Parcel | StellJun

Chapter 20 - Noisy Sea

PAVLO is on his kitchen island, preparing for something he can cook for breakfast. He hasn't gone yet for a grocery this week so he decided to make use of what is in his fridge. He settled for hotdogs, eggs, and pancakes from his pantry.

Vester is on the other line, making his way into the kitchen too with an apron in his broad shoulders. They're both cooking together for breakfast. At least they can feel connected even though they are miles away from each other.

It has been their routine ever since Vester is away for his last project in the productions; they often cook together once a day, eat meals together most especially during dinner, and share each other's whereabouts almost every day. Their constant communication does help in connecting the two of them from miles away.

"Anong lulutuin mo, Pao?" asked the younger who was busy chopping carrots into tiny cubes.

"Simple lang since I'm lacking of ingredients so I will cook my own egg na lang." He then proceeded to get his pan to heat it.

He heard the younger man chuckle but he's not paying attention to it. "Huh? Anong lulutuin mo?"

Pavlo looks at his laptop innocently. "Itlog na puti, hotdogs at ano... pancakes."

Vester sly a smirk, nodding earnestly. "Ah, okay..."

While frying his hotdogs in low heat, he began mixing his pancake mixture in a bowl. "How about you? Anong lulutuin mo?"

"Omelet, bacon strips tapos fried chicken while nagsasaing na rin ako ng kanin sa rice cooker," said Vester in a wide grin.

He chucks and nods, "Naks, ang daming niluluto. Parang gusto ko yatang mag-agahan diyan."

"Sus, kung pwede nga lang eh." Vester pouted. "Syempre, dinamihan ko na since marami rin naman ang kakain."

"Check mo ang rice cooker mo at baka hindi mo pa nababa," he teases, chuckling at himself.

That made the younger frown a little. "Hoy... grabe ka sa'kin. Mukha ba akong bano?"

"Alam mo ikaw, ang hirap mong biruin sa umaga. Nagagalit ka agad," he said.

As the days go by, he notices Vester's mood swings on random occasions. It's Vester's anger issues against the world. Nevertheless, he's not complaining. He's Ate Chona himself.

"Ayan, nagagalit na talaga siya..." he remarked, looking at Vester's scowling face.

He heard the younger sniffed. "Hindi kaya. Galit agad? Hindi ba pwedeng good mood lang dahil nakakita ako ng poging mama sa umaga?"

Pavlo rolled his eyes at him. "Okay."

As he begins his signature itlog na puti, Vester stops what he's been doing and he ends up looking at the older attentively. "You know what my green flag is?"

Pavlo glanced at his laptop. "What is it?"

An invisible grin plastered on the younger's face. "A guy who knows its way to the kitchen. A guy who is very meticulous in cleaning houses. In short, ikaw."

Pavlo snorted as he blushes. "Magluto ka na nga lang diyan. Baka mag-reklamo pa sila dahil ang tagal mo. Nagugutom na ang mga kasamahan mo. Isa pa, ang alam ko lang ay ang mag-prito at hindi ang magluto."

"Marunong ka. Masarap ka raw magluto sabi ni Chichay," Vester said while proceeding cutting the onions.

"And Joseph said the same thing. I can see it naman. Mahilig ka talagang magluto. Gooojab, Vester! Feeling ko, hindi magugutom ang mga taong kasama mo kung nandiyan ka," he complimented.