Chapter 5: The Newbie II

FERNANDO

WE FINISHED QUICKLY. Then Cole led me to a door that led to the kitchen. When we entered, we found the two gentlemen there busy cooking.

"Uncle Morris, Brother Onin, this is Brother Ando, our new helper, and waiter," Cole introduced us.

I greeted them, "Good evening."

The two men are busy cooking. In fairness, their kitchen is clean and the two are even wearing uniforms that look like real chefs.

"Welcome, Ando. I'm Morris," introduced the older man. He first wiped his hand on the apron he was wearing and then handed it to me with a smile. I also smiled and shook his hand.

"Thank you." We let go, shaking hands.

"What's up, bro? Onin here," said the younger boy, who waved at me and didn't come closer because he was at the other end of the kitchen counter. I just nodded at him.

"Is there any food yet, Uncle Morris?" Cole asked.

"There is. I'll just heat it up," Morris replied, returning to cooking. Onin prepares the spices.

I don't know anything about the kitchen, so I'm in awe of men who know how to cook. It’s a plus point because that's what most women like. In the end, even though I am not a master in the kitchen, I have other ways. Ahem.

"Let me help you. Just continue what you're doing there. You sit there first, Kuya Ando," Cole said.

I was about to sit down when someone shouted again.

"Kapre! Mom, the kapre is in the kitchen!" She was at the door and was looking at me very scared. Kapre is like a tree giant. A tall, hairy giant that lives in big trees. 

We all looked in the direction of the speaker. This is the same kid who called Cole earlier but was also yelling to leave when she saw me.

"What are you saying?" A woman appeared behind the child. "You've been saying "kapre" for a while. What "kapre" are you talking about?" The woman asked the little girl. The child is probably her daughter. Well, she called her mama.

"Mama, that's him! That's him! Kapre!" The child pointed at me.

I don't know what my reaction will be to what the little girl said, but the boys with me started laughing.

"Hey, kid! That's not a kapre." Frustrated, the child's mother scratched her head.

"Mama, mama, kapre," the child, who was still terrified, clung to her mother's legs.

I just laughed softly. Onin and Cole were dying of laughter. Kuya Morris was also giddy with laughter. 

So, that's why she came back to the restaurant crying when she first saw me at the entrance. I'm sorry if that's the case. She's so funny.

"Tali, that's not a kapre," Cole said, and approached the little girl. The child immediately hugged the teenager, so Cole just carried him.

"What's that, Brother Cole? He's scary because he's so tall," said the little girl who was tightly hugging Cole. The eyes of the cute child were peeking in my direction.

"That's a new brother," Cole said. He approached me while carrying the child. "Meet Brother Ando, ​​Talitha," Cole introduced me to the child. "And Brother Ando, meet Talitha, or you can call her Tali."

I smiled sweetly at the child. "Hi Tali, nice to meet you."

The child didn't react but just peeked while still hugging Cole.

"She is still shy, Big Brother. But she is a good kid, even if she is a little naughty," said Cole. I just nodded.

"Come on, Tali. Just go to your God mother's office." The woman earlier took the child from Cole. "Why are you here... What's your name again?"

"Ando..."

"Ando, why are you here?" the woman asked me again.

"Ah, I'm your new helper here at the resort, and I'm also a waiter. I met Ma'am Carmelita at the port. She welcomed me kindly when I asked her for a job. I'm just a newcomer here on the island. Besides, I need a job," I explained.

The woman watched me intently. I gave her a quick glance. She is also beautiful and sexy, even with a child. Her skin is tanned, her black eyes are a bit chinita, her nose is cute, her lips are red. If I'm not mistaken, they are the same height as Carmelita. Who could this be?

"Is that so? Alright. Welcome to Mairaos Resort. I'm Agatha, the general manager here. If you have any questions or needs, you can ask me or any of us."

"Thank you."

"Hey, I'll talk to you later and I'll feed this child first. The bar will open by 9 pm, so get ready," she instructed. I just nodded and she left.

I'm finally sitting down. Cole prepared food for us. And while eating, he briefly discussed with me what they were doing at the resort, especially when the bar was open.

Because it's still a weekday, the bar isn't busy yet, but on weekends, it's said that there's a rush of customers. It's not just vacationers who go there to spend time with, but locals too.

Cole said that people flock to their restaurant on the island because of the delicious food and the friendly staff. Cole isn't lying, Morris and Onin cook really well.

I also found out that Brother Morris is actually a chef and only settled here on the island because of his daughter. Onin is also a graduate of Hotel and Restaurant Management and prefers to stay here on the island, so he looked for a job here because his father is also here and he could not leave him.

I also met Cole's twin, Dylan. The two look alike, but the difference is that Dylan has no dimples. Compared to Cole, Dylan has a bit of a bad boy look. He is also humorous, while Cole is quite serious. So you won't get confused with them.

I also found out that Cole and Dylan are only twenty years old, Onin is twenty-five, and Brother Morris is forty-four. Agatha, who is Carmelita's best friend, is the same age as her, which is twenty-six years old. Her cute daughter, Talitha, is four years old.

They even have a housekeeper, Aling Ingrid, who is helped by her high school daughter, Madeline. But at night they are not there, only during the day. They have one guard, whose name is Arman, but he is said to be on leave because he went home to the other town to visit his sick son. He will be back tomorrow.

After all, they are understaffed here. But I haven't seen how big the resort is so I'm not sure if Carmelita's staff is just right.

They are all kind. They are funny. I actually get along well with them.

I also simply asked about Carmelita and they answered. I found out from them that Carmelita is a caring and kind boss. I didn't ask about her affairs first because I was just a beginner and I might get a bad grade on my first day for being nosy.

"Where are you from, Ando?" Kuya Morris suddenly asked.

The three men were looking at me.

"I'm from Manila," I answered.

"Why did you come here, Ando? It’s okay if you don't want to share it," the old man said.

"Ah, because..." This is what I didn't prepare for, but I decided to tell them the truth, except for my true identity. "Because I was cheated by my ex-fiance. I was traded for a rich old man." I half-smiled and scratched the back of my neck.

When I remember what Callie and Daddy did to me, I feel like going to the bar and drinking alcohol.

Those in front of me were silent. I can see sympathy in their eyes, but I don't need that.

"Have you finished eating?" A woman appeared in the kitchen. When we turned around, it was Carmelita.

She looks so dazzlingly gorgeous in her fitted white polo and black slacks. Her hair is tied in a perfect bun. This girl is really beautiful. But like other beauties, she uses her beauty to deceive. Wasteful.

"We are done, Carms. What can I do for you?" Onin quickly approached the lady and was all smiles. Hmm... Onin is very obvious.

"Get ready," said the woman, and she looked at me first. I smiled at her. She just raised an eyebrow. She is really cute. "Cole, you take care of the newbie. The crowd is getting bigger." And she left.

Those in the kitchen have started to get busy. Cole and Dylan took me to the employees' staff house. Guess what, the employees also have their own lockers. Cole gave me my uniform, which is a simple yellow floral short sleeve and khaki shorts. I also borrowed rubber shoes from Onin because our shoe sizes are the same. I had a pair of shoes with me, but they were obviously expensive, so I decided to borrow his shoes instead. I also took a shower and cleaned myself. I did not bother to shave my beard, but I just fixed it and combed it well.

The uniform is a bit tight, but that's okay. Cole even complimented me on being macho. Anyway, since I don't really know how to be a waiter, he said that I should just take orders and he and Dylan would take care of other tasks. Carmelita also has an additional instruction that if there are no orders, I will be the one to watch or guard the place because Arman is not there.

Well, I have to impress my new boss. So I will do everything to make her fall for me. Sorry to Onin. But he should thank me because I will stop Carmelita from hurting him. He's just a humble chef who's not the type of that woman, and I know he's not rich. Onin will thank me and the others who will be hurt and get hurt by Carmelita. Thanks to me, they will get revenge.