Mikha's Pov
"Boss kakarating ni maloi at colet." Stacey said.
"Thank you ms. Stacey." I said.
Stacey is the general manager, schoolmates kami during high school then classmates during college. I offered her to be my business partner kasi magaling din talaga siya na chef pero gusto niya daw maging general manager muna.
"Wait." Stacey said.
"Why?" I asked.
"Fix your uniform boss, may dalawang kasama si maloi at colet." Stacey said.
"Who?" I asked.
"Basta." Stacey said.
Nang aasar mga mata ni stacey, sino kasama nila maloi? I opened the kitchen door, revealing maloi with colet then the two people are aiah and sheena.
Nung una nagkatinginan kami ni aiah sa mata then i walked towards maloi. I quickly composed my heart to stay calm.
"Mikhs ito na dark chocolate almonds, what do you need it for?" Maloi asked.
She gave me a jar of dark chocolate almonds, my favorite.
"My snack." I said.
"Akala ko naman para sa kusina. No wonder lagi may stocks si mom na ganyan sa kitchen." Maloi said.
"Thanks for the treat maloi." I said.
"Love talaga ni mikhs ang dark chocolate almonds." Colet said.
"Dark chocolate is healthy especially with almonds." I said while smiling.
Tumingin ako kay aiah, she's also looking at me. Calm down self, don't get flustered. Mikhaela janna lim you can do this.
"Hi sheena, aiah i'm glad both of you could come. Hindi pa dumating mga iba." I said.
"Pagdating sa pagkain imposible hindi ako pupunta." Sheena said.
"We're early." Aiah said, laughing a bit.
"That's okay. Do you want some snacks? I can prepare right now." I said.
"We can wait for the others" Aiah said.
"Since maaga kayo, i'll give you two a tour of the kitchen if you like." I said.
"Sure ka? Baka busy nagpreprepare mga staffs mo." Aiah said.
"We already finished preparing, nagpapahinga na sila sa staff's room upstairs." I said.
"I'll stay here with colet and maloi. Baka magutom ako agad pagka-amoy ko sa kitchen niyo." Sheena said.
"Okay ms. Foodie." Aiah said.
Aiah stood up and sheena winked at me. She knows i like their bestfriend. Aiah and i entered the kitchen.
"Ganda layout ng kitchen mikha." Aiah said.
"Just call me mikhs. Schoolmates naman tayo." I said.
"Tita cathy told me that you're really a great chef." Aiah said.
"I just love cooking." I said.
Nilibot ko si aiah sa buong kitchen, i tried na hindi kabahan and calm my voice especially she's smiling at me. Ginawan ko siya ng ice matcha latte.
"Ice matcha latte?" Aiah asked.
"Try it, tell me if you like it more sweeter." I said.
Aiah took a sip and looked at me.
"Need more sweetness?" I asked.
"It's amazing, i mean it's matcha but the taste is magical. Fact about me is mahilig ako sa matcha. I think may nilagay ka na special ingredient." Aiah said.
"I have." I said.
"What?" Aiah asked.
"Love." I said while smiling.
I think she's stunned a bit at what i said.
"I mean i love cooking and making beverages is also included in what i learned." I said.
"I can't wait to taste every dish you will make tonight." Aiah said, smiling at me.
Gosh her smile, give me more strength pigilan kilig ko. Dala niya yung matcha latte pagbalik namin kila sheena.
"Did the tour came with a free drink?" Sheena asked.
"Ang sarap nito shee, mikhs made it herself." Aiah said.
I went back to the kitchen and made three drinks then went back to the dining area. Sheena, maloi and colet looked curiously at the drinks.
"This is my own specialty pomegranate juice, fresh fruit." I said.
They took a sip, their reactions tells me that they enjoyed it.
"Sobrang sarap nga." Sheena said.
"Iba talaga galing mo chef mikha lim." Colet said.
"It's just juice colet." I said, laughing a bit.
"Mikhs said she put love as a special ingredient." Aiah said.
"Love is the best ingredient." Maloi said.
I know maloi is teasing me, feel ko malapit na mamula pisngi ko. Someone save me please. The entrance door opened, revealing jho with gwen, kaori and vivoree. Napunta atensyon nila aiah kila jho.
"Hi everyone, JR is here." Jho said.
"The great jhoanna robles." Gwen said.
"Feeling ang JR, nandito team captain mo." I said.
Jho quickly greeted maloi.
"No wonder kanina ang bilis mo sa mga papers jho at sinamahan mo ako sa supermarket colet." Maloi said.
"It's mikha's restaurant and as her bestfriends we came to support her." Colet said.
"Nice excuse." I said.
Tumunog phone ni maloi, sinagot niya tawag.
"Yes? I'll be right there." Maloi said.
Maloi ended the call and stood up from her seat.
"Kailangan ko umalis. The office needs me for urgent meeting." Maloi said.
"Then kailangan din kami." Colet said.
"You and jho can stay, ako lang naman kailangan. Bawi ako next time bonding guys." Maloi said.
Maloi left then umupo na sila sa eight seater table.
"Si aki at JL nalang kulang." I said.
"Tinawagan ko si aki kanina, they have lots of customers tonight. Bisitahin ka daw nila next time." Vivoree said.
"Okay, let's start. Good evening everyone. This is the last night of the soft opening and i'll served the best dishes that the JM Dining will offer." I said while smiling.
JM Dining is the name of my restaurant. They clapped at me while smiling. I went to the kitchen to let stacey take over with lorraine, one of my staffs.
"Jana, ace, iris are your stations ready?" I asked.
Jana, ace, iris are my staff chefs.
"Yes head chef." The three of them said.
"Okay let's serve them the dishes that they will never forget." I said.
The first dishes to be served are three appetizers. Lumpiang sariwa with peanut sauce are made by jana and iris. Crispy pastry cups with minced chicken are made by ace. Last appetizer is mini shrimp lettuce wraps made by me.
I helped with serving the dishes since sila aiah lang naman. Nagbigay ako ng separate lumpiang sariwa kay gwen na walang peanut at sauce lang. Allergic kasi siya sa peanut.
"Wow mikhs three appetizers." Jho said.
"Nakakahiya kainin mikhs." Kaori said.
"Appetizers lang yan. Enjoy everyone." I said.
Pag nasa kusina talaga ako, my passion for cooking is turned on.
While they are eating the appetizers, we're preparing the main dishes which are chop suey tempura, bagnet kare-kare, liempo, bulalo and spicy sisig para sa mahilig sa maanghang.
"Head chef they are ready for the main dishes." Lorraine said.
"Stacey and i will serve the dishes while jana and ace check again our ingredients for the desserts." I said.
"Yes head chef." Jana and ace said.
Stacey and i served the main dishes. Nilagay ko ang spicy sisig near aiah, mahilig siya sa maanghang. Napansin ko lang since high school madalas she picks spicy foods during lunch time, malapit lang kasi table namin nila jho kila aiah.
"The spicy sisig is really spicy, so be careful to people who can't handle spicy." I said.
"Aiah can handle spicy, favorite niya spicy sisig." Kaori said.
"Sobrang sarap kaya pag maanghang." Aiah said.
"Try the bulalo, isa sa best seller sa restaurant ko sa baguio." I said.
"Thanks mikhs." Aiah said while smiling.
Gosh her smile again. Mikhaela janna lim, calm your heart.
"So mikhs hindi ka dito nauna nagpatayo ng restaurant mo?" Vivoree asked.
"I kinda like a challenge and the view sa baguio." I said.
"Kaya pala hindi ka namin nakikita dito." Sheena said.
"I came here sometimes like working ng saglit sa arceta hotels." I said.
"Si gelo daw, one of their new head chef." Gwen said.
"How did that jerk got a job there?" Jho said.
"Maybe he used his family name again." Aiah said.
"If i really see that jerk, malalagot sakin yun. Sinubukan ba naman sampalin si aiah." Sheena said.
Nagkatinginan kami ni aiah sa sinabi ni sheena.
"Guys hayaan niyo na siya." Aiah said.
"I'll just go prepare the desserts." I said.
I went to the kitchen. I remembered aiah's ice pack, i kept it.
"Head chef ready na mga ingredients for the desserts." Ace said.
"Okay let's do this." I said.
Desserts, the last meal for tonight. The desserts are halo-halo, banana chocolate spring rolls and brazo de mercedes. After a few minutes ready na ilabas mga desserts.
I let the first two desserts be served first kasi gusto ko pang last ang Brazo de mercedes. Ako mismo nag serve sa brazo.
"Wow brazo de mercedes." Jho said.
"Ang ganda tignan mikhs, nakakahiya kainin." Sheena said.
"Mikhs eat with us." Aiah said.
"Aiah's right, this is the final dishes so you can now sit with us." Sheena said.
"Sit beside aiah." Gwen said.
Inaasar ako ng dalawang ito, mag-jowa si gwen at sheena. I loosened my coat then sat beside aiah.
"So mikha kung nandito ka, sino nag-mamanage ng restaurant mo sa baguio?" Kaori asked.
"Si ate ica, she was supposed to be here too but i let her manage there." I said.
"Si ate ica din nag sabi samin kung nasaan ka sa baguio. Uso magbasa s gc mikhs." Jho said.
"Atleast nag enjoy naman kayo sa biglaan niyo pagpunta dun." I said.
"It's nice to go in a vacation there." Aiah said.
"Aiah wanna go for a vacation." Sheena said.
"How about next month? Para mabisita din ni mikha restaurant niya." Colet said.
Why do i have a feeling may pinaplano sila colet?
"Is it okay with you mikhs? Baka busy ka dito." Aiah said.
"It's fine with me. I can find someone who can manage here habang wala kami ni stacey." I said.
"Then it's decided, walang atrasan especially jho and colet." Stacey said.
"No need to remind us, magbibigay kami in advanced ng letter kay maloi." Jho said.
We continued talking about things like reminiscing high school memories.
"I remembered the time when every year there's a jingle contest." Sheena said.
"Every contest hindi namin matalo class niyo shee." Colet said.
"Who could beat their class? Energetic nila eh." Gwen said.
"It's aiah who was so energetic especially every contest." I said.
"Sakto lang pagka-energetic ko mikhs." Aiah said while smiling.
"I'm telling the truth." I said, smiling back at aiah.
Ramdam ko tingin na mapang asar sakin ni colet, i stepped on her foot.
"Ouch." Colet said.
"Okay ka lang colet?" Aiah asked.
"Foot cramps." Colet said.
"Let me help you colet." I said.
"Hephep no need mikhs, okay na pala paa ko." Colet said.
"Saan tayo mag stay sa baguio?" Sheena asked.
"I remembered the arceta hotel is full for next month." Aiah said.
"I think we know where we can stay." Jho said.
Uh-oh jhoanna robles i know kung saan sasabihin mo.
"Where?" Aiah asked.
"Mikha's family house." Jho said.
"It might be embarrassing with mikha." Aiah said.
"It's not, right mikhs?" Jho said.
Halatado talaga kayo jho sa pinaplano niyo sakin.
"Jho's right, besides it's okay that we stay in a house than in a hotel. Much better view of nature din." I said.
After talking more for a few minutes, they are now about to leave. I escorted them outside, some brought their own cars. Si gwen ihahatid si sheena. Kay jho sana sasabay si aiah pero pupunta pa daw sila ni colet sa office kaya hindi pa siya uuwi. Bumalik kami ni aiah sa loob. Nag-message sa gc namin apat si colet.
Chat Conversation:
Colet: Goodluck mikhs.
Jho: Ingatan mo pinsan ko.
Me: Malalagot kayong dalawa sakin.
Colet: Si gwen din kaya damay.
Jho: Effective naman plano namin.
Me: Isumbong ko din kaya kayo sa mga crush niyo.
Jho: Wag mo papagudin masyado crush ko sa restaurant mo mikhs ah.
Me: Wow ah makapagbilin jho.
Colet: Mabuti pa ako kasama namin sa office crush ko.
Me: Colet wag mo titigan masyado kapatid ko sa work.
Jho: Teka teka back to topic, enjoy at goodluck kasama pinsan ko mikhs.
Colet: Hihintayin namin libre mo samin.
Me: Mag ready kayo sa suntok ko jhoanna robles, nicolette vergara.
Hindi na nag reply yung dalawa. Kita ko si aiah na parang nilalamig. Kinuha ko jacket sa office ko at binigay sa kanya.
"Okay lang ako mikhs." Aiah said.
"Nilalamig ka kaya." I said.
"Thanks mikhs." Aiah said.
Nag smile siya, jusko po goodluck nga talaga sakin.