Taste: Ten

"MOM, why are you here?" nagtataka kong tanong kay mommy nang maabutan ko siya sa labas. I kissed her cheeks and she immediately cling her arms on me.

Sabay kaming pumasok at naabutan ko ang iba sa sala. They're busy with their own worlds but they greeted me when I passed on them.

"My, hindi mo pa po sinagot 'yong tanong ko."

Napailing na lang ako nang makita si mommy na ngiting aso na tumingin sa 'kin. I know this smile.

"My?" pagtatawag ko ulit sa kaniya.

Ngayon ay ngumuso naman siya sa akin. Mas lumapit ito at maya-maya ay biglang itong iyak na ikinagulat ko.

"Aisha...hindi ko talaga kasalanan! I swear that I didn't I purposely broke one glass. It just slip in my hands."

Dali dali kong kinuha ang panyo sa bulsa ko para punasan ang luha na tumulo sa mga mata ni mommy. Nagsilapitan din ang iba kong kapatid dahil mukhang narinig ang iyak. Nang makita nila si mommy ay sabay-sabay silang napailing.

"What did she broke this time?"

Sabay-sabay kaming lumingon sa kakarating palang na si Alisha. She's still wearing her coat and glasses. Si Anisha ang humarap para sagutin siya.

"Ang iyakin mo talaga my! Parang baso lang," komento ni Asaisha kaya sinaway siya ni Alisha na nasa tabi.

"Ano ba? Bakit ka nangungurot diyan?"

"Cute mo kasi."

"Since birth."

"Alam ko, we're quintuplets."

"Kami lang apat! My, pinanganak mo ba ito sa sama ng loob?" Lumapit si Asaisha kay mommy na umiiyak pa rin sa tabi ko. Hindi niya pinansin si Asaisha dahil na sa 'kin ang atensiyon niya.

I sighed. "My, it's okay. Dry your tears now, magluluto na ako. Anong gusto niyong kainin?" nakangiting tanong ko sa kanila.

Nagkaniya-kaniya naman silang sagot sa akin pati na rin si mommy na mukhang okay na rin. She really became emotional when she did something, well, unintentionally. Katulad ngayon, nakabasag ng baso at umiyak sa 'kin. It doesn't matter to me actually but whenever she broke a glass, plate or anything you can find inside the kitchen; she will cry. Wala namang kaso iyon sa akin, but she will really cry and we just sighed looking at her. Hindi naman ako nagagalit pero ganoon na talaga siya.

Lumingon ako kay Alisha at tinanguan siya. Agad niya namang nakuha ang gusto kong ipahiwatig sa kaniya. She immediately help mom to go elsewhere so she can check if mom hurt herself that she didn't notice, because she's occupied on how she'd tell me that she broke someting again.

Nagsibalikan naman ulit sila kaya nagsimula na rin akong magluto para makakain na rin kami. When I finished all the dishes they requested ay agad ko silang tinawag. Alisha shook her head in my direction when she entered the dining room. Napahinga naman ako ng maluwag dahil doon.

"You okay now, my?" pagtatanong ko kay mommy habang nilalagyan ng pagkain ang plato niya.

"Yes. Don't worry about me and just go to your seat and eat." Ngumiti muna ako sa kaniya bago umupo sa upuan ko.

"By the way, who's free this Saturday?" I inquired after settling myself.

"I have a duty. Sorry, Aisha." I smiled at Alisha, telling her it's okay.

"How about you Asaisha?" Tumingin ako kay Asaisha na mukhang malalim ang iniisip. Nang marinig ang pagtawag ko sa kaniya ay agad naman siyang sumagot.

"I need to check something sis so I'm not free."

Agad naman akong tumango sa dalawa dahil naiintidihan ko kung bakit. Mukhang nagkasabay-sabay pa kami.

"Do you want me to go with you?" biglang tanong ni Anisha.

"It's okay."

"How about Lala?" Mom asked.

"Uuwi siya ng province—" Hindi ko man lang natapos ang sasabihin ko dahil biglang sumabat si Asaishat.

"Kukunin niya si Araw at dadalhin dito?"

"No and no." Umiling pa ako na ikinasimangot niya. "She's just going to visit her daughter as usual."

"Don't get your hopes high. Natakot na ata si Lala na dalhin ang anak niya dito dahil sa tinuturo mo kay Araw," sambit ni Alisha.

"Hoy mas takot ang bata sa 'yo, hindi sa 'kin!"

Kumunot ang noo ni Alisha dahil sa narinig. "Why would she?"

Malakas na bumuntong hininga si Asaisha.

"Because you look scary. Rawr!" She raised both of her hands and acts like a baby tiger roaring.

"Para kang timang."

DAYS went too fast and it's already Saturday. Gusto ko sanang umalis nang mas maaga para hindi masiyadong matao sa mga shop. Ngunit naalala ko na sasamahan ko pa si Mr. D sa kung saan.

Do I need to cook something for him in that place?

Hindi rin niya sinabi kung saan kami magkikita!

"Going on a date?"

I looked at Asaisha who's miraculously up early in the morning looking fancy. It's weekend and she would usually woke up late.

"You're overthinking."

"I'm not. Iba lang talaga itsura mo ngayon."

"Oh. Hindi na ba tayo magkamukha?" She laughed when she heard me.

"That's not what I mean! You're wearing something other than black or white today. So what's the gist?" pang-uusisa niya.

"I'm just looking for a dress to wear next week. And me wearing this is not a big deal."

"It is kaya. Anyway hindi ka pa ba male-late sa lakad mo?"

I looked at my wrist. Hindi pa naman but I still want to be there early.

"Okay, I'm going." I kissed her cheeks and picked up my phone at the table. "Don't forget to tell everyone to eat. I'm going. Bye."

"Be safe and enjoy!"

Hindi ko na pinansin ang dinugtong niya and straightly went to the garage. Hindi sinabi ni Mr. D kung saan kami magkikita kaya pupuntahan ko nalang siya sa penthouse niya.

He's probably there naman, right? I don't have his number so I can't call him.

Pagbukas ng elevator ay bumungad ang taong pupuntahan ko sana. He's wearing semi-formal attire that made me stop. Yumuko ako para tingnan ang bihis ko. I'm only wearing a maong pants and a blue blouse!

"Oh. Is my outfit correct?" I asked him when I noticed him staring at me.

He just nodded at nagpatuloy na sa paglakad kaya agad akong sumunod sa kaniya. I don't know if he's not just in the mood for argument or what.

"We'll use my car so just leave your car here," he told me before entering in his black shiny car.

Hindi na ako kumibo at pumasok nalang sa passenger seat. Pagkapasok ko palang ay amoy ko agad ang pabango niya. Well, it smells like him.

I feel the awkwardness inside the car kaya sa labas lang ako nakatingin. He's not even saying anything. Kahit music wala. Sobrang tahimik kaya nanatili akong tahimik.

My brows furrowed when I noticed we're heading in a familiar way. But I remained silent. Maybe it's just the same way.

However, our destination is really what I had thought earlier. We are here in our favorite bar!

Gusto kong magtanong kung bakit kami nandito. Maglalasing ba siya? It's too early for that.

Maglalakad na sana akong papuntang entrance pero nakita kong lumiko siya.

"Hey! That's not the entrance," I told him while holding his sleeve.

Tiningnan niya ang kamay kong nakahawak sa kaniya bago ito tumingin sa'kin.

"I know."

"Then why? It's only for authorized personnel..." I stopped with the realization. "Nagtratrabaho ka ho dito? I thought you only work in your company?"

He cocked his brow, still looking at me. "Don't ask too many questions."

I pouted before zipping my mouth. He looked away when he saw what I did. Nagpatuloy ito sa pagpasok kaya wala akong nagawa kundi sumunod sa kaniya.

We were welcomed by some employees in the bar. They bowed and greeted him as soon as they saw us. Nagulat pa sila nang makita ako sa likod.

I smiled at them. "Hi. Good morning!"

Some greeted me back while the others didn't mind me and continued on their work.

"Chef Aisha?" May lumapit sa akin na isang employee. I think he is a bartender. Hindi ko nga lang alam if I already saw him when we're hanging out here. Mukhang bago palang siya rito.

I smiled and nodded at him. "Yes."

Ngumiti ito ng malawak sa akin. He keeps on staring at me as if he's making sure if I'm really real.

"I'm a fan!"

Nagulat ako sa sinabi niya. He's a fan? Hindi ko alam na may gano'n pala.

"Oh." I genuinely smiled at him that made him blink. "I really don't know what to say but thank you. If you happened to have free time po, you can go to our restaurant. It's on the house."

Mas lumawak pa ang ngiti sa'kin.

"Ang bait at ang ganda mo po talaga Chef. Matagal na po kitang gustong makita ng personal at hindi ko po inaasahang makikita kita rito." He was so excited that he was oblivious of the fact that the people around are looking at him with weird looks.

I blushed when he complimented me. "Thank you."

"Pwedeng pa-request po?" He's a bit hesitant pero nagpatuloy siya nang tumango ako.

"Wala akong dalang papel para magpa-autograph, pwedeng handshake nalang?"

I gigled. "Yes of course."

I extended my arms. Tiningnan niya muna iyon bago tinanggap.

"Nice meeting you."

"Nice meeting—"