Where The Magnolias Bloom [ONGOING]

Chapter 7

Crushing On You

All the people lined up to get food from each of our station. Inayos ko ulit ang buhok at inayos rin ang saliva mask na suot, ngumiti ako sa mga bisita. They weren't really anticipating the servers, but they were more concerned with the food as their eyes were all on it. Ang mga iilang mata lamang ang ngumiti at bumati saamin, maybe hoping for a bigger share of food. Nag simula na kaming mag serve ng pagkain sa mga bisita.

Tig-iisa silang kumuha ng mga plato, sinipat ko naman ang VIP na nagsimula na ring kumain. I'm glad I already did my part on the VIP tables. Ayaw ko nang masilayan ulit ang pagmumukha ng matapobreng Grover na 'yon. Nayayamot ako sa tuwing iniisip ang mukha nya kanina. Ano bang akala nya saakin? Isang kaladkarin na kayang mabili? You can't really joke him to just buy someone to talk to because he can really afford someone, I think. Hindi ko rin alam kung anong relasyon nya sa celebrant. But for him to be on that table, he must be something big.

"Why are you lining up here? May pagkain naman tayo sa table," I heard someone said from the end of the line.. 

"Nakulangan ako," sagot ng kausap ng isang lalaki. By the tone and sound of it, I already knew who said that. Siya 'yon, si Grover. I looked at them, nagtama ang mga mata namin, umiwas ako.

But before I even did, he gave me a quick smile with a hint of grin. Lumunok ako.

Pinagdasal ko na sana'y huminto ang oras at maari pa akong umalis sa kinatatayuan ko ngayon kahit sandali lang. If I just don't need t he money I would get from this, I would leave my post with no hesitation. Pero dahil hindi ako gano'n, at siguro'y may lakas pa naman ako upang makipag-plastikan ay titiisin ko na lang ang presensya nya.

"Hi!" Bati nya nang maka move sa tapat ko para sa pagkain. Princess looked at us, nangungusap ang tingin nito. Based on her look, she's asking if I know this guy.

"What's this?"Tanong nya. 

God, may name tag naman sa baba ng food chafing dish. BEEF STEAK!

"Beef steak po," sagot ko. 

"Okay, bigyan mo ako," saad nya. I scooped beef steak from the chafing dish to his plate. Ngumiti sya saamin ngunit si Princess lang ang nagsukli ng ngiti, I just nodded at him. I was expected more words from him but he just moved along, looked at the other containers and walked away.

"Ayon lang ang kinuha nya?" Bulong ni Princess sa gilid ko. I shrugged. 

Nang humupa ang mga tao ay naka-upo na rin kami sa wakas. All the people are are busy eating already, at kakaunti na lang ang nakalinya. 

"Hindi ba't schoolmate natin 'yong pumila kanina?" Tanong ni Direk saamin nang makalapit. I shrugged again. I don't want to talk about that guy anymore nor think that we're breathing the same air in this room.

"Tapos na po ang pag-seserve." Princess told Sir Jay when he neared our food station. Tinanggal ko ang hand gloves at maiging pinunasan ang pawis sa noo.

"Good, pwede na kayong kumain muna sa likod. We'll retrieve the plates later. May pagkain tayo sa staff's room."

Tumango kami at sinenyasan ang iba pang kasamahan na nasa kabilang food station. Almost all of the chafing dishes are empty, kaya't wala akong mahihita sa beefsteak na sinerve ko kanina.

"Masarap?" Direk asked. Tumango ako at ngumiti.

Hindi katulad ng pagkain ng mga guest ang ulam namin, simple lang ito ngunit masarap naman. It only depends on the event were serving in, if they would like us to eat and get from the chafing dishes. Kapag naman maramihan at walang natitira ay naghahanda parin ang kitchen ng pagkain namin.