Chapter 2 Lunchdate with Adobong Manok

02 - Lunchdate with Adobong Manok

Mag-isang kumakain si Kari sa cafeteria ng school nila. It isn’t the first time. Sanay na siyang mag-isa. She had been like that ever since highschool. Ever since her brother’s band became popular. Especially to girls.

She did not like that. Being lonely and all. But she preferred to. Dahil tuwing may lumalapit para makipagkaibigan sa kanya, alam niyang hindi friendship ang pakay nito. Girls come to here to get near her brother and his band.

“Pa-share ha.” Kari looked at the man who just sat infront of her.

“Ang daming vacant tables, sa ‘kin ka pa makikishare.” Masungit na sabi ni Kari.

”It’s more fun to eat with you, Kari.” Kumindat pa ito na lalong kinainis ni Kari.

”Stop doing this, Dale.” Kari walked out of the cafeteria and went straight to her car. A graduation gift from their parents.

FLASHBACK TO FOURTHYEAR HIGHSCHOOL.

Nasa canteen ang magbabarkadang Dale, Sean, Kenneth, Carlo at Luke. Goofing around while eating. Inaasar nila si Sean na may dalang baon.

“Brad, fourth year na tayo, nagbabaon ka pa?!” Exaggerated na sabi ni Kenneth.

“Eh ano? Masarap naman. Tipid pa.” Tuluy-tuloy lang sa pagkain si Sean hanggang sa maya-maya, nakiagaw din ang apat.

”Sarap nga.” Sabi ni Luke na ninanamnam pa ang adobong manok.

”Teka, mga bro. San si baby Kari?” Tanong ni Carlo.

”Ako na maghahanap.” Prisinta ni Dale at lumabas na ng canteen.

Dale has always been fond of Kari. Actually, sila ng buong banda. Kaya nga “baby” ang tawag ng mga ‘to kay Kari. Except for Dale. Iba-iba kasi tawag ni Dale kay Kari, minsan, “bro” o kaya “miss yellow” dahil yellow ang favourite color nito. But deep inside, Dale wants to call Kari “baby” too.

Nadatnan ni Dale si Kari namag-isang kumakain sa classroom. He knows na hindi friendly si Kari at naiinis din ito sa kanila dahil sila ang dahilan kaya wala itong kaibigan.

Okay na yun, Dale tells himself. Besides, the whole band is very protective and possessive of Kari. He wants Kari for them only.

“Pa-share naman.” Kari looked at the man standing and smiling infront of her.

“Uy Bro. Kain?” Kinuha ni Dale ang kutsara ni Kari at sumubo.

”Ang sarap ng luto ni tita. And it’s sweet of her to cook for you and Sean.” Sabi ni Dale at sumubo pa ulit, not minding they are sharing the same utensil. Habang ang isip ni Kari, “isn’t that indirect kiss?”

“Ah, hindi si mama ang nagluto.” Nakangiting sabi ni Kari at kinuha ang kutsara kay Dale para siya naman ang sumubo.

”Eh sino? Si Sean? Impossible!” Palitan sa pagsubo ng adobong manok at kanin ang dalawa.

“Ako.” Dale stopped chewing and stared at Kari na busy sa pagsimot ng lunchbox niya.

“Sayo na ‘to, Dale. Last na.” Inabot ni Kari ang lunchbox kay Dale na nagrerecover pa lang that time.

“I didn’t know you cook.”

“Past time ko ang pagluluto. I don’t have friends to ask out kaya sa kitchen na lang namin ako tumatambay.”

“You can ask me.” Kari, with shocked expression looked at Dale.

“We’re friends Kari, you can ask me out. Teka lang ha, bili akong drinks natin.”

That wasn’t the only time the two shared lunch together. Mula noon, dinadagdagan na ni Kari ang baon niya para kay Dale. Adobong manok, menudo, sisig or a simple tocino and many viands more.

Every lunch, Kari feels like she’s in a date.

END OF FLASHBACK.

Naramdaman ni Kari na may tao sa labas ng kotse. As she put her head up, a man in a simple shirt and rugged jeans was standing across her car. The man looked at her and put up a smile.

“Shit.” Kari murmured in her breath. Lumabas si Kari para sabihan ang lalaking nakasandal sa hood ng automatic yellow beetle niya.

“Go away, Dale. Move. Aalis na ko.” Pagsusungit ni Kari.

”You’ll cut class?” Nakakalokong tanong ni Dale.

Kari got her things from her car and locked the door.

“Hatid na kita sa next class mo.”

“No thanks. Kaya ko na, I’m not your baby naman diba?” Kari sarcastically said and even gave emphasis on the word baby.

Naiinis si Kari. Sino bang hindi? Nilalayuan mo, lalapitan ka, kukulitin ka pa. Badtrip diba.

She’s already moving forward. But because of one tiny, little memory, one adobong manok lunchdate that happened several times, she’s back to square one.