Turning Tables (ON-GOING)

Chapter Twenty-Five

Unexpected

Hindi ko nga talaga inaasahan ito. I can't believe what I'm seeing. Maybe I'm over exaggerating, but this is very unusual for me. Siguro nabaguhan lang ako at hindi nasanay sa mga ganito. I'm just not used to be in public places.

Me and exes before go to expensive restaurants, hotels or even resorts kapag nag-dadate. Kahit isa man d'on, hindi pareho sa lugar kung saan ako dinala ni Kiel. He took me to a very simple, different and I must say... unique place.

What kind of spiritual being went inside him to take me out on a date?I'm still in total shock!

We're now standing outside, sa isang food market. Sabay kaming pumasok ni Kiel doon. Linilingon ko ang mga iba't-ibang food stalls. Kahit saan ako nakatingin ang daming pagkain. Katulad rin ito sa mga food market sa Europe. The only difference is... this one's cheaper.

Paano kami nakapunta rito? Nasa likod lang pala ng University namin. Grabe, I never knew that there's a food market behind our school. Ngayon lang ako nakapunta rito. This is a first for me!

I'm feeling so many emotions right now. Excited at masaya kasi kasama ko si Kiel pero at the same time takot kainin ang mga pagkain rito.

I'm really a picky eater. Dapat sinusuri kong mabuti ang pagkain. Is it healthy, is it clean? But seeing all these food at para makasama si Kiel, I guess I have to set that aside. Minsan lang ito eh. Just like before when we ate at a cheap eatery.

While gripping my bag, I walked towards the first food stall and checked their food. Nasa tabi ko lang si Kiel. Tinignan ko ang menu at may nakalagayon d'on, Assorted Pinoy Street food.

Binasa ko ang mga nakasulat sa ibaba n'on. Kwek kwek, kikiam,  fishball, isaw and tempura. I looked at the picture. Ngumiwi ako, that's not the kind of tempura I ate when we had our vacation in Tokyo.

Tinignan ko naman iyong stove kong saan niluluto ang mga iyon. I saw these tiny balls that are coated in an orange batter. Tinagilid ko ang ulo ko remembering the time when my guy friends, Ivan and JC ate those. Pero sa kanilang dalawa, si Ivan talaga mahilig sa mga street food. Kuripot kasi iyon at walang pakialam kung malinis ba o hindi. He always ate that and brings it inside the University.

Lumipat naman ang tingin ko sa isa pang pagkain na nasa stick. Wait.. what the hell is that thing? Ano'ng klaseng barbecue 'yan?

I swear, if I can see my face right now palagi lang itong ngumingiwi. At dahil rin curious ako, di na napigilan at tinanong iyong vendor.

"Ano po iyan?" I pointed at the barbecue.

"Ah, bituka po ng manok, miss" sabi n'ong nagtinda habang pinapaypayan ang mga iyon.

Bumilog ang mata ko. What?! Bituka ng manok? Is he serious? Pwede ba iyang kainin? That's dirty! I can't imagine people eating those.

Binalingan ko si Kiel. He pouted like he's trying to hide a smile. He looks so amused while looking at my reaction.

"Gusto mo?" he said while pointing the food.

"Uh.. ikaw.. ano ba'ng masarap dito?" I scanned my surroundings.

Gusto ko sanang itanong kung ano ba ang malinis at healthy dito, but I might offend him. Okay na sana iyong Kalenderya. Pero ito, puro mga street food kasi.

I guess he really took me to a place that I've never been before. Kaya ba siguro aliw na aliw siya kanina sa reaksyon ko dahil isa akong first timer dito?

"That one" he pointed again at the assorted Pinoy street food.

Nakataas ang kanyang kilay habang tinitigan ko siya bago binalik ang mga tingin sa mga street food.