Strings in the Beginning (Abrupt Series #2)

EPISODE 07

I told myself this was just one dish, isang putahe lang na kailangan kong pagpraktisan. No big deal, right? But deep down, I knew this wasn't just about getting it right. Ako pa naman ang magde-demo nito sa loob ng booth, in front of who-knows-how-many people. Strangers. Potential critics. And more!

Kaya wala nang atrasan. I had to make it work.

I took a deep breath and focused. Flour. I needed to start with flour; it was the heart of the tagliatelle pasta. My hands instinctively reached for the bag, the familiar scent of wheat filling the air.

Nagawa ko na 'to. I've done this before. Kung tutuusin, kabisado ko na dapat ang bawat galaw. Pero bakit ganito? My hands felt stiff, my chest too tight, when I'm thinking that he's only in the other side of this room.

"Do you need help?"

I am in the middle of kneading the dough with Chef Iris when someone showed up right beside me. It was Conrad based on his vintage brown wide-leg pants at malalim akong humugot ng hininga dahil nagtama ang mata namin nang iangat ko ang mukha sa kanya.

"Uh, thanks but I'm okay. Patapos na kaming mag-knead nitong para sa pasta," I answered even though I was about to panic.

Ang lapit ng katawan niya sa akin while his left hand was on his pocket. Hindi ko naman maamoy kung anong amoy niya dahil naglalaban siguro sila ng amoy ng loob nitong kusina.

"Is it difficult to make pasta dough for this dish you're preparing? I've never tried making it before," he asked, his tone laced with genuine curiosity.

His gaze lingered on me, warm and intent as if he was more interested in my answer than what I am doing. Lumingon ako kay Chef Iris upang bigyan ng senyas ang babae na siya ang sumagot dito.

"Ah, Sir, hindi naman po siya sobrang hirap gawin dahil may mga sukat na kailangan lang sundin. If you followed it perfectly, maganda ang magiging labas ng pasta mo kapag pinakuluan na. And 'yung maayos din po nang pagmamasa ay importante."

Iris has a genuine answer, as her voice when talking. Pahapyaw ko lang na tiningnan ang lalaki at bumalik ang tingin ko kay Iris na nakatingala dahil matangkad ang nasa tabi ko.

Conrad is a 6'3 human being and if I will compare myself to him. Hanggang baba lang talaga ako sa kanya. His height alone is enough to turn heads but pair that with his looks, and he could easily pass for a fashion model.

I swear, mas lalo pa siyang tumangkad mula nung huli naming pagkikita. Not that I ever planned on catching up to him in height because it's not exactly in my genes. At sa lahi rin na meron siya ay mas gugustuhin mo na lang na tingalain siya.

And it's not just his height that's striking. He's filled out since the last time I saw him, a broad shoulders, a chest that stretches his shirt just enough, and muscles that hint at quiet strength beneath the fabric of his long-sleeved polo.

Nawala na ang binatang kilala ko noon; in his place is a man who walks with the confidence of someone who knows people can't help but to stare.

"Kumusta na pakiramdam mo?" he asked me.

My eyes stumbled and trying to look away from him. Napagtanto ko agad na nasa harapan ko pala siya simula kanina.

I cleared my throat.

"Okay naman na," maikling sagot ko.

Maayos akong tumayo ng tuwid nang magpaalam si Irirs na kukunin niya ang pasta cutter sa storage equipment. Inutusan niya ang isa sa mga chef namin na bakante dahil may kabigatan ang cutter.

Naramdaman ko agad ang paninikip ng dibdib ko dahil kami na lang ulit ni Conrad sa isang kitchen table sa sulok, kung saan kami nagsimula ni Chef Iris gumawa ng pasta dough. I glanced at him when I wiped my hands above my white apron because of the starch.