Taming Mr. CEO

chapter 5

I was humming some random song that played in my mind while getting some ingredients inside the fridge. Good thing that we still have the complete ingredients for sinigang. 'Yong iba ngalang ay last stocks na, tulad ng sitaw at pork, maybe I'll just stop by sa grocery mamaya pag uwi ko.

"Ako nang gihatag nimo akong kasingkasing, Ikaw na ang bahala sa pagtipig ug pag-amping," I sing and sway my hips side by side, as if I were dancing to the beat of the tune I was singing.

After I got everything I needed, I started washing them, then chopped the pork and cut the vegetables. I also minced the onions and garlic. After preparing everything, I started cooking. Though I was in the mood and so excited, I couldn't help but feel pressured. I mean, I've been cooking meals for him for months now, but this one made me nervous. My hand was trembling, and the shaking wooden spatula is the evidence.

"Gosh, kiara! You've been cooking sinigang before!" asar na sabi ko sa sarili ko.

I was startled when someone suddenly laughed behind me. I turned to see who it was. Gusto kong mag tago sa hiya nang makita kung sino iyon.

"Naku iha, Ano't inis na inis ka sa sarili mo? Ano bang niluluto mo?" Manang Cora asked and walked in my direction to check what I was cooking. "Aba'y masusunog na 'yong sibuyas at bawang mo. Hinaan mo ang apoy," aniya, pero siya rin naman ang gumawa.

"Manang, you're back!" tili ko nang ma realize na si manang Cora talaga itong nasa harapan ko. I even hugged her tight. Life saver!

"Naku, bumalik lang ako para ihatid ito." aniya at inilapag ang dalang plastic sa counter table. I went to see what was inside. "Kakanin yan. Nag pabili kasi 'yong anak ko sa bayan kaya't dumaan nalang din ako dito." Sabi nito at nilabas isa isa 'yong mga supot ng kakanin. I remember this one. I already had this sa set before; I just forgot the name.

"Nag abala pa kayo, manang. But thank you for this. Dadalhan ko rin si Nicholai mamaya."

"Pupunta ka sa opisina nya?" she asks, but she does not look surprised about it.

I nodded with a wide smile plastered on my face. "I will bring lunch for him, manang. Sabay daw kaming kakain." Sinabi ko iyon na parang kinikilig pa.

Napangiti naman si manang dahil doon, "Kaya pala mukhang napi-pressure ka kanina," aniya.

"Hay, ewan ko ba manang. This is not my first time cooking for him, naman," I frustratingly said.

"Kahit naman anong lasa niyang niluluto mo ay makakain parin yan ng alaga ko. Hindi naman mapili sa pagkain yon," aniya

"Iba to manang kasi ayaw ko naman isipin niyang pangit ako mag luto, edi mas lalong aayawan ako nun, nakaka pressure talaga lalo na't ibinida na ni tita sa kaniya na masarap ang sinigang ko," I pouted.

Natawa naman ito ng bahagya saakin: "Naku talaga ang batang ito. Osya, halika't tutulongan kita," she offered.

"Naku, don't mind na manang. It looks like you're in a hurry," kunwaring tanggi ko, but deep inside, I was so happy that she offered.

"Nandoon pa naman 'yong asawa ko sa bahay at siya muna ang nagbabantay sa anak ko." aniya "Luto na tayo?" aya nito saakin at nakangiti ko naman itong tinanguan.

Nag hiwa ulit ako ng sibuyas at bawang dahil nasunog 'yong nauna kanina. Si manang naman ay hinugasang muli, 'yong caserole na ginamit ko kanina saka nagpa init ng mantika doon. She really did help me cook, but gamit parin 'yong way nang pagluto ko. Dinagdagan ko na rin para ipadala kay manang 'yong iba at nang hindi na ito gumastos pa ng pang ulam nila ngayong tanghalian.

I packed Lai's lunch while Manang put some in the container for them. Ayaw niya pa nga noong una dahil pwede pa raw iyon para sa hapunan namin ni Nicholai, but I insisted, kaya't wala na itong choice kundi dalhin pauwi, 'yong kalahati nang niluto namin.