L I B E R T Y   K I N G S 

"Good afternoon ma'am, what can I do for you?" I smiled at the lady wearing a yellow dress who waved her hand elegantly at me.

I keep plastering my professional smile as I wait for her response. Patuloy lang siya sa pagtingin sa menu na hawak-hawak n'ya. Kanina ko pa siya napapansin dahil mahigit isang oras na siyang nakaupo rito sa loob ng restaurant ko ng walang ino-order.

May karamihan ngayon ang mga customer na kumakain sa restuarant ko for dinner. Lahat ng tables ay okupado kaya tumutulong ako sa pag-a-assist. Seven-thirty in the evening people are famish and most of them ay maiinit na ang ulo sa gutom. I don't want my restaurant to have bad feedback, kaya kahit hindi ko naman talaga ito trabaho ay ginagawa ko. Marami pa akong tambak na papeles sa loob ng opisina but that can wait, my customers can't.

Her amber chinky eyes suddenly look up to me and I can see clearly that she's embarrassed. I smiled warmly at her, assuring her that it's fine if she sits here for an hour.  

"Sorry, I'm waiting for someone. Can I have sago't gulaman?" her heart-shaped lips form an apologetic smile. She has these Asian features that look soft yet sexy at the same time. 

"No problem ma'am, enjoy your time here." bago pa ako tuluyang umalis para sabihin ang order n'ya ay may lalaking umupo sa tapat ng upuan n'ya.

"Sorry, I'm late Persia," rinig kong sabi ng lalaki. Hindi ko na narinig ang sagot no'ng Persia dahil tuluyan na akong nakalayo ro'n. 

Ayoko namang makinig sa usapan nila ano. Hindi naman ako chismosa at that's none of my business. Dumeretsyo ako sa counter para sabihin ang in-oder n'ya. The mellow OPM song inside the restaurant helps me feel relax even just for a second. Sumasakit na ang binti at talampakan ko dahil kanina pa ako ikot nang ikot dito para magtrabaho. Kung hindi ang mata ko ang sasakit katututok sa laptop ay ang mga paa ko naman. Fuck, adulthood! 

All these tiring works make my stomach growl from hunger. Humilig ako sa counter kung saan inilalapag ang mga pagkain bago kunin ng mga waiter. Agad kong naamoy ang mabangong aroma ng kare-kare na nagpagutom sa 'kin lalo. The peanut smell of the sauce made me salivate big time! Pero agad ding napakunot ang aking noo dahil sa sumunod na pagkaing naamoy ko.

"Head chef! What is this? Bakit ganito ang amoy nito? Are you serving our customer trash?!" Galit kong sigaw papasok sa loob ng kitchen habang hawak-hawak ang kinilaw na tuna. 

I'm not this harsh to my employee, siguro dahil sa pagod at gutom ay masyado nang mabilis uminit ang ulo ko. Napatakip ako ng aking ilong nang muling nanoot sa ilong ko ang mabahong amoy ng kinilaw na aking hawak-hawak. Agad ko itong ibinaba sa malapit na lamasa. Masama ang tinging iginawad ko pagkabaling ko sa mga chefs na nasa loob ng kitchen.

The loud smoky hot kitchen suddenly becomes silent as I harshly put down the plate on the table near me. Only the sound of the sizzling of the food on the pan and the boiling water can be heard inside the kitchen. Their tired sweaty faces turned in my direction and I can see in their eyes the nervousness and fear.

Mabilis na lumapit sa 'kin ang isang babaeng chef, "ma'am ano pong problema?" Magalang nitong tanong sa 'kin.

"Are you deaf? I just asked you all if you are trying to serve trash to our customers?!" Nang gigigil kong sabi sa kaniya habang tinuturo ang kinilaw na nasa gilid ko.

"No ma'am," maagap ang naging sagot nito sa 'kin kahit nanginginig ang boses.

"Then what the fuck is this shit?" I'm not shouting anymore but my tone is still hard and angry.

Inilagay ko sa 'king baywang ang dalawang kamay ko at tinaasan sila ng kilay. Nakita ko pa kung paano lumunok sa kaba ang head cheft bago utusan ang chef na lumapit sa 'kin.

"Chef A, check the food." Utos nito na agad namang sinunod ni Chef A.

Nanginginig ang kamay n'yang kumuha ng malinis na kutsara para matikman ang kinilaw na kanilang ginawa. Halos mahulog pa ang pagkaing nasa kutsara dahil sa kaba n'ya dahil ang mata kong matatalim ay pinapanood siya. Nakita ko ang pagkunot ng noo n'ya at tumingon sa 'kin pagkatapos kainin ang kinilaw. 

"M-Ma'am, okay naman po?" Takang tanong nito sa 'kin.

"Anong okay?! Smell it! It smells like a fucking trash." I gritted my teeth as I said it. 

Inamoy naman nito ang pagkain, "Ma'am wala naman pong problema." 

"Anong walang problema? Meron! Fix that food. I'm not paying all of you to serve trashy food!" Galit kong sigaw bago umalis sa kitchen. Narinig ko pang muling nagsalita si Chef A bago ako tuluyang umalis.

"Wala namang problema talaga." Hindi ko na ito pinansin dahil mas lalo lang sasama ang mood ko kung magsisigaw ulit ako roon.

Padabog akong umupo sa swivel chair ko pagkapasok sa office at tinignan nang masama ang mga nakatambak na papeles roon. Para bang ang mga ito ang may kasalana kung bakit ako bad mood ngayon. Well, hindi man nila kasalanan pero isa sila sa mga stressors ko so deal with it.

Dali-dali kong kinuha ang jar of spicy peanuts ko sa table at nilantakan 'yon. Nakatulong naman ito para maibsan ang utom ko at mabawasan ang inis na aking nararamdaman. Inubos ko na lamang ang natitirang working hours ko sa loob ng opisina at hindi na muling lumabas. 

I craned my neck and look at the clock. It says ten in the evening. I groaned when I realized that I didn't eat dinner. Peanuts lang ang kinain ko sa gabing ito and probably pasarado na ang restaurant ngayon. I was startled by a knock, "come in." 

Agad na sumilip ang ulo ng manager ko rito at nag-aalangang ngumiti sa 'kin. He probably heard my shouts a while ago inside the kitchen. 

"Ms. Kings, everything is clean. We'll be going home na po." magalang nitong sabi sa 'kin.

I bobbed my head, "lock the door. I have my own keys here." 

Tahimik itong nagpaalam at lumabas sa 'king office. Napabuntong hininga ako at napatingin sa 'king cellphone. I saw that I have three unread messages from Daddy.

Good morning Kitten, have a nice day. 

I received this one kaninang nine while the other two were sent thirty minutes ago.

Kitten, did you eat already? 

I'm outside your restaurant let's eat dinner.

Agad akong napangiti at napatayo sa 'king kinauupuan pagkatapos kong basahin ang mga texts n'ya. I even forgot to make myself look presentable sa sobrang excited kong makita si Oliver. After a tiring day, I need to recharge and that means I need to see Oliver! Pagkarating ko sa saradong pintuan ay agad kong nakita ang naka-park sa hindi kalayuan ang mamahaling sasakyan ni Oliver.

Napakunot ang noo ko nang hindi ko mabuksan ang glass door. Agad na lumipad sa noo ko ang aking kanang palad nang ma-realized kong hindi ko pala nadala ang susi dahil sa pagmamadali. Agad akong bumalik sa opisina para kunin ang susi. Nakita kong nagpipigil ng ngiti si Oliver nang makabalik ako roon. I can feel the heat on my cheeks and I probably look like tomatato right now. That's so embarrassing! Parang hindi kami nagkita kaninang umaga dahil sa excitement ko. 

As soon as I opened the door he immediately held my hand and pull me to him. His warm embrace removed all the exhaustion that I'm feeling. I hug him back and smell him. His scent brings comfort to my heart and I felt everything is okay when I'm in his arms. 

"You look tired," he whispered in my ears and kiss the tip of it.

Tinulak ko siya nang bahagya, " do you mean, I look haggard?" Nanlalaki ang mga mata kong sabi sa kaniya.

He bit his lower lip, trying to suppress a smile. He pinched my nose and said, "no."

I look at him, eyes full of doubts. "You're just making me feel better but the truth is I look haggard!" parang bata kong sabi kay Oliver at kumalas sa pagkakayakap n'ya.

I heard him chuckled. Pinalo ko siya sa dibdib dahil sa inis pero na distract ako sa tigas nito. OMG! Alam kong nagugutom ako pero hindi ko naman aakalaing gutom din ako kay Oliver. Ang landi mo talaga kahit kailan Liberty. 

Kinuha ni Oliver ang kamay kong ipinangpalo ko sa kaniya at hinalikan ito, kaya ang inis na naramdaman ko kanina ay agad ding nawala.

"Did you eat already?" he said sweetly at me, affection glow in his onyx eyes.

"No, have you?" Umiling lamang siya bilang tugon sa 'king tanong. 

"I'll just get my things and let's eat dinner." Bibitawan ko na sana ang kamay n'ya pero hinigpitan lang ni Oliver ang pagkakahawak dito.

"I can cook for you, let's eat here." Awe transformed my face when he said that.

He knew how to cook! I thought he was so busy with his business that he doesn't have time to learn how to cook.

"Aren't you tired?" concerned kong tanong sa kaniya. 

Alam ko namang parehas kaming nagtratrabaho kaya kung pagod ako malamang ay ganoon din siya. As much as I want to taste Oliver—his food—not him pero pwede rin naman. Is this the effect of hunger on me? Masyado aking nagiging malandi or talagang malandi ako kay Oliver? Whatever, ang mahalaga ay makakain may it be Oliver or his food, pwede ring both. 

"I can manage. This is the only thing I can think of to remove your exhaustion plus, I consider it a date." A smile danced on his lips while looking at me intently. 

I can feel my legs tremble a little from the way he looks at me. Gusto kong isipin na baka sa gutom ito pero alam kong dahil ito sa magagandang mata ni Oliver. In the first place, sa mata naman n'ya talaga ako na attract at hangang ngayon ay hindi nagbago ang epekto no'n sa 'kin.

I'm sitting on the stool while watching Oliver prepare the ingredients for his tortang talong. Yeah right, sa lahat ng pwedeng lutuin ay napili n'ya pa ang talong at itlog. Now, stupid dirty things are playing inside my head! Akala ko naman ay marunong talaga itong magluto 'yon pala ay itlog at pagpriprito lang ang alam.

Hindi naman ako nagrereklamo. I love that Oliver's cooking for me, but the way he said na ipagluluto n'ya ko and this is a date I thought that he would cook something like pasta? 

He unbutton the cuff of his long sleeves and folded it up to his elbows. Damn girl! What a sight. Parang mas natatakam ako kay Oliver kesa sa tortang talong n'ya. Just look at those veiny arms and well-toned biceps! Yummy!

I watched him intently like he's my favorite movie and he is. From washing the ingredients to the process of cooking it, my eyes didn't leave him. I saw him carefully place the tortang talong to the plate and with a satisfied smile, he went to me holding his tortang talong. 

"Here's my tortang talong." he proudly said to me and kissed my cheeks.

I giggled at what he did and I look at him teasingly. "Masarap ba 'yang tortang talong mo?" I smirked at him.

His eyes glint with mischievousness, "Are you doubting my talong?" 

I laugh hard when he said that. He looked at me while wiggling his eyebrows. Pinisil ko naman ang tagiliran n'ya dahil sa kapilyuhang ipinapakita n'ya. Gosh, didn't expect that Oliver has this side! And it's fun, I like it!

"Where did you learn your cooking skill, Mr. Valez?" I ask him teasingly while raising a brow.

"I learned it for Odette," he said to me.

My face fell and all the giddiness that I'm feeling a while ago vanished in just a second. Kahit ang gutom na aking nararamdaman ay nawala dahil sa 'king narinig. I  was barely able to breathe and I felt like a knife is in my heart piercing slowly but deeply. 

I'm not dumb. I know who is Odette.  

She's Olivia's mom.

She's Oliver's Wife.

~TBC~

OMG, new character unlocked! Let's all welcome Odette!HAHAHA

I'm planning that SA#1 will have 40 or 45 chapters only.

Feel free to share your thoughts and keep safe everyone.

Love lots :>>