CHAPTER SIX

“You really know how to make an ice cream?” I asked surprisingly.

I can’t believe that he already knows how to make an ice cream while I, on the other hand, can’t even cook a fried hotdog perfectly.

“Yeah,” he answered like it was a normal thing. “My father is a chef so growing up, we saw him do all these things which my brother and I have learned later on.”

I was amazed by what he said. I felt envious as well because I wished I knew how to cook the way they learned it.

“While here I am who can’t even cook a fried hotdog properly,” I uttered to show how envious I am. Imagine, his brother is still in high school and he can already do that but me, who is apparently graduating in college, doesn't even know how to do the basics.

“Do you want me to teach you?” He offered. I immediately waved my hand to reject him because I'm pretty sure that he will just waste his time trying.

“I’m a hard learner. You’ll eventually give up on me,” I told him honestly.

“Well, I’m not a quitter – just so you know,” he answered which came on fiercely to me and I loved that. “Let’s see how far I would go. I might as well practice on you and see if I can really be a professor someday.”

“You dream of being one?” I asked diverting our topic because I got interested when he said that he'd like to be a professor.

“Not soon, though. After graduating, I’d like to see how far I’ll go in the corporate world before deciding to push through with being a professor,” he answered. “What about you? What do you want to do for a living?” He asked.

“I’m still studying right now. Graduating from Marketing this coming semester. I do modeling for my income so might as well continue it in the near future," I answered. "Sometimes, I accept castings for movies but just really the minor roles so I hope I get to continue that as well,” I added. I felt safe to inform him my truth because I can really feel that he's a nice guy.

“Why are you in Kent’s place, then?” He curiously asked.

“My condo caught fire recently. Kent is my best friend’s brother so she told me that I can live here for a while,” I explained.

“Good thing that Kent agreed,” he uttered – somehow, with a tone of disbelief.

“He should,” I answered simply to avoid further questions from him.

I was about to admit that Kent allowed me to stay because I’ll be his slave. Good thing that I was able to stop myself because people might know about this setup and the next thing I know, I might be the talk of the town.

“I think I should ask for a picture with you already so that I can brag someday that the biggest star of the Philippines is my friend,” he then said out of nowhere.

“Silly!” I laughingly answered. “But I hope so,” I rode on his joke.

“And it’s going to be my pride to announce to the world that I taught you how to cook,” he continued on.

“Okay. I agree,” I accepted his offer to teach me because I feel like he’s really insisting on that.

He smiled widely after hearing the answer that he wanted to hear.

But before that, we started eating. I felt his excitement to finish eating immediately because he really did it fast as if he didn’t chew his food just to finish it all in an instant. I felt pressured to finish mine too so I started eating fast like him.

He served the ice cream after our meal. I was really excited for it because this is the first time that I can taste an ice cream made at home by someone I know.

“I hope it doesn’t disappoint,” he said as he hand over the ice cream that he made.

I was so excited that I immediately taste it after he gave me. My amazement increased as I was so satisfied with its taste.

“Wow! The strawberry flavor tasted legit!” I exclaimed. “Where did you buy this artificial flavor?”

“It’s not artificial,” he laughingly answered. “Those are real strawberries fresh from Baguio,” he informed me.

“Oh! That’s the reason why it tasted real. I really love this ice cream, Johann. It doesn’t disappoint me.”

“Thank you.”

I savored every scoop of ice cream that entered my mouth. I really love the taste of his creation and I can feel like this is one of the best that I’ve ever tasted.

“You love strawberries, don’t you?” He asked while he is looking at me.

“I’d tell my biggest lie if I say no,” I answered.

“We still have a lot. You can bring some if you want to,” he offered.

“That’s something I won’t say no to,” I answered.

I was about to clean our dishes when he stopped me.

“You are my visitor – not my slave. I’ll just clean everything later.”

It hit me. I was so touched that he reminded me that I am more than just a slave. I really can’t help but to compare him to Kent.

“What do you want to do next? Shall we play or shall I teach you how to cook now?” He asked as he finished putting our dishes to their sink.

“What kind of games do you play?” I asked.

“Anything… but not your heart,” he jokingly answered.

“Too bad – I like someone who will play with my heart,” I rode on his joke.

“And cry after?”

“Cry during and after and repeat again.”

“Ooooh!”