A Summer in Philippines
Chapter 2: A Call from Other Nations
Alfred woke up when he smelled something nice coming from the kitchen. He got up from his bed and rubbed his eyes. He went to balcony to feel the sun's warmth. After doing that, he went downstairs.
"Good morning," he said while yawning.
"Oh, good morning too, Alfred," Malea greeted him back while frying the rice.
"What are you cooking?" He asked her.
"I'm cooking what we call sinangag. It's frying the rice with a little bit of oil, salt, and garlic. In English, it's what we call, Garlic fried rice," she answered.
"Oh. Say, do you have coffee?"
"It's at the 3rd cabinet above the counter from your right and the hot water's there at the light blue thermos1," she said
Alfred went to the said cabinet."Is it here?" he asked."Yup that's it," Malea answered. Alfred opened the cabinet and saw the jar where the coffee was placed. He also got the creamer and the sugar. Then he asked where he ca find the mugs. Malea said that's it's the cabinet under the counter. Alfred saw and got a mug and then started making his coffee. At that time Malea was also done cooking. Then they started eating.
At the table, there was rice, eggs and an unknown meat whose color is pink. Alfred can't figure out what the unknown meat is.
"Hey Malea, what's this thing?" he asked while pointing to the pink meat.
"That's called tocino, its pig meat with preservatives so that it wont rotten," Malea said while getting what she calls tocino. Her plate was filled with rice, an egg and the tocino. Alfred was searching some bread so he can eat the egg. Malea saw this.
"Go on, eat. It's yummy," Malea said to him. Alfred has no choice and got some rice, egg and tocino. He was about to put the spoon inside his mouth. And he put it. He was chewing it when he taste the sweetness of the tocino and the saltiness of the sinangag.
"Hey, it's yummy," Alfred said.
"See. Told you it tastes great," Malea said smiling.
And so, the two continued eating their breakfast. After eating, Malea washed the dishes while Alfred took a shower because he can't take the hotness. Malea also reminded him to wear something nice because they're going to a mall.
So, after Malea washed the dishes, she also took a bath. After bathing, she got a denim skirt and some short shorts so that her panty can't be seen. She wore a spaghetti strapped blouse. Since her hair is not yet dry, she just wore a headband. And she went downstairs.
Alfred was already downstairs watching something on HBO. He was wearing a blue shirt and denim pants. Then he heard Malea go down the stairs.
"You ready?" Malea asked him.
"Yup," Alfred answered.
And they went to the car. Malea said that they be going to a mall called Glorietta. So Malea stared the engine and they went to said mall. They talked about everything that was happening to the world. Then after a few minutes, they arrived.
They parked the car at Park Square 1. Then they went to Glorietta.
"Wow, this is a great mall," Alfred said.
"This is where almost all of the Makati residence go to hang - out with there friends or families. Say, Do you want to go to the arcade?" Malea said
"Arcade? Sure, I haven't been to gone to one for awhile now," He answered.
They they went to the arced whose is Time Zone at Glorietta 4. They brought a game card costing 500 pesos so that they can play longer than the normal 100 pesos. First they tried the racing. Alfred was enjoying it. He was about to win when Malea caught up with him. The two had a fierce battle but still Malea won (Well Filipinos drive manual cars and almost all drivers are reckless drivers). Then they played another game that I don't know. And they played many more.
After Time Zone, they went to eat at Mcdo (McDonalds) as usual Alfred ate cheeseburgers and so did Malea. After going to explore more and went to buy some souvenirs and went to SM and Landmark, they went home.
It was 2 in the afternoon when they got home. Malea said she's gonna sleep for a little while and told Alfred to answer if anyone called. Malea went straight to her bedroom. Alfred watched some shows from different channels.
After 30 minutes of watching, the phone rang. Alfred stood and went to where the phone was. He answered it.
"Hello?" he said
"Um, is Ms. Malea there? This is Kiku Honda," The other line said.
"Oh, hey Japan. It's me Alfred," Alfred said to Kiku.
"A-america -san? Why are you there?" Kiku a.k.a. Japan asked Alfred.
"I'm here on vacation," He answered.
"Oh. Can I please talk to Philippines-san?" Kiku said politely
"Sorry, Kiku but Malea's on siesta time. Why not call after an hour because she just started sleeping," Alfred said to him.
"Oh. Please tell her that I called," Kiku told Alfred.
"Ok,"
And they bid each other goodbye. When Alfred put down the phone, it rang again.
"Hello," he answered it.
"Hello, Is Philippines there?" The other line asked.
"I'm sorry but she's asleep. May I ask who this is so that I can tell her that you called?"
"Please tell that it's China-aru," China said.
"Hey China, this is America what's up?"
"America? What are you doing there -aru?" China asked him.
"I'm here on vacation," he simply answered.
"Oh, well just tell her that I called- aru," China requested.
"Sure thing,"
And they put there phone down.
After 3 minutes. Alfred was watching T.V. again. But he brought the telephone with him since its wireless and knowing that another caller would call. So there was really another one. This time it was Korea who as ever was loud. Then he told that Malea was asleep and he said that it was him. Then the next one was Taiwan repeating everything that he said to the others, and then Vietnam called, then Russia, then Poland, then Italy, then France, then Spain and England.
"Hey, Iggy, It's me Alfred,"
"What? What are you doing there you git?" Arthur asked annoyed.
"I'm here on Vacation," He answered.
"Well, I'm not talking to you, I want to talk with Philippines," He said
"Sorry, Iggy, but she's on siesta time," Alfred said to her.
"What?"
As Alfred was conversing with Arthur, Malea woke up.
"Good Afternoon, Alfred. Who're you talking to?" Malea said while rubbing her right eye.
"Oh, hey, Malea. Arthur's on the phone," Alfred answered her while covering the phone with his hand.
"Wait, is Philippines already awake? I got to talk to her right now. Just give her the phone and-"Arthur was telling Alfred to give the phone to Malea. "Okay, okay. Just wait a second," Alfred said.
"Oh, please say hi for me. I'm just gonna get water," she told him while going to the kitchen.
"But, Iggy wants to talk to you right now, Lea,"
"Tell him that I'm just gonna get some water,"
"He wants to talk to you right now. Such an old geezer," Alfred told her.
"Okay, okay. I'm coming," Malea finally talked with Arthur and got the phone from Alfred.
"Hello, Mr. England?" Malea said to him.
"Ah, Philippines you're finally on the line. That America was such a noisy git," Arthur answered.
"You got that right. By the way why did you call?" Malea asked Arthur.
"Well, my boss wants me to have a vacation right now. She said that I'm stressing myself of all the work. Is it alright to have my vacation there?" Arthur answered her a little bit shy.
"Sure thing, but you'll have to stay with your young noisy buddy, America?" Malea agreed.
"Hey, I heard that!!" Alfred said to her quite annoyed. Malea just giggled and went back to talk with Arthur.
"So, I'll be there after 2 days," Arthur told her.
"Ok. We'll surely pick you up at the airport," Malea said to him.
"Thank you, Good bye and Good day,"
"Good bye, Mr. England. See you in 2 days," Then they bid each other good bye and Malea put down the phone.
After that Alfred saw the clock that it's already 3:30 p.m.
"You know, I think many more will call you," Alfred told her.
"Really, how so?" Malea asked him.
So Alfred told her about the nations who called like Japan, China, Korea, Taiwan, Vietnam, Russia, Poland, Italy, France and Spain and then England which she already talked with. After telling that to Malea the phone suddenly rang and Malea answered it. This time, it was Japan again; he also said that he wants to have a vacation there. So Malea said that it's okay and also said that America and England will have their vacation in the Philippines. After conversing with Japan, China called and then Korea and so on and so on.
Alfred asked her what they said.
"They all said that they want to have a vacation here. Japan, China with Hong Kong, Taiwan and Vietnam will be arriving tomorrow while Russia with her sisters, Poland with Lithuania, Italy with his brother, Germany, Austria and Hungary, France, Spain and England will be arriving after two days," Malea answered.
"Wow, that's a hassle," Alfred could only say those.
"Yup," Malea just agreed.
And so the day continued and Malea prepared for the next day's work.
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A/N: That's it for Chapter 2 For all of those that reviewed thank you!!!