Eighteen

Chapter 16

"So how is it?" Anais was taking his precious time savoring the flavor of my adobo.

I sat across from him. I couldn't serve myself a plate of my own as my mind was too preoccupied with waiting for his response. On second thought, I probably shouldn't stall any longer.

"Tastes good, Camille," sagot niya sa huli, tumatango-tango. "Hindi na gano'n kamantika."

"That is a relief." I sighed. I didn't know why his opinion mattered, but it just did.

"This' your favorite ulam, 'di ba?"

"Yes. Mine and Kuya's. That is why I have to perfect it." I smiled.

"It doesn't have to follow the commonplace taste, Camille. As long as it has the taste of an adobo, then all's good. When a person cooks something, it has to taste particular. Things are better when they actually reflect the person who made them." He chuckled. Well, that was inspiring.

"So tapos ka na sa gagawin mo rito, aalis ka na ba? . . . Or do you have any other things to do here?" He was changing the topic so soon.

I was expecting a further assessment on my adobo, but alright. He had already said it tasted good.

"Ah, oo. I just wanted to make you this. A little thank-you for everything." I smiled.

"You're making it sound like this' our last." He smiled, too – not the usual smirk he would paint his lips with.

"What do you mean?"

"That you can come anytime. I'm willing to teach you," he answered. Hindi ako kumibo. Was this man serious? He would seriously include me among the things that he was already juggling with? "What?" he asked after I couldn't manage to speak one word at length.

"Nothing." Umiling ako. It wasn't like I hated the idea, though. At tsaka, siya na ang nag-alok. Kung ayos lang sa kanya, ayos lang din sa akin. "Anyway, I'm leaving now. I'm done with my business here."

"Why not sit and eat first?"

"Hindi na. Busog pa naman ako sa pizza," sagot ko. "Iyon lang talaga? Should I alter the taste or anything to make it better?" I asked, still overthinking it.

He laughed and shook his head.

"Nope, there's none. You see, in cooking, we have our own signatures. And this"—he gestured at the dish—"is your own special signature, which tastes amazing for the record. And you've just marked my tongue with it. Who knows, people might look for this very taste in the future. 'Cause I know I will."

His words were full of meaning that I couldn't help but feel a little empowered by the way he had comforted my mind stuck in a cyclone of doubts.

"Thanks, teacher," I jested.

"Welcome, kid," he fired back, and we both laughed it off.

"Sige, Anais, aalis na ako," paalam ko.

"Ingat. Don't hesitate to visit whenever you want. I . . ." he trailed off, "I already treat you as, like, a sister, kinda." Bahagya akong nagulat sa sinabi niya.

"Oh . . . ganoon ba? That—that is nice to hear." My lips formed a genuine smile. I was actually glad to hear him say that. At least I knew where I stood in this fresh relationship that we had.

Nilakad niya ako hanggang sa pinto. Hindi kaagad niya iyon sinara nang nasa labas na ako kaya hindi ako makaalis dahil tingin ko may sasabihin pa siya. But he looked like he was just measuring me, so I raised a questioning brow.

"Nothing. Your hair just looks new." He shook his head, a hint of smile visible on his lips.

Dapit-hapon na nang nakauwi ako sa'min. Pagpasok ko sa bahay, nilapitan ko si Kuyang nakaupo sa sopa.