Becca, The Homemaker

“Good evening, Ms. Becca, Mr. Craig.” an elderly woman greets you and Becca as the elevator doors open to her penthouse apartment. Luxury penthouse apartment… as if being a penthouse apartment isn’t luxurious enough. The immediate view at the other end of the apartment is a huge glass window that probably has an amazing view of the downtown area, and your mouth just hangs open in awe.

“Good evening, Marybeth.” Becca greets her.

“Good evening.” You greet her as well, out of politeness. “You can just call me Jay by the way.” You tell her, and Marybeth gives you a slight bow in response, and what you can only assume is a knowing smile, before going back to addressing Becca again.

“Everything’s prepared for your date this evening, Ms. Becca. If you would follow me, please.” Marybeth tells her, and Becca glances at you to follow suit as well, before the three of you make your way through her humongous apartment.

You can’t help but look around at her home and wonder just how unimaginably expensive it must be if she’s renting it. The cost of the place suddenly gets you thinking about her decision to resign from her father’s company.

“Becca, I know it’s not my place, but I hope you didn’t sacrifice too much when you resigned from your father’s company.” You tell her with concern in your voice, which gets her and Marybeth to chuckle.

“Don’t worry, Jay. I’m not brazen enough to make decisions blindly. Despite the hastiness of it all, I thought about my resignation from the company thoroughly.” Becca assures you, and her reply eases your worries, as you trust Becca wouldn’t lie about that.

“I’m just saying, if this place starts to become too expensive, you can always stay at my place. Just let me know.” You jokingly offer, and it gets a chuckle out of Becca.

“Duly noted.” Becca replies with a subtle smile.

“Here we are.” Marybeth announces as the three of you enter the kitchen. To your surprise, instead of prepared dishes or a table set for two like how Becca and the rest of the girls planned your date with Brooke, there’s a bunch of cooking ingredients on top of the counters.

“I thought I could cook for you.” Becca suggests.

“Oh, wow. Becca, that’s…” You react with pleasant surprise.

“What is it?” Becca asks you with some concern.

“It sounds like something I should be doing for you.” You answer back with a chuckle.

“Are you feeling some type of insecurity that I’m flipping gender norms on our first date?” Becca asks with a teasing smile.

“Not at all. I’m just not used to being the one getting wooed on a date.” You answer her honestly. “I kinda like it.” You add with a chuckle, before taking a seat at one of the counter stools and placing your elbows on the kitchen island just to show her that you’re actually eager at these turn of events.

“I would hardly call this ‘wooing you’.” Becca tries to deflect, as she makes her way to the other side of the kitchen island and washing her hands.

“The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach… so~…” You reply suggestively to tease her.

“I suggest you wait until I’m done cooking before you assume this isn’t my attempt at poisoning you.” Becca jokes back, getting a genuine laugh out of you; and not just from the joke either. It’s nice to see her a lot more relaxed and jovial than when you’ve previously interacted with her, and it puts a pleasant smile on your face.

“I’ll give you two some privacy for your date. Have a pleasant evening.” Marybeth announces.

“Thanks, Marybeth. Have a good night.” Becca tells her as she leaves, and you do the same. “Oh, wait, Marybeth, before you go…” Becca calls out to her, remembering something it seems.

“Would it be alright if I speak to Marybeth in her first language, Jay? It’s just a private matter, and I didn’t want to be rude.” Becca asks you.

“Yeah, of course. Go right ahead.” You answer.

“Ano tingin mo sa kaniya?” Becca seems to ask Marybeth.

“Gwapo.” Marybeth answers her, and the answer seems funny to Becca. The word makes your ears twitch out of recognition. Was that Spanish? You try to not react that you might know what that word means after hearing Tanya call you that numerous times before. You wouldn’t want to assume it means the same thing if they’re speaking something different.

“Alam mong di yun yung tanong ko. Mukha naman siyang mabait diba?” Becca replies.

“Inuna ko na yung gwapo, kasi sa amin pag sinabi mong ‘mukhang mabait’ ang ibig sabihin pangit.” Marybeth answers, getting Becca to laugh again, but immediately correct herself after glancing at you.

“Ay, pakuha pala nung mga bote na tinabi ko, tas padala na rin ng mga baso pagbalik mo. Para may masabi ako pag nagtaka siya kung ano pinag-uusapan natin.” Becca continues.

“Sige, sige.” Marybeth answers, turning slightly towards the door before stopping herself to address Becca again. “Pero seryosong sagot Becca — tiwala ako sayo. Tingin ko naman di ka nagkamali sa pagpili mo.” Marybeth continues, before giving Becca a wink and turning to leave the kitchen. Becca then looks back at you awkwardly.

“Apologies. I still feel rude having had a private conversation in front of you.” Becca apologizes.

“What language was that?” You ask her.

“It was Tagalog. Marybeth grew up in the Philippines before migrating here to look for work.” Becca answers you. “Why do you ask?” Becca asks you.

“Oh. I just thought I heard something familiar.” You answer her.

“I see.” Becca flatly answers, before turning around towards her refrigerator. Basically signaling the conversation she had with Marybeth is not a topic she’d like to discuss.

“So, what are you making?” You ask her to change the subject. Instead of answering you, Becca takes out from her double door refrigerator what you can only assume is pork belly that’s only halfway cooked, before presenting it in front of you. She then gets out two plates and utensils and hands you a set.

“What do you think?” Becca then asks you eagerly, taking you by surprise. She seems so excited to hear your opinion, but all you’re really feeling is confusion.

“I’m sorry?” You ask for her to clarify.

“What do you think of the dish?” Becca clarifies.

“Oh! Uh~...” You say in reaction, not expecting that this is already what she’s serving you. You want to ask if she’s not going to do anything else to it, especially since it came straight out of the refrigerator so it’s still probably cold.

“You don’t like it?” Becca asks you, the expression on her face having changed from eagerness to concern.

“Um~... I-I shouldn’t judge a book by its cover.” You answer, and her face just drops from worry to flat out solemn, and now you’re the one panicking for hurting her feelings. “I mean, I haven’t tried it yet, and it doesn’t look like anything I’ve tried before, so I shouldn’t judge it until I try it is what I’m saying.” You try to soften the blow. “I-I bet it’s delicious.” You add half-heartedly, knowing full well that it probably won’t.

“You’re a terrible liar.” Becca calls you out on your bullshit, and you notice her scary authoritative demeanor returning.

“I’m sorry. I just didn’t want… I was just…” You continue to mutter, and Becca finally releases you from your misery by cracking a smile.

“Oh~!” You finally say in realization of what’s happening. “Is Rebecca Hoffman pulling pranks now?” You ask her teasingly.

“You’re way too nice, Jay. I would have been appalled if I was served something like this on a date.” She tells you.

“Well, since you’re calling me out on it, fine; what the hell is that?” You ask her aggressively, but undercut it with a laugh so she knows you’re only joking, and it gets a chuckle out of her as well.

“This is pork belly that I had Marybeth prep while we were at your place after I asked you out on a date.” Becca answers. “She braised it with some garlic, red onions, and peppercorns; then salted it to absorb the moisture, before putting it in the refrigerator to dry.” Becca answers.

“I had the unfortunate experience of eating it just like this when I was young because I thought Marybeth had already finished cooking it.” Becca recounts with a nostalgic smile. “Suffice to say, I’ve learned my lesson.” She adds with a chuckle, getting you to chuckle also.

“So this is a dish she taught you?” You ask.

“Yes.” Becca answers fondly. “Marybeth’s a great cook. Mother and father never knew how well she could cook since they tended to eat more western dishes, but when I got sick one time and had to stay at home from school, Marybeth prepared some champorado for me for breakfast, then some sinigang for lunch and arroz caldo for dinner, and the rest is history.” Becca continues to recount, her fondness for the memory immediately apparent, as she grabs a wok, before placing it over the stove.

“So Marybeth’s been with your family for a long time.” You observe.

“I’ve known her my entire life. Mother told me they hired her a year or so before I was born. She’s been by my side from the beginning.” Becca shares with you, and it’s the fondness in her tone again that truly cements just how much Becca loves this woman. Especially after hearing the contrast in which she refers to both her parents.

Your train of thought is immediately derailed, as you watch Becca start pouring a ton of oil into the wok.

“Deep fried pork belly?” You then ask her in reaction.

“It’s a dish from the Philippines called Lechon Kawali; but essentially, yes, it’s fried pork belly.” Becca answers. “I’m going to serve it, as per tradition, with some white rice; and you can dip it in this spiced vinegar I bought from the Philippines called Pinakurat, or my personal choice, Mang Tomas liver sauce.” Becca adds.

“Liver sauce?” You ask, not hiding the doubtful tone in your voice.

“I had the same initial reaction, but trust me when I say, it’s not as bad as it sounds.” Becca assures you.

“Whatever you say, Doctor Lecter.” You joke, right as Becca turns towards you with a knife. The image of Becca with a knife would’ve scared you when you first met her, and you chuckle at the thought after how homey and relaxed she’s making you feel around her now. Becca then starts to cut the pork belly in half with her extremely sharp knife, just as Marybeth enters the kitchen again with some drinks.

“Here are the drinks you asked for, Ms. Becca.” Marybeth announces, before placing some bottles of beer you’re not familiar with on the counter.

“Maraming salamat, Marybeth.” Becca tells her. Before Marybeth turns away to leave the kitchen, an idea pops up in your mind.

“Hey, Marybeth.” You call out to her.

“Yes, Mr. Jay?” Marybeth asks with a polite smile.

“How would you like to join us for dinner?”