Braving the Waters, Book 1: The Shore
Author's Note: I apologize for the extremely long interval between Parts 02 and 03 (what you're reading now). Life got in the way, as it sometimes does. Hopefully I can keep to a more frequent update schedule in future, but I can make no guarantees. Thank you for reading, rating, and commenting. I hope you enjoy your stay.
Previous Installments
BtW Book 01, Part 01: Convergence
BtW Book 01, Part 02: The Devil of the Details
Part 3: Discussions
Kat arrived at Rosalyn's just shy of one o'clock. Pulling open the aluminum-framed glass door, she stepped into the simply-furnished interior and was promptly greeted by a blast of warm air from the vent set above the doorway. That was almost immediately followed by the comforting aroma of home cooking, the smells wafting from the stainless-steel-and-glass cafeteria counter across the room. She and Yun had often had lunch -- and sometimes, dinner -- here over the preceding weeks, and Kat had quickly acquired a taste for Filipino food.
As usual, Yun had arrived ahead; she was sitting with her back to the wall at the corner table they favored. There was a smattering of other customers, but none within easy earshot of "their" table. On seeing her, Yun raised a hand, motioning for her to come over.
"So what did you want to talk about?" Kat said, doffing her coat and draping it over the back of the empty chair.
Yun raised one finger.
"You know the rule. No talking shop until after eating. Let's go."
Kat suppressed a stab of irritation. Though she
was
hungry, she wanted to know what Yun wanted to discuss that couldn't have been taken care of via chat app or over the phone. But she had been taught to be polite, so she said nothing and followed Yun to the serving counter instead.
When she got there, Yun was already animatedly gesturing at the chafing dishes. The day of her first audition, Kat had been amazed when Yun led her to the counter and began ordering in what Kat guessed was the owner's native language. It had left her wondering just how many languages Yun was fluent in, and how she had managed to learn all of them while having such an extensive filmography.
But that was neither here nor there at the moment. Kat grabbed a tray and fell in line behind her friend, her eyes already scanning what was available. Despite her earlier irritation and ongoing preoccupation with everything that was going on in her professional life, a small smile crossed her lips as she saw several of her favorites on offer.
Once Yun had finished ordering and taken the plates Rosario -- who co-owned the eatery with her husband Ramon -- handed to her, Kat stepped up, did one more quick survey, and made her choices. Though Yun had taught her the names of most of the food over the course of their visits, today was the first time Kat had dared to ask for anything by name instead of the tried-and-true finger-point. With a new phase of her career -- and perhaps even her life -- in the offing, it felt like the right time to try something else she'd never done before. Even if it was minor in the overall scheme of things.
Rosario smiled, nodded, and began ladling the food onto several disposable plates. While she waited, Kat happened to glance over at Yun. Her friend was smiling too.
"What? Is my accent that bad?" A faint undercurrent of fear ran through Kat's mind as she wondered if she had been too sure of herself.
"No," Yun said, with a laugh. "For someone who says she has a tin ear, you've learned pretty quick. Still have a bit of an accent, but it's minuscule."
"Oh," Kat replied, as she felt relief wash over her. "Well, I only know the dozen words you've taught me-"
"You're forgetting the cursey words," Yun interrupted, still smiling, "Otherwise known as the important ones."
"Fine," Kat continued, putting some mock-exasperation into her tone, "
Three
dozen, then. I'm still not fluent like you."
Yun gently waved off the compliment.
"That's what happens when you shoot three charming cheapie films back-to-back-to-back in the rural areas of the Philippines over the course of six months. And I wouldn't call myself fluent. I know just enough to get by, which is why I don't list it on my CV."
A slight tap on the counter interrupted their conversation, as Rosario indicated she had finished plating Kat's order. Kat took the plates and placed them on her tray, then followed Yun to the cashier, who today was Rosario's eldest daughter, Lyn. Kat was reaching for her wallet when Yun laid a hand on her arm.
"My treat."
"But-"
"Look, I dragged you out here. I owe you lunch, at least."
"You didn't really drag me, but if you insist. Thanks." Inwardly, Kat found herself wishing she'd ordered less food. Though Yun could certainly afford to pick up the tab for lunch, Kat hadn't been brought up to take advantage of people's generosity.
"You're welcome," Yun replied. When she had finished paying for their meals, she led Kat back to the corner. There, they transferred their plates to the table, after which Kat took the trays and put them atop the trash receptacle located in the middle of the eatery. Then she sat down opposite Yun, who was already digging in.
As they ate, Yun kept to the rule and refrained from discussing their new project at all. Instead, she elaborated on the shoot in the Philippines she had mentioned earlier. While the story was fascinating, Kat found herself still distracted by the question of what Yun wanted to talk to her about. But no matter how much she worried at that particularly perplexing bone, she couldn't arrive at a satisfactory answer. So immersed was she in her thoughts that she only caught the tail end of Yun's story.
"-she stayed on after we wrapped. Last I heard, and this was years ago, they had three kids."
"Huh," was all Kat could say, having heard nothing of what had preceded that sentence-and-a-half. Whatever hope she might have entertained that Yun wouldn't notice her inattention was promptly dashed on the rocks of her friend's customary perspicacity.
"You've hardly heard a word I've said in the last ten minutes, have you?" Yun's smile and mild tone leached the words of any sting they might have had.
"Sorry," Kat replied, blushing while trying to hide her discomfiture by starting in on her dessert: a tumbler of crushed ice mixed with various sweet condiments and drowned in evaporated milk.
"You get this particularly intense look in your eyes when you're hyper-focused on something. And I'm pretty sure it wasn't your lunch, even though Ramon outdid himself today."
Kat began to answer, but again Yun raised a single finger, forestalling her attempt.
"As much as I love this place, it's too small and there are too many people here for what I want to discuss. Finish your
halo-halo
and then we'll go someplace more conducive."
"I can finish it while we walk," Kat said. She'd never liked waiting; it always gave her mind the opportunity to think and, consequently, over-think. Better to do something, even if it didn't directly relate to the matter at hand. In this case, however, they were the same thing. So much the better.
Kat put the tumbler down on the table before standing and pulling on her coat. Gathering up all the plates and cutlery, she took them over to the trash bin and disposed of them before returning to the table. She picked up her tumbler and indicated the door with a tilt of her head.
"Let's go."
Yun put on her own coat and they went out into a cold afternoon. As they walked, Kat took an occasional spoonful, wincing slightly as the combination of the ice in the dessert and the outside temperature gave her a mild case of brain freeze. Yun shook her head.
"
Halo-halo
is a particular favorite of mine, but it's a summer thing for me and Filipinos both. Don't know how you can eat it in this weather. I'm surprised they were even offering it."
"I love the cold," Kat replied, shrugging. "And I love my cold desserts, so you're not going to hear me complain. Where are we going?"
