South Africa
January 2017
When Thirdy arrived, the driver from the company where he rented a car was waiting for him outside the airport.
"Hello, good day. Sir Ferdinand Ravena, right?" the man asked.
"Yes."
"Here's the key and please download this app so you'll have help navigating the place you will visit. Enjoy, Sir!" the man said, holding a poster of the app and giving him the car keys.
"Thank you! Take care."
Thirdy will stay at a place in Sandton, the economic hub of South Africa, while Bea is on a mission on the other side, in Alexandra.
Alexandra is a community where people suffer from so much poverty compared to the other side.
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Zel said that they are now in the clinic assigned to them but tomorrow they will go to a community a little far from their quarters.
Thirdy went to the grocery store after settling his things sa place na narent niya.
He bought crabs and all the ingredients needed. After that, he went back to his place and baked them. He also prepared brown rice and Beef Steak. He prepared three servings, for him, Bea, and Zel.
Zel told Thirdy the time of their rest and their next shift. He's super excited to see her, of course.
He drove his car to the clinic Zel mentioned. Medyo malayo yung parking because the community doesn't have space for cars. He walked papunta pero parang di niya makita so he decided to ask some people.
"Hello, do you know where this clinic is?" Thirdy showed the photo Zel sent and a few kids ran to him and said, "This way."
He followed the kids and as a thank-you gift, he gave them the extra cheese tarts that were supposed to be given to Zel and Bea's colleagues.
"I'll bake again tomorrow na lang," he thought.
When Thirdy entered, nanlambot yung puso niya. Sobrang sisikan sa clinic at sobrang busy ng lahat.
He went to the information desk and asked,
"Where's Doctor De Leon?"
Cathleen heard him and smiled.
"Filipino, Sir?"
"Yes."
"Binilin na po kayo ni Doc Zel. Labas lang po kayo sa pintong yon. Tapos nandon lang po yung dalawa sa garden. Kakatapos lang po ng shift nila."
"Thank you!"
Thirdy followed her instructions.
"Madami naman palang nagtatagalog na kasama dito. Dapat magaling na siya by this time," he thought.
And the nurse was right. He saw Zel standing in front of Bea and Bea looked like she was about to fall asleep. She looked so tired.
Napailing si Thirdy. "Namayat siya." He's thinking too much if kasalanan niya ba.
"Hello." Zel is the only one na lumingon.
"Antok." Turo ni Zel kay Bea na hanggang ngayon di pa din alam na nasa likod niya si Thirdy.
He tapped her back. When she finally looked, nagulat siya at tinitigan lang si Thirdy.
"Uhm, you guys have been staring at each other for minutes. Can we eat now? I'm famished. What did you cook?" Zel asked.
"Beef Steak and Baked Crabs," Thirdy said but the staring game is still on.
Bea gave up when Zel opened the Tupperware and the smell of crabs, cheese, and butter filled the place. She stood up and went away.
"Baka di lang makapaniwala," Zel said habang kumakain na.
"She isn't happy to see me," Thirdy said sadly.
"Don't waste your money. Make kulit," Zel suggested.
"I'll leave na. Please force her to eat those. Payat niya."
"She doesn't eat anymore. All she does is work," Zel said.
"Force her to eat, Zel! Thanks."
"Chef!" Paalis na si Thirdy nang tumawag si Zel. Lumingon si Thirdy and she continued, "Tomorrow, we will go door to door and check on everyone. Maybe you wanna join and, I don't know, bake something for them, kahit tagiisang cupcake?"
"How many houses?"
"Just 50."
"Noted, Zel! See you tomorrow and please, encourage her to eat. Alam ko she'll eat that when I'm not around."
"I'll bring her these!" Zel pointed to all the food in front of her.
When Thirdy was out of sight, Zel dialed her BFF's number and shouted,
"ANG ARTE. WALA NA. DITO KA NA. UBUSIN KO TO."
"BITCH, DON'T YOU DARE. COMING."
When Bea came back sa garden, hinila ni Zel yung small portion ng hair niya.
"Sinundan ka dito. Iinarte ka lang?"
Hindi sumagot si Bea but Thirdy was right. Bea ate almost everything, maybe because Thirdy wasn't around.
"Damn, these crabs are the bomb," she commented when the crabs were almost gone.
"Eat everything ah," Zel said.
"Yeah. I missed his cooking."
"You didn't miss him?" Zel asked.
But again, Bea didn't answer.
"Ang labo mo," Zel added.
"It's just that for the first time, the reason why I ran away came running after me and it's so new to me."
"Take a risk, Bei! He almost dropped everything to see you. Appreciate his efforts, at least."
"I don't know what to feel. I thought when I took everyone's shift and kept myself busy, I'll be able to forget him. I'm actually fine now but he showed up. Damn, he's here with my favorite dish in the world."
"Edi love him."
"Hindi."
"Wag ka magtagalog. Di bagay sa accent mo."
"Hay nako. Don't tell him to make kulit. I know you're the one who gave our address."
"Excuse me. Address of the hospital," Zel said.
"But Bea, seriously, give him a chance. He cooks so well. You can even hire me as your kid's nanny, as long as I can eat everything that Thirdy cooks."
"I don't know, Zel! I don't know."
