Previously on Chicharong Flower…

Tenten finally realized the truth the blindfolded Lady Justice would never see: she has fallen in love with the man whom she thought she'll only be indebted to for chicharon.

However, since this is a telenovela, obviously everything wouldn't be as easy for our heroine.

First she needs to experience a series of unfortunate events: have someone from her family who is really close to her heart die, find out she was really adopted and is actually stinking rich, be kidnapped, get into an accident, be sent to the hospital suffering from amnesia, be married off to another person which gets cancelled because she realized she's really in love with another person, and be reunited with her one true love.

But because she really isn't stinking rich and her parents, by blood and DNA proof, really are Mr. and Mrs. Sarapen, she'll have to face a different set of problems.

The forthcoming wedding act of Mr. Hyuuga and Ms Yamanaka.

OK, on with the story!

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"What's this?" Neji was shocked to see a plate bearing Lucky Me Pansit Canton (1). He looked left and right as one would when crossing the street. He was looking for his cousin Hinata—it was highly impossible that it was his other housemate who made this decent-looking meal.

Tenten entered the room, holding a platter of rice "Neji, my one and only handsome ogre, eat up!" She placed the rice down. "Hey, I said eat up."

"Y-You… made that?" he said sounding like a doubting Thomas—he was used to seeing only chicharon, fried fish and balut whenever it was Tenten who cooks.

"Oi, don't look down on my talents" she said, her hands on her hips "It's because today is your D-day, as in Death. I don't want you accusing me of being unsupportive. You and Ms Ino better do your best ok, or else your uncle would force you do censored-censored on his chosen girl."

"Don't remind me." He got a pair of fork and spoon then sat down. He took the still steamy plate of canton and inspected it for burned and slightly raw parts.

"Neji, is this your first time to see noodles in your life?" she snapped upon noticing what he was doing.

On his first bite, his face darkened. He took another bite, chewed, then sighed. "I knew it…"

Her gaze fell on him, questioning.

"You forgot to add the seasonings." The lad immediately grabbed the soy sauce beside him and added some to the noodles.

"Sorry, I'm only a cute human, prone to commit mistakes." She rolled her eyes. "How was I supposed to know how to properly cook canton (2)? It was my first time to do this!"

"There are instructions written at the back of the package."

"Already threw it out."

"All of them?"

"All of them."

He groaned. "Damn…" He poured some oil to the canton.

She winced, and then sighed. "Fine, fine, I'll add Making Better Pancit Canton to my goals in life so you would respect me as a woman."

"Fine, fine." He continued his unhurried consumption of his meal.

She seized the chance to steal a glance at the young man. Since her outburst, Neji never mentioned anything about the incident. As if… nothing happened. She doesn't have the nerve to bring the subject up, because it's probably insignificant for him.

But for her, unfortunately, it wasn't. She thought her first love had been Andres Bonifacio (3). Her fanatical history teacher who shaped her faith towards the magnificence of Andy Boni may be passionate, but the katipunero could never make her heart leap to her throat every time there's romantic tension between her and Neji.

So one thing is settled, this is unrequited love. Her feelings are on solo flight.

Life is so unfair!

Noah's pets had sweetums during their 40 day cruise. But she, who's super cute and super kind, doesn't have a love life! Must she wait for the planet to become a giant swimming pool yet again for her to find happiness?

She sighed. But… Neji makes her happy. Very much. Even from the start, when he treats her like he's experiencing menopause, she couldn't deny that that gave her determination to be closer to the young man. And she feels her hardships are paying off—that it is possible to melt the Antarctic, even little by little.

He even has a sense of humor now. She used to think making her neighbor's dog laugh was her ultimate achievement. Neji was harder, but the triumph she felt as she saw his heartfelt smile for the first time ever is extremely rewarding. It definitely beats winning the lottery, even though she never won in one.

But because of the number of thoughts processed in her mind, she forgot the stolen glance was supposed to be for only a second.

Too late—he was already staring at her as well.

She blinked and then smiled.

"What?" he asked.

"I…I was just reflecting on how pretty the kitchen stove is," she replied.

"How could you tell, you were staring at me?"

"M-Me? Staring?" She forced a careless laugh. "I was just troubled. A seductive kitchen stove—what the heck is the world coming to?"

"Pft."

"Anyway, you're not that adorable, Neji, so feel free to act less of a smartass. I won't mind."

"Oh really?" He pushed his plate away, Canton all gone. "But you adore me so much."

"How could you tell? You're not in the Madonna and Child paintings, no? Why should I adore you?"

The corner of his mouth twitched. "You tell me."

She leaned on the kitchen cupboard. "Neji, Neji, I promised myself I wouldn't annoy you today, that's why I'm remaining silent"

"Break it then."

"No way! Where's the thrill in breaking promises when you're being encouraged?" she asked, smiling impishly. "Hand me your plate. Obviously you still want another serving of my seasoning-less pansit canton, but you're just actually shy to ask."

He laughed quietly. "Yes, I guess I'm still hungry"

"If you're also thirsty, there's the soup from the canton—"

"No, thank you."

She entered the kitchen, holding Neji's plate, when she heard someone arriving. She thought it had been Hinata and Naruto back from fetching Hiashi, so she hurriedly went outside to greet the newcomers.

And then her face fell. Ino was standing by the doorway, looking like a goddess from the heavens that descended to spread beauty throughout the world.

Without meaning to, her eyes fell on her own outfit, which was something even pre-fairy godmother Cinderella won't wear.

She just felt more upset—she looked like the slave of the god of the underworld, a painful contrast to Yamanaka Ino.

Due to her long stay in the kitchen, trying to get the right blend of Neji's tea like the one Hinata prepares, she lost track of the time. It had been hours and she had used up countless leaves, without any success.

Then it was only minutes ago when she remembered the brand of instant tea inside the ref which Hinata left earlier. With the tea problem solved, she proceeded to cook Neji pancit canton next.

But she was left with little time to change into something more decent.

No, make that NO time, she thought as the blonde approached her.

"Hi!" Ino greeted, beaming.

Tenten felt smaller when she saw Ino's trophy-inside-a-dental-clinic smile.

Another person entered, none other than the lady's trusty assistant, Nara Shikamaru.

Ino pointed to the bag that her assistant was carrying. "I brought breakfast for you, Neji. You mentioned yesterday you like crispy banana rolls."

"I hope you like my cooking," muttered Shika grumpily

"Thanks." Neji nodded, and then got up to pull out a seat for Ino. "Why don't you eat breakfast first? My Uncle from Brunei will arrive shortly."

"What did he do in Brunei?" asked the blonde, eyes wide.

"Frustrated entertainer," Neji said, shrugging, as if these two words would suffice to explain everything.

Tenten on the other hand, immediately grabbed the bag from Shikamaru. "Good! Now we have breakfast! Right timing too, because I haven't cooked yet"

The Hyuuga's forehead creased. "I thought there's still canton—"

"I thought so too, but I've just realized my mistake," she quipped, hurriedly going back to the kitchen. Her chest tingled, even though she knew her family has no history of coronary thrombosis, but of course, it has nothing to do with Neji, Ino and the circumstances they're in. Of course not.

And of course it has nothing to do with the smashed banana rolls she served later on the table.

…………………………………

A few hours had passed when the horse-drawn carriage owned by the Hyuuga family finally arrived. Everyone was startled, especially when they heard those hurrying footsteps in the yard..

Neji and company were waiting inside the living room, while Tenten could be found inside the kitchen, boiling water for her Nescafe Ice.

But she also took a peek at the adjacent room when the door opened and in came a thunderous anime dubber-like voice.

"Neji!!! My one and only nephew in the whole country of this world we live in!!!" Hyuuga Hiashi cheerfully greeted. Behind him are Naruto and Hinata, holding Duty Free bags and balikbayan boxes and packages (4).

"Hello, Uncle Hyuuga-sama," greeted the young man with respect, making Tenten pause dreamily. The young man could act Mr. Suave-ish if he really wanted to. "I trust that your trip home had been free of hassles."

Hiashi laughed. "Of course! It was freedom!"

Tenten's face darkened. She didn't know whether it was he whom Naruto learned English from or vice-versa; those two are almost carbon copies.

"So… is this your beautiful wife?" Hiashi's eyes turned to Tenten, who was hiding behind a potted plant. She blinked and immediately stood up, blushing.

"She's not my wife," corrected Neji. "but she can be very beautiful, Uncle."

She wasn't sure whether it was another of Neji's tricks, but her traitorous heart couldn't help but get affected by his comment.

"So if she's not your wife, then she's your husband?"

"No, Uncle." He gestured to Ino.

"So she is your husband?" he asked, pointing at Ino, prompting Shika to snicker. After shooting a death glare at her trusty assistant, Ino quickly began to use her charms.

"I'm Yamanaka Ino, you're nephew's fiancée." So she started narrating about herself. The old man listened attentively; meanwhile Tenten slithered back to the kitchen.

"Hold up!" barked the old man, startling all of them. "Hold everything for one madapaking moment plis (5)!"

He turned to the chicharon vendor. "Where are you going, dear? You're going to tell your life story next. Tell us the story of your existence, and how you came to be in this cruel world we live in."

She stammered. "I-It's the same as with your daughter. My mother thought my father was male, and my father thought my mother was also male. I was a mistake. I-I mean maybe not the same as Hinata but… umm… I'm not a product of vitro fertilization. T-That's how I came to be sir."

"No. I understand your origins. But tell me what happened after you came to be."

"P-Pardon?" Tenten's forehead creased. Why is she the one in the hot seat when she's not the fiancée in the story? "I-I'm boiling water."

"The water will boil without you, young lady," replied Hiashi.

"And the kitchen will burn down without me sir," she replied, sweatdropping.

"That's fine, I'll accompany you inside." Hiashi got up and went to the kitchen, Tenten followed him still stunned.

Ino stood up, shocked to the core. "What was that! My beauty was snubbed!"

Neji got up too, but he wasn't troubled because his Uncle wasn't convinced that Ino was his fiancée. He has a bigger problem—his Uncle might be interested with Tenten. He clenched his fists.

No. Whatever happens, even if peace between Branch and Main family collapse, he didn't care.

"Just he try touching even a finger off her…" His eyes blazed as he proceeded to go to the kitchen as well. "He'll see…"

Naruto patted him. "Calm down, bro-in-law! Listen to us first before you make your mistakes."

Hinata quickly intervened when he saw his cousin wasn't in the mood to deal with her English impaired husband. "K-Kuya Neji, it's like this… it was Naruto's idea… and…" She began to explain to everyone in the room, including the pissed off Ino and snickering Shika, the details of Naruto's idea. In the end, Neji's face darkened, Shika and Ino were laughing, and Hinata was smiling. Naruto gave him a thumbs up.

"Trust me, Bro-in-law. Trust (6) never breaks, you could even ask Hinata…"

"Shut up!" he snapped.

………………………………………………………

"Gimme a cup of your concoction too, young lady," Hiashi said, looking like royalty, sitting on the kitchen table.

She obliged. After giving him his own cup, she sat down and looked at her own cup, wondering what was in the mind of the man.

"Tenten is your name, am I correct?" asked Hiashi. She hasn't replied yet when he continued.

"Your name was brought up several times by my daughter. Usually I do not care, but I'm not usual anymore."

She blinked.

"So I'm unusual, so I care already. Neji is unusual too."

She only understood the last part. Neji IS unusual. One in a millionth of a million. He was THAT special.

"I know that he may be unhappy, so the idea of him having a baby struck me."

"E-Eh?" She was struck as well.

"I mean, that he has his own family…children to take care of him." He sipped his hot iced coffee, and smiled. "But let me tell you that I was not fooled by my nephew.

"W-What do you mean?" she asked, a little worried.

"I know he was telling the whole truth when he said he met someone special, but he lied. Sort-of." He grinned and cocked his head towards the living room. "The woman he introduced to me as his supposed fiancée was not the one he really met."

"H-Huh?" she staggered.

"I would not have noticed, but when I asked him about you, the amount of gentleness in his voice did it. I realized that it was you all along." Hiashi smiled. "He said he found you beautiful. The eyes of my clan can see through anything, but we're not perverts, mind you. Anyway, the tongue of our clan is used solely for truth, except on honeymoons…"

She sweatdropped. A little pervish, in fairness.

"I think you will be good for him."

"B-But…"

"WAIT!"

Tenten and Hiashi both turned around. Neji was standing there, with Hinata et al behind him.

The young Hyuuga has his forehead creased. "Tell the truth, Uncle."

"The truth?" The man eyed him. "What truth are you talking about, nephew of mine?"

Neji groaned, and then pointed a finger at him. "That you… are an IMPOSTOR!"

"Gasp!" Tenten said, but it seems that she was the only one surprised. Wait a madapaking minute. What kind of a catastrophe is happening here?

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What is the secret of the old man accused of being an impostor? And why was he called an impostor? And more importantly, will Jan, whom my sister supports whole heartedly every night, that she needs to vote for continuously on StarStruck TV, survive this week?

To be continued…

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Glossary

1 - Lucky Me is the brand name XD. Pansit canton is similar to noodles without soup.

2 – (Omi's notes: to get things straight… canton has a green meaning behind it… canton sounds like kantot, and kantot literally means sex in our language. Thus the fot's choice of meal. hehehe so Tenten's reply has double meaning yet again.)

3 - A Filipino hero, who instigated the Katipunan, a nationwide org to fight against Spanish colonization; katipunero is a term to denote a member of katipunan

4 - Duty Free is a mall where newly arrived people in the country buy gifts for family members. Balikbayan literally means going back to a country. It's been tradition to bring back gifts to family members and friends when Filipinos go abroad. These packages are usually reaaaally huge.

5 - motherfucking, please. Omi retained original spelling to signify his bad grammar.

6 – Trust is a brand of condom in our country.