Kabanata 6

Alessandro

"Are you sure about this Tyche?" Tita Anya said.

"I'm sure po Tita, besides po kailangan ko po ng trabahong ito para na rin po sa gamot ni Mama at sa pagte-teraphy niya."

"You just graduated in college 'nak! Sayang iyon you can be a really good chef pero babagsak ka bilang waitress sa ibang bansa!" aniya.

I sighed when I remember that it's been 2 weeks since I graduated in college take a course of Culinary Arts, I work hard just to get a degree and built my own restaurant but it all turns out into bubbles and then pop! My mother is now suffering because she has cerebrovascular disease or... stroke, she can't talk clearly and walk and she is now lying on her deathbed.

"Ako na ang bahala sa mama mo habang wala ka 'nak," sabi sa akin ni Tita Anya na kumupkop saming mag-ina ng makarating kami sa manila.

It's been 6 years when we left in Cebu and find a home here in Manila with my Tita, it's somehow rough years for us because it's not that easy to stay in the squatter area where my tita live. My tita always saying that I'm pretty and it's dangerous for me to walk outside alone, hindi ito katulad ng probinsya na payapa ka pang makakapaglagkad mag-isa dahil dito sa siyudad nasa paligid lang ang mga taong may masasamang balak.

"Say my 'i love you' to mama, tita. I'm gonna miss you both," pigil na pigil ko ang mga luha ko habang nagpapaalam sakaniya dahil tinawag na ang number ng ticket na sasakyan ko papuntang Spain.

"Ingat ka doon ha? tumawag ka lang kapag may kailangan ka?" sabi sa akin ni tita na naluluha.

"Kayo din po," sabi ko.

I bid my good bye to them and walk inside, I know it's gonna be hard for me but I need to do it for my Mom. I didn't hear much about De Marquez and Achilles Family since we came in Manila, hindi ko nalang sila pinagtuunan pa ng pansin dahil na rin sa gusto ko nang makalimutan ang lahat... because I still feel guilty for what I did.

Kasama ang aking mga magiging katrabaho ko ay nagpunta kami sa Sueño Cruise ship, we came inside the dining room and we saw our boss that've been waiting for us.

"Welcome to Sueño cruise ship to all of you, we are expecting the cooperation of everyone here to work well. We are going to start tomorrow in the evening. We will just let you know what will be your part here-"

He started explaining what we will do, we have our rooms in the third class but there are 4 persons that will share in one room. I didn't mind it since I saw that we are all girls in the room. After the short introduction we are guided to our room so we can rest before we start to practice.

"Hi!" may biglang pumukaw ng atensyon ko nang may lalaking tumabi sakin sa paglalakad.

"Ahh hello," I smiled.

"I'm sorry, are you a Filipino? Hindi ko kasi kayang lapitan ang iba nakikita ko kasing mas matanda sila sa akin eh," explain niya kaya nagpalinga-linga ako sa mga kasamahan namin at napansin ko ngang may mga katandaan na rin pala sila at kaunti lang kaming mga early 20s.

"Yes, I'm a Filipino." amin ko sakaniya habang lumiko kami papuntang third class.

"By the way I'm Alessandro and you are?"

"Tyche Tuaze," pakilala ko sakaniya.

I don't want to use my second name because it only reminds me of someone and I don't want to remember them here.

"Nice name, okay Tyche rest well dito na raw room niyo eh," ngumiti siya sa akin at kumaway paalis habang ako naman ay pumasok na sa silid.

I saw my roommates and I smiled at them just to not make it awkward.

"H-hi! I'm Tyche Tuaze 21 years old... a Filipino," pagpapakilala ko sa sarili.

"Hola! I'm Teresa 26 years old and I'm a Spaniard."

"I'm Fatima, 29 of age from Philippines."

"I'm Guiah a Spanish and I guess I'm the Más vieja (older) here, I'm 34 years old," she said that made us silent.

So, I guess Fatima is the only one I can talk freely, Guiah and Teresa are both Spaniard and I think they are not fluent in English. We shake hands and shared thoughts about each other, I've learn that Fatima and Guiah is not new here, only Teresa and I. When we knew about this, I plead them to teach me some spanish words so if some customers are Spaniards, we can know what will they say to us in their own language. Both of them agreed and Teresa insist too, I thought this will be hard for me but seeing someone that are willingly to help me here are priceless.

"Tyche on table 4 please," Fatima says and smile at me so I smiled back to her and grab the tray that has two plates that is full of foods.

I started working and lucky me that I graduated in culinary I also know how to use one hand in a tray that has a food since I was in my first-year college. It's been a week since I started and I don't have a problem doing it, napapadalas nga lang ang pagtatagpo namin dito ni Alessandro. After our shift, I saw Alessandro walking towards me.

"Ohh ayan na pala si Alessandro maiiwan na kita ah?" paalam ni Fatima at nauna nang lumakad papunta sa silid namin kaya napa-iling nalang ako.

Ilang beses na niyang tinanong sakin kung anong mayroon sa amin, at ilang beses ko na rin sinabi na kaibigan ko lang siya. He is a great friend; a bubbly one. He reminds me of Chris because of his attitude. I sighed, kamusta na kaya yon?

"Tyche!" tawag sa akin ni Alessandro nang makalapit na siya sa akin.

"Ikaw pala, aren't you tired? Maghapon tayong nagtrabaho rito," sabi ko sakaniya habang naglalakad na kami.

"I'm tired really and you know what? I figured out something," he smiled.

"What is it?"

"Come, I'll show you," banggit niya sa akin sabay hila sa braso ko paakyat sa quarter deck.

It's past 12 am and we didn't saw any persons here, only two of us.

"Bawal tayo rito Alessandro ano ka ba! If our boss finds out, he will get mad and-"

"Relax! Okay? They won't catch us; I just want you to see how beautiful the scenery here." sabi niya sa akin kaya luminga-linga ako sa paligid.

I saw how the wild waves are that is creating a sound, and the shadow of the moon was seen by the sea, it's full moon. The one that brings light in night, I smiled looking at it. It's breathtaking beautiful in my eyes, I love how the moon shines in the night and plus the waves that I also hearing.

"Do you like it?" sabi sa akin ni Alessandro and I just nodded.

"Indeed, it's beautiful Alessandro." sabi ko ng hindi nakatingin sakaniya.

We stayed there in a moment for a long talk about each other and we just both decided to rest. Inihatid niya muna ako sa room ko at nagpaalam na rin, nakita kong mahimbing na ang mga tulog ng mga kasama ko at umakyat na ako sa second-deck ng kama na para sa akin. I checked my phone if I received some texts of Tita but there's none so I decided to sleep.

Months have been passed; my

work here are still good. I get to know more about my co-waiters/waitress, my performance here is pretty good and my boss is happy for it. Minsan pumupuslit ako sa kusina just to know how they cook foods here and they always tell me how to do it when I'm in a break, sometimes I'm the one who's cooking and they always taste it first and say 'delicioso' that brings me joy.

"The cook can't do it, what shall we do now?" narinig kong usapan sa kusina habang ako naman ay nagseserve parin.

"There's still other chef though what's the problem?"

"It's new señor, he didn't tell to the other chef how he does it. It's the appetizer that they want." rinig kong saad.

Naalala ko naman si Chef na may lagnat ngayon, I remember him tutor me last night about his new dish, ayun kaya ang tinutukoy nila?

"Then why you added it if someone doesn't know how to do it except from that fucking Chef?! Estupido! What shall we do? If the boss finds out we will get fired!" giit nga nung manager namin.

"I... I know someone who knows how to do it," singit ni Teresa sa kanila na nakikinig sa usapan ng dalawa.

"Who? No cook here does know how to do it-"

"Because she's a waitress, the Chef tutoring her how he cooks foods here," nagulat ako sa sinabi ni Teresa.

Is it... me? there's no waitress I think Chef's tutor!

I heavily sigh and give the foods in table 2. The kitchen door opened and saw them including Teresa looking at me intently. I look at them like 'what?'

"Ms. Tuaze, do you know how to cook Gambos Al Ajillo?" manager said and I nodded. Alam ko pero di ko pa rin gamay 'yon dahil isang beses ko lang nakita kung paano iyon lutuin.

He walks towards me and grab me inside to the kitchen.

"Do it! Naghihintay ang mga guest sa taas, bilisan mo. They are one of the most famous in ASEA because of their wealth," manager said.

He's a Filipino but he remained here in Spain that's when he changed his citizenship, he doesn't want to go back in Philippines neither.

"P-pero po kasi... I didn't know if it would be perfect, kagabi ko palang natutunan-"

"We don't have a choice here! Just do it! I saw your resume and you graduated taking Culinary Arts so I believe that you know how to handle yourself inside the kitchen, I'll go outside now." paalam ng manager at umalis.

Dali-dali naman akong kumilos para gawin ang utos niya, I thank God because I remember every ingredient that Chef told me last night, I am bit tense now because if I will not perfect it, this might be my last day. I tried doing what Chef did last night, tinatansiya ko nalang ang mga ingredients and I hope tama pa ito. After I add lemon juice and parsley, I waited for it to be cook and now it's ready to serve.

"Do you think it will be good if we serve it to them? If not, we will have a problem when it has a wrong taste," bulong ni Teresa sa gilid ko.

Napalingon ako sakaniya, I know she's been like that after a week that we've met, I didn't know why she's acting like that and I truly doesn't want to know about that, bahala siya diyan!

I focus on placing it to the plates, when I found out that there's extra shrimp, I tried to taste it and.... it's not bad. It just looks like the Chef did last night! napatalon ako sa tuwa dahil kahit medyo may kasing sarap lang ito ng luto ng Chef makakapasa pa rin ito sa taste ng kakain.

When the other cook saw that I'm done cooking it, they let me serve it to the VIP Room and call the other waiters to help me serve it, this will be my first time to come in there because Manager didn't assign me to the VIP Room but I'm so happy to serve it because it's my first time to cook for our customers.

Kahit kinakabahan ay pumasok parin ako, kasunod lamang ng mga waiters at sinerve na nga ito. I felt my body stiffen when I look at the people inside in the VIP, we suddenly stare at each other. I shook my head and continue serving, may pitong tao na nakapalibot sa mesa at nakita ko ang boss namin na kasama niya at si manager na nakatayo lang sa gilid. After ko magserve naglakad kaagad ako paalis doon, I want to stay there because I want to see if they will actually like the food that I serve but because I saw him, I change my mind.