Chapter 13: Chapter 13

I instantly stopped him, “No it fit Only a few people come here. And hearing the people’s chatter calms me.”

We entered the restaurant and I spotted the familiar workers who had been nice here.

“Good evening ma'am and sir, table for two?” My favorite waitress, Manang Inday asked. “I didn’t know you’ll have your boyfriend here with you.”

I nervously chuckled as I could see Ajax’s grin beside me.

I shook my head, “He’s not my boyfriend, manang Inday.”

She frowned, “Oh? That’s sad, you two suit each other. Ang gwapo nya, Ellaine!” (he’s so handsome!”)

I just chuckled and Ajax glanced at me, “What did she say?”

I just shrugged, “Nothing.” He doesn't have to know that. I know he’s been complimented his whole life. And that might just inflate his ego.

If I could only count the times that I heard that since early this evening, I would have already been rich.

Manang Inday just chuckled, “This way please.”

Manang Inday gave us the best seat which has a view outside.

“Thank you po manang!” I exclaimed and she just winked.

She gave us the menu and as a regular here, I didn’t have to look at it as I could memorize my favorite dishes by heart.

“Do you want anything here? They make the best Filipino dishes.” I asked Ajax since he’ll be the one to pay. The least I could do is make him taste the real Filipino dishes cooked well. Not in some fancy restaurants that taste too bland.

Manang Inday cooks the best here, and I can attest to that, as someone who had lived here for a few years when I had nothing.

Ajax carefully looked at the menu, trying hard to pronounce each food but failed. “I’ll just have what you are ordering. I know you have exquisite tastes.“

I nodded, “You won’t regret letting me order then.”

I instantly ordered our main dish Menudo, which has beef and some carrots and potatoes, sisig, topped with my favorite soup sinigang which has a sour and salty taste, side dishes with eggplant salads, and desserts like halo-halo and coconut juice.

We waited for ten minutes and soon after, food was placed on our table served hot.

Ajax looked over at the food, taking pictures of it and asking me the names of each dish.

I gladly told him each food and he smiled. “Oh…You ordered a lot. I apologize if I ever let you starve.”

I scoffed, “It was my choices that made hs starve. Don’t even apologize about it.”

I took him to the wash area where we could wash our hands carefully and he furrowed his eyebrows, “Why are we washing our hands?”

“For sanitary purposes…and also so we could eat using only hands.”

He nodded, “I see. Interesting.”

We got back to our table. Looking at the food, I gulped, salivating at it. I licked my lips, instantly digging in the food and letting him eat too. We shared the meals with separate rice as the dishes were already good for three people.

“The very first rule I want to share with to yowithwhen you eatFilip Filipino is to eat it with rice. Anything matches with rice.” I spoke up, as I put the menu on my rice, mixed it, and dumped it into my mouth using my fingers.

Ajax was listening intently as he was trying to copy me by eating using his hands.

“Second of all, we need to eat using our hands. If you want to savor each food.” I added.

“Copy that.” He answered. It took him a few tries and I couldn’t help but chuckle at his attempts.

“You can use the spoon for now since this is your first time,” I suggested. “If you continue using your hands, it might take you tomorrow to finish your food.”

He shook his head stubbornly, “No, it’s fine.”

He managed to eat all of the dishes and as I released a deep breath, I looked at his reaction, “How is it? Does it match your taste?”

He nodded, “It’s too good. This is the best restaurant.”

He then smiled at Manang Inday who was serving another table. “Thank you for the food! I love it!”

Manang Inday smiled warmly at his comment.

Ajax then faced me, “I feel like I can’t walk now from eating too much.”

I chuckled, “Wasn’t your brother here in the Philippines too? He must have given you some philippine dishes?” I couldn’t help but ask. Well, he is just amazed so much by the food.

“He didn’t. Well, he did bring home some food but it tasted bland. Not like this.” He answered.

“He must have ordered in a fancy restaurant. Not that I am judging fancy restaurants.” I responded.

“I see…wanna know a secret?” He suddenly whispered, as if he was going to drop something.

Me, being me, instantly got curious. “What?”

“I never enjoyed fancy restaurants and their food. Eating there feels so lonely…and suffocating. And their foods are very bland.”

I gasped, “Same! I never did like it either! My stomach always craves real dishes!” I exclaimed. I never imagined he would slander the fancy restaurants just like I do!

I couldn't help but chuckle and he watched.

“What? Do I have food stuck in my mouth of something?”

“No. It’s just you look beautiful when you laugh. It crinkles your eyes and your nose scrunches.” He said. “You’re the most intimidating-looking model yet the most charismatic and magnetic, don’t you know that?”

I paused, processing what he said. Goodness, he just complimented me out of nowhere and it took me by surprise.

“Come on-“

I was about to lightly hit him when he suddenly paused, looking uncomfortable, and looked not himself, and suddenly dropped on his chair.

I gasped, instantly coming to his side as I caught his head from hitting the ground.

I grabbed his body to me and yelled panickily.

“Call 911!”