most death-defying act.

10...

9...

8...

7...

6...

5...

4...

3...

2...

1...

I opened my eyes and no one was around. The place was completely deserted.

"Haha," I chuckled to myself. "Who was I kidding anyway? Yeah, right. Haha!"

Just as I was about to leave, a guy riding a bike passed by.

You have gotta be kidding me.

Is this for real, God? Is he what I think he is?!

Oh, well. A deal is a deal. Maybe there's no harm in trying.

"Hey! Hey you," I called after the mystery guy.

He stopped and looked back to my direction.

He furrowed his eyebrows. "Me?"

"Yes, you."

"Do I know you from somewhere, miss?"

"No, but I need a really big favor from you..."

I cleared my throat and composed myself.

"Would you like to be my escort?"

His eyes widened with surprised. "I beg your pardon?"

"I'm so sorry. Please don't think I'm the state of madness, I just need an escort for my debut," I explained.

"I don't even know you. Why are you asking me?"

"Because, exactly as what you'd said, we don't know each other."

"I don't get the point on that one."

Crap, he's right. Where the hell did that statement come from anyway?

"Yeah. I just realized it suddenly didn't make sense."

He gave me a confused look but, surprisingly enough, his face suddenly lit up. He was now flashing a genuine smile at me.

"You're strange, but in an amazingly cute and dreamy way."

Amazingly cute and dreamy, eh? If you say so. But, hey, that's very sweet of you.

"Oh, sorry. I haven't introduced myself yet, I'm Wendy Mañalac," I extended my hand and he glady shook it.

"And I'm Gerard Sanciongco, your escort," he replied.

Seven months until my debutante ball and I still have loads to prepare, but it's a good thing the escort matter has already been settled. For the second time around that is.