Chapter 3

I woke up early today to go back to my job. Tapos na ang sabado at linggo kong day off at oras na ulit para kumita ng pera.

Dalawang oras din ang biyahe kaya naman maaga pa lang ay kailangan ko ng umalis nang maaga. Pinakausapan ko na rin ang mga kaibigan ko na samahan na muna ang kapatid ko habang wala ako.

I work in a 5-star hotel and restaurant as a chief. I know people keep on wondering about the career that I chose. Cum laude ako sa isa sa mga batikan na paaralan sa kursong Accounting bago ako nag-abroad, bumalik, at napunta sa posisyon na ito. I tried to applied in banks, pero sa lahat ng inapply-an ko noon ay wala ni isang tumawag.

I blow goodbye kisses to my sister and friends. Kumuha na rin pala ako ng bahay sa isang subdibisyon para sa seguridad ng aking kapatid. Hindi na ligtas doon sa tinirahan ko dati dahil kay mommy. I know my mom very well. She gets what she wanted to happen.

Nang makarating ako sa Orklam City ay diretso agad ako sa parking lot. The whole city is still the same, napaka-busy pa rin ang kalsada. Mabuti na lang talaga at hindi ako naabutan ng traffic.

I park my car. Bago ako umalis at tiningnan ko na muna ang sarili ko sa salamin. I guess they’ll freak out if they see me with my black hair. Madalas kasi nilang akong nakikita na may kulay ang buhok every month.

I gazed at the place and notice the number of vacancies. Kumunot ang noo ko. Kapag ganito kasi ay madalas puno na itong employee’s parking lot. I noticed too that Jellay’s car wasn’t there. Himala ata at late ang bruha.

“Good morning,” bati sa akin ng mga co-workers ko na tila sa kitchen. Tatlo pa lang silang nandoon at hinahanda ang mga gamit.

“Whoah! I colored your hair?” Napatingin si Chriastian sa kalendaryo’t napakamot sa ulo. “Hindi pa naman katapusan ng buwan, nagpakulay na ulit?” he gigles.

“Hah! That’s funny.” Kalbo!

“Good morning, chief Yin, how’s your weekend?” tinali ko ang apron ko nang lumapit ako kay Yintel. She’s one year older than me, has short hair, and a glass body. Her hips don’t lie.

“As usual, binanatan agad ako ng aking asawa nang walang tigil.”

Dalawa kaming natawa sa sagot niya. I’ve known her for two years, at sa two years na iyon ay naging saksi ako sa pauli-ulit niyang breakdown dahil sa mga naging nobyo niya. And last two mounth lang ay kinasal siya sa isa sa mga co-worker namin. Who would have thought na ang isang mabangis na tulad niya ay mapapaamo ng isang shy type?

Love is ironic.

“By the way, I can't recognize you with those black hairs. You look so pretty, dear.”

“Aw, thank you. By the way, I haven’t seen Jellay’s car. May sakit ba siya?”

“Oh, that, hindi mo ba na-receive ang message niya from email?”

“What about it?”

“Well, Jellay isn’t our head chief. Kaya ayon inutusan siyang bumitaw na lang sa trabaho.”

“What? Seriously? I mean, we all knew na madulas talaga ang dila niya, but she’s the best head chef. Bakit… bakit parang biglaan naman ata?”

“Balita ko kasi sa mga katrabaho natin na may customer daw na nag-file ng complain about the menu that chief Jellay served.”

“What!?” kumunot ang noo ko. “That’s impossible!” Pumwesto na ko sa mesa’t nag kayad ng gagamiting sangkap, ganoon din ang ginawa ni Yin.

“I know.” She rolls her eyes. “Buti na lang talaga at day off natin.”

Isa-isa nang pumasok ang mga katrabaho namin at ang iba naman ay nasa kani-kanila nang station.

A brunet girl snapped a finger, trying to draw our attention.

“Excuse me everyone!” Ngumii si Trisha sa aming lahat.

Tumaas ang kilay ko nang makita ang suot niyang toque. Hindi makapaniwala na nagkatinginan kami ni Yin. Did that girl just wear Jellay’s toque?

“What is happening here?” I whispered to my co-worker, Henry.

“Why did she wear Jellay’s hat?” I cross my arms.

“You’ll see honey.” He scoffs, bago niya itulak ang trolley papunta sa station niya.

"I know all of you are wondering why I am wearing Jellay’s hat. That’s because I have been promoted, and I am your new executive chef! Yey!” Pumalakpak siya na mag-isa.

I can tell that no one wants her to become the head chef. She’s two years older than me. Nobody likes her because of her filthy mouth. If I am not mistaken, palagi lang siyang nasa banyo at kinakalantari ang bagong waiter. But despite her action, the hotel couldn’t fire her, since pamangkin siya ng may-ari.

Napaangat ako ng kamay. “Where’s Jellay?”

“That’s an interesting question. She got fired last Saturday. Why? Because she failed to impress our dear customer.” Paliwanag niya.

“And today, he is here again. So let’s impress everyone!” She tried to copy Jellay’s words.

Lahat kami napairap sa kaniya. Wala rin naman klasi siyang maiambag sa kusina. I’m afraid baka magsalpukan lang sila ng kilay nitong si Yintel, na kanina ko pa pinipigilan.

Tumingin sa akin si chef Trisha, nang lahat kami ay nawalan na ng gana na makinig sa susunod niyang speech.

“Chef Shan, I know you have the most precious taste in the universe. Bakit na lang hindi ikaw mag-magluto para sa pinakamamahal nating customer na si Mr Traves? Impress me, darling.”

Agad na umangat ang kilay ko. Simula kasing nagtrabaho ako rito ay hindi niya ko kinakausap. She even hates me and her friends. She was the first girl who judge me when I and Jellay became close to each other.

“Sure why not?”

She squeak. Hindi niya siguro inaasahan na papayag ako ng ganoon. Matagal ko na talagang gustong umalis dito and maybe this is my chance to find an excuse.

“Perfect!”

“Wait, can you guys tell me who this guy is? You know a little background. Para Naman may idea ako. Any specific food? How about allergies?”

“No specific food. Gusto niya iyong unique na food. This really suits you!” She winks again.

“What’s her name again?”

“He’s Travis. The millionaire and food critique. He complained about our poor food and service.” Hinawakan niya ang kamay ko. “I put my trust in you, chef Shan!”

“Bakit pabalik-balik pa siya rito even if he already file a complains?" Taka kong tanong.

“I don’t know either!”

“Okay, I’ll do it. In one condition.”

“Anything!”

“Kapag napatalsik ako rito, dapat kalahati sa sweldo mo’y sa akin mapupunta. Just in case, lang naman, since this is your job. A prestigious customer must be served by the executive chef. So, deal?” pangbubola ko. Inunat ko ang kamay ko.

“Deal.” She shook my hands.

Nagsimula na kong magluto. I don’t need to be elegant in this state. If he rejected Jellay’s dishes, what else do I expect? I didn’t mean to question my ability, but it is what it is. Pero at least, I made a contract with chef Trisha. Indi pa rin ako talo.

The waitress served the food after 30 minutes. Lahat sila ay nakaabang sa pinto habang hinahatid ng tingin sa mesa ng customer.

“Are you freaking out of your mind?” Yin whispered. Hinatak niya rin ako palapit sa kaniya.

“What?” I said, innocently.

“Why don’t you just let her cook for him? At least we all know she deserves to be fired! Sa gaspang ng ugali niya, malabong may kukontra pa doon.”

Tinuyo ko ang kamay ko. “You’re right, but at least I won't work for her after this. Plus may sweldo pa ko galing sa sweldo niya. So, I think it is worth it naman.”

I can’t wait to get fired. Okay na rin iyon dahil patapos naman na ang café na pinapatayo ko para sa akin at sa kapatid ko.

“Guys! Gusto niya raw kausapin ang chef!” Bulagta ng waitress sa amin nang makapasok siya sa kusina.

“Did he likes it? What did he say? Hindi ba masarap? Pasok na ba sa standard niya?” sunod-sunod na tanong ni chef Trisha sa waitress.

“Pasensya na, iyon lang ang sinabi niya.”

Nilapag ko ang towel sa counter at inalis ang apron ko. Yin wanted to stop me too, but she knows no one will be accountable for this action. Hindi rin kaya ni chef Trisha na tumayo para sa amin, like what Jellay did to me when I was new and had trouble.

I went to the table. Isang lalaki ang eleganteng nakaupo, habang nakatalikod sa akin ang naghihintay. I went beside him just to find out the plate was now empty. Hindi rin ako makapaniwala na naubos niya ang ginawa kong fried rice na wala man lang kaespi-espesiyal.

I mean, I didn’t put so much effort on that, lalo na’t gusto ko rin namang umalis dito.

“You must be the chef.”

Napatingin ako sa pamilyar na boses na iyon. Para akong nakakita ng multo nang mapagtanto si Travis nga iyon.

The Travis I knew 3 years ago.

Hindi ako pwede magkamali at kabisadong-kabisado ko pa rin ang mukha nito, at maging ang kaniyang alaga.

“How’s the food, sir?”

Tinitigan niya ako. I was praying to the top of my lungs that I hoped he wouldn’t notice me or even remember me at all.

“You can tell.” He dropped his eyes in a dec-seconds, pointing at the empty plate.

“I enjoy it.” He circled his finger to the remaining sauce on his plate, and put it on his lips. He licks it and let us torture his action.

“You know.” Napatingin siya sa nakaburdang pangalan sa akin coat na suot. “Ms. Shan, I travel around the world to taste the different cuisines and none of them arouse my taste. But this." Sinubo niya ulit ang daliri niya.

"Your food makes me ignorant. It’s plain though, but la comida huele muy bien.”

Inabot niya ang hinanda kong green tea lassic. I made sure he'd cuss me for tasting like hell. But no, this weirdo continues to complement me.

“You can recognize how delicious the food by its own smell.” Inubos niya ang green tea lasic.

Mas lalo ata akong na stress habang tinitigan ang paggalaw ng kaniang adam’s apple.

Bakit kasi hindi na lang siya umalis na lang total tapos naman siya?

“I’ll put your restaurant on my priority list every morning. And I want you to be the one who can cook for me, and serve me.”

“Thank you very much for the compliment sir, but this will be the last time I’m going to work here.”

Biglang napatingin sa akin ang waitress. Maging siya ay hindi rin makapaniwala.

“Oh, that’s sad.” Nilabas niya ang kaniyang chiki. “Well, if that’s the case. Can I hire you then?” Binigay niya sa waitress ang check-holder na naglalaman ng chiki.

“I will double your salary. I will double what you earn here in one year.”

Nangiti ako sa kaniya. “Thank you for your offer, sir. I really appreciate it. But no, thank you. Please excuse me.” Yumuko ako sa kaniya bago bumalik sa kusinang nang bigla na lang may tumawag sa akin.

“Miss Chanty?”

Napalingon ako sa lalaking tumawag sa akin. I clenched my fist when I saw who it was.

Sino pa nga ba?

“Father Gabriel,” bati ko sa kaniya at sa kasama niyang babae bago yumuko, bilang paggalang.

What the hell is he doing here?

I am cursing behind my back, but I have to keep myself from freaking out. Ano ba kasing ginagawa niya ng ganito kaaga sa lugar na 'to at nagdala pa siya ng babae?

“Chanty,” he recognized me.

Nagkatitigan kami. He's eyes flashed with so much happiness. Bigla ring nanubig ang kaniyang mata. Ngumiti siya sa akin.

"Travis, bro?" Agad siyang napatingin kay Gabriel.

"Fucking hell, it is you, bro!" Tumayo si Gabriel at niyakap si Travis.

Yumuko na 'ko sa kanila't umalis. I don't want to heard from him. Especially today.

Napatingin ako sa kamay kong nanginginig. Just great! Fucking great. I am fucked up. They know each other!