ETB #1: Lost in Blank Stares

Chapter 04

Chapter 04

We're currently at Shyra's house because she's baking, and she specifically prefers that we're here, especially me, to taste her cooking. She knows that when I say I like her dish, I'm being completely honest.

I'm picky about sweets because I'm not a big fan of them. So, I have a few specific places where I really like the desserts. This is one of the reasons Shyra trusts my opinions on sweets.

People usually don't like what I love to eat, which is vegetables. It's not because I'm dieting or anything, which is what most people assume when they see me order veggies.

I love vegetables because my lola always cooked them for me. Si lola kasi ang nagbabantay sa 'kin noong bata ako, kaya nakasanayan ko ang lasa ng gulay.

From ginisang ampalaya to sinigang na baboy, those dishes remind me of childhood afternoons spent at her house, watching her expertly chop vegetables while humming old tunes.

Kaya kahit hindi common na maging favorite food ang gulay, for me, they've always been comforting.

"Ikaw itong nanghiram, bakit iba ang nagbalik!"

Ang tagal niyang hiniram iyong jacket; akala ko nga hindi na niya ibabalik! In fact, I even forgot that he borrowed a jacket because it took him so long to return it.

"Hey, in my defense, si Stefano ang nagpresenta na magbalik ng jacket!" paliwanag ni Rejiel habang nakatayo siya malapit sa counter.

Pinanliitan ko naman siya ng mata; hindi ako naniniwala. Bakit gagawin ni Stefano 'yon? Feeling ko talaga inuutusan lang nitong si Rejiel.

Pero si Stefano, magpapautos?

I wanted to ask more questions pero humirit na agad yung mga kaibigan ko kaya hindi na ako nakapagtanong.

"Sinong Stefano?" tanong ni Shyra habang nagmi-mix ng mga ingredients para sa cookies niya.

I lazily rested my face on my palm, listening to them.

"Stefano Valentino," si Jethro ang sumagot.

"Stefano Valentino!" malakas na sigaw ni Namyy mula sa sofa.

"Ang OA, huh?" puna ko, hinawakan ko ang tenga ko sa lakas ng sigaw niya.

Nag-echo yata sa buong bahay, akala mo nanalo sa lotto!

I'm starting to doubt-baka hindi ako aware na superstar din pala 'tong si Stefano, sa dami ng fan girls niya!

Ang kaninang nanonood ng pelikula na si Namyy sa sala ay nasa kusina na rin para magtanong tungkol sa lalaki.

"Tangina, Rejiel, bakit hindi mo sinasabi sa'kin na magkakilala kayo?"

"Tinanong mo ba?" ganti ni Rej.

"How dare you all! Lagi kong kinukuwento sa inyo na crush ko yung anak ng may-ari ng Valentino Medical Hospital!"

Oh right! Namyy's a nursing student, and Stefano's family owns her dream hospital, the one she hopes to work at when she graduates. Kaya naman pala kilala si Stefano.

I mean, their family name is very famous here in the Philippines; they are highly regarded for their success and contributions to the healthcare field.

"Malay ba namin? Baka yung babaeng anak tinutukoy mo," pang-aasar nila.

"Gaga, hindi ko pa nga nakikita 'yun. Ini-stalk ko buong angkan ni Stefano, pero yung ate niya ang ilap sa socmed."

Noong maluto naman ang mga cookies, hindi pa rin tumigil si Namyy tungkol kay Stefano, kahit minsan binabara na siya ni Angelo. The girl really has a big crush on Stefano, huh?