It was another Friday night. Another barkada night for us. We were at Derrick’s place for a barbecue dinner and we’re currently grilling our food.
"Himala pare di kayo sabay ni Julie ngayon." Derrick said.
"Ha? Ano kasi pinauna na niya ko kasi may emergency daw sa shop niya. Kaya yun."
"Ah. Okay." he answered as he flips the burger. After a few minutes, we heard Sef and Julie’s voice na obvious na kakadating pa lang.
"Hi, Jules!" Bati ni Kris. Nagbeso na sila and she also said hi to Derrick and me.
"Amoy barbecue kami, Jules!" Derrick yelled sabay tumawa pa. She waved at us and I smiled at her pero umiwas naman siya ng tingin.
"Ano ka na girl? Akala ko natabunan ka na ng cupcakes at kape mo." I heard Sef say.
"Hoy kayong dalawa diyan, di pa ba luto yan? Baka naman uling na yang pagkain natin ha?" Maqui said.
"Ito na tapos na." I answered as I placed the last piece on the plate. Pumasok na kami ni Derrick sa loob and we all sat around the table.
"Yunoh! Ito ba Elmo eh kaaya-aya ang lasa ha?" Diva asked as she gets a piece of barbecue.
"Oo naman! Specialty ko yan. Diba Jules?" I asked Julie as I nudged her. She looked at me first then smiled.
"Oo naman! Kahit hindi ko pa natitikman. Hahahaha." sagot niya. I glared at her and she stuck her tongue out at me.
"Pag ikaw nasarapan sa luto ko, baka hanap-hanapin mo yan." I said confidently.
"KAPAG! May emphasis sa ‘kapag’. What if hindi?" she said.
"Tikman mo kasi." sabi ko sabay sinubuan ko siya ng barbecue. "Oh ano?" I asked her as she chews the meat.
"Ayos lang." she said afterwards. Nagtawanan ang lahat except for me.
"Wala dude. Di pa din pasado cooking skills mo kay Master Chef. Hahahahaha." Kris teased me.
"Hoy! Masarap naman ah!" Jmee said.
"Wala naman di masarap sayo Jmee eh." Sef told her.
"Masarap naman guys." Julie then said. "Galing mo na, muppet ah!" she added and even pinched my cheeks.
"Hah! Told ya." pagyayabang ko.
"Pero medyo tough pa din yung meat. Tsaka masyadong madaming pepper yung nalagay mo tapos may part na lasang sunog." she said after. I looked at her and she just smiled at me.
"Yun lang. Umiral nanaman pagka food critic ni Julieta." Sef said.
"Psh. Wag kang kakain ha." sabi ko sa kanya sabay kuha ng plate niya.
"Hoy! Masarap naman sabi ko diba?"
"Masarap daw tapos ang daming comment?! Wag kang kakain!!" I yelled.
"Ganyan ka na saken? Parang wala tayong pinagsamahan ah." she said.
"Talaga."
"Tsk. Muppet kasi. Gutom na kaya ako." she said.
"Hay nako. Magluto ka ng pancit canton dun. Wag kang kakain ng niluto ko."
"Tsk. Joke lang kasi. Elmo." sabi niya sabay kalabit sa akin. I ignored her as I placed food on my plate. "Moe naman eh." she said still trying to get my attention.
"Tsk." I said as I shrugged her off.
"Hoy ano ba yan." sabi niya tsaka pinaharap niya ko sa kanya. "Joke lang kasi. Oo nga masarap na nga. Parang timang to."
