Basket of Keen

Chapter 8

“Hi Mizzy, I just stopping by I just want to give you this Valencia that my family made.” Saad niya habang iniaabot sa akin ang isang paper bag.

Napatingin ako roon. Valenciana? (Valenciana is a native delicacy of Ilonggos, it has a equivalent delicacy in Bicolanos it is called Paelya (sorry if it is wrong spelling, I’m not sure of the spelling though)) Valenciana is my favourite since I was young, it reminds me of my grandmother who’s fan of cooking it every occasion.

“Sana magustuhan mo, hindi na ako tatagal since ayaw mo rin naman akong kausap.” Saad niya sa akin at akmang aalis na sana nang pigilan ko siya.

“Teka, can you eat with me? Since Dex aren’t here yet, can you join me in?” I ask her.

It will be a disrespectful I wouldn’t thank her for this. It’s been a while since I last tasted Valenciana, I do really miss this food.

Napatingin naman siya na tila ba nagtataka sa aking iniasta. Alam kong naging masama ang trato ko sa kanya pero hindi naman ako ganon kasamang tao at bastos para hindi man lang siya kausapin.

“Seryoso ka?” nagtatakang tanong niya at napatango naman ako sa kanya.

“Please, it would be lonely if I will eat this alone. You can sit on the couch while I’m getting some plates.” Saad ko sa kanya.

Napatango naman siya sa akin habang nagtataka pa rin sa aking iniasta. Dali dali naman akong pumasok muli sa loob ng bahay para kumuha ng mga gamit. Hindi pa rin naman ako nag-uumagahan at hindi naman masama kung valenciana ang kakainin ko ngayon. Nakakalungkot rin naman na kakainin ko ang happy food ko ng mag-isa.

Nang makuha ko na ang mga plato ay agad na rin akong bumalik sa shop at nadatnan ko siyang nakaupo sa sala set habang nakatingin sa mga bulaklak na nakapaligid. She looks like an innocent child while looking around. Nung napansin niya ako ay agad siyang napatingin sa akin at kasabay ang pag ngiti niya.

Oh chills.

Dumeretso ako sa sala set at ninilapag ang mga kubyretos sa lamesa. Agad ko naman siyang binigyan ng pagkaing kanyang binigay sa akin. The Valenciana really looks like the Valenciana that my grandmother used to cook when I was a child. I wonder if it also tastes like hers, it’s been decades since the last time I tasted Valenciana.

Since my grandmother’s died no one wanted to cook Valenciana in the house, I am the only one who ate Valenciana in our household. Even though my family were pure Ilonggos some of them don’t want to eat Valenciana.

I take a bite from it and it shivers the seasonings in my mouth, I never tasted a Valenciana like this before. It laps my expectations on it, it is similar with my grandmother’s Valenciana. The sticky rice that forms in my mouth and the taste really covers my mouth. Why does it reminds me of my childhood while watching my grandmother cooking this dish? Why it smells like her kitchen? Why do I remember the face of my grandmother used to smile at me while cooking it?

“Mizzy why are you crying?”

Nabalik ako sa katinuan nang sabihin niya iyon. Blanko akong napatingin sa kanya at napahawak sa aking mata. Nadama ko ngang basa ang aking pisngi, bakit ako umiiyak? Bakit bigla na lamang bumuhos ang isang luha sa aking mata?

“Here you go Mizzy.”

Napatingin ako sa kanya at nakita kong may iniabot siyang tissue sa akin. Napatingin lamang ako sa kanya. Why does your valenciana taste the same with my grandmother? This taste—I only tasted it in two households, how? Who are you?

Bigla ako nabalik sa aking katinuan at itinulak ng bahagya ang kanyang kamay pabalik sa kanya. I clear my throat as I get my handkerchief in my pocket.

“Thank you but I have mine. Don’t mind me just eat.” I said to her and wipe my tears off.

Why on a sudden I remember you granny? You and tito lolo has this taste of Valenciana but how come this girl brought this with her?

I was fascinated with my thoughts when my phone rings and I immediately answer it, it was a call from Dex.

“Hello Dex.”

“Z, I’m sorry I can’t have my duty right now. I’m so sorry there’s an emergency at ngayon lang ako nakatawag.” Saad niya mula sa kabilang linya

“Anong nangyari?”

“Family matters.”

“I understand, I will take care the shop now.” I said and end the call with him.

It was so silent. Akala ko ba gusto akong kausapin nitong batang ito pero bakit tila hindi siay makakibo ngayon? Did I push the limit that far?

“Akala ko ba gusto mo akong makausap bakit tila hindi ka maka-imik riyan?” I crash while drinking with the glass of softdrinks.

“Ah-eh, nahihiya kasi ako.” She nervously said that made me gasp. 

“Really, you were here each day and you were nervous? Teenagers nga naman hindi ko maintindihan ang takbo ng utak ninyo.” I said to her and smirk.

I look at the glass beside us and I can see the vehicles running down the street.

“Mizzy, I just noticed that your way of fashion were a little childish while your attitude is more mature than you dressed.” She compliments that made me smile at it.

I look at her and put the glass down the table. Pinagmasdan ko ang kanyang mukha at napansin kong may roon siyang nunal sa kanyang labi, mapupungay rin ang kanyang mga mata at may matangos na ilong. Ang kanyang kulay ay morena habang may roong kulutang buhok. I can say she’s beautiful though.

“Really?” I ask and she nod. “Why not try guessing my age?” I ask her and she gives me a long pause.

While she was thinking I explore her features. She has brown eyes, long eye lashes, a beautiful shade of lipstick that match her skin tone, a perfect shape lips. I remembered that she said the first time we met is that she’s in the wedding as well and she was the sister of the teenager I give a hand with. Well at first I didn’t remember that she was that girl.

“20?”

“No”

“21?”

“No”

“22?”

“No”

“23?”

“Are you counting?”

“Sorry.” She said while awkwardly laughing.

“I’m 29 years old going 30 5 months from now.” I said to her and took a sip with my glass.

I see a big O in her mouth. Inilapit niya ang kanyang mukha sa akin kaya napaatras ako. Is she really going to the adult life yet acting like a kid?

“Seryoso? You are going to 30’s na? Pero you sounds like you are only in early 20’s” she compliments.

How awkward is this.

“Pero nakakaingit, you only look like a teenager.” she murmured while calming down on her seat. “Did you own this shop?” she ask and I nod.

A sudden silence covers up when someone enters my shop. Napalingon ako at nakita ko si Katrina, agad naamn akong napatayo para salubingin siya.

“Katrina, hello.” Bati ko sa kanya at nakipagbeso-beso kaming dalawa.

“Zyreah I will book for a wedding flowers for September 13, church and venue. More on red roses kasi mahilig yung bride sa red roses.” Saad niya sa akin at napatango naman ako.

“Saan ihahatid?”

“We will pick it up here.” she said and I nod.

Habang naguusap kami ay biglang lumapat ang kanyang tingin sa aking bisita. Nakita ko ang pagkagulat sa kanyang mga mata at ipinahintulot ang kanyang sarili na lapita ang aking bisita.

“Talisha? Is that you?” tanong niya sa bisita ko.

Mag kakilala sila?

“Ate Kat? Is that you? I didn’t see you after the wedding how do you do?” rinig kong sagot niya kay Kat.

Hinayaan ko na lamang sila at nag lakad sa table ko para ayusin ang order ni Katrina. It is good na magkakilala sila nang maiba naman ang atmosphere rito. Para kasing ang awkward kausap nung teenager na iyon at para akong naduduwal na kinakausap ko ang isang teenager.

Ilang minuto rin silang naguusap roon, ayaw ko naman sialng gambalain kung kaya’t palihim lamang akong nagbabasa ng manga sa cell phone ko. Kinalaunan rin ay lumapit na rin sa akin si Katrina para magpaalam. Naglakad na rin ako pabalik kung nasaan iyong teenager na iyon.

“Hindi ko alam na magkakilala pala kayo ni ate Kat.” Manghang saad niya sa akin kung kaya’t napatango na lamang ako.

“Pinsan ko si ate Kat, isa rin sana siya sa magiging bride’s maid nung kasal ni ate Paisley pero hindi siya pumayag kaya siay an lang ang nag decorate sa kasal ni ate Paisley.” Pagkwekwento niya.

Natigilan ako bigala nang sabihin niya iyon. So magkamag-anak pala sila ni Kat pero si Paisley? Kaano-ano niya si Paislye?

“Paisley?” umarte ako na tila hindi ko siya kilala.

“Oo si ate Paisley ang panganay na apo sa, siya yung ikinasal. Alam mo ba ang ganda-ganda niate Paisley nung kasala niya—“

Pinsan niya pala si Paisley pero saang side? Hindi kaya? Pero mukhang imposible naman ata.

“—kaya akala ko ikaw yung tumulong sa kapatid ko nung gabi na iyon. Sorry nga pala.” Saad niya sa akin at napangiti ng bahagya sa akin.

“Which side?” agad kong tanong sa kanya na kanyang kinabigla at pinagtaka.

“Po?” tanong niya sa akin.

“Saang side mo naging kamag-anak si Paisley?” tanong ko sa kanya at napakunot noo naman siya sa akin.

Shocks i loose my temper.

“Never mind.” I said to her and took a sip on my drink.

If ever na magkamag-anak silang dalawa hindi kaya isa rin siya sa mga apo niya? Pero baka hindi rin, hindi niya naman kamukha ang angkan niya. Pero ang lasa ng Valenciana ay makahawig na magkahig. Sino ka nga ba?

You are making me annoyed each time I see you. It really pissed me out.