Winter In Summer

CHAPTER 14

The restaurant is cozy and it also has a romantic ambiance. "You like it?", tanong sa akin ni Zimram. "It's lovely", I said. Umupo kaming dalawa, sa labas dahil doon ang pinareserve niya.

"I also reserved our food", he said. Pinabayaan ko nalang siya dahil abala ako sa aking pagkamangha sa restaurant, when the food came.

Pagkatingin ko sa kanilang linapag na mga pagkain, puros masasabaw like tinola, sinigang and bulalo. "Wow", takam na takam na ang aking lalamunan. Zimram smiled at me.

"I knew you would love it", sabi niya.

Sumunod ang mga mala fast food, ngayon ko lang narealize Zimram is a fast food lover.

"I bet no one cooks for you puro ka fast food, it's not healthy.", I said.

He looked at me when I noticed his cold eyes shown a deep emotion that I couldn't read.

"You won the bet then", he tried hard to keep something in his voice.

Binalewala ko nalang iyon. I smiled at him. "Then I'll cook for you, baby muchi", I winked at him.

"Can't wait honey babe", he said. I laughed how cute his cold voice turn into a warm one.

"Ang corny", I said. "I know", he use his cold voice playfully, such a talent.

We started our dinner with laughter and bago kami kumain, we prayed for the food.

Tahimik namin tinikman ang pagkain, the food is beyond delicious. "Masarap?", he asked and looked into my lips. I pouted more and nodded, he just laughed at my stunt.

Nagkwentuhan lang kami, most of it ako nag salita tungkol sa mga kabataan ko na napakaboring. "Ikaw, sa Canada ka tumira diba? I'm curious why you hate the country of your both parents, you're a pure Filipino naman ?", dami kong tanong.

"Yes, we live in Canada, obviously I'm a Filipino... Uhm about the hate in this country... I--", nahihirapan niyang sabihin. "Hindi naman kita pinipilit, sorry", I said. Maybe the topic is too sensitive, I respect him.

He sighed, "I'm sorry".

"It's okay, don't worry too much I respect you", I assured him. He gave me a 'Thank you, I'll say a story once I'm ready' smile.

Kanina ko rin napansin ang mga kwento niya na para bang kulang, I don't know. Nalaman ko rin na kapitbahay niya si ZImrah sa Canada, that's why they know each other.

"Instant alaga", pang aasar ko sakanya.

"Tss... She's a friend", he said.

Magsasalita pa sana ako ng may pahabol na sopas na dumating sa aming table. "I know sopas is yummier when your hangover. So can you help to taste this wine first.", he said as if malalasing ako agad ng wine.

So I tried the wine na linabas niya. Unang tikim ko, it taste familiar... at first it has a cold vibe inside my mouth then biglang naging sweet na mainit sa lalamunan. "Ang sarap", I said. Chineck ko ang brand ng alak, pagtingin ko it's my on-going wine! "How?", gulat kong sabi kay Zimram. Last time I check medyo nahihirapan pa akong I-combine ang mga lasa.

"I belive we're in a partnership", he said.

"Tinuloy mo?", I asked. "I tried that's not yet final because you will be last combinationin this", he said. "Dapat lang noh, net I'll go check it", I said.