From Kuya to Prince Charming

Isaw at Kwek Kwek

Shannah

So ayun hila hila ako ni Markiel going somewhere dahil nga daw gutom siya. Knowing these streets mostly burgers and fries ang stalls na andito kaya I expect na we will have burgers and fries, Oh my gee ang oil at taba! Ok lang I will just walk briskly for an hour after this na lang.

Laking gulat ko when lumiko kami pakaliwa at pumasok sa isang maliit na gusali decored intricately with coconut leaf products like bayong, basket, sombrero at iba pa. Sa labas it says, "KAMAYAN ni Nanay".

So pinoy, pero I like it here, it reminds me of home.

"Ito yung paborito kong resto, I just love the food here it reminds me a lot of Philippines and they serve all Filipino Cuisines here." Paliwanag sa akin ni Markiel with a smile.

He led me to a vacant table na nasa corner which was to cozy and secluded for me, teka parang ang intimate naman ata if dito kami uupo, walang disturbo and so tago... Hmmmmnnnn isa na lang ang lalaking to ha hahambalusin na talaga kita ng bag! He pulled a chair and let me sit... Aww gentleman naman pala eh!

"Mark, long time no see, but now see now, buti napabisita ka at hinahanap ka na ni Nanay" isang babaeng naka apron at nakatali ng panyo ang buhok ang lumapit sa amin after umupo ni Markiel.

"OO nga eh, namiss ko na kasi luto ni Nanay, Joy si Shannah nga pala" pakilala niya sa akin, nakipagshake hands si Joy and welcomed me.

"Aba, matutuwa si Nanay at may bago na naman siyang patatabain, sabihan ko lang siya ha. Oh ito yung menu for today mamili lang kayo at ako'y babalik kapag handa na kayong umorder" iniabot ni Joy ang menu na parang dyaryo lang ang itsura, pagkatapos nun umalis na siya.

As I read the menu puro pinoy food nga ang inooffer,merong classic adobo, papaitan, kinilaw ala mindanao, bicol express and the ever fave ng lahat na isaw at kwek kwek... Napangiti ako sa mga nakasulat, lahat ng specialty in each region or place nakalista rito may balut nga eh which is ewww I don't eat it at all.

"Gusto ko nung nilasing na hipon o yung tuyo at kamatis, hmmmn ano kaya mas masarap ngayon, pero I guarantee you, all of Nanay's cooking are superb, she is the best!" sabi sa akin ni Markiel.

" Miss ko na yung Bicol express at sinigang na baboy, can I have those?" tanong ko kay Markiel.

"Aba siyempre, if yun gusto mo, teka marunong ka ba magkamay?" biglaan niyang tanong sa akin.

"Sabaw kaya yung order ko, and of course I know how to eat na nakakamay lang noh!" iritang sagot ko sa kanya, well marunong ako magkamay kaya lang it is so messy...

"Oh may orders na ba kayo?" di ko namalayan na nakabalik na si Joy at may dala siyang kwek kwek at isaw with mathcing sauce at suka. Oh my gee, heaven na ito... FIESTA Thank you Lord!

" Pinabibigay ni Nanay, it's on the house so enjoy, now let me take your orders" sabi ni Joy and she did take our orders, Markiel ended up ordering both tuyo with kamatis and nilasing na Hipon.

When Joy left, I just sat still kahit gusto ko nang lantakan ang food oh my gee, dalagang Filipina pa rin naman ako noh.

"Go ahead,alam kong kanina ka pa gustong kumain niyan and I won't mind, I like girls na di nagdadiet" he smirked and handed me one isaw na dippedin the sauce na.

I took a bite of it at kinuha ko na yun from him. Nag-umpisa na rin siyang kumain and after 30 minutes we were both laughing our hearts out na.

"You are fun to be with, kaya lang ang arrogant naman kasi ng approach mo." Sabi ko sa kanya as I was dipping kwek kwek sa suka.

"Ay patawad po if arrogante ang tingin mo sa akin, I can't help it, di ko kasi alam paano ka lalapitan you seem to be so reserved and guarded... pero nakikita ko rin na parang ang lungkot mo at palaging nakakunot yung noo mo." He smiled at may pinunasan siya sa pisngi ko.

"You look cute even with ketchup on your face" pagkatapos niyang sabihin yun, nakita ko nga na may ketchup yung thumb niya and he actuallylicked it too... waaaahhhhhhh kaloka to, that was plain gross but why do I find it sexy?

"That was ewww, bakit nga pala gusto mo ako makilala at maging friend?" tanong ko na lang para maiba ng usapan.

" I got curious bakit you look so sad, and why is it that sometimes you are lost in your thoughts?" he said as he ate another isaw off the stick.

"Alam ko mahilig ka magbasa and you get lost while traveling inside the world off the book pero iba kasi yung random blank stares mo sa ceiling at magbubuntong hininga ka nalang bigla." Ngayon after saying that he looked deep into my eyes, at ngayon ko lang napansin that they both have the same color ng mata, dark brown and parehas rin na parang inaantok...

"Kharl..." biglang nasabi ko at nakita ko ang pagkunot ng noo ni Markiel.

"You said something, ano yun?" he asked.

"Oh never mind, I just remembered someone." Pakaswal kong sagot sa kanya.

"Kung sino man yun for sure mas gwapo ako dun" tumawa na lang siya after saying that.

I rolled my eyes and muttered "whatever" na lalong nagpatawa sa kanya.

"Well you got me na as a friend, I will make sure to lessen that homesickness or missing you blues mo" he chuckled and winked at me.

" Bakit did I say I want you to be my friend?" biro ko sa kanya just to burst his bubble. Bully din naman ako minsan noh.

Nalungkot siya and ewan ko ba I find him cute with those puppy eyes and sad stare.

"Sige na nga baka maiyak ka diyan, besides I owe you a lot for the food tonight, kwek kwek at isaw pa nga yun pero parang busog na ako" nakasmile kong sabi sa kanya and I saw his face lighten up.

"Op Op Op, may main event pa tayo at kailangan ubusin yun or else magtatampo si Nanay sa atin. Kaya make room for the next batch" nakatawa niyang sabi as he held my hand.

"Nah, sira na diet ko, ano plano mo gawin akong super fat? " nakapout kong tanong sa kanya.

"Asus, diet diet ka diyan, di na uso yan, besides you are sexy in your own way... Your brain would suffice already " he winked after saying that.

"Ano ka zombie? Pinagdidiskitahan mo brain ko ha" nakataas kilay kong sambit.

He just laughed at namalayan na lang namin na bumalik na si Joy to serve our food... And it smells good parang gusto ko ng kumain ng kumain at kumain... Tataba ako my geeeee.

"Enjoy and if you need anything just ring the bell" sabi ni Joy and left us.

"Oh enjoy daw natin, kalimutan na ang diet, let's celebrate for the start of our friendship!" sabi ni Markiel as he reached for his glass of coke and asked for a toast.

Nakitoast na rin ako, oh di ba parang mga crazy people lang kami... After that we ended up laughing then eating...

Well being his friend is not so bad... May ikukuwento na naman ako kay Kuya... If we ver get to talk again hahay!