Mission Avoidance

Suman and Bingka

Cheska found herself relaxing in a hammock under the shade of 2 coconut trees. It was the very cliche picture of what people thought of when vacationing on a tropical island.

She took a deep breath and focused on Yiyi's voice while Marina was with her, trying to get her into bridesmaid mode, Yiyi got sent on a food shopping mission for one of her mistresses' secret guilty pleasure : local sweets.

" Are you saying each little town has their own signature sweet ?? " Cheska gushes excitedly.

" Yes Miss, shall I get one of each ? "

" No, get enough for you, me and Marina. I'm sure the rest of the girls won't be here until a couple of days from now. We can get more then."

" What about streetfood Miss ? "

" get a set of 3 of each... and Yi, don't forget to feed the poor driver "

" Of course, Miss. Although, to be honest, he seems to feed on me with his eyes. He went on some crazy talk about wanting his Suman on my Binka. I don't really get it but I sincerely wish I can snap his neck! "

Cheska stayed silent, she was confused as well. Why was Yiyi losing her mind over the driver wanting to share some of the sweets?

" Well, we can't do that Yi" she finally answered. " We can't create trouble here. Maybe I can ask for another driver from Eliza's grandma Sherry. " Yiyi's very audible sigh of relief can be heard.

" Enough shopping and come back. Now I can't wait to taste those island sweets. "

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Yiyi

Yiyi had bought an extra 2 bags of muron from Tubigon pier from Marina's recommendation. It was one of her favorite treats as a child and was sure Yiyi and Cheska would enjoy it as well. Yiyi could feel the driver's lecherous eyes on her as she was devouring her 4th muron in obvious enjoyment.

Their first stop was at Island City Mall for a quick walking video of the place in general and then to pick out one of each of the countless beauty soaps and creams. Then off to the grocery area where she had to pick out one of each of the different brands of Calamay, one of the islands' more famous delicacy.

Of course, she was also tasked to load up on peanut kisses to compare to the ones brought in straight from the factory. Mamon and Taisen from Goldilocks bakery , 3 dozen donuts from Mister Donut with half a dozen being Bavarian creme filled.

Yiyi often wondered how her boss could eat so much but keep her perfect figure. Watching her eat with wild abandon was like watching a live mukbang.

They then stopped briefly and grabbed some galang-galang (deep fried shredded sweet potato cakes) and nilusak (mashed boiled banana) in front of the public market, before speeding off to Tubigon.

Beside her on the back seat of the range rover was a good assortment of sweets. So many incarnations of how rice based deliciousness ! She eyed the bag of maruya (banana fritters) next and thought, well why not ?

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Marina

By all accounts, her boss, Francesca Seraphina Hadelund, was just as described on the website bio to a tee as a public figure. Courteous and polite yet painfully cold. Quick witted, good conversationalist but with a sharp tongue to whomever deserved it. Brutal and ruthless to the competition yet unbelievably generous to charities close to her heart.

In private, Marina sees the curious and mischievous side of Cheska. She treated her and Yiyi more like treasured family than as merely her assistants. Both being orphans, this made them both fiercely loyal to her. She had handpicked them both sight unseen based on their merits alone.

She was sure there was a deeper background check involved and an extremely discrete interview process that both her and Yiyi might not have realized was happening. However it happened, she was eternally grateful. She got to travel a lot and sample foods from all over.

Growing up in a little orphanage in Bohol was not miserable but money had been tight a lot of the time. It wasn't until a peace corps volunteer paid their little run down home a visit that things started to turn for the better.

Suddenly, they got a bigger and more spacious building to call home. There was a paid full time staff to do the cooking and cleaning, the sisters who used to do everything now focused on their education and they were even able to take in more orphans and care for them properly.

It wasn't until Marina graduated high school when she learned the identity of their benefactor. She and 4 of her foster siblings were offered full ride scholarships with the expectation of working for Hadelund Holdings as an intern during college and exclusively for the first 5 years after.

There was no downside for any of them and they were still all with Hadelund 10 years later.

She looked over at her boss who was enjoying a well deserved but long overdue mini vacation. Even though nobody spoke about the douche that broke Cheska's heart, it was an open secret between the close knit group.

Marina's heart ached every time she thought of the assh*t that was called Joey. Ugh ! even thinking of the name made her cringe in her mind. He had hit super mega jackpot with a girl like Cheska but he just never saw it.

No matter, she is in Bohol now, the childhood island home where Marina spent the first 16 years of her life. They both loved their sweets and she'd be damned if Cheska was gonna miss out on anything her island has to offer.

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Cheska

After her call with Yiyi, she immediately sent for Marina. Even though she vaguely understand what the driver had crudely insinuated, she just had to make sure before she tells on him to Lola Sherry, as she had asked them all to call her.

She had also asked for a Bingka and a Suman for her merienda with all the food that goes with them for her merienda. Afternoon tea time or just afternoon snacks as it was a popular practice in the islands after siesta.

The maid lit up like a Christmas tree and scurried off to fetch her craving. It seemed like the more she ate, the happier the people around them became. It was a strange concept until Marina explained in great detail about Filipino hospitality.

Yiyi walked in just as the maid was setting up the snack table for the three of them. Lola Sherry had set them up in one of the guest houses around the property. Safe from prying eyes, secluded but equipped with latest in home defense technology.

On the table was the aforementioned Suman, bingka and three bowls of Dinuguan (blood pudding). There was also three steaming mugs of Sikwate, the locally sourced hot chocolate which she surmised as the pair for the Suman.

Cheska lost no time in unwrapping the Suman from the greasy banana leaf. It was sweet sticky rice cooked in coconut milk and brown sugar, wrapped in a banana leaf then steamed. It tasted so rich and heavenly !

She glanced at the plate with the bingka. It didn't take a genius to understand the s****l innuendo that poor Yiyi had to endure. Bingka is a form of rice cake with a signature crack in the middle.

It is usually eaten dipped in dinuguan, a type of spices blood pudding with chopped up organ meat giving it a good flavor. She can see herself eating it every day and never getting sick of it.

"Marina," she said pointedly at her assistant.

" Yes, Miss ?"

" Please make sure the chef at home know how to cook this dish." she said motioning to the dinuguan. "Just exactly like this. I know I will be craving this nonstop ! "

Marina let out a sly grin. Of all things, Dinuguan might be second only to Balut that most foreigners avoided like the plague because of its ingredients. Cheska knows each and everything that went into the black stew but feasted on it eagerly regardless.

She was working on her 4th bowl when she remembered Yiyi and looked at her with a reassuring smile on her face.

"Yiyi, don't worry about it. I am so going to tell Lola Sherry about him so we can have a new driver when we need it. "

Cheska reached out a hand and squeezed Yiyi's.

" You both may be my bodyguards and assistants but that doesn't mean I wouldn't protect you in return. That was one very crude and nasty comment!"

Yiyi got up and gave Cheska a hug.

"Thank you Miss ! I am so glad I have been assigned to you"