I'm Coming Home

12

B E A

"Ma'am Bea? Iha? Gising na. Malelate ka sa flight mo. Nakahanda na yung pagkain mo. Bangon na." His continuous banging knock on my door woke me up. Ugh. Mang Ding! Puyat ako. Di ako pinatulog ng panaginip ko kagabi. Tsk. Tsk. Tsk.

"Yes kuya. Wait for me downstairs. I'll take a bath muna." As if I have any other choice. Psh. I quickly got up and prepped my self up. I wore the couple shirt I bought at Marci's store. It looks cute. Hehe. If only Jho were here, she'll look cuter wearing this shirt. Haaaay. I should refrain myself from thinking Jho. I should think of Maddie right now. Yeah Bea. You should. Do the right thing.

I walked downstairs groggily. I feel a little dizzy for not completing my supposedly sleeping hours. Ugh. I know headache will follow. Tsk.

I smelled something familiar. The food's scents that's coming from the dining area made my whole system wide awake. I know that smell! I only know someone who can make those foods. My favorite foods. Yung saktong sakto sa panlasa ko. Yung amoy, sya lang nakakagawa nun. I drifted off to where the smell came from only to see Mang Ding's smiling face sitting pretty across the table with delicious foods already prepared for the two of us. With that, I immediately felt famished. I heard the growling of my pet dragon inside my tummy. Ugh. How I miss eating this kind of meal.

I ran quickly to the table, ow scratch that, I think I acquired Flash's power for a while. I reached the table for about a second? Whehehe. Immediately grabbed some and chew. My eyes went huge, as in it bulged at the taste. I'm sorry if I'm a bit OA, but seriously, your reaction will be the same as me if you're here at my situation.

"Kuya! Who prepared and cooked this?! It's so delicious. Ugh." I said in between my chews, mouth still stuffed with fried rice plus extra extra extra garlic in it. I can't get tired of eating this food. I don't mind getting fatter if these foods will be served everyday. It's worth the fat. It's exactly the taste of Jho's sinangag. Beyond perfection. I would trade all I have for this.

"Buti naman at nagustuhan mo. Ako nagluto nyan. Hehe." He said cheerfully. Oh ow. It's kinda weird. How come he can also make sinangag that exactly tastes like the one Jho always cooks? Is it possible? Come to think of it, he prepared exactly what Jho usually cooks for me. The combination and all. Wew. Oh well, I don't care anymore. Sinangag na maraming maraming bawang na to, wag na palampasin. Magagalit si pet dragon pag pinalampas to. Partnered with foot long, bacon and egg, tuyo plus piniritong talong. May banana cue pa and yema flavored bochi as dessert. (U know Bochi guys? I think it's Buchi, but I call it that way. Mas cute e. Try it. Masarap yon 😍) Heaven! Waaaaah! I ate and ate and ate until I'm already full. I almost left the serving bowls empty. I just missed eating those foods. Mang Ding also prepared Milo't Gatas for me. Milo plus gatas combined together and of course, without sugar. Whehehe. Tastes like heaven. Ugh! Kalasang-kalasa ng timpla ni Jho. Weird.

"Kuya! Tell me the truth nga. Sino talaga nagluto nito? Bakit kalasa ng luto ni Jho?" I said as I rub my hand to my fully loaded tummy. I look like a preggy lady. Nyahaha. Though I looked at him suspectingly. I sensed that he stiffed from where he sat but manage to let out a smile, but a nervous one. As if he's trying to hide something to me. Gaaaah.

"Ha? E ako nga nagluto nyan. Kilala mo naman asawa ko diba? Magaling magluto yun. Tinuruan nya ko kaya ko naluto yang mga yan." He tried his very best to say those without stuttering. "Saka, wala ka bang bilib sakin? Pro kaya to!" He added. Still trying to convince me. No kuya. I know you too well. I just managed to smile at him. Wala namang mangyayari e. We're pointing nowhere. "Isabel Beatriz! Isa nga pla, anong Jho yang sinasabi mo? May utang ka pang kwento sakin ah? Abaaaaa! Uuwi ka na't lahat di mo pa din naikukwento sakin." He said jokingly but I was frozen by what he said. I wished I could turn back time just so I can keep my idiotic mouth shut from slipping Jho's name. Ang tang* mo Bea. Kahit kailan ka talaga. Haay. What the. Not now kuya. Not now. If not now Bea, then when? Ugh! Am I ready to relay what really happened? Am I ready to travel back on the day I wished I died also? Am I ready to look back to the misery I've been? Am I ready to recall that heart-wrecking incident that took away my world? Am I ready to return to the time where my whole world stopped spinning and my heart stopped beating? Am I ready to broadcast the worst of the worst nightmare that ever happened? Am I ready? My traitor tears immediately escaped through my eyes at just the thought of it.