Back to The Arms of Mr. Chef

CHAPTER 1

"Auretta!" A voice stopped me from going to the gate. I shifted my gaze, and I saw my friend, Yuriel Azaki, jogging towards me.

"May gagawin ka pa ba?" Aniya pag kalapit sa akin.

"Wala na, vacant kasi namin," I said as we continued walking. He said yes while punching in the air. Napailing na lang ako.

"Kain tayo ng tusok-tusok, libre ko. Ubusin na din natin paninda ni Kuya Enong. Then after, kung wala pa driver niyo, I can give you a ride; bike nga lang," he said, smiling widely, and I could see his perfect set of white teeth.

"Sige ba, wala ng baiwan 'yan ha, libre mo."

"Oo na, ikaw may sagot nung nakaraan eh. Akin na nga 'yang bag mo. Ako nabibigatan sayo." I give my bag to him and start running.

"Mahuli panget!" I said while laughing. Napailing na lang ito sa akin habang natatawa. We've been friends since high school. I only have two trusted friends, Yuriel Azaki and Xiena Soreen. I've only met Xiena Soreen; she's a transferee from Canada, but she's pure Filipina.

"Oh, kayo pala. Sinong may sagot ngayon?" Kuya Enong said. He's been a vendor here, outside the university, for a decade.

"Si Auretta po Kuya," I glared at him. "Joke lang, ito naman," he said after I smacked his arms.

"Kuya Enong, two cups nga po," I said to the old man. "Padagdag na rin po ng gulaman."

"Ito iha, oh, kuha lang kayo dyan."

"Thank you, po!" I give the one plastic cup to Yuriel Azaki. Saka nag tusok-tusok, I pick kikiam, kwek-kwek, and squidball.

"Auretta, ahh!" Yuriel Azaki called my attention, and while bringing the stick closer to my mouth, a kikkiam was inserted. I ate it and thumbs up to him.

"Oh, kumuha ka pala ng round orange with egg inside." He said that, teasing me. I pinch his arms.

"Ok lang, at least hindi nagsawsaw sa lagayan ng sandok!" I teased him back.

"Shhh, Auretta, baka may makarinig sayo," he said, pouting.

"Mukha kang itik"

"Bibe mo?" he said while raising both eyebrows.

"Heh! Bilisan mo na nga, mamaya darating na rin si Manong Lando," referring to our family driver.

"Ayaw mong hatid kita ng bike ko? Tapos daan tayo sa bagong bukas na peryahan dyan sa bayan?".

"Ahmmm, maybe next time? Paparating na rin kasi si Manong Lando. Saka, hindi ka pa ba hinahanap nila Tita Zeyn?"

"Nandun naman si Kuya, kaya hindi nila ako hahanapin." He said it with sad eyes but smiled immediately. Yuriel Azaki doesn't want to be pitied. "Pero sige, ayaw ko namang mas lalong sumama ang tingin sa akin nila Tito," referring to my parents.

"Yuriel Azaki....."

"Nah, it's ok. I understand your parents. How about Friday?" Changing our conversation.

"Sige, hindi pa naman masyadong busy schedule ko."

"Ok, it's settled, Friday," he said, smiling.

I nodded at him. "Mag bayad kana nga kay Kuya Enong"

"Kuya mag kano po lahat?"

"60 pesos lang iho"

He took his wallet from his pocket and took out five hundred pesos. "Keep the change, po Kuya Enong.".

"Sure, ka iho? Ang laki pa ng barya mo."

"Opo, sa inyo na po," he said, smiling at the old man. I really admire this guy and how generous he is. That's why I don't understand why his family calls him the black sheep of their family.