The Chef's Secret Romance

Chapter 5

Chapter 5: Moving Forward

"Mom, I think it is best for you to stay at the staff house. You look exhausted, but you're still coming home."

After she removed my socks and rubber shoes, my daughter massaged my feet. I fell asleep while she was doing it because it was so gentle and soothing. Kaya ngayong nagising ako ay sinisermunan niya ako.

"Ate Jen informed me that Caoimhe had just resigned and had accepted a job in Italy."

I nodded with my eyes closed. Caoimhe is our resident chef on night ako muna ang pansamantalang pumalit sa binakante niyang posisyon. "Honey, it's time for her to show her talent in another country. Hindi ko naman siya puwedeng pigilan dahil mas malaki ang sahod sa ibang bansa at matagal na rin naming hinihintay iyon."

She pouted and shook her head in disapproval. "She's your apprentice, but she abandoned you after you taught her."

"It's time for her to try new things and make the most of the talent she possesses, honey. You'll understand what I'm saying one day. You, too, will one day spread your wings and fly to another country to pursue your dreams."

Dahan-dahan siyang tumango at alam kong naiintindihan niya ang sinabi ko. When her Daddy was still alive, he asked her what she wanted to become, and she said she wanted to travel and learn different cuisines to share with us. Matayog ang pangarap ng anak ko at ramdam kong maaabot niya ang mga iyon.

Months passed, and we were moving forward. May mga panahong sa staff house na ako natutulog ngunit umuuwi pa rin ako dahil nag-aalala ako sa anak ko. Iyon nga lang ay sinisermunan niya ako kapag nakikita niyang pagod na pagod ang aking mukha.

Kaya nagulat ako nang ihatid niya ang ilan sa mga damit ko. "I apologise if I can only help on Sundays, mommy." Sabi niya habang inilalagay niya sa white cabinet ang mga floral dresses ko.

"You don't have to help us, Skye. Kaya naman namin ang trabaho rito, and I want you to enjoy being a teenager. Sabado at Linggo na nga lang ang pahinga mo. Tsaka huwag mong pabayaan ang mga kdrama's mo, magtatampo ang mga iyon."

She laughed, approached me, and splayed her arms tightly around me. Narinig ko ang malalim niyang paghugot ng hininga. "I'm so blessed to have a supportive mother like you, Mommy. Thank you for not putting any pressure on me to study and for allowing me to do what I want."

I lightly squeezed her hands as I held them. "Alam mo anak. When I was your age, my mother was so manipulative that I couldn't breathe. Nakaka-suffocate ang palagi niyang pag-control sa buhay ko at ayaw kong gawin iyon sa iyo. Kaya hinahayaan kita sa mga gusto mong gawin sa buhay mo. Alam ko namang matalino ka and you know what is right from wrong."

"I won't disappoint you, mom."

"I know, honey. I know."

At doon nga nagsimula na akong tumira sa staff house. And every Sunday, Skye would come to see me and help me in our restaurant.

"Hindi ka pa ba magpapahinga? Alas diyes na, a!"

Nilapitan ako ni Jen habang abala pa rin ako pagluluto sa kusina. Hindi ko siya pinansin at ipinagpatuloy ko ang paggawa ng beef quesadilla. "Hey!" Jen slapped my arms, and then I touched the area she had just slapped. It hurts! Ang bigat ng kamay niya! I glared at her, and she just giggled. "Sila na rito. Masyado kang masipag. Shoo!" Hinawakan niya ako sa magkabilang-braso at itinulak niya ako palabas kahit na may hawak pa akong wooden spatula. "Ador, ikaw ang magpatuloy ng niluluto ni Gab!"

"Yes, Ma'am!" He replied, glancing at us.

"Ano ba, Jen?" sabi ko habang tinutulak pa rin niya ako.

"Why don't you go on a date with the Scottish guy who comes here all the time for you?"

"Puwede ba, Jen? That guy does not pique my interest, and besides, baka sabunutan ako ng anak ko kapag nakita niyang napalitan ko agad ang ama niya."

She laughed and clung to my arms. "So, inom na lang tayo?"

Mabilis akong umiling. "Pass. I'd rather sleep."

She groaned and refused to let me go. "No, way. Walang pass-pass ngayon."

At nasunod nga ang gusto niya. We bought a box of Smirnoff Mule. Naligo muna ako at nagpalit ng sleeveless yellow dress. And when I go down, nag-aabang na ang mga pang-morning duty na mga tauhan namin. Hindi raw kasi sila makatulog kaya makikipag-inuman din sila. Sa harap ng bahay na ito ay mismong ang restobar na namin. There is a living quarter with 12 rooms downstairs and six large rooms upstairs. Sa bawat room dito sa baba at may dalawang kama.

Kami na lang ni Jen ang nasa itaas dahil wala pa kaming nahahanap na kapalit ni Caoimhe. At hindi pa napupunan ang ibang rooms sa taas dahil hindi pa rin kami nakakahanap ng mga bagong waiter and waitresses.

The staff house is decorated in Hawaiian style. Our tables and chairs are made of rattan, bamboo, and seagrass. The walls and ceiling are both white. There are also hibiscus and Areca palm trees inside. Floral-printed ang mga throw pillows and the bedding feature Hawaiian-inspired accents such as palms, pineapples, and seashells.

Kapag may bagong dating kaming tauhan ay napapamangha sila sa disenyo ng staff house dahil para raw silang nasa isang vacation house.

"Ikaw ha, Koko? Hindi ipinagbabawal ang umibig pero sana ay ilugar ang landian ninyo ni Amy. Kapag oras ng trabaho, oras dapat ng trabaho. Walang landian," sermon ni Jen matapos itungga ang bote ng alak. I simply grinned and pinched her thigh. "What?" She mouthed at me.

"Hayaan mo na. Dumaan ka rin naman sa ganyan. Nakita ko pa ngang naghahali."

Mabilis agad niyang tinakpan ang bibig ko dahil baka marinig ako ni Koko. Koko is her husband's brother. Ayaw niyang iparinig sa bayaw niya ang mga kalokohan niya noong dalaga pa siya. Tumatawa ako habang pilit na tinatanggal ang pagkakahawak niya sa bunganga ko.

"Ha!" I gasped for air. I slapped her hands and stuck my tongue out at her. She laughed. Maging ang mga kasama namin. I tied my hair up, dahil pinagpapawisan ako sa kaharutan ng kaibigan ko. Tulala nila akong pinagmasdan nang matapos kong itali ang buhok kong hanggang balikat lang. They were admiring my white underarms, but all I could do was shrug.

"May nag-message sa 'yo," ininguso ni Jen ang mobile phone ko. I took it up and opened the message. It was sent by my daughter.

Skye Torres:

Mom, I have a friend who wants to work at our restaurant.

I quickly typed a message while everyone returned to their own beers.

Isla Gabrielle Torres:

Dalhin mo rito bukas para sa interview niya. And always lock the door, honey.

Skye Torres:

I will, mom! Love you! :)

I will daw, but lagi niyang nakakalimutang mag-lock ng pinto at bintana. Mabuti na lang talaga at safe ang kabahayan sa lugar namin. I could see all of her movements inside our house because I had installed a CCTV system to monitor her. Napapangiti ako sa tuwing lalabas siya at pumupunta sa kapitbahay namin. I knew she was into that guy, and I'm not going to stop her. After all, I was also a teenager, and I knew how it felt.