Hello, Kenzo

Jealous

"Good morning, Grandma! What can I do to help you?" I asked Kenzo's grandmother while tying my hair up.

I couldn't sleep anyway, so I decided to get up upon hearing the clattering of utensils from the kitchen.

"Good morning, dear! You can call me Josefa. Want some coffee?" she offered and poured me a cup before hoisting up the old, wooden windows of their simple house.

I took the cup of coffee and immersed myself in the breathtaking scenery bestowed upon my eyes. There, just a few yards away, various plants, mostly rice plants, swayed with the gentle dawn breeze, and birds could be heard singing somewhere near our place. The smell was also quite pleasant since we were almost at the border between the rice fields and the mountains that were beyond this beautiful village.

"Did you see that beautiful tree over there?" Grandma Josefa pointed out as I sipped my coffee. "It has its own little pond, which is connected to a river nearby. That's why it's called the Little Pine Tree. You can watch it bloom anytime soon if the weather stays warm."

I smiled at her and nodded. "That's amazing," I said quietly after taking another sip. "This place is beyond compare, Grandma. My heart is overwhelmed with joy and peace.

"Well, you are always welcome here, dear. If you chose to be with Kenzo, then you have all the time in your life to admire this greatness!" Grandma smiled and proceeded to take out ingredients to be used for cooking. "Now, help me cut up these vegetables while I cook the rice, and when you're done, fry these dried fish. I still have to feed the chickens and other animals before we go to the field."

"Ok, noted Grandma." I smiled and marched towards Kenzo's room.

He had switched with Keera just moments ago, just to be careful for others.

I went in without knocking and grabbed him up, then walked him out of his room with his eyes still closed.

"Kenzo would love to help you out feeding the animals, right, baby?" I threatened him, and I saw him flinch since he was really still sleepy from our rendezvous last night. "I'll take care of the kitchen, Nana."

"Are you sure?" Josefa is still in awe of how I am treating his grandson.

"Yes,"

"Then, you might want to start cooking now. The firewood is placed there, and the match is on the table. The rice, by the way, I want you to put pandan leaves while cooking, then wrap them up in banana leaves before stacking them in the basket. Ok?" Grandma Josefa smiled. "So, let Kenzo help you."

Grandma turned her back and walked away smiling, leaving me in total disarray of feelings.

"You don't have stoves here?" I mumbled, flabbergasted, as I had never really cooked with ancient techniques.

"Yes, baby, and don't be shocked with this because we have a lot more that we don't have!" he smiled before giving me a light peck on my forehead and going to fetch firewood.

"Now, loving does need work!" I exhaled. My anxiety prevailed over my encouraging thoughts.

I watched Kenzo cut down the huge chunk of wood using an axe, and I could feel my stomach churning in anxiety.

I couldn't believe this world I was in! But I am happy.

"I will light up the fire stove, so prepare the ingredients," Kenzo asked me, and I obliged since it would take me my lifetime to light up those woods.

I saw Kenzo remove his shirt and tie a towel around his forehead as he dumped the chopped wood into the four huge rocks with a pile of ashes in the center.

A few minutes passed; the sun had risen, and I could smell the aroma of the rice in a huge pot with pandan leaves on top. Kenzo did the cooking since I might burn the rice. I'm used to rice cookers, so I am not going to risk any mistakes.

"So, where am I going to cook this?" I announced my prideful cutting skills after finishing all the prepping of the vegetables, meats, and spices.

"I'll take care of this; rest up!" Kenzo said as he moved the rice out of the fire.

"No, I'll do it. I want them to taste my cooking!" I insisted, and my jaw dropped when Kenzo picked up a huge, enormous wok; its size was enough to cook for the whole neighborhood.

"Stunned, baby?" Kenzo smirked.

"Why is it so big?"

"Well, all those harvests are food for everyone in the neighborhood. So, I'll do it!"

Kenzo started filling the wok with oil, and one by one, he added the ingredients and stirred the wok with another enormous ladle.

My heart couldn't help but skip with joy!

Watching him do this, I knew in that moment that he would be a good husband.

He was more than worth taking a risk.

"Good morning!" Kenzo's mother interrupted us, and she was already wearing farmer's attire.

"Good morning," I greeted her back, and she smiled at me.

There was this awkward feeling that I could feel from her, and I couldn't blame her. His youngest son is with someone like me.

"Let's go deerie! Let's get you dressed!" Kenzo's mother suddenly grabbed my hand, making my heart flustered in happy beats.

I took a quick glance at Kenzo, and he winked at me, assuring me to relax.

Once I got out, I could see kids of different ages running around with toys only on the playground. They were running around happily.

"Good morning, Stella!" other women from the villages greeted, and they were already in their farmer's atrire.

"Here's yours! I need you to see the life we only have, then decide if you are taking Kenzo because this life we have will never be much compared to yours," Kenzo's mother said. Her eyes looked so sad, I wanted to hug her.

I smiled and accepted the worn-out clothes, and I immediately changed into them.

I went out, and all of them gasped at seeing me in a farmer's outfit.

"She is an angel!" they all said in unison.

"I am not! I assure you that!" I exclaimed, laughing hysterically.

It was a moment of silence before they decided to join me in laughing.

Then they started walking to the fields, and I saw Kenzo and other men carrying huge baskets behind us.

"You will get dirty, so you might as well be prepared!" Keera said, annoyed, fixing her hair.

"I know," I answered, and I let my heart drown in the amusement of the moment.

"Stop smiling! It's getting on my nerves! Once you take Kenzo and live here every day, doing this every day, you'll hate it!" Keera spat her words with all the disappointment within her.

"Oh, I've got work, so I'll probably just have to join you during weekends," I answered, seeing her face frown in shock.

"READY EVERYONE!" I heard Kenzo's father yell from ahead, and everyone waived their farmer's hat in response.

And before I knew it, I was slipping everywhere, covering my whole body with mud. Kenzo, on the other hand, instead of helping me, was having the time of his life making fun of me while teaching me how to plow the field as others planted the rice in so much ease.

Everyone, I assume, was enjoying seeing me look so stupid and unhelpful.

As noon hit, the sun began to make its descent, and the day grew warmer and warmer. Kenzo's father motioned everyone to take shelter at a nipa hut built under a huge tree by the foot of the mountain, where a cooler breeze blew, giving comfort to our worn bodies from work and heat all morning.

"Ok, take your plates and eat!" Kenzo's father instructed everyone, and we all had a simple feast. Children ate and ran while flying kites.

"Here's your food," Kenzo handed over, but I smiled as I am too dirty to eat. "Yeah, I am going to feed you."

We went to sit in front of the rice field and ate the freshly baked rice with all the scrumptious dishes along with our wooden plates.

The sun was shining above us, and we watched as it reached high in the sky and gave everything the color blue.

I looked at Kenzo, who was looking at me as well. His eyes sparkled beautifully, and I felt my cheeks blush again when he held my gaze for too long.

"So," he said, breaking eye contact first. "Do you like our little village?"

"I did. And yes, it's beautiful indeed! Your grandma has such nice hospitality and everyone is very friendly. Even though you guys did not have your traditional meals, you made this great meal, I praised.

"Well, you are family now. Family is supposed to share this together. And no matter what happens in the future, you are always welcome and treated with kindness," Kenzo stated with complete sincerity.

"Thank you." I blushed again.

"Well, this is me. This is all I can offer; this is my life." Kenzo sounded a little broken, sad, and disappointed but hopeful.

"I am not here to think over whether to accept you or not; I am here to see more of you; what else should I love about you? You accepted me without any hesitation despite my flaws, so you are a treasure, Kenzo. I want to keep searching, to keep discovering, and to want you more along the journey!"

"I love you, Stella."

"I love you..."

"KENZO!"

I was interrupted when someone yelled from afar, and we all took a sharp turn to where the voice was coming.

"Kate?" I saw Keera stand up and run to her in excitement.

My heart felt like it was sinking as something hit me. Kate—was she the same Kate who texted Kenzo back at the car?