Unkiss Me

2. Sari-sari

The man looked stupid. That's what I was thinking while looking at him. He was in front of me. He was wearing a kiss the chef apron which I find so baduy. I smirked at him. Kung hindi ko lang sana kailangan ng trabaho para hindi ako mahanap ng pamilya ko, wala sana ako dito ngayon but I have to do this so I can fit in.

I cleared my throat. I was just smiling at him. I looked around the place. I suddenly, remembered my Yaya Nimfa. Yaya ko siya noong three years old ako at galling siya sa Tacloban. At dahil matagal na kaming nagkasama I adopted her accent. It's kinda funny. Galit na galit si Dalaga noon - ang tagal kasi bago bumalik sa dati ang pananalita ko. I know I sounded so funny but I have to do this. Kumunot ang noo niya. I kept on smiling like a fool. He sighed.

"Siya, sige, kung hindi lang umalis si Inday at si Kulas di kita tatanggapin." Parang pilit pang sabi niya. Tumaas ang kilay ko. Niluwagan niya ang bukas ng gate at pinapasok ako. I was reluctant to go in at first but then I shrugged that off. Walang mangyayari sa akin kung meron man, nag-kick boxing ako - kaya ko siyang bugbugin.

The house is a big one. Up and down iyon. I think they only renovated the house kasi may tatak pa rin iyon ng kalumaan tulad ng mga Spanish houses noon. I remember that trip I had with my father in Ilocos, enjoy na enjoy kami sa mga lumang bahay sa Vigan. We even took a picture of the biggest house in the lot. Masaya ako noon, Papa trusted me. I love him but now he's mad so mad that he'll make me leave the country.

"Anong pangalan mo?" Tanong niya bigla. My mouth parted. Fuck, Casiel! Think of a name. A name that will never reveal who you are. I bit my lower lip. Humarap sa akin si kiss the chef at humalukipkip. I smiled nervously. What should I name myself? Hindi ko pwedeng sabihin na ako si Casiel Consunji - that would give him too much. "Ano? Hindi mo alam ang pangalan mo? Budol-budol ka no!" Sigaw niya. The heck! Ako budol-budol? Sa hitsura kong ito, ako pa ang budol-budol? Kung budol-budol ako siya abnoy!

"Hende, Ser!" Sigaw ko. "Nag-eesep lang ako ng maganda neckneym." I smiled again.

"Anong nickname? May ganoon pa ba?" He even shook his head.

"Abnormal." Bulong ko.

"What?" He asked. And the man knows how to speak English?!

"Anu? Ahhh, aku se Bebay, Ser." Tiningnan niya ako. I scolded myself. Of all the names in the world, I came up with Bibay? My mother named me after an angel and now I named myself Bibay! Nasaan ang logic ko?

"Bibay ano?" He asked again. Argh! I rolled my eyes. Enough with the names already.

"Bebay Santus, Ser." Ngumiwi ako. He just nodded. Pinapasok na niya ako sa bahay nila at tama ang hinala ko. Old Spanish ang theme ng bahay nila. Bigla ko na namang naalala si Papa. Gustong-gusto niya ang ganitong bahay. Aminado naman ako na Papa's girl ako kaya nga ayokong madismaya siya sa akin pero nang dahil lang sa Sam na iyon lahat ay nawala na. I hate her and I hate the fact that my first ever kiss is from a lesbian. Hindi ko matanggap.

Malaki ang bahay. Two floors iyon. Halos lahat ng gamit ay antique pero ang pinaka-nakatawag ng pansin ko ay ang mga fresh flowers sa gitna ng antique na coffee table. I love the house and the vibe that it brings.

"Oh Bibay, tatanggapin na kita. Magsisimula ka na ngayon. Kung hindi lang ako desperado na makakuha ng maid sana, hindi kita tatanggapin kaya lang busy talaga kami ngayon, may pasok si Jorgia, may pasok si Mama at pumapasok din ako."

Nagkamot pa ng ulo si Kiss the chef. Nakatingin lang naman ako sa kanya. The man looked good. He's handsome - ruggedly handsome. I know how to appreciate handsomeness - because I'm straight. I actually have the hots for Augustus Ledesma but he's digging my cousin so I backed off.