The Chef's Secret Romance

Prologue "I can do this." Isla chanted to herself, and she sat nervously at the makeup table backstage, fidgeting with her fingers as the makeup artist applied her lipstick. Pinagmasdan niya ang sarili sa salami at nginitian ang kanyang sarili. You can do this, Isla. You've made it this far! She couldn't believe she had made it this far in the beauty pageant, but the pressure was starting to get to her. Her mother stood behind her, arms crossed, with a stern expression on her face. "Hurry up, Isla! You need to be ready in five minutes!" Her mother barked in annoyance. Isla tried to keep her composure, but her mother's strict tone made her even more anxious. "Mom, I'm doing my best. I want to look perfect for the competition," pagsusumamo niya. "Your best isn't good enough, Isla. You need to do better. This pageant is important, and you need to be at your absolute best," suway ng mommy niya. Isla felt a lump in her throat. Alam niyang tama ang kanyang ina, ngunit habang pini-pressure siya ng ina ay mas lalo siyang kinakabahan. "I know, Mom. I'm trying my hardest," aniya, nanginginig ang boses. "Trying isn't good enough. You need to succeed. You've worked too hard to let this opportunity slip away," sermon ng ina niya. Isla took a deep breath and tried to focus. She closed her eyes and imagined herself on stage, radiating confidence and beauty. "I understand, Mom. I'll try harder," sagot muli niya. Her mother softened her gaze, placing a hand on Isla's shoulder. Ngunit matigas pa rin ang anyo ng ina niya. "You need to do more than try, Isla. You need to focus and concentrate. Stop fidgeting and pay attention to your makeup. You need to look flawless on that stage." "Okay, Mom. I'll do my best." Her mother looked her in the eyes. "Your best isn't good enough, Isla. You need to do better than your best. You need to be perfect. Do you understand?" Isla took a deep breath and nodded. "Yes, Mom. I understand." Ngumiti ang kanyang ina; inilagay ang kanyang kamay sa balikat ng kanyang anak. "Good. Now let's finish up your makeup and get you out there. You have a lot riding on this, Isla. Don't let me down." Isla took a deep breath and focused on the task at hand. Habang naghihintay si Isla sa backstage para magpatuloy, hindi niya maiwasang makaramdam ng kaba. Nakakabingi ang ingay mula sa karamihan, at ramdam niya ang kabog ng kanyang puso sa kanyang dibdib. Tumabi sa kanya ang kanyang ina, binigyan siya ng final touch-up ng kanyang makeup. Ngunit hindi niya maiwasang punahin ang bawat kilos ni Isla. "Sit up straight, Isla. You need to look confident!" suway muli ng matanda. "I'm trying, Mom. I'm just really nervous." Halatang naiinis na ang kanyang ina at hindi na maiwasang tumaas ang presyon niya. She rolled her eyes at her daughter. "Kailangan mong pag-igihan, Isla. Ilang buwan mo na itong pinaghahandaan." Isla felt a knot form in her stomach, feeling the weight of her mother's expectations. "I know, Mom. I'm really trying my best." Humugot ng buntong-hininga ang matanda, halatang kabado rin kaya ibinubunton sa anak ang pag-aalala. "You need to do better than your best, Isla. This is your chance to shine, and you can't afford to mess it up," she warned. Nakaramdam ng matinding sama ng loob si Isla, pakiramdam niya ay sobrang wala talaga siyang makukuhang emotional support sa ina. All she does is pressure her. Bakit nga may mga magulang na magaling mang pressure ng mga anak? Bakit kailangan dapat laging magaling ang anak nila? "I know, Mom. But can't you please be more supportive? I really need your encouragement right now." Tears were already at bay in Isla's eyes. Umiling-iling ang kanyang ina. "I am being supportive, Isla. I'm just telling you the truth. You need to do better." Pakiramdam ni Isla kahit anong gawin niya, hindi iyon magiging sapat para sa ina. Paglabas niya sa entablado, sinubukan niyang pigilan ang mga pamumuna ng kanyang ina. She will give her best in this pageant. She will bring the crown! If she cannot, she will be devastated! Samantala, sa kabilang dako naman ng Pilipinas, Mrs. Razonable lay on the bed in the small, dimly lit room, her face contorted in pain. She groaned as another contraction hit her, sweat beading on her forehead. "Kumusta ka na, Nay?" the midwife asked. Pinunasan niya ng bimpo ang pinagpapawisan nang pasyente niya. "Hirap na hirap ako, madam. Ang sakit-sakit," sagot ni Mrs. Razonable. She was gritting her teeth. The midwife nodded sympathetically. "Malapit ka na, Nay. Tiis-tiis lang po." Mrs. Razonable closed her eyes, trying to focus on her breathing. But her attention was drawn to the small black-and-white television in the corner of the room, showing the Binibining Pilipinas pageant. "Uy, parang maganda ng isa diyan." She pointed at the screen. The midwife turned to look at the TV, momentarily distracted from her duties. "Oo, Nay. Kung di lang tayo abala dito, baka nanood na rin ako diyan." Medyo gumaan ang pakiramdam ng buntis sa kabila ng sakit na dinaranas niya. Mataman niyang pinanood ang pageant at natuon ang mga mata niya sa isang contestant. "Ay, siya pala yung Cebu Province. Ang ganda niya, 'no?" Mrs. Razonable said. She was admiring the contestant's beauty. Tumango naman ang midwife. "Oo, Nay. Parang artista. Pero model po 'yan saka may mga commercial din." "Oo nga. Napapanood ko rin sa TV." Natuon pareho ang atensiyon nila noong tawagin na ang pinag-uusapan nila. "Cebu Province!" The young lady then walked confidently onto the stage like she owned it, removing her yellow shawl that covered her white two-piece swimsuit outfit and hugging her sexy curve. Napapanganga ang karamihan sa ganda niya. Who could have overlooked her sultry beauty? Isla Gabrielle stood tall at 5'9", her slender figure accentuated by her tiny waist. Her fair white skin glowed under the bright lights of the stage, and her ethereal face was framed by long, flowing hair. She exuded a sense of confidence and grace, her beauty and poise capturing the attention of everyone in the room. Mas lalo pang dumadagdag sa ganda niya ang biloy sa ibaba ng kaniyang mga mata ngayong siya ay nakangiti habang rumarampa sa harap ng madla. And she looks stunning on television! The female host then introduced her as she continued to walk on the long pathway while gracing the evening. "This half-Greek, half-Filipina is studying culinary arts while also modeling on various catwalks; I love her aura and confidence, Cebu Province!" "Ang galing niyang magproject, no? Sana manalo siya," Mrs. Razonable said while staring at the television. Biglang pumutok ang panubigan niya, kaya napahiga na siya. She was quickly attended to by the midwife. During the question-and-answer portion of the pageant, Isla was asked a difficult question by the female host. "If you had to choose between love and a career as a seventeen-year-old girl, which would you choose and why?" She knew that this was a question that many young women faced, and she wanted to give an honest and inspiring answer. "Thank you for that question. I always had this favorite quote of Albert Einstein, and I want to share it with the youth who are experiencing love while studying." Isla Gabrielle Gomez took a calm breath, trying to gather her thoughts before answering. "As a young woman, I believe it's important to focus on building a strong foundation for my future, so I would choose a career. Love is beautiful, but it can also be unpredictable and fleeting. A successful career can provide me with stability, independence, and a sense of purpose. Thank you." The audience then cheered and whispered to one another as they were waving the long banner and chanting loudly the name of the province where she was from. "Go, Cebu! Go! Go! Cebu! Cebu!" "Pagduso pa. Nakita nako ang ulo sa bata!" The midwife exclaimed while she was assisting Mrs. Razonable. "Ugh!" she exclaimed. The pushing was exhausting. She feels as if ejecting a watermelon from her body. Naghalu-halo na ang pawis at luha sa pagod niyang mukha. Nanginginig ang kaniyang balakang at tila hindi na niya kaya ang sakit. With the pain she was in, she was on the verge of giving up. "Our Binibining Pilipinas International 2001 is..." announced the pageant's female host. There was a drum roll as the candidates held hands in the center of the stage. Everyone was screaming, cheering, and chanting for each of their candidates' representatives! Mrs. Razonable screamed so loudly, "Cebu!" that the baby escaped from her massive womb. "Binibining 10, Isla Gabrielle Gomez from Cebu!" She had won! She couldn't believe it. The audience erupted in cheers and applause, and Isla walked confidently to the center of the stage. As the crown was placed on her head, Isla felt a sense of pride and purpose. But deep inside, she was self-conscious. She was thinking about her answer. What if she failed to be a role model? But still, she smiled, feeling radiant and shining, just like a star. She was a star when the boy who was meant to be part of her was born.