A Tad of a Pole

I gave a grunt.
I was trying to squeeze the milk out of the grated coconut. I was putting my all into it too.
"Wow, your muscles are bulging out," came the side comment from my cook." Look Jimmy, look at those muscles tsk tsk."
"Hmph." Was my curt reply. And getting another lump of coconut and squeezed hard.
Then my dishwasher guy came barging in the kitchen and proclaimed with a great big smile and zeal "Ching! Your suitor is here!"
I don't know what went into my head but the first sentence that went out in my mouth was, “The one who always wear glasses even when it’s dark?"
"How did you know?” was Jun's surprised answer.
I suddenly stopped in mid-squeezed and blinked.
"I was just kidding." I said. Then it dawned on me who it was. "Oh shit."
Then Leah came in and squealed "Ching! One of your suitors is here."
"I know." was my unenthusiastic reply. "And I won’t be coming out from this kitchen." And continued milking the coconut.
Him and his two other friends made an impression on me the first time they came into the restaurant.
I was wearing my black UST CFAD Class Shirt, black baggy jeans and my usual rubber shoes. It was late afternoon. They choose the center table right in front of me. I noticed the smallest guy in the group. Then I glanced at the window and saw that it was an overcast day. And asked myself what's the dark glasses for. I'm sure he thinks it makes him a cooler looking dude. And for some reason he reminds me of Gino, because of the body type. So I left them and went back to tallying sheets.
Later he keeps saying things out loud, he was hinting that I should join in the conversation and asked my name. I stopped hiding my face behind the guy he was facing and looked at him and answered him from my sit behind the counter. I answered in my usual monotone voice which conveyed annoyance. Guess some guys just can't take a hint.
Later after some rounds of beer he asked if we have other music besides the OPM's my crew enjoyed listening to. Obliging him, and to get him out of my hair, I went to the office and got my iPod and cable, connected it in the karaoke and boomed up the volume. Of course, all my music were metal, Goth, instrumental, new age and opera. At which point he took his glasses off.
And I was right. He was better off with the glasses.
Tadpole, it was the first thing that came into my mind.
And tadpoles don’t turn into princes even if you kissed them.
Later he said that I have a cool walkman. I said it wasn’t a walkman, it’s an mp3 player. This led to long discussion what an mp3 player is. Later an old some came on. He said he loved that song, Starry Starry Night. Couldn’t leave him to his wrong ideals I told him the title was Vincent and not what he thought it was. Then I went on a detailed lecture, saying that the song was for the artist Vincent Van Gogh who painted the Starry Starry Night he was talking about.
Then he complimented me by saying that I was too wise for my age. Which I almost bit off saying that he should just listen to the lyrics. Then when he was a little drunk he started hitting on me. At which point I sat directly behind his companion so that I couldn’t see his face mooning at me. He said that he can’t believe his luck. He just came in to eat and unexpectedly he fell in love with someone wearing a black shirt.
Which I gave a sour comeback, “With him?” I pointed to his companion who was sitting between us who was also wearing a black shirt.
“No. I’m not gay. I’m in love with you. I’m sorry if it’s too fast, but it’s true.” He defended.
I just hanged my head down. Somehow I knew that was coming.

And now it seems they’re back.
When I had nothing to do in the kitchen anymore I just sat there. Even if it was hot as hell.
This is the ninth circle of hell.

Later Leah said that we ran out of ice tea. And I was cursing on what a perfect time it was to run out of ice tea powder. I have no choice but to go out and into the office in plain sight.
I rolled my eyes and went out without looking left or right towards the office, leaving the kitchen which was noisy with catcalls.
Later I went back and sat behind the counter, since it was useless hiding since they know I was there. In which the tadpole talked to me. He said I look scary and mad, and to my hilarity he gave me a chocolate.
Not chocolates. Chocolate.. And he said that it’s a reminder of him.
So that I could remember him.
Looking at the chocolate in my hand, which was one step down from Nips, I smiled at him and said, “You bet I won’t”.