"Low fire, low fire."
Hininaan ko ang apoy ng stove atsaka mahinang pinaypayan ang itaas ng frying pan. I poured the cooking oil and waited until it was heated. Minutes had passed, I took one egg from the tray, cracked it open and fried it on the pan.
I don't know why suddenly I am motivated to cook myself my own breakfast. Actually, this isn't the first time I did this. What I cooked before were all epic fails, that's why I read and read everything I should from cook books before I cook this dish. Finally, I am now confident that I can cook... fried eggs.
I used the frying spatula to turn the egg upside down. I actually prefer cooking sunny side up eggs. Not that I don't like omelette, scrambled eggs, poarched eggs, or boiled eggs. I just prefer my egg sunny side up.
I heard my notification ding that's why I went towards the breakfast table where I placed my phone. I started blushing once I read the messages that I had received.
From: Gian
Hey, good morning.
How is your sleep? I hope it is alright.
I slept good too. Don't forget to have breakfast.
See you in school!
Received: 5: 29 AM
I held my phone and looked up, thinking what to reply to him. I pouted my lips as I typed the words I had in my mind. I stopped in the middle of doing it because I suddenly smelled something is burning. I just didn't mind that and continued.
"Jusko, sunog! Anong amoy iyon? Saan nanggaling 'yon?" I was distracted when someone started screaming those lines. "Sinong nagluluto rito? Bakit naman pinabayaan?" I heard her saying. I immediately went near the cooking area and saw Manang Fely's worried look. I started panicking, realizing what I had smelled earlier were the eggs that I am cooking.
"Manang! Pasensya na po. Mabuti na lang at nakita niyo po, kung hindi baka kung ano na ang nangyari. I almost burned the house down. I'm so sorry po talaga, Manang," I said, trying to steal a glance at the frying pan. The stove is now turned off. I saw my eggs overcooked, looking like they were almost burned to ashes.
"Ikaw ba ang nagluluto rito, hija?" she asked and I nodded at her. This is why I didn't ask the maids to cook for me, eh. Kase, 5: 30 AM palang sila nagigising para mag-asikaso ng mga gawaing bahay and I don't want to disturb their sleep just because I am hungry during their rest hours. I can cook for myself so why would I bother them?
"Opo, Manang. Pasensya na po at iniwan ko nang nakasalang 'yung niluluto ko. It's my fault po," I said and I lowered my head, facing the floor. I heard Manang Fely sigh.
"It's okay, hija. Next time, just ask for my help okay? Or if you want me to teach you cook, hali ka, I'll assist you anak," she said and rubbed my back, assuring me that it's alright. That made me feel relieved. "Bakit ka nagluluto nang walang asin, hija? Wala kang malalasahan kung itlog lang ang ilalagay mo," she said and took the jar of salt from the shelf.
"I'm so sorry po. I forgot..." I trailed and watch her prepare the other materials. "Wait, Manang. I'll take care of the used oil—" she held my hand that made me stop what I was about to do.
"Kahit marami tayong stock, make sure to not waste everything that is still useful. Hindi ibig sabihin na ginamit mo na ang cooking oil sa pagluto ng itlog, you can't use it again for the other eggs," she lectured me. I wasn't mad at her at all rather I am tattooing her words in my mind so I wouldn't forget. I can learn a lot from her because she's more experienced than me.
I watched her do the magic in the kitchen. Namangha lang ako sa mga ginawa ni Manang. She perfectly cooked the eggs. What I saw on the breakfast table were the usual, cloud-shape eggs with the yellow yolk in the middle, acting like a sun within the clouds. I thanked Manang and convinced her to join me eat pero tumanggi lang siya sa akin dahil may aasikasuhin daw muna siya saglit.
When I opened my phone, I saw notifications from our group chat saying that Mimi & Faye are on the way here. They even told me they'll join me eat breakfast that why they requested that I should wait for them. A few minutes had passed, they finally arrived. After placing their bags on the sala, they immediately went towards the dining area and joined me seat on the table.
Manang Fely handled me my coffee. I turned off my phone and held my spoon and fork. "Mga anak, sabayan niyo na ring kumain 'yang si Bea," bigkas ni Manang. Ipinatong na niya ang bowl ng kanin sa mesa.
"Nako, manang. Kahit po hindi niyo na sabihin. Charot!" pagbibiro ni Mimi atsaka na nag-abot ng kanin. "Hindi niyo po ba kami sasabayan, Manang?" tanong naman ni Faye sa kaniya. Umiling lang sa kaniya si Manang Fely atsaka uminom sa itinimpla niyang kape para sa sarili.
"Hindi po kami kakain hangga't hindi niyo kami sinasabayan," Mimi convinced her more. Manang Fely just sighed and then she finally joined us eat. Sabay-sabay na kaming kumain until they finally noticed what was served on the table.
"Ano 'yan?" tanong ni Faye.
"Mukhang kilala ko na ang nagluto," Mimi said and crossed her arms and faced me. She made a teasing smile at me. I tried to hide my face because of humiliation and they kept on laughing at me.
"Kung ito 'yung mga tunay na anak, ito naman 'yung ugly duckling," Mimi joked more and they all laughed in unison. I feel so ashamed at them, but I didn't take that as an insult. I know they're just teasing me. Someday, I'll prove them and will serve the best recipe of egg they will have. Mark my words!
━━━
Mabilis lang lumipas ang araw na ito. The time for Biology, Mathematics, History, Chemistry, and Economics classes slipped away that fast. Earlier during the break time, we met Gian at the cafeteria and he said that he wanted to go out with us that's why I was waiting for him by the gate. I didn't see Mimi & Faye because we weren't classmates that's why I went ahead first.
"Hey," someone said and when I turned my head, I saw Gian's smiling face. His smile was contagious that's why I smiled back. "Were you waiting for long?" tanong niya. I waved my hand in the air, gesturing I wasn't. "Where is... Faye & Mimi?"
"Hindi ko alam, eh. Baka nasa klase pa sila. You know, some teachers tend to stretch their time even if classes are over," I said and tucked the strands of my hair that fell infront my face on the back of my ear.
"Oh..." he said. I don't know why I was so shy of facing him. "Hey, you know what?" he said to get my attention. I can't help but to look back at him. "Forget about the coffee date with Faye & Mimi," he added. Napakunot ako ng noo and stared at him with questioning look.
"Huh?" I reacted.
"I only want us to go out," he almost whispered because he lowered his voice. My chest started beating fast, and I was afraid that everyone else might hear it too. Nabingi yata ako sa mga salitang binigkas ni Gian. I suddenly heard my lolo's voice in my head. That time he was reminding me to not go out with any other guys without his permission.
"Bea? Are you okay? Hey! Did you hear me?" I heard him ask but I was preoccupied by my thoughts. He tapped my shoulders and that made me wake up. Am I daydreaming again and he didn't actually say those words?
"Come again?" I asked him. He turned his back from me and scratched his head.
"You don't like the idea? Sorry, I mean, it's okay. I-I was just wondering if we could, you know..." sagot niya.
"What do you mean idea? Sorry, I didn't hear you properly earlier. I was distracted by my thoughts," I replied.
He sighed infront of me. He looked like he was about to say something. He was avoiding my gaze. He blew like he has now the courage to say the thing. "Can we... Like go out? Just the two of us?" he once again asked. Now I can assure myself that what he said earlier was the same thing he was asking right now.
I had no words to speak that's why I just nodded at him. He looked like he just blushed because of my idea. He smiled at me and offered his hand my way. I held his hand and followed his steps towards the parking lot. At that moment, I forgot about everything else. It's not that bad to have fun with him right? I think Lolo will understand since I treat him as one of the persons close to me.
Though I do not consider him as a friend because I knew my feelings all too well. I hope he feels the same. Or if he doesn't, then I hope he'll eventually get caught in my feelings.
Kuya Ben started driving the car. Gian said we'll watch movie together in the mall. We were just silent during the drive. When we arrived, we went directly to the cinemas. We saw in the counters that the only available movie with available seats is the horror movie, "The Nightmare." Since I was with Gian, I just ride along with his idea.
We bought snacks and drinks after we got our tickets, and finally we went inside the movie theaters. I requested that we should seat at the back part because I wasn't really fond of watching horror movies. There are two unoccupied seats beside ours. The movie has just started because we weren't that late. The lights were dimmed that's why I barely saw the faces of everyone near us.
Minutes had passed, while we were watching, two people sat besides us. When one of the women used her flashlight and it struck her face, I saw Mimi's face that's why I was surprised. I accidentally held Gian's thigh because I almost stumbled over. "Bea? Anong ginagawa mo rito?" tanong ni Mimi sa akin. Now what will I answer? Why are they here? Did they follow us?
I took my hand from Gian's thigh and sat properly. We were getting a lot of attention that's why I suggested to them to tone down their voices. "K-Kayo! Anong ginagawa niyo rito?" I asked them back. Did they see Gian?
"Wala naman," sagot ni Mimi. "Sorry, ha! Cousins' date kase ito kaya hindi ka na namin naaya. Sorry at hindi na namin kayo nasamahan ni Gian sa coffee date niyo," diin ni Mimi sa huling salita. "Teka nasaan pala si Gian? Hindi mo siya sinipot?"
"Actually..." I trailed and lowered my head so they would see Gian besides me. Gian was surprised too to see them but he just waved at them.
"Bakit magkasama kayo rito? Akala ko ba mag-co-coffee date kayo?" Faye asked us. I suddenly felt I was sweating and I ran out of words. They both started eyeing at us. They both raised their brows. "Don't tell me..."
"It is what you are thinking." I turned my head to face Gian because it was him who talked. I had questioning looks. He stared at me but then he stared back at Mimi and Faye. "We are going out on a date," Gian added, a smile was evident on his lips.