CHAPTER 17
Huminga nang malalim si Victoria. Ang lakas nang tibok ng puso nya. Pakiramdam nya maha-heart attack sya nang huminto ang kotse ni Ramcel sa parking lot ng Montoya Culinary School kinabukasan ng hapon.
“Relax.” Ramcel’s voice was soothing and she started to relax when she felt her warm hands on hers. “You’ve been cooking since you were a kid. Wala ka mang formal culinary degree, you got experience. Show him what you got.”
Victoria took another deep breath bago sya bumaba ng kotse. Hinawakan nya ang kamay ni Ramcel para hindi sya masyadong kabahan saka sila pumasok sa 3-storey building. Pagkatapos silang bigyan ng Visitor’s pass ng guard, binigyan sila ng direksyon kung saan ang opisina ni Chef Alejandro.
Ongoing ang classes sa mga rooms na nadadaanan nila. Nang marating nila ang opisina, nagpakilala si Victoria sa tingin nya’y secretary or assistant ng chef.
Tinignan sya mula ulo hanggang paa ng magandang secretary na nakaupo sa desk nito. Pinigilang sumimangot ni Victoria nang mapansing napatitig ito kay Ramcel at pa-cute pa itong ngumiti. Nawala ang kaba nya at napalitan ng inis. Gusto nyang tusukin ang mata ng babaing ito. Bumaling lang ito ulit kay Victoria nang tumikhim sya.
“M-May kausap pa si Chef. Mamaya ka pa nya mahaharap pero may request sya sayo.”
“Anong request?”
“Make him a sandwich,” ngumiting sabi ng secretary. “Gusto kasi nyang magmiryenda after his meeting.” Biglang kinabahan si Victoria. In-expect naman nyang susubukan sya ni Chef Alejandro but she still couldn’t help feeling nervous. “The kitchen is that way.”
“Do you want me to go with you?” Ramcel whispered.
Kahit ayaw nyang iwan si Ramcel kasama ng secretary, she had to do it alone. “I got this.” They smiled at each other before Victoria entered the fully equipped kitchen. Kumpleto ang mga gamit and it was spotlessly clean.
May nakita syang isa pang pinto at binuksan iyon. Tumambad sa kanya ang mga fresh produce at isang malaking freezer. Malaki ang kwarto at kumpleto ang mga gulay at prutas. She’d love to have her own room like this. She planned to have her own garden of fruits ang vegetables too para doon sya kukuha ng kanyang mga ingredients.
May ilang malalaking glass tank kung saan naglalaman ng live fishes, crab and lobsters. Hindi nya mapigilang mapangiti. For her, it’s paradise in there. Matapos nyang ilibot ang paningin sa loob, kumuha sya ng mga kakailanganin sa sandwich na gagawin nya- sage, chives, apple cider vinegar, turkey breast, smoked bacon, pear, kale leaves, gorgonzola cheese, hazelnuts and 10 inch whole wheat tortilla.
“Are you done?” Tanong ng isang lalaki.
Nagulat si Victoria. Pag-angat nya ng tingin, nasa harapan na nya si Chef Alejandro. Matangkad ito, mestizo na may neat haircut. Nasa late 40’s na ito pero mas bata itong tignan sa edad nito. Sa sobrang engrossed nya sa ginagawa hindi na nya namalayang pumasok na pala ito. Kita nya sa gilid ng mga mata ang wall clock. Lampas 30 minutes na pala ang lumipas.
“Yes, chef.” Sinikap ni Victoria na huwag mautal. Kumabog nang malakas ang puso nya. Kahit nakasuot sya ng jeans, sneakers at makapal na white top, naramdaman nya bigla ang panlalamig. His piercing dark brown eyes were fixed on her sandwich. Wala itong kangiti-ngiting sinusuri ang ginawa nya. “I called it Autumn Wrapsody.” She explained how it was prepared and discussed the ingredients she used.
Lumapit ito saka marahang dinampot ang platong pinaglagyan nya ng wrapped sandwich para rito. He scrutinized it before taking a bite.
Napalunok si Victoria at napakagat sa labi sa antipasyon. She was anxious and excited at the same time. Hindi sya makapaniwalang kaharap na nya ang sikat na chef at kinakain nito ang gawa nyang sandwich. If she didn’t pass his qualification, making him a sandwich was already an achievement for her.
Tahimik lang itong kumain. Ibinaba nito ang plato nang maubos ang pagkain. Ininom rin nito ang malamig na freshly squeezed mango orange juice na ginawa nya. Tumingin ito sa mga mata nya.
“Can you do Thursday next week?” Maya-maya’y tanong nito.
Natigilan si Vi. Thursday? Ibig sabihin ba nito pumasa sa panlasa nito ang sandwich nya? “Yes.”
“Good. Tanya will provide information about Fiesta Week. Talk to her before you go.” Yun lang at tinalikuran na sya nito. He opened the door but he paused with his hand on the knob. “Thank you for the sandwich. You got potential,” he added without looking at Victoria then walked out of the door.
Victoria was in a dazed. Hindi sya agad nakalabas ng kitchen.
“Are you okay?” She heard Ramcel asked. Nasa tabi na pala nya ito. “Based on the empty plate and how you look right now…you passed his test.” Ngumiti ito.
Unti-unting lumuwang ang ngiti sa mga labi ni Victoria at masayang niyakap si Ramcel, who kissed her forehead. “Tell me, I’m not dreaming.”
“You’re dreaming, Vi. At dahil panaginip lang ito, I can make love to you right here in this kitchen and we can walk out of that door naked.” Ramcel’s eyes were full of mischief. Marahan nya itong hinampas habang nakayakap pa rin. “I’m proud of you.”
They stayed for almost an hour because Tanya discussed the details for Fiesta Week. The school would provide everything. She just had to submit a five course menu of her choice by weekend.
Ramcel and Victoria went grocery shopping. They also went to Munoz market by dawn to buy fresh produce. Eleanor graciously offered her fully equipped kitchen to Victoria, who spent the next few days cooking and experimenting different cuisines. The Villarances became her critiques.
Jenny and their high school friends also came. Sila ang nagsilbing tagatikim nya sa mga niluluto until she decided to do Spanish cuisine since that’s what caught Chef Alejandro’s attention.
After careful consideration she submitted the list of her menu and was immediately approved with a recommendation that Thursday was going to be a buffet instead for 300. The chef suddenly increased the number of guest to be accommodated. She was asked to add more on her menu.
Bumalik sya sa culinary school ng Saturday to meet with her team. Mga estudyante ni Chef Alejandro ang mga ito. Noong una natakot sya na hindi sya pakinggan ng mga ito but was surprised when they were polite and they listened to her. They deliberated over her menu and on what to do. She designated tasks and everyone agreed.
“Do you think I can really do this?” Victoria asked Ramcel, who was finishing her third ensaymada. Nasa kitchen sila nito at katatapos lang nyang magbake.
“Of c*&%#@,” Ramcel tried to answer, for she stuffed another ensaymada in her mouth.
Natawa na lang si Victoria. Hinalikan nya ito sa pisngi at niyakap ito sa beywang. Ramcel had been very supportive of her. Kapag may nakalimutang bilhing ingredient, ito ang nagvo-volunteer na lumabas para mabili o kaya naman ito ang instant driver nya. Hindi tuloy sila makapagbakasyon kagaya ng plano nila.
Lolo Leandro and Eleanor bought her an expensive knife set she could use on Fiesta Week. It was customized and there was letter V on each handle. Maluha-luha sya nang makita nya ang regalo ng mga ito. She was overwhelmed with their support.
Hinatid sya ni Ramcel early in the morning on Thursday. Binigyan pa sya nito ng nakaliliyong halik bago sya bumaba ng sasakyan nito.
Few hours before Lunch time, Victoria and her team began preparing. Chef Alejandro was present to guide them if needed be. But he was there to observe them especially Victoria, who maintained her composure even if his mere presence was already nerve racking.
By 11:30AM, nag-umpisa ng dumating ang mga tao including Ramcel and her family. Nakasama din si Jenny at ang parents nito. Kahit gustuhin man pumunta nina Helena at ng iba nilang kabigan, limited lang talaga ang slots na ibinigay sa kanila dahil maraming mga taong naghihintay na makakuha ng seat sa Fiesta Week.
Sa in-house restaurant ng culinary school mismo ang venue. Maluwang ang place at it could accommodate maximum of 500 people. By 12:00 PM, kumpleto na ang mga guests at inilabas na ang mga trays na naglalaman ng ibat-ibang Spanish dishes.
Victoria was thankful for her experience at the Bistro. Nung biglaang magkasakit ang cook nila, she had to take over for a week.
Good thing kabisado nya ang menu nila bukod pa sa karamihan sa mga iyon ay sya ang nagsuggest. Although, she was anxious if people would like her dishes, she managed her crew well. And if there were minor set backs, she was quick to resolve them.
When most of the guests were enjoying dessert, Chef Alejandro introduced Victoria to everyone as a guest Gastronomer from New York. Nakahinga nang maluwag si Victoria nang umani sya ng malakas na palakpakan sa mga tao. Pakiramdam nya para syang theater actress na binigyan pa ng standing ovation. May ibang guests na lumapit pa sa kanya para kamayan sya at sinabihang nagustuhan ang luto nya.
“Your seafood paella reminds me of my mother,” medyo naluluha pang sabi ng isang ginang.
Pinigilan ni Victoria ang humagulgol sa harap ng lahat. Kita rin nyang proud na nakatingin sa kanya sina Ramcel at Jenny. Nakangiti ang mga ito sa kanya and Ramcel even mouthed “I love you” to her. Kung hindi lang maraming nakaharap, kanina pa sya tumakbo papunta rito para halikan ito.
Mga 3PM na nang tuluyang umalis ang lahat ng mga guests. Tulong-tulong na naglilinis sina Victoria sa kitchen nang lumapit sa kanya si Tanya at ipinapatawag daw sya ni Chef Alejandro sa opisina nito.
Kahit maganda ang feedback ng mga tao, kabado pa rin syang nagtungo sa office nito. Naabutan nyang kumakain ito ng ensaymada nya. Bahagya itong ngumiti nang makita sya. He motioned for her to sit down.
“Congratulations, Victoria. I am impressed.” Lumabas ang pantay-pantay nitong ngipin nang ngumiti ito ng maluwang. “I love your dishes and I’d love to have you in my school.”
Pinigilan ni Victoria ang magtatalong sa tuwa o kaya mahimatay on the spot. She managed to say, “Thank you, chef.”
Tila panaginip lang ang lahat para kay Victoria habang pinakikinggan nya ang mga sunod na sinabi nito. Kung tama ang narinig nya, Chef Alejandro offered her a full scholarship for a 2 Year Culinary Degree. Na pwede nyang kunin anytime. Naiintindihan nitong may trabaho sya sa New York and she could take her time to think about it. Kung magpasya si Victoria na mag-aral sa school nito, she would be very much welcomed.
Victoria was like in a trance when she got out of Chef Alejandro’s office. Para syang lumulutang sa ulap nang mga sandaling iyon. Totoo ba lahat nang nangyayari?
Pagbalik nya sa kitchen, halos tapos na ang paglilinis ng mga kasama nya. She thanked them for giving her the opportunity to work with them. Nagpasalamat din ang mga ito sa kanya. They also complimented her poise under pressure and for not only being an excellent chef but also a natural leader.
Nagtatawanan sila nang pumasok si Tanya sa kitchen. “Vi, someone is looking for you,” nakangiting sabi nito saka pumasok si Ramcel.
“May I join the celebration?” Ramcel said and showed two bottles of champagne. Everyone cheered.
Ramcel was a bit surpised when Victoria introduced her as her fiancée. Medyo nagulat ang mga kasama nya pero hindi na nagkomento ang mga ito. They congratulated them both. Tanya looked disappointed.
Victoria was secretly triumphant. Buti nga yan para hindi na ito magkaroon ng masamang ideya over Ramcel, like agawin ito sa kanya or something. Naiiling lang sa kanya si Ramcel at mukha rin itong amused. Alam nitong nagseselos sya kaya nya iyon ginawa.
They drank the champagne and talked more. Nakaramdam na ng pagod ang lahat kaya pagkatapos magpromise ni Victoria to get in touch with them before going back to New York, nagpaalam na sila ni Ramcel sa mga ito.
Pinauna na nya si Ramcel sa kotse nito at bumalik ulit si Victoria sa opisina ni Chef Alejandro para tuluyang magpaalam. She told him she’d think about his offer and would let him know of her decision.
Naabutan nyang nakasandal sa gilid ng kotse si Ramcel. Naka-cross arms ito at nakatingin sa malayo at tila malalim ang iniisip. Ang hot pa rin nito kahit pa simpleng white cotton shirt, tight jeans at boots ang suot nito. Naka-ponytail ang mahaba nitong buhok at may mga strands na naiwan sa gilid ng mukha nitong sumasabay sa hangin. She wanted to capture Ramcel’s thoughtful look. Too bad she wasn’t carrying a camera.
“Sometimes I wish I could read what’s on your artistic mind,” sabi ni Victoria para mapukaw ang atensyon nito.
Ngumiti itong tumingin sa kanya. Her usual piercing gray eyes, was warm and full of love for her. “If you could read my mind, you would sue me for sexual harassment,” Ramcel said naughtily.
Victoria laughed. Since there was no one around, Victoria pulled Ramcel into a kiss. “I’m so happy. But I’m also sleepy and exhausted. Can you hold me the whole night?” Paglalambing nya rito.
Ramcel nodded, smiling. “Let’s go home then, my queen.”