Back to The Arms of Mr. Chef

CHAPTER 2

"Khione, ano itong nababalitaan ko na napapadalas ang pag sama-sama mo sa pangalawang anak ng mga Caddel?" I'm having breakfast with my parents when my dad speaks.
 
Binitawan ko ang aking kubyertos at sumagot, "Papà, Yuriel Azaki is my friend. And he's a good guy; sometimes he even helps me with my task."
 
"But Iha, he's not good for you. He always cuts classes," he said, creasing his forehead. May sapat na dahilan naman si Yuriel Azaki kung bakit hindi niya seneseryo ang pag-aaral.
 
"That's because he doesn't want to take law, Papà; he wants to be a chef; actually, he cooks well," defended Yuriel Azaki. Yuriel Azaki doesn't want to be in court defending the defendant. Mas gusto nun sa kusina, holding a pan.
 
"Hayaan mo na Hon, wala ka bang tiwala sa anak mo? Besides, Yuriel Azaki is a good man." My mom, while holding my dad's hands
 
Wala ng nagawa si Papà at napahinga na lang ng malalim, tila nag papakalma, "Ok, Khione. Basta anak, huwag mong pababayaan ang pag-aaral mo."
 
"Yes, Papà. Actually, bigayan na po ng class card next week," Aniko habang nakangiti.
 
"Ok. Hindi ka pa ba papasok? Seven o'clock ang start ng first subject mo diba?"
 
"Ow, Shook! Aalis na po pala ako." I stood up, kissed my Mamà and Papà on their cheeks, and bid my goodbye.
 
***
I am dumating at the university at exactly 7:30, and I still have 29 minutes before my first subject starts. Dumeretso na lang muna ako quadrangle, and I sat in the bermuda grass while waiting for Xiena Soreen.
 
"Ate Khione!" A girl called me, and based on her ID, I recognized that she's a freshman. "Ate Khione, pinabibigay po pala ni Kuya Yuriel, lunch niyo daw po" while holding a paper bag.
 
"Oh, okay. Thank you." Aniko at tipid na ngumiti sa kanya, tumalikod na 'to paalis.
 
I saw something written below: Kaya binasa ko iyon.
 
"Eat well, my princess. This is for you, Yuriel Azaki Pogi.".
 
Napailing na lang ako saka napangiti. I opened the paper bag, saka ko nilabas ang bento box, and I smelled a new cooked pinakbet with a fish, and the other container is full of rice, apples, and cucumbers that were sliced in a cute way.
 
Isasara ko na sana, 'to nag may nag salita banda sa likod ko.
 
"Kay Dzaddy Yuriel na naman galing 'yan 'no? Binubusog ka talaga," said Xiena Soreen, chuckling a bit. Teasing me.
 
"Dzaddy ka dyan!" I hissed, but she only laughed at me. "Pumasok na nga tayo."
 
***
Exactly 11:45 when our bell rang, agad naman akong niyaya ni Xiena Soreen sa canteen to take our lunch. Our next class will be at 12:45.
 
As we reach the canteen, agad akong dumeritso sa isang table malapit sa glass wall kung saan makikita ang field. While Xiena Soreen gets her lunch and my iced coffee,.
 
After a minute, dumating din si Xiena Soreen habang may nakasunod sa kanya na canteen staff. Nang makalapit ito sa table namin agad nitong nilapag ang dalang pagkain saka naman umalis ang tumulong sa kanyang staff.
 
Inilabas ko naman ang laman ngpaper bag na naglalaman ng tanghalian ko na ipinaabot ni Yuriel Azaki.
 
"Oh, what's that? Pinakbet?" said Xiena Soreen.
 
"Yep," pupping the "p."
 
"Pahingi nga" anito at kukuha na sana ng inilayo ko 'to. "Damot! Porket bigay ng Dzaddy Yuriel mo yan eh."
 
"We're just friends, 'kay? Maissue ka masyado." She didn't say anything and just rolled her eyes.
 
When I opened the lid of the bento box, the smell of pinakbet tingled in my nose. Yuriel Azaki really loves cooking. I get the spoon and take a small portion of pinakbet with a fish. As I put the spoon in my mouth, the taste of binagoong from pinakbet made me smile. I've tasted many types of pinakbet, but Yuriel Azaki's pinakbet is the best. His future wife is so lucky.
 
"Sarap na sarap?" Singit ni Xiena Soreen sa malalim na iniisip ko. Her love language is annoying me, argh!
****
It's already 5 in the afternoon when the class ended. Uwian na, pero hindi ko pa rin nakikita si Yuriel Azaki buong araw. Maybe he's busy. Debale, I'm going to chat with him later.
 
Samantalang si Xiena Soreen naman umuwi agad; they have a family dinner, I guess.
 
I'll already text our driver, Mang Lando. He's already outside the school, waiting for me. Pagkalabas ko ng gate, agad kong natanaw sa hindi kalayuan ang aming sasakyan. Agad naman akong nag tungo dito at sumakay sa likod, bago ako umupo nagmano muna ako kay manong lando as a sign of respect.
 
"Kamusta ang naging araw mo, iha?" Anito habang nakatingin sa akin gamit ang rearview mirror.
 
"Nakakapagod po, Manong lando," I replied and smiled tiringly. Hindi naman na ito nag salita pa kaya sinandal ko na lamang ang aking likod sa upuan. Kinuha ko naman ang cellphone ko mula sa bag ko, I checked the notifications I received. Wala pa ring chat si Yuriel Azaki, and that's odd. 
 
MESSAGES
To Yuriel Azaki Panget🥸
Hey, what's up?
 
I texted him. After that, I turn off my phone. 1 and a half naman ang byahe pauwi, that's why I decided to take a nap. 
 
♡♡♡♡