The Billionaire's Switch

Chapter 11

Maagang nagising si Alice lalo pa't pinaghahandaan niya ngayon oras na ito ang pagtuturo niya sa Ate Sleia niya. It was way too easy kung hindi niya ito tuturuan in her own way.

She take down notes about her qualities and yung katulad ng naituro ni Ate Sleia sa kaniya but in Alice way.

Katulad niya ay ayaw niya din na mabuko ito ng lolo't-lola niya. Matalas pa naman ang pang-amoy ng grandparents nila sa side ng mama niya.

Probinsya din kasi sila ng Guimaras. Sa Buenavista na parte sila to be exact. May malawak na taniman sila doon ng mga mangga.

Isa pa ay mangga talaga ang pangunahing produktong tinatangkilik ng mga guimarasnon (tawag sa mga taong nakatira sa probinsya ng Guimaras). Mango capital of the Philippines nga ito kung tutuusin and the mangoes there are exported locally and internationally.

Na-miss niyang kumain ng mangga doon. Nakakahiya nga na hindi man lang niya dinalham ang kapatid niya pero bawal din palang magdala noon palabas ng bansa. Baka mabulok o mapisa pa yun sa loob ng maleta niya.

Since switching places naman sila ay siguradong mararanasan din ng Ate Sleia niya ang mabuhay ng simple sa probinsya.

Anyway, she needs to double time. It's been 6pm at mabilis ata ang oras. 8am ang call time nila buti na lamang at nakahanda na siya ng pang-almusal nila.

...

Nagsimula ng magturo si Alice sa Ate Sleia niya. Halos mapahilamos sa mukha si Alice nang makita nito kung paano gumalaw ang kakambal niya.

Jusko Ate, yan ba ang lakad ko?!

Wait, di ako ganyan maglakad

Yung simple naman ate pls!

Wait, pinakasimpleng lakad, yung normal hindi ganyan!

Halos maputol ang ugat sa noo ni Alice nang makita nito ang galaw ng ate niya.

Jusko di nito kinaya ang sakit sa bangs nitong kakambal.

Sleia look so stress. Sobrang aga pa at unang steps palang ng pagtuturo ng lakad ay tila palpak siya.

Kitang-kita niya kung paano ma-stress ng bongga sa kaniya ang kakambal niyang si Alice.

Nilapitan siya ni Alice like she is needed alot of things to know Alice walk, talk and many more.

Sa buong buhay niya ay pinakahigh class na galaw at military moves lang ang natutunan niya and not a common one.

Sleia born to slay not to act like a commoner. Nakalimutan niyang normal pala na citizen ng Pilipinas itong kakambal niya. Di niya makeri itong pinanggagawa niya.

"Kailangan ba talaga ito?! Like I act like how I am in the military camp?!" Reklamo ni Sleia dahil ilang minuto na ang nasayang nila pero mukhang di niya makuha ang simpleng galawan o lakad ni Alice.

"Yes, kailangan talaga Ate. Wag mong dalhin ang military moves mo sa Pilipinas dahil naku po, lolo't-lola will know you're not me. Di mo naman siguro gugustuhing ikaw ang sisira sa sariling plano mo hindi ba?!" Seryosong sagot naman ni Alice dahil hindi maaaring ganito na lamang.

Siguro ay kailangan niya ng maraming patience sa araw na ito dahil hindi sanay ang Ate Sleia niya to be this commoner.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah. I'll do my very best madam." Tanging naiwika ni Sleia sa kapatid nito as an act of surrending herself for today.

"Mabuti naman Ate, I'll never give up to teach you in a way that even lolo't-lola will never suspicious on you." Seryosong turan ni Alice while giving her Ate Sleia an encouraging smile.

"Whatever..." Sleia said it while rolling her eyes. She just want to end this day productively.

"That's super maarte, hindi ako yan."

"Wait nakukuha mo na Ate "

"Good, malapit na pero konti pa."

"Wait, that's perfect!"

After an hour ay nakuha na ni Sleia ang galawan ng isang Alice Grace Buenaventura. She is grinning while eyeing her twin sister.

"Wag kang magsaya Ate Sleia. Marami pa kong ituturo sa'yo. In fact marami-rami talaga." Nakangiting turan ni Alice na tila nang-iinis.

Sleia just rolled her eyes. Alam niyang ginagantihan siya ng kakambal niya but in a different way.

Ngunit nagchange venue sila dahil mabilis niyang nakuha ang galaw nito lalo pa't simple lamang just like what normal people do. Medyo common din kasi ito like she have seen in Philippine television soap opera and dramas. She's a Filipino fan you know, aba'y malaki ang naitulong nun dahil kitang-kita na nainis bigla ang kapatid niya. Sorry nalang siya, Sleia is just born gorgeous and talented duh!!!

Nandito sila sa kusina. She was dragged here by her twin sister Alice.

She was amazed dahil napakaraming mga Filipino ingredients at mga condiments na nandirito. From fruits to vegetable like just wow.

"Ate Sleia, be ready for yourself dahil I know you will be cooking varieties of Filipino foods from now on." Seryosong turan ni Alice lalo na at gusto nitong ang kambal nito ay mahasa sa pagluluto or do anything in a kitchen the way she is good at it.

Wait Alice, nagbibiruan ba tayo. I mean lahat ng mga yan? It isn't it right?!" Nanlalaking mga matang saad ni Sleia na animo'y hindi ito naniniwala sa sinasabi ng kapatid nito. Is she implying that she'll have to cook?!

"Ginusto mo ito Ate Sleia, di ka naman siguro magbaback out hindi ba? Well, I used to cook Filipino dishes all the time back in the Philippines; in a province actually kaya kailangan mong magbanat ng buto kung ayaw mong magutom doon." Seryosong sagot ni Alice sa kakambal nitong tila shock sa sinasabi nito. Well, it was the reality of life, di sila mayaman but well off naman sila kahit papaano but her lola don't want anything but to do it on herself. Sinabi nitong kailangan niyang magsipag at matuto sa buhay unlike Sleia na isang City Girl kung maituturing and doesn't need to do cooking.

Well, marami pa siyang dapat ituro dito at sigurado siyang kukulangin ang isang araw o dalawa para mahasa itong maging siya.

"No way Alice. I am up for this challenge. I used to cook difficult dishes or even high class food servings kung kaya't sisiw lang ito. You cannot beat me Alice in anyway possible!" Matapang na saad ni Sleia.

Sinimulan na nitong magluto gamit ang gas stove nito and there's a instructions and step by steps procedure as well as the ingredients.

It was a long way to understand yet she was familiar to some. Filipino television and cooking show really her great weapon here kung kaya't ambilis niyang matuto na siyang ikinainis ng kapatid nito.

Well, her cooking is just a small servings which is a good thing dahil she don't want to waste food anyway. Alam niyang mamarkahan ito ng kapatid niya pero siyempre titikim din siya noh. Duh, para iwas daya noh. Alice planned it out, segurista lang siya in any possible way. Walang lamangan period.

Naniningkit ang mga mata ni Alice the way her ate handle this kind of things in cooking different kinds of dishes. Mostly the most common dish and also the most favorite dishes she cook for herself and for her grandparents.

After three hours of cooking, it was all done. It was possible dahil sosyal at napakaraming functions itong malaking gas stove ng Ate Sleia niya na mahihiya ang normal na gamit nilang mga pinoy dito.

It's tikiman time na kaya she was able to taste and rated every dish that served in this wide table.

And the results are out which is why Sleia felt somewhat nervous lalo na kung paano siya tingnan ng kapatid nitong nakangisi.

Tiningnan naman ng masama ni Sleia ang nagmamagandang kakambal nito. Yun bang tingin na "Wag mong subukan dayain look". Ganon na ganon.

"Ate Sleia, it's so sad to say that you got 78%. You passed this cooking challenge. The food and everything looks appetizing but it feels not so pure Filipino style of cooking. The meat and veggies are not too cook and some are half cook. But so far you passed already. Congratulations Ate!" Mahabang litanya ni Alice habang kitang-kita na mukhang masaya ito but Sleia's face is no way good dahil napaismid pa ito.

"78%? It's not justifiable Alice. It's a barely passed. You're just messing my head up. My cooking is world class and way too high for just a 3% higher than passing score. 7.8/10 is no no for me!" Halos magwala si Sleia dahil sa inis. Padabog pa nitong inilagay ang kaldero sa lababo.

"Tanggapin mo nalang Ate Sleia na you are no way good in cooking Filipino style dishes. You are just too high for your cooking skills na nakalimutan mo na iba ang taste ng bawat bansa. Most Filipinos want a fully cooked dishes or yung may konting sunog lalo na kung may involve na rice. Wala akong pakealam sa pa-world class mong cooking style pero alalahanin mong ako na si Alice ang gagampanan mong buhay pag-uwi mo ng probinsya sa Pilipinas. You must aware na it's for your own sake, for your brilliant plan." Mahabang pahayag ni Alice habang hinahabaan pa nito ang pasensya nito. Hindi niya gustong salubungin ng inis ang frustrations na nararamdaman ng ate niya. She is really concerned lalo na sa ganitong bagay. Ayaw niya namang mamatay ito sa gutom dahil sa kaartehan nito sa katawan and cooking a way different than her. It will lead to ruining there plan in switching places.

"Okay... Okay but to be fair, you must cook also my favorite dishes or dad's favorite food or something else that commonly cook here in United Kingdom. Is it a deal?!" Seryosong wika ni Sleia habang nakaisip ng magandang ideya. She knows she's super duper brilliant, no need to praise her.

"Yes... Kayang-kaya ko to. Wait, did you just give me some tips earlier Ate?!" Pagsang-ayon ni Alice sa kakambal nito and pulling some words towards her twin sister.

"Hmmp! Just cook already or mangbabarahan lang tayo dito?!" Pasupladang sagot na lamang ni Sleia knowing that her twin sister have that irritating voice in her lovely ears.

"Just calm down first and maghugas muna tayo Ate pwede? The kitchen is a complete messed!" Pagdedetalye pa ni Alice sa kapatid nitong mukhang ready ng maghiwa ng mga sangkap.

"I'm sorry, uhm yeah good idea because we will not have that enough cooking tools and stuffs for cooking this bulks of dishes." Maarteng wika ni Sleia while using here accents.

"It's not just a bulks you know, it may be a mountain and we are going to do alot this time. I'm so excited, you know what I mean." Maarteng sambit din ni Alice why copying her Ate's accent and the way her twin talks.

"Excuse the hell out of me. Tigilan mo ko sa English spokening mong yan. Magsalita ka ng tagalog!" Panggagaya naman ni Sleia sa tono ng pananalita ng kapatid nito.

Alice just rolled her eyes. It was not a good idea copying theirselves dahil awkward palang tingnan. Parang sumakit yung bangs niya ng very light. Di niya alam kung matutuwa siya or maiinis. D*mn this switch thing pero napasubo na siya.

After washing the stuffs for cooking ay nagpatuloy na silang magpractice magluto. They are going to know how talented they are in cooking and make everyone believe that they are not impostor. Talagang kailangan nila itong gawin.

Cooking is the way to fill their hungry stomachs. Masaya ang ginawa nilang ito.

...

Wait, did you just buy them and it's not so modern you know? What is this?!" Tanging nasabi na lamang ni Sleia sa maarteng paraan.

Alice just brought some sort of things like the pot called "kalan" and the random three stones that forms triangle. Mayroon pang isang it was a steel type na mukhang in-welding lang to join those metallic parts.

"Sanayin mo ang sarili mo Ate Sleia to use this. It is way of how we cook there lalo na kung normal na araw lang ay itong tatlong batong ito and you just need to put the kaldero on the top of it or kawali. And that one with metal one is use for big occasions or maraming lulutuin, we use this so that it was not expensive, this two things we use dry woods to cook rice and other dishes. Yung kalan naman ay oling ang ginagamit diyan kapag masama ang panahon o tag-ulan ay ito ginagamit namin. We don't usually use modern items like gas stove, rice cooker etc. That much sa province."

"Seriously? It does really do this kind of thing? We are in this modern age right? Taong kweba lang ang gumagawa nito." Reklamo naman ni Sleia na animo'y hindi nito nagustuhan ang ganitong klaseng set-up ng pagluluto.

"Wag ka ng magreklamo Ate, ang tinuturo ko sa'yo ay mga basic lamang pero kapag andun ka na sa probinsya, maiintindihan mo din. Ang buhay sa siyudad ay ibang-iba sa buhay sa mismong probinsya lalo na dito sa UK jusko, iba din yung UK doon sa Pilipinas." Seryosong sambit ni Alice habang nakatingin sa Ate niya.

"Yeah right, whatever. Kailangan ko atang magtraining ng bongga and you also my twin!" Maarteng sambit na lamang ni Sleia sa kapatid nito to get this things done. Ayaw niyang mag-isip ng malalim and focus on this Filipino dishes and whatever province life thing to do with it.