LAST WISH

XXIV

G O U R M E T S

Quinn's POV

As soon as we heard the whistle, we gather around in circle. Si Mike ang tumatayong leader ng group namin, which is pinangalanan kaming "RED TEAM" at ngayon nga ay nakasuot kami lahat ng plain red shirt para madali raw kaming ma-recognize. Binigay sa 'min ang mga shirts bago kami magsimula at nagpalit kami agad sa mga tents namin—dala ito nila ate Justein at kuya Louise. And I don't have any idea kung paano nila naiakyat lahat ng shirts ng bawat school, or baka naibigay na 'yong mga shirts sa mga ibang schools before pa sila umahon dito sa campsite. Ewan.

Imperial Academy - Red Team
St. Joseph High - Green Team
Rizal Univerasity - Violet Team
Enverga High - Blue Team
La Torre High - Yellow Team

Iyan daw ang napag-usapang color ng mga teachers namin kaya wala na kaming magagawa.

"First, we have to know what's the main dish we're going to cook." wika ni Mike na may hawak na isang papel. Hindi ko alam kung saan galing ang papel na 'yon at kung saan niya gagamitin.

"How about... Golden Apple Snail?" Lance suggested. Ano raw? Golden–what?!

"Does anyone have any suggestion?" tanong ni Mike at tumingin sa 'min isa-isa, walang umiimik at gustong mag-suggest. "I guess none. Dahil wala naman nag-suggest na iba 'yon na lang ang dish natin."

I don't have any idea on what the hell is that dish. Psh.

"We have to divide the task. Since we're 25, we will have 5 sections, 5 members each." binigay ni Mike sa 'min ang papel na hawak niya at ipaikot daw namin ito sa bawat isa upang isulat ang aming pangalan. After that, tiningnan kami ni Mike isa-isa at kinamayan kami.

"The first section, will be Regine, Marie, Loisa, Kira and yours truly. We will be in charge in cooking the rice."

"The second section, Ryle, Dylan, Rey, Van, Jude will be in charge in creating the fire. You'll need either a cottonwood, willow, cedar, juniper, aspen or a cypress wood for the fire board. Also, a spindle and a nest of tinder."

"Third section, will be, Lance, Quinn, Bryan, Mich and Kathy. Your task is to get all the necessary ingredients we need on our main dish."

"The fourth section, will be on the plating of plates and table settings. This task is given to Era, Ellise, Aivel, Joan and Ariel."

"Fifth section, John, Benito, Maxine, Angelica and Anne. Your task are gathering of firewoods and bamboo tubes for the rice."

Siniko ko si Mike sa tagiliran, kalapit ko lang kasi siya at pasimple akong bumulong. "Paano mo nalaman na kaya nilang gawin ang ibinigay mong task?"

"Based on my experienced—as soon to be CEO of our company—kapag may new applicants sa company namin, kinikilatis namin silang mabuti. It develops my observation skills—the way they dress, gestures, manerisms, behavior, mental and physical aspects, personal backgrounds, and their experiences." paliwanag ni Mike.

"Kaya kinamayan mo kami isa-isa at tiningnan mo kami mula ulo hanggang paa?" 

"Tama. Isa 'yon sa way ko para malaman kung saan sila mas babagay na trabaho." sagot ni Mike. "It's not accurately correct but my gut feeling said that they can do more on that task."

Sana nga. Sana hindi magkagulo mamaya kapag nagsisimula na kami. 'Yong walang magtatanong ng mga dapat nilang gawin. I hope Mike is right.

"Let's go. I have the ingredients for the Golden Apple Snail." Lance said while waving a piece of paper in his right hand. Lumapit na rin ang mga ka-group namin na in charge sa pagluluto ng dish.