CHAPTER 6 [The Chef’s Daughter]
[Liam]
*tok tok tok*
“Come in.” I said
Pumasok si Robin na may dalang folder.
“Sir Kurt excuse me, business proposal from Heavenly Food Restaurant” Rob said at inilagay nya sa table ko yung folder.
Kinuha ko yung folder at in-scan.
“It is said there that they want to invest on us.” Rob explained
Heavenly Food Restaurant, the famous and classic restaurant wants to invest on us? Wow. That’s nice! Actually that restaurant is one of my dream restaurants because when I was a child, pinangarap kong mag trabaho dun and be an apprenticed of the great Chef Gee. Kaya nga I took culinary arts at De LaSalle University dahil pagluluto talaga ang gusto ko hindi natuloy yun dahil after my graduation in-offer saken ni Daddy yung pag-ma-manage nitong Hotel, kumuha ako ng ilang units sa management para may background ako sa pagmamanage. Kaya nung nag-start na ko dito sa hotel sinigurado ko talaga na kitchen ang magiging second place ko. Nagluluto ako dito sa Liamurtvillas hotel ng dinner for the guests every Monday to Wednesday and sa Liansovillas hotel naman every Thursday to Saturday. At yun na din ang nagging highlight ng hotel and the time for me to relax.
“Wow this is great, so when is the meeting? Is Chef Gee’s the one to deal with us?” Excited na tanong ko kay Rob.
“Actually Sir, wala pa po silang ibinibigay na date for the meeting at hindi po si Chef Gee ang makikipag deal satin.” Sagot ni Rob
“Bakit wala pa? Then contact them and make a schedule for the meeting. Hindi dapat natin sayangin ang ganitong kalaking opportunity.” Sagot ko.
“Yes Sir” sagot ni Rob na papaalis na ng office ko.
“Sandali, nabanggit mo na hindi si Chef Gee ang makikipag deal sa atin, so, who it is then?” pahabol na tanong ko.
“His daughter” sagot ni Rob.
“Oh I see, I didn’t know na may anak pala si Chef Gee.” Sagot ko kay Rob.
“Me too, I just found out about it yesterday.” Sagot ni Rob.
“Alright just inform me kung kelan yung meeting.” Sabi ko at tuluyan ng umalis si Rob ng office ko.
Chef Gee is a very private person. Kaya hindi ko alam na may anak pala syang babae. Everytime kasi na mag-gu-guest sya sa mga cooking events para maging judge at may mag-i-interview sa kanya, puro related lang sa trabaho nya yung shi-ne-share nya sa public. Napakaswerte naman nung anak ni Chef Gee. Napakabait at humble ng Daddy nya. I wonder kung chubby yung anak nya dahil sa masarap magluto si Chef Gee and for sure mabait din sya katulad ng daddy nya. I’m excited to meet her not only because of business but for my curiosity sake also. Come to think of it, I will get the chance to meet the daughter of my favorite chef whose identity is hidden for public/media’s view. This will be fun.
[Dione’s P.O.V]
*ring ring ring
“Hello?” sagot ko sa kabilang linya ng hindi tinitignan kung sino yung tumatawag. Istorbo kasi, I’m doing some yoga outside my garden.
“Hello Good morning, is this Ms. Dione Garcia?” sagot nya.
“Yes.” Sagot ko
“This is Robin Legaspi the secretary of Mr. Liam Kurt Villas of Liamurtvillas Hotel.” Sya
“So?” sagot ko. Ano namang kailangan nito sakin.
“Hmm. Ms. Garcia, regarding for the business proposal of Heavenly Food Restaurant, Mr. Villas wants to ask if when do you like to start the meeting?” pagtatanong pa nya.
“I dunno” sagot ko.
Si Dori talaga yung contact number ko pa yung ibinigay sa hotel. Asar.
“Any suggestion date Ms. Garcia?” tanong ulit nya
“I’ll call you back. Bye.” At in-end ko na yung call.
I dialed Dori’s number.
*toot toot toot
Ays! Busy. Pinagtataguan na naman ako nun. Tsk, si Nats na nga lang.
*ring ring ring
Nats: Hi Dee!
Ako: Hi Nats, hmm the hotel called me.
Nats: Hotel? What hotel? And why?
Ako: Liamurtvillas hotel. About the bus—
Nats: Sorry Dee, I’ll call you back. Gtg. Bye. Mua.
*toot toot toot
Ako: business proposal. Hayyy. Tsk.
I dialed Dylan and Chibi’s number, both are busy. Seriously anong meron at busy lahat? Ako lang ba ang walang ginagawa? Si Lira naman for sure tulog pa yun hanggang ngayon. Hays. Ok si Cams na lang ang natitira. Sana hindi busy.
*ring ring ring ring ring ring
Come on. Pick it up Cams.
*Ring ring rin—
Cams: Hello baby Dee.
Ako: FINALLY.
Cams: Oh, whats up?
Ako: Are you busy?
Cams: Not really why? Something wrong?
Ako: Maybe there is something wrong. I called Dori, Nats, Dylan and Chi. Lahat sila busy. Except for Lira of course dahil malamang tulog pa yun. So anong meron at busy lahat?
Cams: Woah. You are pissed off. Chill Dee! Hahahahaha you really talk a lot when you’re pissed.
Ako: At natuwa ka pa talaga na naiinis ako. Hays.
Cams: Hahaha. Ang dami mo kasing nasasabi!
Ako: CAMILLA.
Cams: Ok, ok. First. Chill Dee. Second, it’s Bench summer collection later. So that’s explain why kung bakit busy lahat.
Ako: Oh. Ngayon pala yun? I forgot.
Nats is one of the models. Dori is their stylist. Lan is the host. And Chi is the event organizer. And Cams is the make-up artist kaya available pa sya ngayon.
Cams: Yup. So bakit ka nga pala napatawag?
Ako: Ahh yeah. The Liamurtvillas hotel called me earlier. They are asking kung kelan yung meeting?
Cams: Wow. So they accepted our proposal? That’s great! Anong sinabi mo sa kanila?
Ako: I said I’ll call them back. You know, I’m not in the position para magbigay sa kanila ng date.
Cams: Still pissed?
Ako: Yes. Si Dori kasi yung contact number ko pa yung binigay sa hotel. So, kelan yung meeting?
Cams: Hahaha! You are so cute baby Dee. Ok. We will speak to Lira first. The day after tomorrow na lang siguro tayo magkita kita para mapagusapan yan. Ok? So is that all baby Dee?
Ako: Yeah. Thanks Cams.
Cams: Kbyemuah.
-AT NATS CRIB-
[Third Person’s P.O.V]
“Any plan guys?” tanong ni Lan na busy sa pagtingin ng movies sa CD rack ni Nats.
“Well, hindi ko pa nakaka-usap si Lira at mukang wala syang palno.” Sagot ni Cams
“Si Lira pa. Basta related sa business hindi yun magkaka-interest.” Sabi ni Dori habang nagbabasa ng fashion magazine
“Tama. Isipin ko pa nga lang na nakikipagmeeting sya sa mga lalaking pinili natin. Natatawa na ko.” Sabi ni Nats na lumabas ng mini kitchen nya at inilagay yung snack sa lamesa.
“At baka topakin sya ng pagkamainipin nya at iwan nya bigla yung kameeting nya.” dagdag pa ni Chi at kumuha ng tacos.
Nagtatawanan sila nung biglang pumasok si Lira
“Hi guys. Ang saya nyo ha.” Bati nya sa mga kaibigan at tumabi kay Dee.
“Yes. Hindi kasi namin mapigilang matawa kapag iniisip namin yung soon-to-be-business-meeting mo.” pag-ku-kwento ni Nats.
“So any plans? Kelan ka makikipagmeet dun sa lima?” tanong ni Chi kay Lira
“Tomorrow, free ako. Mabilis lang naman yun diba? Kaya yun ng isag araw.” Sabi ni Lira
“Ok. Sa restaurant nyo ba? Para matawagan na naming yung lima at i-inform sila” Lan
“Sa resto? Hmm ok sige. My private room naman dun.” Sabi ni Lira na medyo nag-aalinlangan.
“Bakit parang di ka sure?” sa wakas nagsalita din si Dee.
“Alam nyo naman. Konti lang yung nakakaalam na I’m Chef Gee’s daughter. At isa pa, hindi alam ni Daddy yung tungkol dito sa ginagawa natin” explain ni Lira.
“Oo nga pala. Bakit kasi hindi ka magpakilala na anak ka ni Tito Gary?” curious na tanong ni Cams
“Kasi nga, napakabait kong anak. Ayaw ko naman na pati yung magandang reputation ni Daddy ay pumangit dahil sakin. So wag na lang diba?” explain ulit ni Lira
“Ok, ok. So, tatawagan na namin yung lima. Wait sino pala mauuna?”tanong ni Chi na halos naubos na nya yung tacos.
“Kung ano na lang yung nasa bachelor’s list. Yun na din yung pag-kakasunod sunod nila. And please lang, wag maaga ha. Ok sakin ang 2:00 p.m onwards.” Paalala nya sa mga kaibigan
“Alam naman namin na you’re not a morning person” sagot ni Cams
Nag-umpisa ng tawagan nina Cams, Chi, Nats, Lan, and Dori yung limang nasa bachelor’s list. Si Dee? Wag mo nang asahan makipag-usap.
-LIAMURTVILLAS HOTEL-
*ring ring
“Yes?” sagot ni Liam sa telepono.
“Sir Kurt, tumawag na po yung Heavenly Food Restaurant. Bukas daw po yung meeting 6:00 p.m.” Sagot ni Robin sa kabilang linya
“That’s good. Thank you Robin” natuuwang sagot ni Liam.
“No problem Sir.”
Ibinaba na ni Liam yung telepono.
[LIAM]
Hindi na ko makapaghintay para bukas. Dapat maging maganda yung kalabasan ng meeting namin. Ito na yung chance ko para makasama si Chef Gee at hopefully maging apprentice nya. Hindi lang yun, I’m dying to know about his daughter’s identity and why do they keep her in public view?
**********