Cocinera Novels & Stories

“I’m sorry…I didn’t ask your father if you order food or if I need to cook for you." "No, no." She shook her head. "We have a chef, his name is Koko. He does the cooking. Just take me to the kitchen, please." The kitchen was one of the rooms we hadn't been to yet and I was guessing she was saving it for the last. "Would you lead the way? I don't know my way to or around the kitchen." I sounded a bit embarrassed saying that, but I didn’t need to. It was my first day at work, so I wasn't ashamed to admit that I didn't know my way around.

Eirika took a moment to survey her surroundings. The kitchen was spacious, with sleek, modern appliances and an impressive range hood. The white cabinets contrasted beautifully with the dark wooden floors, and natural light streamed in from the floor-to-ceiling windows. A large island in the center of the room provided ample space for food preparation, while a row of high-end cookware hung from the ceiling above the stove. Eirika rummaged through the kitchen cabinet and pantry then started to gather the ingredients and began to assemble her menu.

At nauna na itong naglakad. As usual, napahanga na naman siya sa uri ng disenyo ng dining to kitchen area nito. Wala na naman siyang masabi kundi napakaganda, malawak at kay linis sa mata ng kusina nito. Kumpleto lahat ng kagamitan at ang lahat ay nasa ayos. “The coffee maker is over there. Feel free to move around and make our coffee.” Nalingunan niya ito na prenteng nakasandal sa sink ng lababo habang nakatitig sa kaniya.

The two of them laughed loudly, causing the customer to stop for a moment, who appeared to be their last customer. "Hey, what's the matter, the noise you two are making is making the customer to be irritated," shouted a lady in the kitchen. That was Mrs.Corazon, the cook at the cafeteria. Of all the workers there, she was the hardest to get along with because she was so rude, even Zera couldn't understand why the old woman was like that, it seemed like she and Mina were always wrong in her eyes. "Let her be since she's in menopause, it's good that the taste of what she cooks doesn't affect her mood," whispered Mina. While frowning and separating plastic for take out, Zera does the same.

I felt my heart skip and then pick up speed as I turned toward the kitchen. Now, this was what I’d been waiting for. As I stepped through the wide swinging door, I let out a breath I didn’t even know I was holding. It was everything I never dared to ask for. Stainless steel countertops gleamed under surgical-grade lighting, and an industrial ventilation hood loomed above the stove area, humming softly, already alive. There were three ovens lined beside one another—gas, electric, and one that looked like it could launch a missile. The island in the middle was massive, with a chopping block the size of my torso built right in.