New York
October 2016
Falling
When they arrived in front of the apartment that the De Leons rented for him, Loel and Bea got out of the car.
"Bro, we can move the session to 10:00 AM. Mukhang you'll think of someone the whole night, eh," Loel said, which made Bea look at him as if asking her kuya to spill the tea.
"10:00 AM, your face. 9:00 AM sharp tomorrow," kaagad na sabi ni Thirdy.
"Thank you for driving me here. Thanks, Doc! Hope you enjoyed the crabs and the lobster," Thirdy added.
"I loved it. Please bake some tomorrow too, please?" She just did the puppy dog eyes, and Thirdy couldn't help it.
"Okay. Let's just pray that Manang will buy crabs for tomorrow." He's blushing now.
"She will. Good night, Chef Thirdy!"
"Good night, brotha," sabay wink ni Loel habang papasok silang magkapatid sa kotse.
Thirdy smiled as he walked inside his apartment.
Meanwhile, inside the car, Loel asked Bea, "So, what can you say about my mentor?"
"I fucking love the crabs. Can we keep him forever? Or can I hire him sa future home ko to cook for me?"
"Or you can just marry him," Elmer suggested. After Elmer said that, napuno ng tukso at asaran ang sasakyan.
He didn't go to the gym today, kaya feeling niya hindi siya makakatulog agad. But he's wrong; after he took a shower, he combed his hair and watched Chef's Table on Netflix. Hindi niya namalayan, nakatulog na pala siya.
The next morning, Thirdy woke up at exactly 7:00 AM. He did his routine and bought cookies from Levain Bakery. Thirdy is currently exploring the bakeshops around NYC. He's got a list. He already visited Arcade Bakery, Maman, Breads Bakery, and Dominique Ansel Kitchen.
After purchasing some pastries, he went straight to the De Leons'. The guards there quickly opened the gate upon seeing him on the CCTV.
Thirdy went straight to the kitchen and was shocked to find Bea there.
"Doctora," bati ni Thirdy.
"Hi, Chef! You're here to make baked crabs, right?" She smiled.
Damn, iuwi kita dyan, eh, Thirdy thought.
"Uhm, yeah, after our session," Thirdy said habang sinusuot ang apron niya. Bea was currently looking around for something. She's trying to cook breakfast, napansin naman yon ni Thirdy. "What are you making, Dra.?"
"Uhm, I need to make breakfast. I forgot that they don't usually eat breakfast here," Bea said, a little frustrated.
Thirdy seated himself near the island table and watched her. The stove was on, pero wala pa ring mantika. She was looking for it. Noong hindi na makatiis si Thirdy, he stepped in.
"Hey! Here, take these cookies. One lang, ah? I'll make you breakfast. Go have a seat na lang," Thirdy pointed to the stool kung saan siya nakaupo kanina.
He decided to make an egg omelette with melted cheese, fry some bacon, and cook some marinated beef strips.
"Are you a rice person or nah?" Thirdy asked.
"I eat everything. You decide, Chef," she said while munching on her second cookie.
Bea was super amazed by how calm Thirdy was habang nagluluto. After eating all his cookies, lumapit na siya kay Thirdy. She tiptoed, placed her hands on Thirdy's shoulders, and rested her head there to peek at what was happening.
