Elle try to look for Anikka, Marielle and Josh but end up knowing that they went out to stroll and try the best Ilocos empanada at Batac.
"Sir Sandro, wala naman pala sila dito."
"Sinong sila?"
"Sina Anikka po, Marielle at Josh."
"Ah yeah, they ask permission earlier to stroll Ilocos. Ikaw na nga lang yung naiwan ehh. So tara na?"
"Susunod po tayo sa kanila sa Batac?"
"Hmmm, nope! We're going somewhere else."
"Saan naman po yang somewhere na yan?"
"Somewhere of which you'll surely love. Kaya halika na, it's a one hour drive pa naman."
"Talaga lang ha? Kapag talaga yan sir hindi maganda..."
Manong Danny, Sandro's driver in Ilocos interrupted the conversation upon hearing what Elle said.
"Ma'am Elle, wala pong hindi maganda sa Ilocos. Tara na po! "
"Oh, hi po Manong" she waved her hand. "Mapagkakatiwalaan ba talaga itong amo natin?" she laughed.
"Oo naman ma'am. Pwede pa ngang asawahin yan." Manong Danny joked which left Elle stunned.
Sandro laughed and open the car's door for Elle to get in.
"Teka, teka, teka. Is this right? My boss is opening a door for me? Ako na sir, stop that treatment po. Baka may makakita pa diyan at isipin nilang ano..." Elle said as she was bothered by Sandro opening her a door.
"Ang arte naman talaga! Kilala ka naman ng lahat na nasa HQ ehh. Sikat kaya yung tatay mo dito. Well, even Mang Danny knew you already, diba po manong?"
"Yes ma'am. May utang pa nga ako doon sa tatay niyo ehh, utang na pulutan. Hehehe." Manong Danny assured.
"See? Kaya halika na or else we can't catch the sunset." Sandro said.
Elle get inside the car and Manong Danny starts driving to their destination. Elle still have no idea where will they go since it's her first time travelling around Ilocos. She just enjoy her ride quietly, watching over the scenic view along the road.
But then her stomach made a noise.
"Uy! Mukhang nagdadabog na yang mga dragon mo sa tiyan ahh. Gutom ka ba?" Sandro said after hearing her tummy.
Elle looked at him and smile awkwardly.
"Slight po? Di pa kasi ako naglunch ehh. Akala ko rin kasi pupunta tayong Batac for the empanadas..."
"Oh, why didn't you tell me then?"
"Ehh kasi naman..."
"Sir sa hintuan nalang ng byahe, dating gawi ba. Malapit na naman din tayo." Manong Danny suggested.
"Ay oo nga pala. Sige manong doon nalang." Sandro agreed.
Sandro looked at Elle and tries to baby talk her growling little belly as if talking to a baby pet.
"Baby dragons inside Elle's belly, konting-konti nalang ha? Wag muna kayong magwala, malapit na tayo sa hintuan."
Elle looked at him, trying not to laugh but fake her expression to being pissed off.
"Kung di lang po kita boss, nabatukan na po talaga kita diyan ehh. You look funny and.....weird!"
"Hahaha naalala ko po yung nanay niyo ma'am, ganyan na ganyan din kung magalit pag gutom." Manong Danny joined the conversation.
"My mom have been here po?" Elle asked.
"Sa Manila po yun ma'am. Inaway yung tatay niyo kasi gutom na pala."
"Ganyan po siguro ang mga babae kapag gutom ano?" it was Sandro.
Elle just glared at him.
Manong Danny is laughing while watching Elle and Sandro in the mirror. Sandro on the other side, stops teasing her and just hide his laughter since she isn't talking already. Obviously, pissed off.
After few minutes, they have reached to that "hintuan sa byahe" as they call it.
"Andito na po tayo!" Manong Danny exclaimed.
Sandro get out from the car and buy some empanadas with Manong Danny. As always, people can't get enough asking for a photo and cheering as they saw Sandro.
Elle is about to open the car's door to go out and buy also, but Sandro just knock on the car's window, asking her to roll it down.
"Bakit?" she asked.
He showed her two empanadas inside the paperbag.
"I'm sorry Miss Hangry. Here's the best Ilocos empanada. Peace offering for you." he smiled.
"Anong ginagawa mo? Trying to look cute?" her brows lifted.
He open the door and go inside the car.
"Ano ba yan. I'm just trying to apologize and giving you these para makakain ka na. Baka pagalitan pa ako ng daddy mo for getting you starved here."
"Sus!" as she gets the empanada. "Di naman po talaga ako galit ehh, naiinis lang. But anyway, thank you, SIR!"
"Ang rupok mo talaga pagdating sa mga bagay na may kinalaman sa Ilocos, ano."
"Ofcourse sir. Sa Ilocos at sa empanada lang po muna rurupok sir! Hahahaha"
Sandro shook his head and just smiled while watching Elle eating her empanada. Manong Danny then go back to the car's driver seat and start driving again to their main destination.
"Ang sarap talaga ng empanada ng Ilocos sir no?" Elle commends.
"Walang katulad. Isa din ito sa mga binabalik-balikan ko dito, lalo na itong Glory's empanada."
"Akala ko po ba sa Batac ang Glory's, eh diba sa kabilang bayan pa yun?"
"Yeah, but they also have some branches here kaya pwede ka pa ding bumili. Kagaya doon sa hintuan."
"Aahh, I see. Wala na talaga akong masabi, dabest talaga empanada ng Ilocos again and again." as she finished the last bite of her empanada.
"Nakakawala din po ng init ng ulo maam no?" Manong Danny joked.
"Manong ha, nang-iiskor ka na ng asar diyan." Elle warned.
"Joke lang ma'am. Manang-mana po kasi talaga kayo sa tatay niyo kaya magaan din po yung loob ko sainyo."
They all just laugh at Manong Danny's confession and enjoy the ride. Several minutes later, Elle saw something familiar that she's longing to see for the longest time - the windmills.
***to be continue***
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My Dearest Asymptote (Sandro Marcos)
FanfictionLorin Emmanuelle Mendoza is a young lady from Mindanao who happens to challenge herself to come out from her comfort zone and explore the big city. She joined her father flying back to Manila who is temporarily part of the security group of a high i...
