I was about to close my shop when…
"Closed na p─" I was surprised when I saw Elmo. Aysus. Siya lang pala. "Oh. Bakit?" I asked.
"Nagugutom ako." he said and even patted his tummy.
"Oh. Eh anong gusto mong gawin ko? Nasa akin ba plato’t kubyertos mo?" mataray kong tanong. Nakasumpong nanaman katamaran nito eh.
"Manager, feed me." he said. "Please." sabay lapit sa akin and held my hand. "Please. Please. Please."
"As if I have a choice eno? What do you want to eat?" I asked.
"Gusto ko ng carbonara mo. With bacon."
"Muppet, sarado na groceries. Wala na tayong mabibilan ng─" I didn’t get to finish my sentence because he covered my mouth with his hand.
"I came in prepared." he said and nodded at the direction of his car. I looked at him curiously as he went to his car and got something from the compartment. "See?" he said showing me the paperbag of groceries.
"Muppet, dito mo pa talaga naisipan magpaluto sa shop?! Iba talaga takbo ng utak mo eno?" I told him. Tumawa lang naman siya and pushed me back inside and into the kitchen.
"Less talk, more cooking. Make it fast ha? Nagwawala na yung alaga ko." He said. Niluto ko na yung request niyang food. He was watching me carefully as I do the work. "Jules?"
"Hm?"
"Nakabisita ka na ba kanila tita?" He asked me.
"Oo. Kaninang umaga before I go here. Bakit?" I asked.
"Tsk. Daya. I wanted to come pa naman di ka nagyaya." he said. "Uhm…"
"May kasalanan ka sa akin no?" I asked.
"H-ha? Wala!"
"Weeeeh. Alam mo, ganyan ka simula bata tayo eh. Nung buhay pa si mommy, pag may kasalanan ka, lagi kang nakatambay sa amin and buntot ka lagi kay mommy. Ngayon na naman that she’s gone, you would always want to visit her grave." I said. "Ano nanamang kasalanan mo?" I asked.
"Wala. Naalala ko lang si tita. Kasi she would also cook carbonara for me kapag pinapagalitan ako ni mom. And I would always feel better. Kaya yun. Namiss ko lang." he said. Natahimik naman ako sa sinabi niya. Para kasi siyang bata while he was saying that. I turned the stove off and went to him and hugged him.
"Ang senti ng bestfriend ko. Kawawa naman." I said as I tighten my embrace.
"Psh." he said but still reciprocated my hug.
*****
I’ve been feeling uneasy since I saw Quen’s blurred photo of that girl. I don’t know if it really is Julie or it was just a pigment of my imagination. Kaya I decided to surprise her sa shop niya.
"Jules…" I said while hugging her.
"What?"
"Nagugutom na talaga ko. Di pa ba luto?" I asked. Natawa siya sa akin sabay piningot ako sa tenga. "Aray! Masakit ha." I said.
"Leche ka kasing bakulaw ka. Nagdrama-drama ka about kay mommy tas aariba ka ng ganyan?! Sarap mo talaga minsan pakagat sa piranha eh." she said.
"Hahaha. Eh anong magagawa ko eh namiss ko nga si tita." I said. Totoo naman. Tita Mav’s carbonara is the best carbonara I’ve ever tasted. Buti na lang talaga magaling magluto tong brutal kong bestfriend kaya everytime I crave for her mom’s recipes, naluluto niya agad.
She went back to cooking and after a few minutes ay luto na. She gave me a huge serving of the pasta and she even toasted some garlic bread. Odiba? Feeling ko naman ang special ko.
