Ingredients of Love (dela Conde no. 2)

CHAPTER 6: HER FAVOR

Chapter 6

Her Favor

"What lies are you going to tell on me, Rhaine?" kalmado kong tanong sa kanya when he tried to contact me again after our breakup on phone.

He told me that I need to hear his reasons. Bullshit.

"Penny, it's Randulf who's using-"

Napapikit ako nang mariin, I can also felt Pearl stilled as if she felt the rage inside me.

"Don't bullshit me Rhaine! You have already cheated on me! It's not really impossible for you to do it again. And please, h'wag mong idamay ang kaibigan mo sa kalokohan mo," and there, I finally burst out!

I am really kind, but not too kind to hear his s**t again. I mean, sapat na siguro ang ilang taong pinagbigyan ko siya sa panggagago niya sa akin.

"Penny, I'm sorry. I'm just a man with needs."

Needs. f**k!

"Stop listening to him, it'll just frustrate you more," Pearl suggested before she left me alone in the sofa.

"Forgive me Penny, I was just so drunk. Sorry, that would be the last. Promise," pagsusumamo niya.

Bumuntong hininga na lamang ako at pinagmasdan ang kisame. Binging-bingi na ako sa mga sinasabi niya. Maayos naman ang takbo ng relasyon naming dalawa sa loob ng limang buwan matapos yong cheating affair nila noon. Akala ko'y magtutuloy-tuloy na, akala ko lamang pala iyon.

"You've already wasted much of your chances, Rhaine. I'm too sick of you! Let's end this!" I said, letting all my frustrations be delivered through words.

I heard him, chuckled.

Wow. He really has the nerves, huh.

"You can't just ditch me like that, Penny. You know you can't," he said like he's sure that I really can't.

"You love me, don't you?"

He's really that confident.

"Rhaine, love may be abstract pero nauubos din iyon lalo na sa tulad mong gago!"

I couldn't take it anymore, pakiramdam ko sasabog ang puso ko dahil sa sobrang galit at pagkapoot sa kanya.

Love? I'm not even sure if there is really love between us in the first place.

Yes, we dated, but that was for convenience. Yeah, business. But I couldn't fool myself too, I did like this moron, well he's too sweet to me sa simula. I didn't know he's just good at the start only. Nakalimutan ko rin na lahat ng sobra ay bawal.

After that loud conversation with Rhaine ay lumabas ako ng unit to breathe some air. Pakiramdam ko kasi kung hindi ako lalabas ay iiyak ako sa harapan ni Pearl.

Well, I shouldn't be like this. He doesn't deserve my tears. Pero hindi naman siya ang iiyakan ko kung sakali. I would cry for myself dahil hinayaan niya lang gamitin at lokohin ako ng ibang tao.

Well, sino ba naman ako para magreklamo?

Ako rin naman ang pumayag years ago sa set up namin ni Rhaine even if I already knew that he's a jerk.

I halt from walking. I do not know how long I have walked para makarating ako sa restaurant ni Homer.

It's already ten, and they are about to close. But here I am, standing in front of this resto hoping they could give me some chance to order something.

"Bakit ba kung kaila kami magsasara saka ka pa dadating?"

I looked at the person who owned that voice, then smile.

Maski ako hindi ko alam ang rason kung bakit narito ako ngayon. Cravings? Hmm... I think it's not that.

I think my feet brought me here for one reason, it's to see the owner of this restaurant.

"Do you take some VIP customers?" alangan kong sabi.

Tinitigan niya ako at kapagkuwan ay pumangalumbaba sa railings sabay tango.

"Come in," he said, smiling to me.

Without further ado, I went inside.

Gaya ng inaasahan ko ay siya na lang ang natira dito sa restaurant.

"Anong gusto mong kainin?"

Umupo ako sa upuan, then I looked up at him - - nakatayo kasi siya sa gilid.

"I want some fries, burger and choco sundae," sabi ko.

He raised an eyebrow to me, then a little while, the side of his lips rose--like he's amused on something.

"Miss, this is not Jollibee nor McDo. But if that's what you want to eat then let's order," he said before grabbing his phone from his pocket.

He took the seat in front of me then he wiggles his brows when he's done ordering.

Ngayon ko lang siya napagmasdan ng ganito. He looks the same, gaya noon, sa traysikel--na siyang tangi kong naaalala.

"Hey," he snapped me out.

"You got a problem?" he concernly asked.

I shook my head.

"No. I mean, yes I have but it's no big deal," sabi ko.

Tumango siya sa akin, "love problems?" he asked, like it was so casual to him to asked me that.

"Kinda. But we're over," sabi ko.

He didn't react, he just stared me with those hopeful eyes of him, as if he's just letting me spill the tea.

"My boyfriend, ex-boyfriend rather, cheated on me. Hindi ko na mabilang kung ilang beses, but nong gabi na muntik ng may mangyari sa atin. I received a call and I just heard him having s*x, ganon. Basta," Hindi ko na kayang ituloy na sabihin iyon sa kanya.

It's awkward.

"So that night, you want to get even?" tanong niya.

"Partly," I said as I nodded my head.

Dumating ang order namin kaya naputol ang usapan naming dalawa. Nang makaalis Ang delivery boy ay kinausap ko siyang muli.

"Thank you, ha."

"For what? For these foods?" sabi niya at natawa pa.

Umiling ako.

"No, thank you sa hindi mo pagtuloy sa masamang balak mo. You know sa bar."

I saw how he holds his breath and gave me an awkward smile.

"Let's eat," sabi niya bago nilantakan ang burger niya.

I don't know but I really felt like Homer and I are a bit close before. Ang gaan kasi ng pakiramdam ko sa tabi niya. It's just so unfortunate na wala akong maalala tungkol sa kanya, kahit sa sarili ko.

"Kanina ka pa titig na titig sa akin. Ganyan ba ako ka gwapo?"

Napatawa ako sa sinabi niya.

"Magpinsan nga kayo ni Henrik," he stilled from what I've said, at natigil sa pagkain ng fries.

He stares me carefully like he's studying me.

Ngumiti naman ako dahil ang weird ng reaksyon niya, well sabi ko naman kasi noon hindi ko sila kilala pareho ni Henrik, then bigla ko na lang sinabi ngayon na magpinsan sila. My bad.

"Ahm, naaksidente kasi ako dati then I forgot everything, as in everything. The doctor said that it's impossible for me to retrieve it that's why when you asked me if I know you, I technically do not because of my illness. But recently, I retrieved something from my past. "

He licked his lips, then gulped. Like he was nervous but still keeping his cool.

"Anong naaalala mo?"

"You, I remember you."

Happiness and sadness. That's what I saw in his eyes upon hearing my words. Is he pitying me?

"I'm so pitiful, right? I do not remember myself yet I remember you, Henrik and his twin. Hindi naman ganon ka broad yong naalala ko, but you're still part of it," sabi ko.

"You really want to remember your past?"

I chuckle.

"Of course! So please help me," pakiusap ko at ngumiti, hoping that he would buy my charms.

"Bakit ako? There's Henrik," sabi niya.

"Nah, pinuntahan ko na siya kanina. He's not cooperating," sabi ko at nagkibit balikat.

"I also want to get to know you, that's why I'm asking you this favor."

He blew a loud breath then shook his head, unbelievably.

"You clearly know how to use your charms along with your words, huh."

Ngumiti ako sa kanya.

"I'll take that as a yes," sabi ko na tinanguan niya lamang.

Friday, 4:30 pm, I need to be here in his restaurant. Sabi niya we will be leaving Manila, he's bringing me somewhere and we will take a week there. Hindi ko alam pero pumayag ako sa gusto niya.

Alam kung hindi dapat dahil kahit may memories ako sa kanya, he's still a stranger to me. But my instinct truly trust him. He seems a good man tho.

I told Pearl about my plan going out with Homer. But I forgot to tell her about his name, I mean ang paalam ko lang sa kanya ay sasama ako sa kaibigan ng chatmate niyang si Leandro. Then she said 'go ahead, just be careful'. Leandro did vouch for his friend din kasi, that he could be trusted. I'm not sure if Leandro had told her his name already but I guess he does.

"Ready?" tanong ni Homer sa akin nang makalabas siya mula sa kusina.

Pinagmasdan ko siyang saglit.

Napanguso ako nang makalapit siya sa akin. He looks so hot with that white t-shirt and tattered denim pants.

He took my duffel bag at inalalayan ako palabas ng restaurant niya.

Hindi pa man kami tuluyang nakalabas sa restaurant ay agaw pansin na siya sa lahat, especially sa mga babae.

"Take care, Chef," sabi pa ng isa.

When we're outside, some highschool girls giggled when they saw him and rolled their eyes when they saw me walking beside their idol.

Wow. He's such a chic magnet.

"These ladies welcomes you like a war hero," sabi ko nang makapasok ako sa sasakyan niya.

"Well, anong magagawa ko? Pinanganak akong gwapo," he then winked at me before he closes the door for me, then went to the driver's seat.

Wow. Confident! But he's not wrong with it tho. He really is a gorgeous looking man.

We travelled for three hours just to get here in mountain tops. Yes, nasa bundok kami. May mga nakatira naman pero isang pamilya lang and he made some arrangements para kaming dalawa lang ang maparito sa loob ng isang linggo.

Kilala niya raw ang nakatira dito, trabahador ng kaibigan niya kaya binayaran niya ito para rentahan ang kubo nito. He also make the family live in a four star hotel for the meantime.

He's really prepared.

I'm impressed. I mean, seryosohan talaga iyong pagtulong na binibigay niya sa akin.

"Hindi kaya sinadya mo itong lahat ng ito para umiskor sa akin?"

Natawa siya sa sinabi ko.

"I don't do that. I'm wholesome," sabi niya matapos niyang ayusin ang mahihigaan ko.

Gabi na kasi kaya matutulog na kami, pagod na rin ako sa byahe. Bukas na raw kami magsisimula sa paghagilap sa mga nawawala kong ala-ala.

Homer is really a good man. Even if he barely knows me, well I'm not sure about that, but he's sincerely helping me in this dilemma.

Hindi kami tabi magkatulog syempre, sa kwarto ako, siya sa sala. Baka ano pang mangyari eh.

"Pandesal at kape?" tanong ko sa kanya kinabukasan nang maabutan ko siya sa lamesang nagkakape na.

Tumango naman siya sa akin bago niya sinawsaw sa kape ang tinapay niya.

Nagtimpla ako ng sarili kong kape at ginaya ang ginagawa niya.

"Before eating breakfast, nagkakape ka sa umaga with Pandesal."

Wow. We're that close para malaman niya ang bagay na iyan?

Well, I do not remember anything from what he had said, I'm not sure if it's true but I somehow felt like ginagawa ko nga ito siguro noon.

Nagpunta kaming bakuran bitbit ang mga tasa namin dahil sabi niya may ipapakita raw siya baka may maalala ako.

"May tatlong sisiw ka dati."

Teka, is that even worth remembering for? This is funny, pero nag-eenjoy ako.

"So?" tanong ko.

Tumingin siya sa akin sabay simsim sa kape niya at turo sa tatlong manok na bisaya sa bakuran.

"You named those chicks as Henrik, Homer, and Hendrix."

Halos mabuga ko sa gulat ang kapeng iniinum ko.

I did what? Did I really name those chicks after them?

Napangisi na lang siya.

"So, what happened to those chicks? Lumaki naman siguro sila 'di ba at hindi ko sinakal?" sabi ko at natawa pa.

"You did something brutal to them," sabi niya.

"Like what?"

Tinuro niya ang isang manok like it resembles one of my chickens before.

"In front of Henrik you plucked all the feathers of the chicken named Henrik kasi galit ka sa kanya. Ginawa mong tinola si Henrik. You're really furious at that time. Pero mas grabe ang ginawa mo sa manok na kapangalan ko, sinakal mo yong manok sa harapan ko and you chopped it in front of me. Inadobo mo si Homer."

Napanganga ako sa sinabi niya.

Did I really do that?

" What about Hendrix?"

Tumigil siya at tila ba nag-isip.

"Well, Hendrix is your favorite among us kaya you treat the chicken well, pero ginawa mo rin yong mechado nong wala na kayong maulam."

Umiling ako.

"You're kidding me, right?"

Umiling siya sa akin at saka napangiti nang malapad.

"You're not as good as you think, aw!"

He rubbed his stomach after ko siyang sikuhin dahil sa pang-aasar niya sa akin.

He also said that I love orchids kaya pinagdilig niya ako ng mga ito, habang siya naman ay pumasok na sa loob ng bahay at naghanda ng agahan naming dalawa.

He also asked me to sweep the ground. Ginagawa ko raw iyon tuwing umaga. Then after that, pinaglinis niya ako ng kulungan ng baboy.

Hindi ko alam, tinutulungan niya ba talaga ako o inaalipin?

"Ano 'yan?" tanong ko sa kanya nang tinawag niya ako para kumain na.

Nong isang araw ay puso ng saging ang ulam namin, tapos sa sunod ay ginataang langka, tapos adobong kangkong, at kahapon naman ang ulam namin ay sinabawang gulay. Yes, puro gulay. Mahilig daw kasi ako sa gulay, and take note isang klaseng ulam lang kami sa isang buong araw. Ganon daw kasi ako, kung ano ang ulam sa umaga iyon na ang ulam sa gabi.

"That's salted fish in a shining black sauce."

I narrowed my eyes at him, kaya napangisi siya.

"Ginisang bagoong. Ginamos, remember? It's your favorite, halos nakakaubos ka ng isang kalderong kanin kapag iyan ang nakahain," sabi niya sa akin.

Napangiwi ako.

Masarap sa amoy yong luto niya, kaso it tools gross, siguro para sa akin lang din.

"Kumakain ka niyan?" tanong ko sa kanya.

"Dati hindi, pero ikaw ang unang nagpakain sa akin niyan. Try it, masarap naman, at saka malinis iyan ano ka ba."

I'm hesitating but I still tried. Nag-effort yong tao eh. It would be so rude of me kung hindi ko ito kakainin so might try na lang.

Kumuha ako ng kaunti at pagkatapos ay hinalo ko sa kanin.

Napakurap-kurap ako. The taste is so familiar. Maalat-alat siya pero masarap. Maski spices niya, the onion and tomato, is a perfect combination at hindi masasayang dahil masarap din silang kainin.

It's not the usual meal na kinakain ko abroad pero Homer is right, nakakagana nga siya, in point na nagawa pa naming magsaing ulit ng kanin dahil kinulang kami.

I really appreciate this man. He's so kind. He's really trying to help me to the best that he can. Unfortunately, pang-limang araw na namin dito pero wala pa rin akong maalala tungkol sa nakaraan ko.

I was just making new memories with him, which I do not regret. It's so fun to be with a man like him.

"Salamat pala sa tulong mo ha," sabi ko sa kanya habang nilublob ko sa sapa ang sarili ko.

Mababaw lang ang tubig kaya ako na lang mismo ang naglulubog sa sarili ko, at maging siya rin na kaharap ko ngayon. Para kaming naliligo sa 3ft pool sa sobrang babaw ng tubig sa sapang nililiguan namin. Sabi niya kasi madalas akong maligo sa falls noon, eh wala namang falls dito kaya sa sapa kami tumungo.

"Wala iyon."

"Bakit mo nga ba ako tinutulungan?" tanong ko.

Tinitigan niya ako nang malumanay, "because you're so desperate to know your past. And I also want to get close to you."

Natigilan ako sa naging sagot niya pero kapagkuwan ay ngumiti na lang ako.

"Unfortunately, our efforts didn't pay off," malungkot kong sabi.

Lumapit siya sa akin kaya napaatras ako nang kaunti, and then I stopped nang maramdaman ko ang malaking bato sa likuran ko.

"As in, zero talaga?"

Tumango ako.

"How about this. Ahm, look at me."

Hinawakan niya ang mukha ko para magpantay ang paningin naming dalawa.

"Focus. Try to remember something to looking at me," seryoso niyang sabi.

Napanguso naman ako.

"You're so handsome, I can't focus."

He tsked, kaya natawa ako.

Totoo naman eh. Ang gwapo niya. Ang sarap pa ng katawan niya.

"Rayana, focus."

Umirap ako sa kanya pagkatapos ay nagkatitigan kaming dalawa. Hindi ko alam kung gaano katagal ko siyang tinitigan para mabasa kong bigla ang pangungulila sa mga mata niya.

Umiling akong bigla.

Still. Nothing.

"Then, how about this?"

Before I could ask him a question and do some protest, he already pulled me closer to him. His other hand behind my neck and the other is on my back, giving me some support, while his lips slowly claiming mine.

To be continued....