Call of the Battlefield Online (TAGLISH)

Level 02:\Estelle

Level 02:\Estelle Conejo\Startup -Calm Before the Storm-

Estelle hummed at the tune of the dubstep-remixed Korean pop song while cooking. Her short bobcut hair bounced at the beat of the music. She flipped 3 palm-sized beef patties, and three pieces of sunny-side-up eggs at an old & spotty electric griddle. The salty aroma of fried burgers, and the smell of fresh-fried eggs caressed her nose. She even wanted to cook a pair for herself after work. As she cooked the sandwiches, she overheard the laughter of the Tejeros Triggers' players.

She glanced at Ren. As usual, his hair's disheveled and spiky. During the 4th grade at recess, she combed his hair before they eat their snacks at the canteen. Much to her chagrin, his hairstyle turned bedhead after an hour during those old days. She noticed his gamer's badge, and the game's logo drawn below his in-game alias. Call of the Battlefield, that online shooting game he spent his leisure time during the last two quarters of 4th grade. The online game that tolled the time being with her as a school friend. Talagang kinarir niya ang paglalaro ng Call'field na'yan! Gusto ko na nga siya isumbong kay Ma'm dela Cruz eh! Pero sabi niya, lumalaban siya para sa mga magulang niya. Habol niya ang premyo doon.

Her stout, bearded father, Danny, called her name with a thundering voice, "Anakis, ayan na sina Ren!"

His voice plugged her back to reality. She shook her head on the double, "Opo, opo papay!" She served the cooked sandwiches to the customers. Young costumed customers smiled at Estelle, that one girl in magical girl outfit said to her, "Ganda naman ng kutis mo! Pwede ka mag-cosplay ah!"

She peeked at her arms, and likened her fair skin. She smiled at the magical girl cosplayer, as she peeked at her ornate purple robe. Yet, Mamay Cynthia, her stubby, kinky-haired mother, called her, "May mga bagong customer, anakis! Mamaya nang maki-chika!"

She headed back to the wooden burger stand, and fried 8 beef patties on the heated griddle. As she flipped the half-fried patties, Ren stood by the counter. He peeked at her cooking. The aroma enticed her, that she wanted to eat a piece of hamburger with Ren's group. "Hi Estelle! 'Musta?"

"Eto, mabuti naman." Estelle fried 2 pairs of white hamburger buns. She donned a smile, and her cheeks reddened. Reddened as the catsup-mayonnaise dressing spreaded on the burger buns. "Nakahiligan ko nang magluto, napakasarap pala magluto ng mga hamburger!"

"Bakit naman?" Ren took his black wallet from his cerulean fleece basketball shorts. "Sa bagay, nakakagutom na nga eh!"

"Feel ko kasi, naluluto agad ang mga problema ko 'pag nagprito na ako ng hamburger" she placed the fried patties to the buns.

"Isa pa, pangarap ko kayang maging kusinera!" She wore a wide smile, as she spreaded a circle of catsup-mayonnaise dressing on top. She peeped at Ren's group. They're five. She took another beef patty from their red ice chests, and fried it in a haste. "Eto, dream come true! Pinayagan na'kong makasama sila dito!"

As the last burger patty remained in the heated griddle, Estelle placed the cooked burger sandwiches on a plastic tray. Mamay Cynthia took the tray filled with burger sandwiches.

Estelle's mother served the sandwiches to the Tejeros Triggers' members. She gave them with a smile, mellow friendly greetings, and kindness of a mother to her young patrons. "Anakis, ako naman diyan! Samahan mo naman ang sila doon."