Midnights to Remember

Memory: Twenty Six

Twenty Six

I grabbed the opportunity to cook lunch for my friends. I asked them what they want and they all requested garlic pepper beef.

"Punta tayo grocery store." sabi ko.

"Anong grocery store?" si Ashley. I looked at them, confused.

"Sa palengke tayo bibili, prinsesa." nakangising sabi ni Kaius.

"Oo nga mas mura ang bilihin doon tapos fresh pa." dagdag ni Cesha. Tumango naman ako at sumama silang lahat, si Jasper ay pinaiwan muna namin sa Mama ni Cesha.

Nagbyahe kami ng ilang minuto bago makarating sa palengke. This is my first time going to the market, it was loud and so crowded. I really don't like crowds but this will be a new experience for me.

"Anong mga ingredients, Kade?" tanong ni Ashley.

"Let's buy beef sirloin first." nakangiting sabi ko.

"Tara sa wet section." sabi ni Kaius at hinawakan ako sa braso dahil maraming tao ang nagsisiksikan.

Nang makarating kami sa wet section ay naghanap kami ng nagbebenta ng beef sirloin. We stopped by when we found some, Ashley is the one who's buying.

"Ilang kilo, Kade?" tanong niya. Sinenyas ko ang dalawa sa daliri ko.

"Kuya ang mahal naman! Wala na bang tawad." narinig kong sabi ni Ashley. Napailing naman ang mga kasama ko habang pinapanood siya.

"Sige na kuya kapag natawaran ko 'to magiging suki mo na kami." I can't believe she's bargaining when we have enough money to buy it.

After niyang mangulit ay pumayag din ang Manong na bigyan siya ng discount. Nakangiti namang lumingon sa amin si Ashley na ani mo proud na proud sa sarili, lumapit ako sa kaniya para iabot ang bayad,

"Ano pa, Kade?" tanong ni Ashley.

"The rest sa dry section na 'yon." sagot ko. Naglakad naman kami papunta sa dry section para bumili ng, garlic, knorr cube, oyster sauce, canned mushroom, and garlic powder. Sabi ni Cesha meron naman daw silang butter, cornstarch, ground pepper at soy sauce sa kitchen nila kaya hindi na kami bumili.

"Aabutin ba tayo ng hapon? Let's buy street foods kaya, iyong lulutuin pa lang." sabi ko.

"Gastos nanaman 'yan, Kade." sabi ni Ashley.

"Please I'm craving some street foods." I said while pouting. Napabuntong hininga naman siya bago tumango kaya napangiti ako.

"Let's go!" masayang sabi ko. Naghanap kami ng store na nagtitinda ng mga ganoon.

"Hmm, ano want niyo?" tanong ko. Hindi sila sumasagot kaya ako na lang ang nagdecide.

"I want kwek kwek, fishball, kikiam, squid balls, chicken balls, and cheese sticks." nakangiting sabi ko at parang bata habang kumuha sa fridge ng store. Nang may makita akong crinkle cut na fries kumuha na rin ako pati ang chicken fingers and mozzarella stick.

Nang makarating kami sa kanila ay nagpaalam kami sa Mama ni Cesha na makikigamit ako ng kitchen. Sinabi ko na ako na lang ang magluluto para makapag organize pa rin sila habang hinihintay maluto ang ulam.

I marinade the beef sirloin in soy sauce, oyster sauce, ground pepper, garlic powder, and cornstarch in a bowl for 10 minutes. While waiting for it I toasted the minced garlic then set it aside.

After 10 minutes I used the oil that I cooked with the toasted garlic then I fry the marinated meat untill it's golden brown. After that I let it set aside then I melted some butter and I mixed it with flour. After a few seconds I tossed the canned mushroom in it. When it's cooked I put back the beef then I mixed it all together.

I was busy stirring it when I felt someone hugged me from behind. I can smell his perfume, kaya kahit hindi ako humarap alam ko na kung sino ito.

"Kaius, baka may makakita sa atin." sabi ko.

"Ang bango naman niyan. Patikim." sabi niya.

"Let me go first mamaya maisipang bumaba ng mga 'yon." seryosong sabi ko.

"Hindi 'yan, busy sila sa taas." sabi niya. I felt his soft lips kissing my shoulder.

Inabot ko ang kutsara at kumuha ako ng meat para ipatikim sa kaniya ito. Humarap ako sa kaniya at hinipan ito bago ipatikim sa kaniya.

"Mm, ang sarap. Wife material." nakangising sabi niya.

"Nope. Not a chance." I said while pointing at his face. Natawa naman siya sa sinabi ko.

We stared at each other for few seconds before I felt his lips on mine. Umangkla ako sa batok niya habang nakahawak naman siya sa bewang ko. He savored every inch of my lips before I pulled away.

He went for more and he carried me by my waist to sat on the counter top. He pressed his body against mine as we hungrily kiss each other. His hands started to move on different parts of my body. Before he can even suck my neck I grabbed his hair to pull him away from it.

"Teka masusunog na niluluto ko." tumatawang sabi ko. "Bumalik ka na, baka magtaka sila ang tagal mo." I gave him a peck on his lips before I turned around.

Nang matapos ang niluluto ko tinawag ko sila at nag unahan naman ang mga ito pababa. Kasabay naming kumain ang Mama ni Cesha pati na rin si Jasper.

"Grabe ang sarap, Kade!" si Ashley.

"Sa akin na 'to lahat ah?" Vince said habang tinatakpan ang plato niya.

"Sa uulitin, Aicelle. Grabe ang dami kong nakain na rice!" tuwang tuwa na sabi ni Cesha.

"Sarap na sarap si Jas sa luto mo." nakangising sabi ni Jansen habang tinuturo ang kapatid.

Si Kaius naman ay halos simutin na ang plato niya. After we ate ay binigyan pa kami ng mama ni Cesha ng dessert. Tumambay muna kami sa sala nila para manood sa tv nila habang nagpapababa ng kinain. Nang makapagpahinga ay nagsimula na ulit kaming magpack ng mga school supplies kit.

Nang dumating ang 3 pm ay niluto naman namin ang mga street foods na binili namin. I tell you, the kitchen was chaotic as hell dahil lahat kami ay nasa kitchen. Walang humpay sa pagbabangayan si Ashley at Vince at puro pangaasar ang ginagawa sa akin ni Kaius.

The sauce for the fishball's even got burnt, guess who cooked it. It was Jansen, sinabi niya kanina na hindi siya marunong magluto pero pinagbantaan ni Ashley. Tawang tawa na lang ako habang pinapanood sila magkagulo.

Si Cesha naman ay chill lang sa pagprito ng mga pagkain. Ako naman ay gumagawa ng panibagong sauce. Ang gulo gulo na ng kitchen nila Cesha nang matapos kami. Masaya naming pinagsaluhan ang pinaghirapan "daw" naming lutuin. After that we cleaned up our mess dahil nakakahiya sa Mama ni Cesha kung iiwan namin ng ganoon ang state ng kitchen nila, baka hindi na kami makabalik.

Our day passed by just like that, as usual nauna nanaman nila akong ihatid. It was still 5 pm kaya sa tapat na ng bahay ako nagpababa.

"We'll see you tomorrow, Kade!" sabi ni Ashley habang kumakaway. Bumaba ako ng mini van and I waved at them. I kissed Jasper's cheek that made him blush so I laughed.

Ginulo ni Kaius ang buhok ko bago isara ang pinto. I waved at the mini van as it vanished from my sight.

What an exhausting day. I'm glad it was because of them.

~

Andito ako ngayon sa banyo at dinadama ang mainit na tubig na dumadaloy sa katawan ko. This was relaxing.

I was scrubbing my shoulder when I remembered how Kaius kissed me there. His warm breath that lingers on my skin and his burning hot touch on my body. I came to my senses and I shrugged it all off before leaving the shower.

I wore my silk pajama before going down. It was time for dinner when Mommy and Daddy arrived.

We were silent while having dinner when I broke the silence. I remember her irritating face and smirk.

"Daddy, do you have an employee whose name is Raymond Ramirez." tanong ko.

"Raymond Ramirez? Hmm I think that was our new product manager, sweetheart. Why did you ask?" tanong ni Dad.

"I want him out of our company then, Dad." determinadong sabi ko.

Halatang nagulat silang dalawa ni Mommy sa sinabi ko.

"Why is that, anak?" nakakunot ang noo na sabi ni Mommy.

"Mommy his daughter tried to slap me earlier, I was so scared." takot na takot na sabi ko. I deserve an award for being this good at acting. The things I do for the people I love.

"She did what?!" galit na tanong ni Dad.

"H-how dare that mannerless girl!" galit na sabi ni Mommy.

"Y-yes, Dad. He tried to slap me, I didn't even do anything wrong to her." kunwaring nanginginig na sabi ko.

"She even brag to me that her Dad is an employee to the number one biggest company here in the Philippines, Dad. I can't get even daw kasi malalagot daw po ako sa Dad niya."

"Sino 'yang batang 'yan at idedemanda natin." my Dad was fuming mad. Kahit naman mahigpit sila sa akin, ayaw na ayaw nilang may nananakit sa akin o nang aapi.

"No, Dad. Just fire her Dad so she will know who she messed with." I pleaded. I'll get busted kapag nalaman nila ang totoong rason kung bakit kami umabot sa ganoon.

"Okay, anak. I will call my secretary." sabi ni Dad. Nilabas niya ang cellphone niya at may dinial ito. "Hello, Daisy. Tell Mr. Ramirez to pack his things and leave my company. ASAP."

"Thank you, Dad." Lumapit ako sa kanila at yinakap ko silang dalawa.

Andito na ako ngayon sa kwarto ko at nagreready nang matulog.

They deserve that, I remembered what Ashley said. They don't deserve the good things that has been happening to their life. Ashley and her Mom went through a lot because of them, so they deserve that.

Hindi rin ako makapaniwala sa mga ginagawa ko para lang maprotektahan ang mga taong mahalaga sa akin. They've been through enough, all I can do is make things easier for them as long as I have the means.

I thought about Jansen again, how can their parents endure seeing their children live by themselves. Ang bata pa ni Jasper para mawalan ng mga magulang. I wonder how Jasper is coping up.

I was drowning in my thoughts. I just saw myself outside the house trying to book a cab with my pajama. Hindi ko pwedeng ilabas ang kotse, lilikha iyon ng ingay. Lumabas ako hanggang sa kanto, when the cab arrived I immediately went in and gave the address to the driver.

I am now standing here in front of his house. Nababaliw na yata ako, it was past midnight and I'm here standing in a quiet neighborhood.

You are out of your mind, Kadence!

Andito na ako kaya wala nang atrasan 'to. I dialed Jansen's number and he immediately answered it. I bet his room was the one with the lights on, it was on the second floor. Maganda ang bahay nila, and he looks like he's rich. The lowkey type tapos puro english pa ang salita.

"Hey." sabi ko.

"Hey, Napatawag ka?" sabi niya.

"Can you look outside your window for a minute?" sabi ko.

"Huh? takang tanong naman niya. I was right that was his room, he looked outside of his window. Gulat na gulat ito nang makita niya ako.

"What are you doing here, Kadence? It's late." sabi niya.

"I was worried about you." sabi ko. Umalis na siya sa bintana and I can hear him run from the other line.

"I heard about your family. Why didn't you told me? I was part of this group too. I think I deserve to know each and everyone of you." I said. All I can hear was his foot steps down the stairs.

After a few more minutes I saw him open their door. I gave him my sweetest smile as he walk towards me. We were looking at each other as he gets closer.

What he did when he finally reached me caught me off guard.

His warm body embraced me.