Taste: Five

"Cooking is about passion, so it may look slightly temperamental in a way that it's too assertive to the naked eye."-Gordon Ramsay

Tiningnan ko isa-isa kung may laman ba ang mga cabinet at nakahinga ako ng maluwag nang makitang puno iyon ng mga grocery. Binuksan ko rin ang malaking refrigerator at nakitang puno iyon ng mga sangkap. Good.

"The problem is what will I cook for him."

"Prepare me your specialty." I was startled when I heard someone behind me.

Dahan-dahan akong lumingon at tiningnan kung sino iyon. Muntikan pa akong mabilaukan ng sarili kong laway nang makita ang hindi ko inaasahang makita. Umagang-umaga!

Asaisha, looks like you're jumping with tears.

Tiningnan ko ang mukha niya. He has long sharp nose, chiseled jaw and plump lips. Wala itong balbas na ikinalinis ng mukha niya. Pero parang sumali naman sa giyera ang mga kilay at buhok niya dahil sa magulo ito. Ngunit ang gandang tingnan kahit bahagya pang nakakunot ang noo nito. Napababa ang tingin ko nang napansin na wala itong suot na damit at isang gray sweatpants lang.

I unconsciously swallowed my saliva when my gaze was on his tone muscles. Hindi iyon kalakihan, sakto lang. I can see veins on his shoulders and hands. Then I unintentionally looked lower and saw his six pack abs down to his V-line. Mommy.

I was back out of my reverie when I heard a cough. My face heated when I find out I was boldly checking him out. At siya ay pinapanood pala ako habang mas hinuhubaran siya. Anong kahihiyan ito, Aisha?

Patawarin sana ako ni mommy dahil sa iniisip ko. Asaisha is such a bad influence at dinumihan pati ang utak ko. Sana lang ay hindi na isipin 'yon ni Anisha. She's too innocent and I don't want her to be tainted with explicit and green scenes.

"Are you done?" Napapitlag ako ng marinig ulit ang boses niya.

"U-uhm..." I cleared my throat when I feel a lump on it. Kung saan-saan ko ibinaling ang mata ko hindi lang ulit siya matingnan dahil baka hindi lang pagtitig ang gawin ko. 

"I'm Aisha Fortunatus. From now on I will be your personal chef," I introduced myself. I'm glad I didn't stutter again.

He cocked his brow when he heard me and looked at me from head-to-toe. He leaned beside the door and crossed his arms over his chest. His amber eyes are still directed on me. I cannot take his stares kaya napabaling na naman ako ng tingin sa ibang direksyon. I settled looking at his tall nose para hindi makipagtitigan sa kanya.

"Do you know me, Miss Fortunatus?" tanong nito sa malamig na boses. Malamig kahit bagong gising palang nito.

"Yes, Mr. Williams—" he cut me off when he heard me.

"I'm not Mr. Williams.”

"Sorry about that, Mister? Uhm...how should I call you?" I asked without looking at him. Nasa ilong pa rin niya ang atensyon ko. Oo nga naman, sino ba naman ang gustong tawagin din siyang Mr. Williams kung kilala ang ama niya sa pangalang iyon.

"D."

"Po?"

"Call me D."

D? Daddy? Sugar Daddy? I mentally slapped myself. Nahihibang ka na ba Aisha?

Napaakyat ulit ang tingin ko sa mata niya. Bakit ang weird naman. Kanina Lav, ngayon D. D, isang letra lang talaga?

Teka nga, akala ko ba tulog pa ito?

"Okay, Mr. D." Tiningnan ko ang orasan sa pulso ko at nakitang maaga pa naman. Binalik ko ulit ang aking tingin sa kanya. "I need to cook first your breakfast. May bakante ka po bang oras para pag-usapan ang tungkol sa arrangement na 'to? I need to list your favored foods para walang maging problema."

He nodded without taking off his eyes on me. Hindi siya nagsalita at tinitigan lang ako kaya napagawi ako sa direksyon niya.

"Sir?" pag-uulit ko.

He cleared his throat. "Let's talk about it over breakfast."

Hindi niya ako hinayaang makapagtanong ulit dahil tumalikod na ito para umalis. I look at his retreating back and I notice how broad it was. Ang kanyang pang-upo ay bilog na ikinatingin ko naman sa aking likod. Bakit ang liit ng sa'kin?

Napatampal nalang ako sa sarili dahil sa biglang tanong. I should stop asking myself like that and fantasizing my client. I'm here for work and nothing else.

But he's handsome and hot, you can't deny that. I frantically shook my head to erase that one.

That was so unprofessional!

I calm myself through inhaling and exhaling a deep breath. My head actually spin for a moment when I shook my head. Mabuti na lang ay nawala kaagad iyon. Isa pang buntong hininga ay nagsimula na akong maghanap ng kakailanganin ko sa pagluluto. I'm preparing my specialty as per his request.

Parmesan-Crusted Chicken.

I'm still not familiar with the place so I need to at least familiarize them. Or maybe I can just arrange them according to my desired arrangement? Ako lang naman ang gagamit dito at gusto ko talagang maayos ang kusina. Gusto kong alam ko kung nasaan nakalagay ang kakailanganin, from ingredients to utensils and equipments that I will use. Para hindi rin ako mahirapang maghanap pa.

Perhaps I can do it later when I come back for his dinner. Of course if permitted.

Binuksan ko ang ref at nilabas ang lalagyan ng manok. It's still in whole piece so I need to slice it and get the breasts, boneless and skinless preferably. After I successfully sliced the chicken ay itinabi ko muna ito bago kinuha ang iba pang ingredients at utensils.

I prepared two mixing bowls and non-stick pan. While preheating the oven to 400 degrees, I rinse the chicken breast thoroughly and put it on a streamer to dry. Habang hinihintay na matuyo ay hinati ko ang tomatoes. I also stem and mince the oregano. Buti na lang ay kumpleto ang ingredients at nakakita ako ng shallot kaya agad ko itong binalatan at hiniwa ng manipis. I went back on the chicken breast and I gracefully tap it to know if it's already dry. Binudburan ko ito ng asin at paminta.

In a bowl, I combine the parmesan cheese, breadcrumbs, two tablespoons of olive oil and a pepper again. Another bowl to prepare for the balsamic vinaigrette that I always paired with the shallot and tomato salad. Hinalo ko ang balsamic vinegar at oregano na hiniwa ko kanina. I added 1/4 salt and a pinch of pepper then last is the dijon. Hindi ko iyon inubos para sa manok mamaya.

Wait... Dijon.

Dijon mustard is one of the ingredients I use every time I prepare my specialty to add flavor with the parmesan cheese. And, Dijon is his name!

His mom must really love dijon mustard to name it for him.

Pinagpatuloy ko ang paghalo ng vinaigrette habang nilalagyan ito ng olive oil. Nang matapos ay nilagay ko na ang manok sa greased hot pan at pinasok sa medium-high heat oven.

Hinintay ko itong maluto hanggang sa maging kulay brown na siya. Dahan-dahan kong kinuha ang pan sa oven at pagkatapos ay binaliktad ito. I greased the chicken with the remaining dijon I set aside earlier. Using my hand, I sprinkle the parmesan crust on top and then it's good to cook again.

Habang naghihintay na maluto ay inayos ko na ang mesa. I also prepared another dish good for breakfast if he does not like it. When I look at the wristwatch and it's already past 10 minutes,  kinuha ko na ito sa oven at nilagay sa chop board. I use a small thong to slice the chicken then I carefully transfer it on the clean white plate. I form it into letter D and J and for the final touches, I put the shallot-tomatoes and vinaigrette inside the letter D. And I'm done.

I waited for him to enter the dining room. Minutes passed pero wala pa rin siya kaya tumayo ako at lumabas para mag tingin-tingin. Dapat pala ay hindi na ako lumabas dahil bigla ko siyang nakasalubong.

I stumbled on my feet and was ready to fall when a strong arm held me to stop from falling. He immediately wrapped his arms around my slender waist and pulled me closer.

I know it was his instinct because if he doesn't, we'll surely fall at the same time. Napaangat ang tingin ko sa kanya. His amber eyes stared at me deeply. After a minute I couldn't compete with the staring contest so I lowered my gaze and thought it was better to escape from his eyes. I swallowed my saliva when I gaze at his inviting lips.

It was inviting and I'm being invited.

Then it hit me.

Agad kong binigyang distansiya ang katawan namin. Buti na lang ay inalis din niya ang pagkakahawak sa'kin kaya umayos ako ng tayo. I even fixed myself to look more decent. Kahit disente naman na akong tingnan.

"Your breakfast is ready," I whispered and almost instantly strode back inside the dining room.

Nanatili akong nakatayo habang hinihintay siyang dumating. His gaze immediately look down on the prepared food. I saw how he pursed his lips before taking a seat.