New York
De Leon's Mansion
October 2016
Thirdy's normal day in NY is training Loel from 9:00 AM until 4:00 PM, and then the two will eat all their creations and talk about random stuff. At night, Thirdy goes to the gym so he can fall asleep.
He has been there for two weeks now, and each day his love for the De Leons is getting deeper. Elmer and Det made sure that Thirdy's life here in New York would be the best. Loel is already like a brother to him, but the youngest De Leon? He has never met her.
She's studying medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College in NY. Of course, he heard a lot of stories about her. She's so precious to the De Leons, pero Loel will always say, "She's a ghost. One day you'll see her, and the next day? She's on the other side of the world."
Det wants to call it "missions" because she's always volunteering for countries that badly need health assistance. Her medical missions are endless.
Thirdy wonders if all she does are medical missions, wala siyang income? Wow. Knowing na she's a daughter of a really rich couple here in NY, she should be busy making herself rich too, pero mukhang she really wants to serve the people.
The youngest De Leon will graduate soon. "I hope I can meet your angel, Tita Det," Thirdy will always say every time Det praises her daughter.
Today, he went to the kitchen early. He wants to bake something for the De Leons. A helper went near him and asked, "Chef, too early for the lesson. Can I help you with anything?"
Thirdy smiled. "Galing mag-English, ah," and they both laughed. Lahat kasi ng helpers ng De Leons ay Filipino.
They will always say na kailangang matutunan ng mga anak nila ang environment ng Pilipinas kahit sa bahay lang. Loel actually loves the Philippines, pero feeling ni Thirdy, Palawan lang ang alam ni Loel sa Pilipinas na lagi niyang pinagtatawanan.
Feeling kasi ni Loel, ang buong Pilipinas ay Palawan. Kaya nangako si Thirdy na itutour niya si Loel kapag pumunta siya sa Pilipinas. Tatapusin lang daw ni Loel ang degree sa culinary sa NY at baka magtayo ng restaurant, at kapag okay na lahat, uuwi ito sa Pilipinas.
"Baka naman akala mo si Van lang at ang mga Valdez ang mga tao sa Pilipinas. Maraming tao doon, Loel, ah," pang-aasar ni Thirdy.
Noong natapos na si Thirdy sa cheese tarts na ginawa niya, binigyan niya ang lahat ng helpers sa kitchen.
"Wow, Chef Thirdy! Ang sarap talaga ng lahat ng gawa mo," bati sa kanya ng driver ng mga De Leon.
"Kuya, bolero talaga."
"Chef Thirdy, anong pangalan ng restaurant mo nga sa Pilipinas? Mag-iipon ako, doon kami kakain ng pamilya ko pagbalik ko ng Pilipinas," tanong ng guard sa bahay nila Elmer.
"Hindi ko po sariling restaurant 'yon, Kuya, eh. Pero nagtatrabaho po ako sa Pearl of the Orient Manila. Kulang pa po ang ipon para sa sariling restaurant, eh."
Saktong pasok naman ni Loel sa kitchen. "Why does it smell so good?"
"Uy bro, check out these cheese tarts I made." Thirdy gave some cheese tarts to Loel.
"Wow. Since when did you become the king of pastries?" Loel asked while looking at the tarts.
"Just now, bro," and Thirdy tapped his shoulder, a sign that they will start their session na.
1st week: Mexican Food (Loel's choice)
2nd week: Steaks (Thirdy's pick)
3rd week: Filipino Food (Loel's choice)
"What weird food are we going to do?" Loel asked.
"Hey, let me remind you. You're the one who picked Filipino cuisine."
"I don't like Kare-Kare. It's weird, but Dad and Mom keep on reheating it." Thirdy laughed.
"Meron pa rin? Noong Monday pa 'yon, ah. Wednesday na," Thirdy said.
"Yep. They even asked Manang to do their best so it won't expire or whatsoever," Loel said and rolled his eyes.
"Okay. Today, we'll do two of the all-time favorites of Filipinos. Sinigang na Baka and Adobong Manok."
"Oh, I tried Adobo already," Loel said proudly.
"Where? Sa Palawan?" pang-aasar ni Thirdy sa kaibigan.
They started their session. Thirdy will show Loel how to do it, and then after that, Loel will do his own version. The challenge is that Loel should have his own touch sa recipes na ginagawa ni Thirdy.
"What the hell? I can do Adobo. It's easy to add something new, pero the other one, Sinigang? I'm out of ideas," reklamo ni Loel na problemado na.
Sabay pasok naman si Det sa kitchen. "Boys, what are you cooking today?"
"Not Kare-Kare, Mom!" Loel said, sounding annoyed, at tumawa naman si Thirdy.
"Adobo and Sinigang, Tita," Thirdy answered politely.
"Okay. Make sure you have plenty, okay? Beatriz is coming home."
"How many hours this time?" Loel asked jokingly.
"Hey, we don't know that yet, but she said that the Africa mission is already done. So if there's no next mission yet, we have one month to see our angel," Det said and left the kitchen.
"More like a ghost," Loel whispered.
"You hate your sister?" Thirdy asked.
"Nope, but I hate how she gives herself to the people and doesn't mind us. I mean, we miss her, you know. She always acts like she never left every time na nandito siya. You'll meet her tonight. I'm sure bukod sa luto natin, Mom will ask the helpers to do lobsters and crabs. She's addicted to those things. Every seafood is a gem for her," kwento ni Loel.
"Should I bake her some crabs?"
"If you want her to fall in love with you, yep. She won't let you go if that happens."
"Is she pretty? If yes, why not?"
Loel and Thirdy laughed.
"You tell me," Loel answered, and they went back to cooking.
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NOTE:
Please make sure you check the dates and the location sa taas para di kayo maguluhan. This chapter came from the past 🤪
all the love,
jaye xx
