Memories Begin in Summer

Chapter 21: Maki

"Good morning."  

I looked back to see who greeted. It was the owner of the house. He welcomed me with disheveled hair and scrunched clothes. Mukhang kagigising lang. 

 "Good morning." I greeted back. 

"Good morning, Kuya Sid! Kain na po kayo!" Austin and Hazel greeted him. 

"Anong niluto niyo?" Sid asked while scrubbing his eyes. 

I turned the stove off and brought the pan with ramen on the dining table. "I was supposed to make a Filipino breakfast, but they craved for korean ramen so I made this instead." sabi ko habang inaayos ang dining table. "Do you want something else? I can cook it for you." 

Sid shook his head. "Hindi na! May pagkain pa naman ako diyan mula kagabi. Tsaka, gusto ko tikman ang pagkain niyo." 

I nodded my head before settling on my seat. I really doubt Sid would like our food. Besides ramen, I also bought tteokbokki, kimchi and japchae sa Korean Mart sa baba. Sid seems like a person who's not picky with food, but as a person who tried Korean and Filipino meals, both have a distinct variety of taste. 

Sid went to his kitchen to get his food from the refrigerator. He used the microwave to preheat his food before coming back to the dining. He settled on the seat adjacent to me. 

While we're eating our food, I saw Sid getting chopsticks. I watched him as he looked at Austin's hands. He's trying to imitate Austin's hands to know how to use chopsticks. I stifled my smile when I saw him struggling. 

"Ang hirap naman nito." bulong niya. 

I tried to ignore him by focusing on reading online news article, but he's really getting my attention. The way his face shows frustration when the chopsticks can't get the noodles makes me want to laugh. At the end, he gave up using them. He disappointedly dropped the chopsticks on the table. 

"You can use the fork, Sid." I told him, trying my best not to laugh. 

"Gusto ko matuto mag-chopsticks." He whined. 

"I'll teach you when we have free time. It's already 7:30. The officials expected us to arrive at DOT in... 10:30?" 

Sid immediately panicked, "7:30 na?!" he asked, shocked. I nodded. 

"Hala! patay ako!" He instantly stood up from his seat and ran towards his bathroom. 

"Kayo na lang kumain! Tae, malalagot na naman ako kay Calyn neto!" sigaw niya bago isara ang pinto. 

I scrunched my forehead. Who is Calyn? 

After our meal, Hazel volunteered to wash the dishes. We're currently resting when Sid came out of his bedroom. His fresh, sandalwood scent shrouded the whole room. He's wearing a simple white shirt, dark washed jeans, and white sneakers.