SOFT CURVES

"HOW are you, Chef Vincent Del Carmen?" it was Randy's cheerful greeting to him.

That day Vincent visited by Randy in his condominium unit.

Randy was his roommate when they were both studying in one of the universities in the United States.

But that only lasted six months and because of his busy study and leisure life, he lost contact with Randy immediately. At a bar in Makati, he recently saw Randy accidentally.

"I'm good actually, I heard you are getting married?" Vincent teases his friend.

Randy laughed at him and then poured their glass of wine. "Believe it or not Vincent, but I think I found her," with Randy's tone of voice, he is obviously very happy.

But on the other hand, it was as if he wanted to laugh out loud at Randy's statement. And hearing such a word from the young man gives him a tremendous amusement. He couldn't believe it. Randy's a womanizer since he was in America. He is a satiate person that is why he quickly changes the woman he is dating.

Randy also admits of being egocentric. While him? It was when Vincent lets out a deep and heavy sigh.

Well after what happened Vincent never again entered into a serious relationship.

There have been a lot of women. But all of those were either bed-partner or just a simple one-night stand. And that's because he avoided getting hurt again. Because the truth is, he still carries his painful past in his heart.

It's also funny to think that even in his dreams she was there.

With the promise that he was not sure if he should believe or simply let go. Because as he often hears from others, it is only a dream and he must know the difference between a dream and reality.

"So it's true?" he asked for clarification.

Randy shrugged his shoulder and sipped the wine from his glass. "The truth is, I don't know where to start. I'm not sure if she's a man-hater or a hard to get type?"

Vincent whistled by what he heard then laughed. "That is what they call karma," he added chuckling.

Randy nodded in agreement with what he said. "I think so, but it's okay. I'm willing to do everything only to gain her trust. But I have a more serious problem here, my mother," then sighs heavily.

“Why?”

"She has a child, I think my mother might not like her," Randy said in a tone of concern.

Vincent was stunned by what he heard and then smiled bitterly when he remembered something. "Hey, you're not a teenager anymore. Are you accepting her child?” he couldn't understand why he was so curious about his friend's problem.

Randy nodded.“Matthew is a good kid, in fact, if I would be able to meet that boy's father I might thank him for giving me a son like Matt. That's because I treated him like my real son. Although it is really amusing that you guys have the same name and even surname," he felt Randy's words were true as he preferred to ignore the latter.

There are so many people using Del Carmen surnames in the Philippines.

"That's it," he secretly admires his friend.

"By the way, let's talk about the real reason why I came here," after a while Randy decided to change the topic.

Vincent nodded and grabbed the bottle of wine then poured enough amount into his goblet. "Why do you want to sell it?"

He was actually planning to start his own restaurant so he returned to the Philippines after staying in America for seven years. And because Randy told him about his plan to sell his buffet restaurant, he had an interest in buying it. Festive is well known and he is confident that he will recover the money he will use to buy it.

"My parents want me to focus on our family business already. Since they are not getting any younger, I have to decide which one I would choose between the two. You know I manage two different businesses at the same time so I decided to sell Festive and continue the one which parents started," what Randy refers to is the famous shoe factory owned and operated by its parents. The products produced by their factory are export quality which can be purchased in different countries around the world.

Vincent just nodded. “All right, talk to your lawyer then I'll do the same. Hopefully, we'll finish this up soon.”

Randy laughed softly and filled his glass with wine again. “So I can start courting the woman that I wanted to marry,” Vincent burst into laughter because of that.

____________________

ONE WEEK LATER

"HOW is my handsome godson?" Isla turned smiling to the newcomer.

It was Cherry her best friend and the daughter of the owner of the apartment that she is renting.

"Thank God you came, he's been waiting for you. He doesn't want to sleep, he says he'll show you the star that he got at school earlier,” she told her friend and then started to make some coffee for both of them.

She was referring to her son Matthew. He is six-year-old and a Kindergarten in the daycare center in their village.

Cherry is his godmother and Mama Selya, their landlady, and Cherry's mother is the one who is taking Matthew to the school every day.

"May I see?" Cherry told Matthew as Isla laid the coffee cups on the center table.“Wow, it's really good, because of that, tomorrow we will eat outside since it's Mama Cherry and Mommy's day off,” and then she turned to her, smiling.

"Really Mama Cherry?" the glow in her son's eyes touched Isla's heart.

Cherry nodded consecutively."So go to sleep now, tomorrow after school we'll go to your favorite fast-food restaurant," she said.

"Are you going to bring me tomorrow to school?" Matthew's voice was in excitement.

“Yes, your Mama will do your laundry so I'll take you to school," Cherry explained.

It was with great joy that Matthew kissed his godmother. The child then ran to the room where they were sleeping.

Cherry's gaze followed Matthew. "Look at him, a long time passed, but I didn't notice that. Soon your little boy will become a young man."

Isla laughed softly. “Yes, for six years at the mercy of God here I am with my son,” she in a voice with a mixture of bitterness.

Cherry sighed and took a sip of her coffee cup. “Why don't you ask for his father's support? That man is rich, it is his responsibility to give his son a good life,” her friend insisted.

Isla smiled. “Are we going to argue about that again? I can raise and support my son alone, I don't need his money,” remembering the bitterness of her past, her voice became angry.

"Sure you can, I knew it. But Isla, you denied Matt the supposed to be a good life he had today. Isn't it just because you introduced him to his father you want to continue your past already? You and Vincent have a different story. The child has the right to know his father,” Isla was unable to speak to what Cherry said.

At the bus terminal in Cavite, she met Cherry. When she told her that she has nowhere to go and that she was lack of shelter, the young lady offered her help. It was Cherry who recommended her as a cashier at the restaurant where she worked.

Cherry is currently the Branch Manager in the same branch of Festive where she was assigned.

Festive is a buffet restaurant with authentic Filipino food served. It now has branches in almost every branch of the country's prominent malls. She didn't know when Cherry was planning to get married but now she has a boyfriend. Norman, a rich Australian.

“Wait, before I forget. Just before the store closed I received an email from our Operations Manager," Cherry told her.

Her eyebrows met. "What does Miss Rose say?"

“We will have a meeting on Monday, regarding the widespread story that we are changing management. Sir Randy is about to sell Festive. Let's pray that the buyer would be kind enough to not replace us,” Cherry said, finishing her coffee.

"Do you have any idea who the buyer is?" she asked curiously.

Cherry shook her head before speaking."No, you know Sir Randy is a very private person," Cherry teases her as she slightly pinches the side of her waist."Don't you feel anything for him? Imagine, he's been trying to get your attention for five years and you're still ignoring his pretty-boy image?"

She rolled her eyes for what she just heard. "I had already dedicated my life to Matthew," that was true inside her. "And regarding on what you are saying about absorbing us by the new owner, that is possible for you guys. But for someone like me but to someone like me who is a contractual employee, I'm not sure," Isla senses worries in her own voice because of the news.

Cherry's forehead twitched as she said that. "You've been a good employee at Festive, for sure you will be retained. And one more thing, I'm here, I will help you in any case," the young lady said, smiling then stood up.

She smiled at what she heard. "Thank you," she told her before closing the door.

In her mind is the concern with which she will apply for a job in the event of a change in management.

"Matthew baby, why can't I just give you a good life as other single mothers can do with their children?" she sadly caressed the son's forehead and then kissed it softly.

____________________

“SO, you're staying here for good? Why not start your own restaurant? Why do you have to buy another person's property? Is it bankrupt?" said Ruby to her son Vincent.

The young man shrugged his shoulders and brought the glass of wine to his mouth.“I didn't find anything wrong with that Mama, Festive is a nice and a popular restaurant. And no, it's not bankrupt. The owner couldn't manage it so he decided to sell it,” he reasoned.

Ruby laughed. “You are a well-known chef in the US. You will not have a hard time making your own name here if you want,” she added.

Vincent looked at his mother first before speaking again. “My decision is final Ma, my meeting with Festive’s CEO is set two days from now," he said in a final tone."I'm going to sleep now, goodnight," he bent and planted a kiss on his mother's cheek.

Vincent was immediately taken aback when he passed by a familiar room. Then a bitter smile tore at his lips, at the same time, the drawing of a familiar pain in his chest.

"ISLA, MISS BEAUTIFUL, WHY ARE YOU SO HARD TO FORGET? WHY CAN'T I FORGET YOU?"