"Chef Park?"
I was really shocked na si Chef pala ang humila sa akin at kasabay ng paghila niya ay paglagpas ng mabilis na sasakyan na para bang may car racing.
"Why did you leave without telling me? Pwede ka namang sumabay sa akin. Magkasama tayong dumating, magkasama tayong aalis. Muntik ka ng masagasaan tuloy." Pinigil ko ang sarili kong kiligin lalo at inayos pa ni Chef ang ilang strands ng buhok ko. Pero asa naman ako no. Caring lang talaga tong Koreanong to sa mga staff niya. Pwede namang sa akin na lang sana.
"Huh? Ano kasi, I can use uber service naman. Naglakad langa ko palabas ng village dahil walang tricycle."
"Okay. Let's get in the car. Next time when you decide to walk, don't listen to loud music. You don't know what's happening around you." Panenermon ng boss ko. Tinanggal niya yung earplugs ko at nilagay sa sariling pandinig.
'Bite that tattoo on your shoulder
Pull the sheets right off the corner
Of that mattress that you stole'
Hindi ko alam kung anong nakakatawa pero nakita kong ngumiti si Chef Park labas ang magkabilang dimple niya. Ay naku lang.
"You have an eclectic choice of songs. The last time I checked, you were listening to Eminem, the other day to an old alternative song of Linkin Park and previously to a Tagalog song, was that Pusong Bato?" Teka lang. How on earth did he know my playlist?
"Paano mo alam Chef?"
"Chai, you always put your playlist on loud speaker whenever you listen to music. And I just stay right across your office." Natatawa niyang sagot. Oo nga pala. Magkatabi lang ang office ni Chef Park at ng empleyado at kapag mag-isa na lang ako sa office namin at break time ko, I claim the room as my concert stage. Teka, ibig sabihin, he also...
"Don't look at me like that Chai. Don't worry. You got cute voice too."
He got my bag and carried it for me and went ahead. Pagbubuksan pa sana niya ako ng pinto pero inunahan ko na at sumakay na ko sa harapan.
"Chai, you will not sit there. You will stay at the center."
"Huh? Pero bakit? I don't want you to look like my driver. Saka kanina naman dito ko nakasakay ah."
"Kanina yun Chai. Now I am asking you to stay at the middle so you could sleep please?"
"Oh.. okay. Pero di ako inaantok Chef." Dahil makita ka lang, para na kitang kape na gumigising sa akin.
"But I want you to. Dahil sasamahan mo kong mag sky diving." He started driving the car at di ako agad nakapagsalita.
"Pero bago yun, bibili muna tayo ng mga gamit natin. Damit mo good for one week get away."
"Wait, teka, what do you mean? I know boss kita, pero dapat naman sana Chef, i-explain mo muna tong mga bagay na bagay na to." At baka di ako makahinga dahil sa di ko maipaliwanag na tuwa. One week with Chef Park? OMG.
"I'm sorry Chai. Masyado kasi akong naging sira. Ang akala ko noon its gonna be me and Lucy in the end. Kaya I booked in advanced this adventure trip for a week. Imagine, I booked almost a year prior to the activity dahil ganun ako ka forward looking. Ayoko namang masayang lang."
"and you really thought about me? Marami namang ibang pwede."
"Dahil alam kong harmless ka. And you wont take advantage of my broken heart." Hala siraulo pala talaga tong boss ko eh. Saan nanggaling yun? I made a deep sigh and thought of a good answer.
"Ayos lang naman eh. As long as you can promise me that after this one week adventure, you will not be coming in front of my place with a bouquet of flowers and tell me you have fallen in love over heels for me. Dahil alam kong di yun pwede. For sure, if that happens, I will just be your rebound girl. Isa pa boss kita kaya awkward naman yun no." Natatawa kong sabi pero deep inside durog na durog ang puso ko. Sabi ko na nga ba eh. Di ko siya matatanggihan.
He smiled and placed his hand on his chest.
"I promise that Chai dela Rosa. I just need air to breath. Dahil kahit matagal na mula nang ikasal si Lucy at kaibigan ko na rin si William, masakit pa rin dito." Tinuro niya ang dibdib niya at ngumiti para pigilan ang pagtulo ng kanyang mga luha.
"and thank you for saying Yes. Baka kung hindi, nasiraan na ko ng bait."
"Sira. Okay lang naman ang kahit na anong ipagawa mo sa akin. Boss naman kita eh. Basta lang wag yung morally degrading no. May pride pa rin naman ako."
"Oo naman. Alam ko yun. I wont do stuff like that."
"Saka ano pala, ahmmmm..."
"yes?"
Sa totoo lang, di ko naman talaga alam ang sasabihin ko. Ano pa nga ba? Wala talaga. Natutuwa lang ako na kahit di naman para sa akin talaga yung adventure getaway eh he thought of me. Kahit na ba escape lang ako kung tutuusin. Haaay..
"What is it that you wanna say Chai?"
Mag-isip ka Chai. Mag-isip ka. Isip.
Takte. Ano sasabihin ko?
"You.. You have to give me my professional service fee."
Putek? Anong sabi ko?
"Professional Service fee?" Nakakagulat naman talaga ang sinabi ko pero nasabi ko na. Ano ba yan kasi. Kapag si Chef Park kausap ko, nag slow mode ang processing ng utak ko. Nagiging Windows 97 eh.
"Oo. On top of my salary being your employee. Kasi syempre, extra effort ang gagawin ko. You said its an adventure get away. Meaning, we will do rock climbing, mountain hiking, fishing, and...." Kung ano ano ano na lang ang sinasabi ko. Kakaloka lang. Ano na lang iisipin ni Chef Park sa akin? Im an opportunist? Pero di naman ako ganun.
Tahimik lang si Chef at ako naman, mas gusto kong lamunin na lang ako ng ulap.
Bawiin ko na lang kaya ang sinabi ko? Tatawa na lang ako ng malakas sabay hahampasin ko yung upuan ko and tell him it's a joke. Kaloka lang.
Ano na Chai?
"I see. Sure. Is Php 10,000 a day enough?" He smiled and played a song in his stereo.
Akin ka na lang (akin ka na lang)
Iingatan ko ang puso mo
Akin ka na lang (akin ka na lang)
Wala nang hihigit pa sa 'yo.
I didn't know he listens to songs like this. Ay kaloka.
"Akin ka na lang Chef Park. IIngatan ko ang puso mo. "
BINABASA MO ANG
In Love with a Chef
ChickLitAll she wanted to do is to prove to her parents that the profession she chose is better than handling their fishery business in the province. That even if she is a teacher, she is still capable of doing something big. Baon ang sama ng loob sa mga m...
