Taste: Eleven

"That's enough."

Sabay kaming napalingon sa may-ari ng boses. I can sense the dark aura around him. Siya na rin nagtanggal sa kamay namin. Nagulat pa ako sa ginawa niya kaya hindi na ako nakapagsalita nang hatakin niya ako paalis do'n.

I haven't even excuse myself yet.

Huminto kami sa isang private room. Nakita kong may tatlong lalaki doon na nakaupo. Sabay-sabay silang lumingon sa'min nang pumasok. No...it's more like they look at me. Hindi nila pinansin ang lalaking nasa tabi ko.

"Hi." I greeted, not wanting to be rude.

I heard the man beside me tsked.

"Woa woa. Wait." A tall handsome man stood up from his seat. I was a bit intimidated looking at him. He screams something I can't name of. Nilagay pa nito ang kamay niya sa harapan. "Am I only the one who's missing something?"

Lumingon ito sa dalawang kasama niya para magtanong.

"No dude. You're not the only one," the other handsome man answered.

My brows furrowed when I saw his whole face. I think I know him!

Tiningnan ko ang nasa tabi ko para magtanong.

"Him. He's the famous singer, right?" I whispered. He looked at me before rolling his eyes. What? I'm just asking.

Dahil hindi naman niya sinagot ay bumalik ulit ang tingin ko sa tatlo. Ang isa ay nanatiling tahimik lamang.

"Go and sit for a while," he ordered. Sinunod ko naman kaagad siya at nahihiya pang umupo sa harapan ng tatlo.

They are still looking at me so I feel a little bit shy. Bakit ganiyan sila makatingin?

"Stop scaring her."

They all smirked as soon as they heard Mr. D. Pumasok ang lalaki sa isang pintuan at iniwan ako.

Ano ba kasi ang gagawin namin dito?

I looked at the man in the left side. Kung alam ko lang ay sinama ko sana ang isang kapatid ko. I know she would be delighted to see him in person.

"Don't look at me that way. Or I will be dead later," he said that made me cough.

Hindi ko alam na nahalata niya ang pagtingin ko sa kaniya. And dead? What does he mean? That's too harsh.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to stare at you."

He waved his hand after sipping the wine.

"Don't worry, it's actually fine with me. But it isn't to someone," he said meaningfully.

Phew. I thought he finds me weird looking at him.

"Hey, you're a chef, right?"

Tumango ako sa nagtanong.

"It means you cook." Okay? Of course I do. What kind of question is that? Napailing nalang ang dalawa.

"That's what I do."

"Can you cook anything?" he asked again. I don't know where this conversation is heading. But at least they are striking a conversation with me. Or I would feel awkward.

"As long it's in my power," I answered him.

"Then you know how to cook that green long spicy small-sized penis with sharp end that is wrapped with white cloth?"

W-what?

Nalaglag ang panga ko sa narinig. Ang dalawang kasama niya ay tumawa ng malakas. They laughed so hard that made him glared at them.

"Po?"

"Nevermind."

"You really suck decribing something you fatherfucker!" I finally heard the last man talked.

Wait. I can't believe I'm talking with these gorgeous men.

Sure Asaisha would be jealous if she'll know.

"Don't mind him. Kalalabas palang niyan ng hospital."

"Oh it's okay. I'm happy for your discharge," I said innocently. They all smirked as if they seem to find me funny.

"Let's go."

Tumingin ako kay Mr. D na hindi ko napansing nakabalik na pala. May dala na itong case na mukhang kinuha niya sa loob. He looked at his friend with dark menacing eyes.

"What? Aalis kayo?"

"We cleared our schedule to give time for you but what are you doing?"

They looked betrayed. So they were here to bond?

"You can stay here. Hindi mo naman ho kailangang samahan pa ako," bulong ko.

"No."

"Pero—"

"I said I'm coming with you." That made me shut up. Then he looked at his friends. "I didn't tell you to come here. If you want to stay then stay. But you know I don't give free drinks. We're going."

Hinatak niya ulit ako. But this time nagawa ko pang lumingon at yumuko sa kanila para magpaalam.

"Well, that was a bit rude, don't you think?" I said with a low voice, trying not to sound something that will make him misunderstand anything.

Hindi niya ako pinansin at agad na minaneho ang sasakyan pagkapasok namin. But he slowed down when he saw me still fastening my seatbelt.

I zipped my mouth when he didn't reply. Tumingin na lamang ako sa labas at katulad kanina ay walang nagsalita sa loob ng kotse. A defeaning silence indeed.

Anyway, I didn't know he's friend with that man! One of my sisters is a fan and I'm not sure if I would tell her about our short and unexpected meet-up. I even forgot to ask for an autograph! I just hope we'd meet again some other time. I will surely ask for it and don't miss the chance again. However, I know that he is a busy man. Chances like this is so rare but I missed it.

I heard him sighed as if he was thinking of something that frustrates him. Pasimple ko siyang tiningnan at nagulat ako ng bigla rin siyang lumingon sa akin pero bumalik naman agad sa daan.

I cleared my throat. "Have you eaten your breakfast?"

"No."

"Let's go to our restaurant first so I could cook something for you."

He glanced at me for a second and continued driving.

"Okay."

"Great!" magiliw kong sabi.

He surprised me when he carefully turn as if he knows we were heading to. I haven't had remembered him going to our restaurant. Nag-park siya sa bakanteng lote at agad naman akong lumabas. Tatanungin ko sana siya kung okay lang na pumasok kami sa harap pero nakita kong nauna na ito sa'kin. I bit my lower lip and shook my head.

"Good morning sir!" magiliw na bati ng guard.

Tumingin lamang ito bago nagpatuloy sa pagpasok. I sighed. This man really.

I paste my sweetest smile and greeted the guard instead.

"Good morning kuya Jun!"

Nagulat pa si kuya Jun nang bigla akong sumulpot sa harap niya. Napahawak ito sa dibdib niya na animo'y gulat na gulat talaga.

"Chef!" Pareho kaming natawa dahil napasigaw din siya. "Good morning din ho!"

"Kumain na po kayo?"

Agad naman siyang tumango. He was smiling.

"Oo naman chef! Syempre baka magalit ka ho. Na malabo namang mangyari."

Tumawa ako dahil sa sinabi niya. Hindi ko talaga nakakalimutang ipaalala sa kanila na kumain sa tamang oras. I would really feel guilty if they forgot to eat just because they were working too hard.

"That's good po. Pasok na po ako."

I looked ahead and saw the tall man looking at us. Nakaangat ang isang kilay nito na mukhang nababagot na kakahintay sa'kin. He looked lost in the middle of the restaurant. Nakatingin na rin ang ibang customer sa kaniya dahil sa agaw pansin nitong itsura.

"Jowa niyo chef?" biglang tanong ni kuya Jun na ikinagulat ko.

Mabilis akong umiling sa kaniya.

Him? My boyfriend?

"Akala ko boyfriend mo chef. Masungit nga lang."

Iyon ang malabong mangyari. Napangiti na lamang ako bago nagpaalam sa kaniya.

"Pasensya na ho," agad kong sabi nang makalapit sa kaniya. "Just sit wherever you're comfortable. Magluluto lang ako. Any food you'd like to eat?"

I badly need to list all healthy foods that suits him para hindi na ako mahirapan pa. Although it is better to ask him so I could alter it with something worth eating, however, he wouldn't just let me know instead discover it myself. I didn't know this is more tiring than I expected.

"Where's your office?"

"Ho?"

"Where's your office?" he repeated, almost losing his patience. "I'll wait there."

Agad naman akong naglakad papunta sa office ko at siya ay sumunod sa akin. Nakita ko si Essa at ibang empleyado na nakahinto at titig na titig sa kasama ko. Mukhang hindi sila makapaniwala na makitang kasama ko ang pinag-uusapan namin noong nakaraan. Almost all of the female employees were mesmerized while looking at the snob man, not that I can't blame them.

"Good morning!" bati ko sa kanila kaya nabaling sa akin ang atensiyon nila.

"Good morning gorgeous chef!"

"Good morning chef Aisha!"

"Can someone help me prepare the utensils?" I asked them.

"Ako na Chef! Saan po?"

Ngumiti ako kay Essa dahil mabilis siyang nagboluntaryo. Si Trist ay napailing na lamang.

"Private please. Thank you Essa."

"No problem Chef!"

Tumango ako bago nagpatuloy ulit. Nang dumating sa harap ng office ko ay dahan-dahan kong binuksan ang pinto. Pumasok naman kaagad ang lalaki at huminto para libutin ang mata sa buong office ko.

"Pasensya na ho at medyo makalat ata," paghihingi ng paumanhin ko. "Punta lang ako ng kitchen. Any food you specifically want to eat?"

"The usual please."

Ngumiti ako ng marinig ang sinabi niya. Marunong pala siyang mag 'please'.

"Wala na hong iba?"