Maine continued to prepare breakfast for Rj, but whenever he would drop by the kitchen and ask for her, she made sure she was out or otherwise indisposed.
"Naku, sayang po! Kaalis lang ni Chef. End of shift niya na po," one of the kitchen staff said one time.
Another time, Ryan told her that her meeting with Rj was postponed because an investor moved up their meeting so Rj had to attend that, Maine breathed a sigh of relief... until Ryan said, "Pero dadaan daw siya dito pagkatapos niya kumain. In a few minutes nandito na yun."
Maine rushed to the bathroom as soon as Ryan was gone. When a colleague texted her that the boss was asking where she was, she replied, "Sorry. CR. LBM."
She wasn't avoiding the talk. She just needed a little more time.
That was what she kept telling herself and that's why she found herself hanging out at the giant freezer, taking her sweet time in pulling out ingredients, when one day, Rj passed by the kitchen on his way out back.
But, a week after, Ryan said that her meeting was set that Thursday. There would be no postponements anymore. "Nahihiya si Boss na hindi ka pa nakakausap. So, hindi na daw mag-postpone."
"Wala namang problema yun. Busy siya eh. I understand. Kahit next month nalang," Maine said.
Ryan gave her an amused laughed. "Hindi na yun magpopostpone. Sabi ko sayo, he wants to have a word with everyone. In this case, lalo na with you. Baka hindi mo napapansin, mahal na mahal niya yung omelette mo."
*
"Ironman omelette?! Cool!" Rj gushed.
He knew that this had nothing to do with his favorite superhero, it still thrilled him. The fact that the Chef fashioned it to look like the superhero's mask just made his day.
Jerald rolled his eyes. "Sige na, tapusin mo na yang breakfast mo tapos papapasukin na ni Ryan si Chef."
His friend was no longer looking at him. "I don't care kahit ngayon mo siya papuntahin dito. The person deserves to be thanked. Bigyan ng bonus!"
"Huy. Relax. Sandali, ipapatawag ko na bago mo ibigay sa kanya yung buong company."
He had just taken a bite that got him moaning, when he heard a very familiar voice. Familiar, but something he wasn't expecting.
"Good morning, Sir. Uhm, you, uh, wanted to see me po?"
Dropping his fork, Rj stared at her, wide-eyed, but said nothing.
"How's the food? Did you like the one I made for you today?"
With great difficulty, he swallowed his food. After taking a drink of water... he choked.
Maine rushed to his side to make sure he was alright. "Rj! Are you alright? Oh my god. Here, drink slowly kasi."
When he got his composure back, he moved quickly to the other side of the table.
And painfully stubbed his toe at the corner. "Aray naman eh!"
Maine somehow managed to not laugh.
"This is your fault!" Rj accused.
"What? How is it my fault?"
"Bakit ka kasi nandito?!"
Maine suddenly looked uncomfortable. "I... well, funny thing is... I work for you?"
"Ikaw yung bagong chef? Yung galing New York?"
"Yes. The one who has been cooking all those omelettes for you. I'm glad to see that those months being assigned to the omelette station paid off," she shared.
"Hindi kaya masarap."
Maine raised an eyebrow. "Excuse me?"
"Hindi MA-SA-RAP." He repeated, enunciating each syllable.
She narrowed her eyes at him, then crossed her arms. "Talaga ba?"
"Oo. Bad taste."
"Fine."
"Fine."
"Hindi na kita ipagluluto then."
"Ha? Ba... EH DI WAG." Rj said, standing his ground.
"Okay po. Ililigpit ko na din itong naiwan niyo," she made a move to take the tray, with his plate containing a fourth of what she had made earlier.
"Wag! Ano... uhm... masamang mag-aksaya ng pagkain. Magagalit si Lola," he justified, snatching the tray back from her.
And in that brief moment, when his hands accidentally clasped over hers, they realized
Between them, it was still electric.
Maine took a sharp intake of breath, which brought Rj back to the present and he took the tray and turned away.
Her features softened. "How's Lola?"
"Maayos naman. S - si Lola Mameng?"
"Doing good din. Rj, I -"
"Bumalik ka na sa work. Siguraduhin mong masarap yung lulutuin mo ha? Nakakahiya sa customers kung ganitong mga kadiring pagkain yung ibibigay mo." He said, still turned away from her.
Maine said nothing, and Rj heard her walk out and shut the door behind her.
Once he was sure she was gone, he turned back, intent on finishing his meal.
Only to find that his coffee cup had toppled over and completely ruined the eggs.
Scratch that, his coffee cup didn't topple over - it was upside down on the middle of the plate. Maine intended for him to find out.
"Aba! Hindi pwede yan," he said to no one. "She can't break my heart and then ruin my breakfast and look beautiful! Hindi yun fair."
Like a petulant child, he sat back and crossed his arms, already planning his revenge.
Well, that was his intent.
He would get to it...
... once he gets over how, even when she is fuming at him, he still loves her beautiful, light brown eyes.
