Ye Hua Chinese Resto
Eastwood China town
11:43 a.m.

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Minnesota Gervacio sat silently while listening to her bestfriend recount every detail of her date. Gustuhin man niyang sabihin na hindi naman niya kailangan pang ikwento ang "lahat" ng detalye (sometimes the details were a bit too much), but she doesn't want to burst Fe's happy bubble.

"---inaaya niya akong sumama sa Christmas vacation nila ng family niya next Friday. Can you believe it, Min?! Hay... Feeling ko talaga siya na ang nakatadhana sa'kin! Final answer!" She even squealed while getting lost in one of her daydreams again, causing the stir fried tofu to stumble out of her chopsticks.

That caught Min's attention.

Ayaw niyang maging killjoy, lalo't hindi niya matandaan kung kailan niya huling nakitang ganito kasaya ang kaibigan niya. Pero sa kabila nito, hindi niya pa rin magawang isantabi ang pag-aalala niya tuwing may mga lalaking nakikipagkita o nag-aaya kay Fe sa kung saan-saang lugar.

At kahit na nakilala na niya ang bagong lalaking kinababaliwan ni Fe, hindi ibig sabihin nito ay may tiwala na siya rito.

Mahirap na.

"Hindi ba't parang masyado kayong mabilis? At saka may duty pa tayo sa ospital. Baka---"

"Too late! Nakapag-file na ako ng leave kanina," Fe stuffed her mouth with a dumpling and eyed her. She even made gestures with her chopsticks when she spoke, "Walangmangyayaringmasamasakinchillkay?"

"Ha?"

Nginuya muna nito ang dumpling at inulit, "Sorry. As I was saying... walang mangyayaring masama sa'kin, friend. Chill ka lang, okay?"

"But you barely know him."

"That's why we're getting to know each other better. Ganoon talaga!"

Napasimangot na lang si Minnesota. Hindi pa rin siya kumbinsido, pero hindi na siya nakipagdebate pa. Bumabalik na naman ang trauma niya, and the scars on her wrists made sure she will never forget what happened last time during the Heartless Killer case. Hanggang ngayon, binabangungot pa rin siya. The thought of that merciless psychopath was enough to give her goosebumps.

Nang napansin ni Fe ang ekspresyon ng kanyang kaibigan, her eyes softened. Nauunawaan na niya kung bakit ganito ang reaksyon nito.

Can anyone really blame her?

"Min, matagal nang walang panganib sa Eastwood. At saka, girl, magpa-Pasko na kaya! Smile naman diyan. This should be the season to be jolly, not to be worrying about crazy serial killers! Hindi ka na dapat nag-aalala."

"A-Alam ko, pero..."

"Ikaw na nga mismo nagsabing ligtas tayo dahil nandito sina Detective Yukishito, 'di ba?"

Upon hearing his name, Minnesota felt herself calm down. 'She's right. With the those two detectives around, mukhang nabawasan na nga ang mga krimen sa bayan. Siguro nga nago-overthink lang na naman ako,' isip-isip ng dalaga.

Huminga siya nang malalim at pinilit ngumiti kay Fe.

"Wag mong kakalimutan ang Christmas gift ko, ha?"

Nakahinga nang maluwag si Fe at mahinang natawa, "Hoy! Kailan ba ako nakalimot? Grabe ka. Hahaha! Hmm... But I wonder what Donovan will be getting you~" She wiggled her eyebrows suggestively, making Min almost choke on her red tea.

Recently, he's been giving her too many hints, but Min doesn't want to lead him on.

Sasabihin na niya sana ito kay Fe nang bigla na lang lumapit sa kanila ang owner ng resto. The old Chinese man, who still wore a sauce stained apron, greeted them with a polite smile.

"Shiwu weidao ruhe?"

Nagkatinginan ang dalawang dalaga, parehong hindi naintindihan. Pinigilan ni Min ang kanyang sarili na kunin ang kanyang cellphone para i-translate ito. Nang mapagtanto naman ito ng lalaki, agad itong humingi ng tawad. "Ah. I apologize... I thought one of you looked Chinese. How's the food, ladies?"

"It's really delicious! Thanks for asking, Mr. Hua," Fe answered.

The owner looked delighted. "I'm glad you enjoy it. Perhaps you want to try our new specialty?" Sabay abot nito ng updated menu sa kanila. "It's our family recipe."

Kumunot ang noo ni Min nang mabasa ang nakalagay rito. Matagal na niyang alam na may mga ganitong klase ng pagkain, but that didn't make her any less surprised. Even Fe rose an eyebrow when she read it.

"Bat soup?"

Mr. Hua nodded, that proud look on his look remained as he  told their family tradition. Sa huli, napilit siya ni Fe na mag-order ng ipinagmamalaki nitong sopas. Aaminin naman niyang hindi siya mahilig sa mga exotic na pagkain, but what could possibly go wrong, right?

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