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Wait, did I just turn into a 'Balikatan Girl'?
[Ed's note: #TinderTales is a weekly column that attempts to look at online dating. In this week's tale, our Tinderella turned into a Balikatan Girl! Have a story to share? Email us at submissions@gmanews.tv]
So I matched with a tall, dark and handsome American named Bob. I swiped right for several reasons: 1) his two topless photos at the beach appealed to my inner libog 2) his profile copy said he liked the LA Lakers, and 3) I wanted entertainment and adventure. It was Good Friday.
Bob was an officer at the U.S. Military and was sent to Manila as an advanced party for the Balikatan Exercises. He had work that day and was waiting on his dinner while chatting with me. Our small talk was picking up. The usual introductory details were discussed, what we do for a living, where we are from and where we were currently located.
“Tinder says I’m 6 km away from you” I replied when he asked where I was.
“Is that too far for you to come kick it with me?” he said.
“It’s not too far," I carefully typed. "But I’ won’t kick it with you in your hotel room."
It was Good Friday, the vibe was all serious and solemn, and with nothing much to do, I was bored. The thought of going out was a welcome mood-lifter.
“We can hang out downstairs,” he said, explaining he was on lockdown; he wasn't allowed to leave the hotel premises.
I got in my car, and waltzed in the hotel in 30 minutes. He saw me from afar and immediately stood up and waited for me to approach him. “An officer and a gentleman!” I thought to myself.
At the hotel restaurant, we talked about all sorts of things. He was intelligent, self-composed and easygoing. He had a sense of humor and openly answered all my queries about him. I was relaxed in no time and found myself staring at him.
He had round and soulful eyes. His voice was gentle. And his lips were thick and distractingly cute. Plus he smelled really good and he did not look like he was 41. The army kept his body in mint condition and I couldn’t help but appreciate it.
At one point, he gave me that “how you doin’?” look.
"What,” I asked, smiling.
“You’ve been checking me out," he began. "I’m just returning the favor and letting you know I like what I see."
I felt my body tingle.
As if on cue, the waiter told us that they were closing “the bar.” We could stay as long as we wanted to but it stopped being windy and bugs began to bite us.
Bob suggested that we go up to his room instead. It was more comfortable, he said and went on a whole speech about how he is an officer of the United States Army and would not do anything stupid. The Pemberton – Laude case was highly publicized at that time. “We can just hangout and talk”.
I looked at him and felt that connection. I gave him a pensive look and said “okay.”
I couldn't believe it: I was going up to a hotel room of a complete stranger. I could get raped or killed but my common sense had already turned off. Looking back, it was a stupid move on my part but my gut feel told me he was telling the truth. Also, he had more to lose than I. Bahala na!
When we got to the room, he turned on the TV and plopped himself on the bed. I sat on the chair. “Why are you so far away from me? Come sit on the bed, I won’t bite,” he said.
Slowly I made my way to bed, sat across him with my back turned to the TV. A few minutes later, he said, “you still look tense. Can you please relax? Come sit next to me.”
So I did. By this time, I could feel the party in my skirt heating up. He was just such a beautiful piece of male specimen, intelligent and genteel….and strange as it sounded, it was beginning to feel like magic.
After a few minutes of pretending to be interested in what was on TV, he put his arm around me. I let my head rest on his shoulder. I looked up at him, and he planted a kiss on my mouth.
We went to first base, then to second base, and although my body was responding to his advances, my brain was thinking of other bases: Clark Air Base, Subic Base, and every other American base there was in the world that I knew of.
Holy shit, I had turned into a "Balikatan Girl"!
“Wait!” I pleaded. “Hold on, I just met you and I hardly know you.”
“Are you afraid you'll be labeled a slut if you have sex with me tonight?”
“Uh, yes! This has never happened to me” I said in all honesty.
“It didn’t just happen to you. It happened to us,” he replied reassuringly while stroking my body and holding me close.
It took me a good thirty minutes more to get myself out of his bed that night. He restrained himself and let me go eventually.
We were burning the wires, messaging each other the next day, and two days later we went on date number two. We scored a home run.
He was great in the sack, carrying and lifting me around like I was featherweight; exposing me to different positions and making me feel so very desired!
He was also great to be with; we had some good talks about life and real adult conversations. I enjoyed his mind and I liked that my protection and safety was his concern.
We dated the entire month he stayed in the country, and when I visited the States two months later, we made plans and spent some time together. He even met my family living there.
And then we had The Talk. We liked each other very much but we both couldn’t commit to an LDR. We decided to keep in touch, no strings attached, and maybe try to meet up again sometime in the future.
That was two years ago. To this day, we remember each other’s birthdays and greet each other on Christmas and Easter. He was true to his word from Day One and never set me up for disappointment with empty promises. He will always have my respect and affection.
It was great to have met Bob. I did not expect for things to unfold the way they did and I had many issues about becoming a "Balikatan Girl"; but as he used to tell me “let’s just enjoy the moments we have with each other.”
If there’s anything this has taught me, it’s that trusting my gut is always the right thing to do. That, and fuck what people think or say. So what if they call me a "Balikatan Girl". It’s my life and I intend to live it for myself! — LA, GMA News
