“JANESSA, look at this dress. Isn’t it beautiful?” Janessa's grandmother held the red dress with a plunging neckline in front of her face. “This is perfect for your dinner date.”

Janessa’s mouth fell open. She shook her head as disapproval. “That’s revealing too much, Lola!” she said with a frown. “That man might think I’m working in a club with that dress.”

Her Lola Imelda grunted. “Stop being picky in your dress, you’re not a kid anymore to act like that! Show him what you’ve got! Look at me, I don’t look like my age,” she said and showed her another sexy dress again. “How about this one?”

“Nah,” she disapproved. “I think this red tube dress suits my personality.” She ran her hand along with the soft cloth of the dress. “I’ll just top it with a white blazer.”

Her grandmother rolled her eyes. “Blazer? Wear it alone,” she grunted.

Janessa almost chuckled. Her seventy-one-year-old grandmother doesn't look like her age. Despite silver hair, the old lady never forgets her nightly skincare routine that maintained the youth in her face.

“And, please, Janessa. Put some makeup on, okay? Look your best because his family will also join us,” her Lola Imelda requested. “By the way, do you have cosmetics? Don’t tell me—”

“I do, Lola,” she cut off and sighed. “I can't believe it’s happening…” she murmured.

“Well, you should, because after tonight, the life that you used to live will change.”

Janessa made a face. “Really?” she asked that made her grandmother irritated.

“Good gracious! Never do that in front of them, Janessa! I'm warning you.”

Janessa snorted. “Maybe they’re the picky one.”

“He’s a great doctor. You have to look admirable and presentable in his eyes. And...” A smile formed in the old lady’s lips. “He is a very handsome young man. He’s the best for you.”

Janessa couldn’t help but roll her eyes. “Lola, you sound like a pimp—”

“Watch your mouth, for chrissake!” The old lady cupped her forehead. “Why I let your father raised you alone?” she asked, shaking her head. “Why I let you live with your two brothers?”

She laughed. “Lola, chill. Dad, Kuya Viktor, and Kuya Pierre raised me a good person. They just taught me to enjoy life to the fullest.”

“But they didn’t teach you how to talk, move and act like a nice lady,” she said, sighing. “If your mom is here, you won’t be like that. I’m sure she won’t even let you wear those ripped jeans.”

“And, I’m sure she won’t also let you do this blind date for me,” she added. “Mom will let me choose the man I love.”

“When will it be? When you’re in your menopausal stage?”

Janessa groaned. “I’m sure the guy you’re talking won’t like me. If he refused to get married to me, please, Lola, never do this again.”

Her grandmother arched a brow. “What are you planning to do? Scare off the man during our dinner with them? Don’t dare, Janessa.”

“Of course, not! Why would I do that?” She laughed. “I’ll behave. I want that dinner date to end early. I have a lot of work to do.”

When her grandmother nodded, Janessa sighed. It’ll be a long night for her.

*

AFTER Ardin performed his last autopsy post for the day at the Medical Examiner’s Office, he went straight home to prepare for the dinner. His grandmother reminded him that he should not be late to the restaurant where the woman's family's meeting will happen.

Calling it a meeting is an understatement, Ardin knew it. Despite his numerous excuses to not attend the dinner meeting tonight, his mother and grandmother would not give up on insisting. After hours of negotiation, they agreed that if that blind date were unsuccessful, they would stop looking for a woman he would marry.

Ardin was quite busy with work that he doesn't have time to think about getting married. For him, such things can wait, but the justice in his hands cannot.

He pressed his thumb on the Biometrix scanner of his automatic gate. The Architects designed it to be as convenient as it could be for a busy, solo occupant like Ardin. From his garage, he can already see his guard dog Apollo waiting for him to get off the car. Apollo is an American Bulldog he rescued from one of the crime scenes he responded to. Apollo’s real owner was found dead inside the bathroom while he was continuously barking at the door. When Ardin entered his house, the fluffy Siberian Samoyed Samantha jumped on him, and this dog was given to him by her younger sister, who was now in L.A.

“We’re not going to play now, okay? I have an appointment tonight,” he told the two giant dogs following him. “Did my two babies behave?” They gave him barks as an answer. “Very good.”

Ardin was also an animal lover. If he’s not a forensic pathologist now, he might be a veterinarian with lots of adopted dogs and cats he rescued from the streets. But, being in Forensics was his calling, and nobody can resist the call of duty.

After taking care of Apollo and Samantha's needs, he took a shower. He wore a muscle fit black long sleeves polo, white pants, and brown leather shoes. It was also his usual attire in the blind dates that his grandmother set for him before.

He grinned. Ardin can see their reactions now after they see him in the same clothes again. “And, mom would just shake her head,” he added and laughed.

Thirty minutes later, his car was out of the garage. He was about to start the car when his phone rang.

“Why are you taking so long?” his mother said from the other line as soon as he put on his Bluetooth earpiece. “You should be here by now.”

Ardin started the engine so that her mom could hear its roar. “I have to feed Apollo and Sam before I left. They’d eat my couch again if I didn’t.” 

He heard his mother sighed. “Whatever, Ardin. Just hurry up! They’re on their way here—”

“I’m on my way,” he said. “Expect me less than an hour. And, hope the traffic won’t get me,” he added.

What was Lola Corazon’s choice of a woman now? He asked in his mind before he stepped on the accelerator. It will be another night to waste again for the Forensic Doctor, Ardin.

***