Salt & Pepper [A JaDine FanFic]

Chapter Fourteen: Dare

Saturday, 4PM, Outdoor Terrace of Lala and Nadine's Compound

"It's like a birthday party!" Myla exclaimed. "May balloons, may banderitas, may games rin kaya? Naghanda ka ba ng games, Inca?"

"Pwede naman magisip ng games! Maaga pa naman eh." Inca replied while setting the table.

"Pati birthday naman ng apartment natin ah!" Lala added. "Bagong bago na siya now!"

"At in fairness may ganito silang venue for small events." Inca said. "Naisip nila na hindi tayo magkakasya lahat sa apartment."

"Pwede naman kung kakaunti ang guests natin. Kung gusto nilang tignan ang masterpiece, e di umakyat sila." Lala replied. "For now, dito na muna." She paused and looked around. "Okay kaya dito. Ang chill! Nakakarelax!"

"Lala, paano ba sindihan 'tong grill?" Myla asked.

"Nako, hindi ko alam!" Lala replied. "Bumili lang ako ng uling. That's it!"

"E paano natin lulutuin yung isaw at bbq?" She had a worried look on her face. "Andami ko pa namang biniling isaw kay Lola! Baka hindi natin makain! Sayang naman!"

Lala shook her head. "Hinde! Trust me. Magagawan natin ng paraan yan. Wait. Let me problem solve." She took her phone out of her pocket and started typing away. 

After a few clicks and beeps, she smiled at Myla.

"Ayan! Papunta na sila Marco at James dito. Sila na ang bahala sa grill."

"Naks! Okay ka rin ah!" Myla said as she started fixing the cooler. "Isang text lang, solve na!"

"Eh, para san pa na trainees sila kung hindi nila ako tutulungan, diba?" Lala asked.

"Akala ko trainees lang ng org niyo. Hanggang dito pala trainees parin sila."

Saturday, 430PM, Outdoor Terrace of Lala and Nadine's Compound

"Inca and Myla, these are Marco and James. They're trainees in the org." Lala introduced me and Marco to her roommates. "Marco and James, my roommates Inca and Myla. We're highscool friends too."

"Hi Marco, James." Inca smiled. "Early birds kayo ha!"

"Actually, late na nga eh." Marco commented. "Tong si James kasi--."

"So, where's that grill of yours?" I asked. "Let's start with the charcoal?"

"Ah, ayun yung grill oh, beside the water dispenser." Myla replied. "You see the bag of charcoal? It's on the floor. Thanks guys! Wala kaming alam diyan eh."

"It's guy's thing?" Marco asked.

"Parang." Myla answered.

I went to the grill and examined it first. No, I wasn't an expert on grilling since I rarely cooked outdoors but I did have some knowledge on prepping the grill.

"Dude..." Marco whispered as he went towards me. "Wala akong alam sa ihaw-ihaw. Sure ka ba dito? Baka wala tayong makain tonight!"

"Marco, hush!" I shot a look at him. "Ask them for the matches and newspaper."

After twenty minutes...

"Hey guys. Here are the isaw sticks pala. There's about eighty in there." Myla said as she handed me two huge plastic containers. "Kumakain ba kayo niyan? Baka hindi ah."

"Kumakain naman." Marco smiled. "Mukha ba kaming hindi kumakain ng Pinoy street food?"

Myla shrugged. "Parang hinde. Pero let's see!"