Bento Box

The degree of importance is not the same for everyone.

"Good morning to the most beautiful chef I've known!" Hank shouted as he barges inside Sin's room, which is at the second floor of Ohana Restaurant.

It was Saturday morning, Sin was enjoying her weekend but an annoying fly manages to slip in and disturbs her sweet sleep.  She glared fiercely at the intruder who immediately shuts the door in fear of the upcoming flying darts.  Fortunately, he avoided the next two darts or else...

He run downstairs and prepared himself for her wrath.  A loud bang startled him, and a slow pacing footsteps followed like a death whisperer.

"Coffee your highness?" He offered to the epitome of horror.  She glance at him like a predator ready to pounce but changes her mind at sight of food.

Sin was totally an opposite of herself during the weekdays as she'd rather starved herself than separated from her bed much to Hank's chagrin. 

After the breakfast episode, Hank tidied everything up as she won't bother cleaning them up herself.

"Ano na naman ang kailangan mo?"

"Eto naman, kailangan agad? Di ba pwedeng napadaan lang?" he retorted.

"Aaah~ napadaan ka lang pala. Pwede ka nang umalis."

"Hoy! Pinagluto kaya kita!"

"Bakit sinabi ko ba?"

'Itong babaeing 'to kapag di ginising siguradong buong araw na matutulog.'

"Tch, lutuan mo nga ako ng babaunin ko mamaya."

"Aba! Inuutusan mo 'ko?  Napakahusay!"

"Sige na~ pinagluto naman kita eh."

"Edi sana nagluto ka na rin na babaunin mo."

"Ayoko nga! Alangan namang pritong itlog at tuyo ang kakainin ko sa set eh pang-agahan yon."

"Sinong nagsabi ng rule na yon? Ipakilala mo nga sa akin at ng mabinat ko ang utak."

"Ang bayolente mo."

"Pwede mong kainin yon sa tanghali, take it from a chef like me."  Pride was written on her face.

"Hah! Chef like you? Eh ang magluto ng pang-agahan mo di mo magawa."

"Oy oy oy walang ganyanan.  Magsabi ka ng totoo, gusto mo lang magpasikat sa mga kasama mo eh."

"Oo na! Oo na! Props din naman yun sa set eh."

"Props?"

"Tch, remember yung kaka-sign ko lang na kontrata, isang youth drama series yon, so bale high school student ang role ko."

"Asan ang props don?"

"Syempre kapag lunch time may baon na pagkain ang mga student, di ka ba nanonood ng mga school drama?"

"Mukha ba akong nanonood ng mga ganon? Di nga kita pinapanood yung iba pa kaya?"

"Ouch naman, wala kang ka-support support sa gwapo mong kaibigan?"

"Ewan ko sayo. Dyan ka na nga, matutulog ulit ako."

"Oooy~ eto naman, sige na kahit yung simpleng bento box lang, yung bagay sa image ko."

"Ayoko, tinatamad ako."

"Ako na pi-pick up sa mga inorder mo sa Lunes."

"Okay deal."

"Wooaaah!! tologo?! Pwedeng pa-deliver na rin?  Hindi ko na kase mahihintay, tinatawag na 'ko ni Kuya Seb."

"Aba! Ambisyoso ka rin ah!"

"Sige na, ngayon lang 'to."

"...."

At 8:30 am, she drove to the place that Hank had given her.  Nasa set na siya ng naturang drama ngunit hindi niya mahagilap si Hank.  She approached the person nearest to her, who coincidentally is the story writer of the said drama.  The writer stared at her for a good 10 seconds before asking..

"Do you act? Want to be a cameo role?" she enthusiastically said.

"Har?" Sin reacted confusingly. 'May sapi ba mga tao rito?'

"C'mon may role na bagay para sa iyo, kakaunti lang ang scene niya, hindi rin marami ang lines, sakto para sa upcoming na kagaya mo."

"Sorry but I don't plan to engage myself into the entertainment industry."

"Aww~ sayang naman, saglit lang tatawagin ko lang si Direct."

"Ah? Actually, I'm here to deliver a lunch food for Hank."

"Oh? Fan ka ba niya? Ang sweet mo naman, bihira lang yung nagluluto para sa mga idol nila. Alam mo ba-" Sin grimaced at her sudden comment.

"No! Nein! Not! You got it wrong! I'm not a fan." She intercepted.  Sin sighs to herself as she wondered how chatty this person was.

"Can you just deliver this to Hank. Thank you!" She stormed out as fast as she could after handling the box.

"Woah! That was scary." Sin muttered to herself.  The writer was left dumbfounded, still utterly surprised at Sin's behavior. If only she realize how absurd her actions was.

After the taping, Mina, the persistent writer approached Hank.

"Hey Hank! Yung babae kanina na nagbigay ng bento box mo, kaano-ano mo siya?"

"Bakit Miss Mina?"

"May role kase ako para sa kanya, sure na bagay niya yon.  Pwede mo ba siyang kumbinsihin na i-take yung role?"

"Nako po, hindi niya po tatanggapin yan, kahit bigyan mo ng malaking talent fee."

"Sayang naman, sure akong maraming kukuha sa kanyang agency kapag nag-air na tayo.  Iba yung aura niya, malakas ang hatak niya sa tao kahit isang beses lang siyang makita.  Hindi ba talaga pwede?  Ipapakausap ko siya kay Direct.  Pwede bang mahingi ang contact details niya o kaya-"

"NO!" he cut her off.  His smile was nowhere to be seen which surprises the writer.

"W-why not?  Madali lang ang process, sisikat din siya lalo na at maganda siya.  May acting experience ba siya? Kung wala pwede naman siyang mag-work shop for a month-"

"Miss Mina, sorry to disappoint you but I will still say no.  She may not be a gold in a chest but she is a treasure I am keeping for myself and no one shall covet, not even you."  he declared, leaving the bewildered writer.  That sharp, threatening eyes rendered her speechless.

The Director noticed their situation but he did not approached them until Hank withdraws himself.

"Miss Mina, hayaan mo na yung bata, hindi mo rin mapipilit si Hank."

"Direct..."

"Yes?"

"I suddenly had a flash of inspiration for the upcoming scenes!" she declared with a face covered in pure excitement. 

"This concealed love, hidden in his heart, secretly wishing she'd notice! Oh! Then an old acquaintance comes in testing his patience! After that something unexpected happen, and then-" the director slaps his forehead in realization.

'How did I got a weird writer this time?'

***