Magkahawak kamay kami ni Chef Park nang lumabas ng simbahan. We both attended the first Sunday service of Pastor David. Walang mapaglagyan ng saya ang puso ko. It has always been a dream to be a teacher at ngayon ngang ako ay licensed teacher na, excited na excited akong mag apply sa mga schools. After all these years of failing and having self pity and doubt, finally, I have made it in His own time. I actually almost failed the exam with my score, pasang awa man, ang mahalaga, nalampasan ko ang isang yugtong ito sa buhay ko. At alam kong kung buhay ang aking ama, magiging masaya din siya gaya nang kung gaano naging kasaya ang mama at mga kapatid ko nang tumawag ako kanina bago magsimba para i-share ang magandang balita. Nakatutuwa nga ang mama ko, she wanted to run to Manila to celebrate pero dahil medyo masama rin ang pakiramdam niya, we both agreed that I will just visit them after ng oath taking ko.
"Hey, Chai. Do you wanna eat first?" Chef Park asked with his dreamy eyes looking on mine. I could not help but smile. Ibang klase talaga tong si Lord. Apart from my passing the exam, I have Cher Park on my side, isa pa sa matagal ko nang pinagdarasal. Di pa naman officially na kami pero we are dating, exclusively dating as I may say. Ako na, ako na ang may mahabang hair. We both agreed to enjoy each other's company as we get to know more each other at totoo ngang napakarami ko pang bagay na di alam kay Cher Park tulad na lang nang mahilig pala siya sa kamatis at tuyo. Noong una ayaw niya talang kumain noong pinagluto ko siya pero nang matikman na niya, halos kada lingo, gusto na niyang kumakain kami ng tuyo at kamatis.
"Nope. Are you?" I started teasing Chef Park. Pinalobo ko ang magkabila kong pisngi at di naman niya napigilang ngumiti.
"Ikaw ha. You are making fun of my weight gain." Ginulo ni Chef Park ang buhok ko at hinayaan ko lang naman siyang gawin iyon.
"Well, its past 12 but I am not really feeling hungry Chef eh. Baka ikaw. Ang lakas mo kasing kumain eh. "
Chef Park pulled me closer to him and kissed my temple bago kami sabay na nag lakad papunta ng kotse niya. He opened the door for me and yes, I sat at the back of the car. Just like before, he always wants me safe kahit na mag mukha siyang driver ko. He said I am safer when I am at the back plus he wont be able to concentrate daw kasi while driving dahil titingin at titingin lang daw siya sa akin. Mahirap na daw at my beauty might cause him accident.
"Ikaw kasi Chai. Sinong di tataba sayo? Eh araw araw kang nagluluto for me. And here you are teasing me?" Chef Park started the car engine and started driving.
"Gusto ko lang namang maging masaya ka sa mga new recipes ko. Saka we are using them naman in the resto ah." Pagtatanggol ko sa sarili ko. Habang naghihintay kasi kami sa result ng exam ko I started to go back to Chef Park's kitchen and helped out. While what I have with Chef Park is not official yet at nagmamaganda pa ko kaya di ko pa siya sinasagot, we talk and plan as if we are co-owners of the resto. Label na lang naman talaga ang kulang sa amin at ngayon ngang nakapasa na ko sa exam, plano ko na rin siyang sagutin sana over lunch kaya lang di ko alam kung paano ko i-oopen up ang topic kaya heto ako ngayon kahit na niyaya ni Chef na kumain eh walang matinong masagot sa tanong niyang if I want to eat first.
He played on the car's stereo and the song Born for you started playing. Nakakakilig lang talaga to know that you are born for someone who will perfectly fits your hands against each other. Ay kay tamis.
"Chai, I feel like eating Filipino food. Let's go to Barrio Fiesta?"
"Oh, okay. I was actually planning on having lunch sana sa resto para love your own."
"Minsan lang naman so we could continue you teaching me about Filipno culture. Please?"
"Sige, okay lang. Saka ano pala, may sasabihin din ako sa yo mamaya. ha." Lakas loob kong sinabi kay Chef. Basta handa na ko. Handang handa na kong mag commit sa kanya dahil alam kong di naman niya bibitawan ang kamay ko.
"Bakit mamaya pa Babe? Di na lang ngayon?"
"Don't call me Babe! I am not a pig." Pareho kaming malakas tumawa ni Chef Park. He is insistent on calling me Babe while I would always stop him and tell him we are not official plus I am not a 'babe' in the city kahit pa 68 kilos na ang timbang ko the last time I checked.
"But kidding aside Babe, I am proud of you. Congratulations on not giving up on your dreams and now you made it!" Di pa naman kami nakakalayo sa simbahan, Chef Park stopped the car at a flower shop nearby.
"Just wait for me here Chai. Let me buy flowers for you. Just stay put inside the car." Chef Park got off and went ahead. I was left speechless. What was just a dream before is now my present and future. Kapag nga naman you trust in the Lord, everything will fall in the right place. Siguro noon di pa naging kami dahil pareho pa naming hinahanap ang mga sarili namin. Chef Park was trying to heal from Ms. Lucy while I was trying to heal against my personal struggles as a person.
I was lost with my wandering when my phone rang and surprisingly, si Chef Park ang tumatawag. Talaga nga naman tong si Chef Park, tumawag pa. Hindi na lang bumalik sa kotse para kausapin ako kung ano man ang sasabihin niya. He was standing by the glass door and was showing the bouquet of red and white roses. I saw him got something from his pocket. He chuckled a bit before he asked me, "Chai, will you marry me?"
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...
