The " Pasalubong"

He was running back to the granite house like a school boy with a ripped and muddy military uniform. People in the wooden house whom he passed by was astounded by how he appeared but they just let him in without any questions since they already knew that it's all about the chicken thing and a pica revolution.

" Good he's got one! But he seem didn't notice us around, how exciting his journey for being a Dad in the middle of this war, so amazing!" Albrecht remarked while Sr. Sibal and Edward were gallantly laughing.

Meanwhile, in the granite house, George immediately butchered the chicken and had it meaty after minutes. He ran back to the wooden house and collected some spices, but of course the leading ones were 'pamienta,' lemon grass and ginger along with a whole green papaya and 'dahon ng sili'. He was moving in a rush so no one disturbed him and all queries were all in freeze. Back to the granite house, he immediately put the chopped meat, had a small amount of olive oil on a pan ready for minced onions, 'pamienta' and ginger with the meat all over. He then sauted it all and mixed it like the granite house was converted into a five star hotel kitchen and in a while the preggy got out holding her tummy and seemed the aroma from the pan was a potion, pulling her like a magnet. He was smiling while looking at her coming and excitingly sat down, carefully watching him stirred it all on a pan that later the military husband transfered the freshly sauted meat into a boiling pot situated just beside the pan. The pot already had some ribonete lemon grass and chopped green papaya, so while he transfered it, she was kinda closing her eyes and imagining how is it to sip the first spoon - filled with its soup after it boils up again.

" Wanna taste it, while I put a little sugar and salt?" He smiled at her while he handed a small amount of soup on a spoon. But when tasted it she spoke.

" Hmm...there's something in the wondrous soup you haven't declared. Tell me." She smiled at him while digging a spoon full of it once more.

" Haha! it's a secret. Hmm but because you insist, I'd unravel it but don't tell anyone, Dad Edward taught me this secret ingredient last November. He said it was also Amá Sibal who coached him. Here, when you rinse the rice, the second time you do it, save it and pour it in your boiled water. When it boils, it's a perfect timing that the sauteed chicken from the pan will be mixed with your boiled water together with your secret ingredient. The effect is indeed different, isn't it? Likewise, when I returned to the wooden house to get some spices, Dad Edward reminded me of it and handed to me some rice from Gabok that Baldur had taken from there." He bowed and funnily entertained her with his secret ingredient.

" Wow! it's just as easy as that but it has flavored this soup this way...amazing! And...I'm very hungry, can't hold it anymore." She sheepishly smirked and winked at him.

" Ha? just a little while, the rice is almost cooked, just a little bit."

" Aha...oh dear, come on...there's a rice, this is a celebration after several months of no rice and here it goes delightedly with the chicken soup, thank you my husband. Thank you."

" Oh! teary eyed? hey? it's just a rice, I'll gonna find you some rice. I...I know the duma had been our staple food somehow, hmm, but yes, I understand, since you're pregnant, you're craving the rice you used to eat before this war had started."

" Yeah. I honestly imagined for some rice. But it's irrational to look for it in the warzone. I just imagined it, but I'm already smelling it right now, I guess it's already cooked; it smells really great together with the chicken soup that's seemingly pulling me out of my seat."

" Haha! okay, okay, wow! my kitchen activities are quite in demand these days, alright! here's your bowl, okay, see...the soup looks a little sticky, it's the rinsed rice. Careful, you may have your chicken soup while I'll scoop some rice from the pot to deliver in your plate. Haha! take it easy, it's still hot." Then he gave her some rice as she consumed the chicken viand with a joyful meal. Of course, she's very silent while her husband was busy looking at her - indeed! her sweat looks like ripples from the skies. Satisfied!

" A woman needs a man to guide her through out her pregnancy. This is a lesson I've learned at this point in my married life. See how she craves and eats like she haven't eaten within a century. She's even lovely and adorable in my eyes, beautiful. She tells the truth even it's scary to find rice these days and shares her thoughts, good thing she tried. Yeah Mag, even if you won't tell me...I know how pica drives you within. Don't worry my wife, everything will be alright. God has given us this baby so I know He'll help me find a way, there's always a way, I believe." He thought while she was fixing the dishes.

" George...I wanted to burp, but can't do it, it's a little awkward." She smiled as he quickly stood up and removed the dishes out of her hands.

" Haha...and why, just do it, it's our house. You can burp anywhere you want, anytime."

" She's even more submissive and tells me of her little ways. So this is the feeling of being the official husband, haha! lovely. It excites me even more." He smilingly thought while aiding her to wash up in the bathroom then he got back to quickly eat within 3 minutes then hurriedly tidy the kitchen. When he estimated her to get out, around half an hour, he fetched her.

" Hey, haha! what have you done in here? you fixed everything, so well-arranged. My goodness, next time just leave it to me, okay?"

Then he assisted her to go back to room number three and ensure that she's all fine.

" Mag, I wanted you to sleep early while I go meet our brothers and folks at the wooden house. I share to them what I've discovered mile's away, northeast. There's a woman I found being chased by our enemy and when I rescued her, she gave me that chicken with eggs as my reward. There were burning bahay-kubos I found out but that woman was hiding in a safer place. I wanted to help her and transfer her in the wooden house. Hmm...of course, she's just a young woman but you don't need to be jealous too, how is it?"

" Hmm, even I haven't commented yet but you're already whining, haha! I'm not jealous of course, why should I? but yes, if you think she needs help, why not. Just do it your way, she's a woman. I can't imagine how she had survived for months in that hiding place. Just leave me around and I'll take a little walk to room number seven, I really like the place. Please extend my thanks to your first 'pasalubong' for our baby. She smiled as he kissed her forehead then quickly left.