"Chai, that's fine. It was just a mock exam. That doesn't mean you won't pass the Licensure."
Muntik ko nang maibuga ang iniinom kong kape nang makita ko kung sino ang umupo sa harap ng napili kong table sa coffee shop na lagi kong pinupuntahan. I have always wanted to see him again pero hindi sa ganitong pagkakataon. Of all times naman na makikita ako ni Chef Park, yung ganitong sitwasyon pa. Mukhang loser na naman ako. We just had our mock exam for Licensure at gaya ng dati, hindi ko naipasa. Well, malapit na sana kaso nag kulang ako ng isang puntos para maka pasok sa cut off.
"Chef Park? What... teka, anong ginagawa mo rito?" Gulat kong tanong sa kanya. I could not contain my happiness kahit na anong pilit kong itago ito. Kusang hinaplos ng mga kamay ko ang magkabila niyang pisngi. Parang sira lang talaga. Chef Park didn't stop me from doing so. Sa halip, hinawakan niya ang kamay ko bago inilagay din ang mga kamay niya sa magkabila kong pisngi. Tahimik lang naming pinagmasdan ang isa't isa. Hanggang sa tumunog ang alarm ng cellphone ko. I have set my alarm every two in the afternoon to remind me to relax and keep going for my goal na kahit na anong mangyari kakayanin kong matupad ang pangarap kong maging guro.
"Chai, I badly miss you."
"Paano mong nalaman kung nasaan ako Chef?"
"I've been following you around Chai. Isang linggo na. I wanted to just wait until your exam result pero di ko napigilan ang sarili kong lapitan ka when I saw you."
"Oo nga Chef. Failure na naman. Nakakaloka lang. Mahina lang yata talaga ang utak ko. Ang dami ko na ngang mani na nakain pero kulang pa rin."
"I can help you with your exam. I can review you. I'll ask you questions then you can answer. We can practice."
"Chef... "
"Let us not talk about our past anymore Chai. We have both hurt each other. Can't we just stop running away from what we feel?" Straight forward lang na tanong ni Chef Park. Minsan talaga tong mga foreigner na to, laging nagmamadali pero kung sa bagay, tama rin naman siya. Ang dami na naming panahong nasayang dahil sa mga mali naming desisyon.
"Chef Park."
"Please don't tell me you are not ready yet Chai. I have waited for so long."
"Ano kasi Chef..."
"I can go with you in the Middle East. Dubai, Qatar, Oman, tell me which country and I will gladly relocate myself and start with you." Chef Park got something from his pocket and...
"Chai dela Rosa, I do not want to lose you anymore, will you marry me?" Biglang lumuhod si Chef Park at pinagtinginan kami ng mga tao. A lot of people took photos of what was happening. I was left dumbfounded.
"Chef Park, ano to? Tumayo ka nga."
"I won't unless you take the ring and wear it on your finger."
"Chef."
Gusto ko pa sanang kontrolin ang nararamdaman ng puso ko pero mismong isip ko na rin ang pumigil sa akin. I got the ring and wore it in my finger. Maluha luha ko pang sinabing 'Yes. I will marry you.' Nang biglang may malakas na tunog na sumira sa maganda kong panaginip!!! Nabangga pala ang bus na sinasakyan ko.
"Relax lang po tayong lahat. Wag po tayong magpapanic." Narinig kong sabi ng konduktor. Napapikit ako bago nagpasalamat sa Panginoon dahil ligtas kaming lahat at walang nasaktan sa amin. Nasiraan lang ang bus at ngayon ay nakaparada lang sa tabi ng kalsada. Mabuti na lang di ganun kalakas ang impact ng pagkabangga nito sa malaking puno.
Dahan dahan akong tumayo para bumaba san at sumakay na lang ng isa pang bus. Mahirap nang malate. Mock exam ko ngayon kaya kailangang maging maaga.
"Ma'am, sorry po. Di po muna kayo pwedeng umalis. Titingnan mo muna ng doctor na paparating at mga first aiders kung okay po tayong lahat. Tumawag na po yung driver natin."
"Pero Manong, wala po kayong dapat ipag-alala. Wala naman po akong galos."
"Pasensya na po Ma'am. Kailangan po nating sumunod sa SOP."
"Miss, just stay put and listen to him. This is for our safety." I was surprised to hear the voice I was not expecting. I slapped my face just to check if nanaginip na naman ba ako pero di ako pwedeng magkamali. Tumabi sa upuan ko ang lakaking napaginipan ko lang kanina.
"Chef Park? Anong ginagawa mo dito sa bus?" Gulat kong tanong. Pero sa halip na sagutin niya ang tanong ko, Chef Park bent his body and rested his head on my shoulder.
"Don't worry Chai. I won't leave you here. Hinding hindi na."
"Chef Park!"
"Let me just rest and feel your presence. Miss na miss kita Babe." Hindi ko mapigilang kiligin sa sinabi ni Chef Park. Pero hindi pa rin nag si-sink in sa akin kung bakit talaga siya andito kaya naman ginalaw galaw ko ang braso ko na siyang nagpa ayos ng pagkakaupo ni Chef.
"Ano bang sinasabi mo Chef? It's been a while since we last see each other. Tapos ngayon tatawagin mo kong Babe?"
"Technically, its not the case Babe. I've been stalking you and following you around for the past days."
"Ha? Are you crazy? Chef Park, we had an accident and here you are being so cheesy!" Kunwari lang naman talaga akong naiinis dahil deep inside, kilig na kilig ako. Daig ko pa ang teenager sa nararamdaman ko.
"Don't worry. I won't be a destruction to you. I will be your inspiration."
"Chef."
"Chai, I know everything and you do not need to explain yourself anymore."
"Chef I don't understand." Hindi na nagsalita pa si Chef Park. His hand found its way to mine. Hindi ko na rin iniwasan ang kamay ni Chef at hinayan ko lang siyang hawakan ang kamay ko.
"Chai, I miss you so much and I am willing to wait until you realize your dream before we settle down."
"Settle down? Agad agad?" Kasal? Seryoso ba talaga tong si Chef Park?
"I said, I am willing to wait Chai. I won't stop you from reaching your dreams but let me be part of your world Chai. Allow me to, will you?"
BINABASA MO ANG
In Love with a Chef
ChickLitAll she wanted to do is to prove to her parents that the profession she chose is better than handling their fishery business in the province. That even if she is a teacher, she is still capable of doing something big. Baon ang sama ng loob sa mga m...
