Pearl of the Orient Restaurant
Manila, Philippines
2019 - Present
Van owns the restaurant now. Thirdy visited the Pearl to invite his best friend to his own restaurant's first-year anniversary.
Van greeted his successful best friend, "Brooo!" Parang ewan si Van sa excitement, ang gulo-gulo. Napailing na lang si Thirdy.
"Van, I am just here to give you an invitation. You're coming with my inaanaks and Mariane, right?"
Van smiled, a little calmer now. "Wouldn't miss it, bro! Mariane can't wait already. Is she coming home? The kids miss her na."
"Oh bro, parang hindi mo naman kilala yun. She's got a lot of things to do. She'll come if she's available."
"Hay nako. What did I tell you? Put a ring on her damn finger na kasi para 'di na paalis-alis."
Thirdy laughed it off. "You know she hates commitment, Van."
"Let me remind you, brother, ah, you're the only one she wants to stay in her life, so I swear that means she's ready to marry you. Tsaka, look bro, she hates commitment pero you guys are in a relationship. She just needs a little time to get used to it."
"I know. I'm not sad about it. Sanay na 'ko. One year and a half, Van! I'm fine!"
"Enough with the lies, bro. Basta ako, I'll always push you to put a ring on her na. I'm sure my kids will say the same to their torpe Ninong too."
The two laughed and had a little chitchat on what changed in their businesses. After catching up, Thirdy went to see some of his other friends.
"Anton, bro!" bati niya sa pangalawang tropa sa listahan niya.
"Thirdy, my Chefie boy!"
"Shut up!" Thirdy hates it when Anton tries to give him nicknames.
"Uy, Mikki, laki na ng inaanak ko. Kelan ba lalabas 'yan sa tiyan mo?" Thirdy greeted her while touching her bump.
"Next month na, Thirds. Are you here by that time with her?" Thirdy just made a face at the couple.
"Oooh, anong mukha 'yan? Kayo pa naman, ah," Anton curiously said, trying to confirm.
"Yep. Ano ka ba? Strong 'to," sabay flex ng muscles niya.
"So what's with the long face, Thirds?" Mikki asked.
"She's flying here and there, everywhere. Finishing all her missions." He wants to dismiss the topic; he doesn't need pity.
"Well, that's her life. After the mission naman, she said she'll settle down na, 'di ba?" Nagulat si Thirdy at that news. Wala naman kasing sinasabi sa kanya.
"You think so?" he asked genuinely.
"She told us. When the whole tropahan is there at your house party, and you cooked for us, nagkukuwentuhan kami nila Rhi. She told us that she'll just finish the mission and she'll settle down na."
"Pero 'di sinabing with you, Pare," pangloloko ni Anton sa kaibigan.
"Gago," sambit ni Thirdy.
"You can ask Jolo. You know naman na mas close si Rhi sa kanya. They understand each other more. What can I share? All I know is how to model and manage artists. Those two talk about anatomy, and all I do is make fun of those medical terms," reklamo ni Mikki, at tinawanan naman siya ni Thirdy.
"Mahal pa rin kita, love," Anton blurted out, trying to reassure Mikki.
"Okay, I'll leave. Ang haharot niyo! Sa anniv ng resto, ah," Thirdy reminded the couple.
He drove away to the Mendozas'. Mikki is right; Rhi is her closest friend here in the Philippines. All they talk about is how fascinating each case of their patients is.
He rang the doorbell, and Jolo opened the gate for him. Habol-habol naman kay Jolo ang husky nila na si Biscuit. Biscuit likes Thirdy, kaya lumulundag ito sa kanya at para bang niyayaya siyang maglaro.
"Biscuit, come here," saway ni Jolo sa alaga.
"Bro, alone ka?" Thirdy asked.
"Duty pa si Rhi. Kailangan nang kumayod, may baby plans na eh," Jolo said, smiling.
"Buti pa kayo," Thirdy answered.
"Malapit na matapos mission ah. Rhi and I will have a vacation sa Canada for a year. We'll try to have a baby. Hindi makabuo dito, bro, eh because super stressed si Rhi sa work."
"Hindi pa nga ako kasal, eh. Good for both of you. Ninong ako, ah."
"No need to ask. Automatic 'yon, bro."
After their small talk, Thirdy gave the invitation and said goodbye.
Kelan kaya ako magiging sigurado na sa akin ka uuwi after your mission? Tanong ni Thirdy sa picture ng nobya sa bedside table.
Saktong tunog naman ng telepono niya; she's calling on FaceTime. Kaagad niyang sinagot.
"Babe!!" she greeted him like an excited kid.
"Babe."
"Why do you look so tired? You gave out anniversary invitations na?"
"Yeah. They are all looking for you." Thirdy tried to hide the sadness in his voice.
"Hey, don't be sad. I promise after this mission, I'll always be present sa lahat ng anniversary ng restaurant." Thirdy smiled at the thought na katabi niya ang nobya sa mga susunod na taon.
"Don't make promises you can't keep, Sweetcheeks."
"The mission is almost done. This is the last one na, and Rhi's father offered me a spot as a board member sa hospital nila," sabay wink ng nobya.
Bigla namang nabuhayan si Thirdy. "Totoo? You're staying here in the Philippines na with me?"
"Well, yeah, if I decline the offer of the NYC hospital. Yep, I'll be there."
"Ohhhh. They offered you again?" Bumalik naman ang tamlay ni Thirdy. Pagod na siyang magparinig sa kanya.
"Don't be sad. After the mission, let's talk about it. I love you." She pouted and put the screen closer to her lips. She laughed at her own silliness. "Bye, I have patients na."
Thirdy laughed. "I love you too. Bye." And his girl ended the call.
Anong laban natin sa ospital kung saan siya sumikat? Naging masaya? Ano ba 'yan, Pilipinas. Mukhang hindi na tayo mapipili. Tumayo si Thirdy sa kama at sinimulang magluto ng dinner.
While cooking, their corgi went to him and barked. "Hey, Nike! Why?"
Nike continued to bark.
"Yep. I miss your mom too." Their dog is clingy to her mom. Mana sa tatay.
Nike ran to his room again, and after a few minutes, the dog was barking at him again. It seemed like may gusto siyang sabihin sa tatay niyang busy sa pagluluto.
"What ba? We'll eat in a few. Dad will just finish cooking."
But Nike kept on barking. Thirdy went to his room and checked his phone; she called again pala. Maybe Nike was annoyed that his phone kept on ringing. She left a few missed calls and a text message.
"I miss you and your food. Congratulations on the restaurant's anniversary. I am so proud of you, future husband ;)"
Damn it! Just like that, and all of his doubts are gone. This girl really knows how to make all the butterflies go into his stomach.
"Good job, Nike! I'll let you eat two extra cups of dog food!" And he continued cooking while smiling like an idiot.
