TAMING MY BEAUTIFUL WITCH DOLL (TAGLISH)

chapter 2

When nearing lunch time, niluto ko na ng request ng aking mahal na kaibigan na si Wennalyn at habang nagluluto ako, bigla na lang pumasok ang aking boss na si Owen Nicolas Decini.

"Cook something delicious," wika niya sa akin.

"Anong something delicious? So Hindi masarap ang luto ko garner!" sabi ko na nakakunot ang kilay "ikaw na magluto kung wala kang tiwala sa pagluluto ko, nakakasakit ka ng damdamin" madrama kong wika.

"May regla ka ba?" He looked at me shockly and unbelievably saka biglang tumawa ng mapansin na naiinis ako"hey relax I didn't say you suck in the cooking department! Negra you cook amazingly, what I want to say I have important visitors so surprise them with your cooking skills."

"Na naman! Baka si Mr Milady at Mr Worst of all lang ang bisita mo kuya abay sayang ang effort ko, sabihin mo mag karinderya nalang sila" angal ko na nakakunot ang noo

"Negra if si Creedo lang at si Howell ang mga bisita ko, ako na mismo ang magluluto para sa mga damuhong iyon."

Tiningnan ko siya ng masama na may panunuri kung talaga bang nagsasabi siya ng totoo "pansin ko lang ha! namimihasa na iyang may important visitors ako mo ha na dahilan, napapadalas na ata kuya, aba baka gusto mo mag lagay ng special lane para diyan, saka dagdagan mo na din ang cooking fee ko nakaka stress kasi mag isip ng surprise!"

"Loka ka talaga, this is a restaurant, what would you expect Gwendolyn, saka ikaw din naman ang may kasalanan if not because of your great skills in cooking na papa famous tayo, a lot of VIP would not go here, dagdagan pa ng mga royalty mong kaibigan"

"So ako pa ang may kasalanan," suplada kong sabi. Napailing na lang siya at tiningnan ako nang masama.

"One more argument and I will send you to Spain," he told me.

"Iyang mga VIPs ba may gusto ba silang partikular na food? Dish?" bigla kong pag-iiba. Spain ayaw ko doon, ang hirap i-spelling ang mga tao doon, jusko mio marimar.

"They like chicken, beef and red meat, lkaw na bahala, surprise them" wika pa ng bruho kong boss "and by the way they are New Yorkers!" dagdag pa niya saka tinapik ang aking balikat "kaya mo yan show them what you got Gwen, show them that the beautiful chef of PH is a world class one."

"Oo na wag mo na akong bolahin kuya! saka matagal na akong maganda," wika ko sa kanya na ikinatawa niya.

"Negra nga lang," nakakainis niyang wika.

"Hindi ako negra I'm just a true blooded Filipina. Anyway, leave my kitchen para maka-concentrate na ako at makapagluto na ako."

Tumawa lang si kuya Owen bago umalis ng kitchen.

Napabuntong-hininga nalang ako, saka sinimulan ang pagluto, after an hour natapos ko din ang food na ni-request niya at saka ipin deliver sa may VIP 4.

????

Wenna and I were having our lunch when Dylan suddenly approach us, she was holding a big bouquet of peach roses and a large box. She has this wicked smile on her face that makes me raise my eyebrows.

“You're going out on a date?” I asked her innocently as my eyes fixed on the flowers she was holding, my favorite flower to be specific, while Wennalyn eyes fixed on the box she was carrying, Dylan smiled devilishly as she shook her head then playfully place the bouquet in front of me.

I knitted my brows for a second as confusion enveloped me, when she tapped her fingers on the table, I look at her bewildering.

"Para sa akin?" nagtataka kong tanong.

“Don't play dumb and beautiful Chef! yes it's for you!”she said in a merry and teasing voice “Oh! on second thought, I would like to commend your secret admirer for always giving you a bouquet of peach roses and a box of fruits or chocolate exactly every Wednesdays.”

Wenna suddenly looked at me then exclaimed “Whoa! You have a secret admirer!” she teased me with her eyes.

And before I could even deny Dylan answer giggling. “Yes, she does! She’s been receiving flowers and chocolates or fruits every Wednesday.”

“Since when Negra?" nag-aakusang tanong ni Wennalyn sa akin na ikinapula ng mukha ko. "And why do I have no idea about you receiving flowers and stuff?” Wenna cast me a demanding look as I remained speechless at the moment.

"Negra! Kailan kapa natuto maglihim sa akin," ulit niyang wika.

I just shrugged my shoulders as I glance at the bouquet and the box in front of me, I can't help but to wonder who send it? And how did the sender know how I love peaches and peach roses? this Wednesday delivery is making me curious and tense at the same time.

"Tahimik!" pinanlakihan ako ng mata ni Wennalyn.

“I don't know Labanos”I said apologetically and frankly, she look at me straight in the eyes “I have no clue really, and I don't care who’s the sender, saka hindi ko naman inuuwi ang mga bulaklak, si Dylan at si Olly lagi ang nagsasamntala sa mga iyan, sila iyong tuwang-tuwa pang may natatangap ako,” pag aamin ko na ikinataas ng kilay niya.

“Really Negra? Hindi ka curious na malaman if sino ang avid sender at admirer mo?” Wenna said in a disbelieving voice.

“Yes, you can think anything you like I don't care kung sino man siya, saka ‘wag ka nga mag conclude malay mo ba baka isa siyang obsess na tao,” I said irritably.

"Then the more you should know kung sino itong secret admirer mo," wika ni Wennalyn sa akin.

"’Di ba sabi ko I'm not interested," I told her, then I look at Dyaln who is now waiting for my signal “Oo na D, you may eat the peaches and bring home the flowers if you want,” I told Dylan, and the latter just smile and mouthed "Thank you" then left.

“So you really don't want to know who's sending you flowers and fruits? Did Ate Hera know this?” Wenna insisted as she straighten her back on the chair.

“I really don't want to know! Bakit na ang kulit mo Labanos!” I said and my bit my lips.

“Sabihin natin pero tell me since when ha? Since when kapa nakakatanggap ng bulaklak at mga prutas ha?” she insisted again making me rolled my eyes at her. Why did she become so noisy nowadays?

“Few months ago, noong umuwi si ate Daphne sa Spain,” I told her to end the conversation and resume eating my food.

“Gosh and here I thought I really know everything about you, are you planning to keep me in the dark for ages?" she said accusingly, I could saw hurt in her eyes

“Ano ka ba? You were too busy kaya hindi ko nasabi, saka it's nothing to be fuss about!"

"Really?"

"Look Labanos can you dropped the subject and let us eat our lunch in peace, wag na natin pag-usapan ang taong iyon,” I cut her and hold her hands. "Wala naman halaga ang mga iyon sa akin kaya hindi ko sinabi, kaya pwede ba wag na natin pag usapan iyon."

“So feisty are we? Sige papalampasin ko ito, Negra but next time na maglihim ka sa akin masasabunotan na kita,” she remark before she resumed eating her food.

Wenna and I finished our food in silence, I know she wants to know more but I chose not to give in.

*****

AUSTIN POV

Owen and I were talking about our wives when I suddenly told him that I am planning to hire Gwendolyn for my Hotel Isabelle in New York.

“Why are you telling me this?” he asked me as he looked at me, I know he is suspicious and I slowly see a devilish smile forming on his face “are you being a fairy godfather this time?”

I smile at him as I stand up, I can see the clear blue sea through the glass walls.

“Maybe,” I shrugged. “I need the best Filipino chef for Hotel Isabelle and Gwendolyn is my number one preference.”

“Don't fool me Austin,” Owen voice is firm. “I can smell it, you are planning on something but I won't mind as long as you take care of her. Remember Gwendolyn is not only Hera and Daphne’s friend but a sister to them. You should ask her if she wants to work with you, if she's okay then it's okay with me. I might for a few customers, but it’s okay. I know she dreams to be in New York.”

“Can you force her to accept my offer?” I said and let out a sigh.

“Had she refuses already?” he asks backed grinning and cross his arms on his chest. "I'm not surprised. Gwendolyn is a very loyal and faithful friend. She had this feeling that she owes us more than anyone else."

“We both knew that she has a strong and firm values, and she felt that she is indebted to you and Hera, so she would oblige herself to stay with your company no matter how good is my offer,” I said in a matter-of-fact voice.

“So you want me to fire her?” Owen said in knitted brows, then laugh softly when he saw my seriousness. “Oh, you don't need to tell me, I get it,” he patted my shoulders. “I’ll talk to her.”

“Thank you,” I told him gratefully.

“Don't thank me man, just promise me one thing, take good care of her, you knew your cousin, she's a witch sometimes.”

“I know! Don't worry I will make sure she is taking care of!” I said in a relief voice then I call my pilot number immediately.

“Yes boss,” he answered me after two rings, his voice has a hint of worries.

“Ready your stuff, we’ll go to New York this Friday” I told him in a merry voice.

“Really? That's great!” he said joyfully.

I ended the call, and found Owen looking at me with a smirk on his face.

"What?" I asked defensively.

Owen let out even more a devilish laugh and look at me with amusement in his eyes. “So my guts are right!” he shakes his head "you're one cunning fairy godfather."

I shrugged my shoulder and laughed as I went out Owen’s office, I know I promised that I wouldn't want to interfere with my friend's life but now I am.

I hope I made the right decision. I hope that my friend will finally had the guts to tell the girl he loved with all his heart and be able to face the skeleton of his past.

God help me I utter as I walk in the elevator.