Road Trip Day 27
Location: a hospital in Nabunturan, Compostela Valley

Alice Flonne's POV:

Today's the crucial surgery for my brother Jake...the surgeons will remove the bullet which I'd embedded in his body...

"Ugh! My heart's very pounding right now!"

"Hehehe! Don't worry, Alice. The doctor said that it's not a life threatening operation." Claire cheers me up. "The bullet is just within the safe zone so...it's safe. Hehehe!"

But that didn't make me calm down! I just walked back and forth along the hall...I can't make up my mind if I would still worry about him or I would just sit down and let the time pass by...until...somebody hold my hand and stopped me from walking...

"Flonne..."

"Whaaa! Wha-what is it, Lexi?" Suddenly, my face blushed as Lexi holds my hand.

"If you want, you could sit down and tell me what's on your mind right now."

"Oh! Ehehehe! Sure, why not."

I sat down beside my boyfriend...and somehow, I was starting to calm down. Kyle is not with us for now, for he's tendering her girlfriend...she's airsick.

"Well...I need some help to make that dish..."

"Hmm? What dish?"

Then I whispered to him that secret dish...the dish that mom is said to be the one that makes my brothers Kyle and Jake gets closer together.

"Huh? That dish?! That's way too easy!" Lexi smiles and makes a thumbs up to me. "What's the problem, by the way?"

"Umm...we don't have the right ingredients...nor I'm not so sure if I can have the courage to go in a random market here...what if there's any terrorist still around here."

"Huh? What are you talking about? You already saw Jake's troops have already pulverizing them, right?" Lexi then grins at me. "But...if there's anything...I will protect you against them, okay? I learned swift self-defense moves so that I could kill those bad guys!"

"Oh, really? Hehehe!!!" I grinned him and giggles.

"Hey! I'm serious! I do learn self-defense!"

Alex's POV:

I accompanied my scared girlfriend out of the hospital...besides...the operation would not be over at least until we returned from shopping at the public market...buying those ingredients for the dish that Flonne wants to cook with me...

"See, Flonne. I told you that there's nothing to worry about." I assure her while we are walking outside the hospital. "How in the world will be there terrorists in such a peaceful place like thi-huh?"

"...rustle...rustle..." Suddenly, shrubs nearby began to move...causing Flonne to panic...

"EEEEK!!!! LEEEXIII!!!" Out of fear, she quickly clings to my back and holds me very tight.

"He-hey! Don't panic!"

I walked closer to the shrubs to check what's in there...

"...rustle...rustle...rustle...rustle..." But the shrubs keep on moving, making Flonne more scared.

"Umm...hello? Is anybody there?" I tried to ask if there's somebody hiding behind the shrubs. "Can you please show up, my girlfriend's a bit sca-whoa!"

"Hiyaaa!" Finally, somebody reveals herself from the shrubs...it was Azmina, giggling. "Hehehe!!!"

"Hmm!!!" Flonne then approaches her with an evil grin on her face...as she is telling Azmina that she'll gonna payback big time for scaring her.

"Alice...ehehehe...di-didn't see you there!" Azmina stutters as she looks Flonne's evil face. "Umm...I di-didn't know tha-that you're scared and all...ple-please don't hurt me...aaaah!!!"

"Hiyaaa! Hugs! Hehehe!" Instead of doing something like tickling or scratching her head, Flonne hugged Azmina very tightly. "Azmina...I missed you. Why did you leave me out of the blue?"

"Well...umm...I just wanted to have some private time with my dad." Azmina explains. "You know...I wanted to reconcile with my father once more...since he will return to Davao to make to recover what was damaged from the hotel after the bombing..."

"Oh...ehehehe...my bad." Flonne scratched her head in embarrassment. "But...I would like to thank your father...and even you...for helping me paying all the expenses for my brother's operation. I'm so grateful!"

"No problem, Alice. That's what friends are for, right?" Azmina winked at my girlfriend. "So, what you are doing right now?"

"Well...Flonne wants to cook something for her brothers." I answered her question for my girlfriend. "And she wanted me to join her in buying ingredients because she's scared of terrorists."

"LEXI!!!" A blushing Flonne scolded me.

"Huehehe!!!"

"Oh, I see! Hehehe!" Azmina grins and giggles. "Okay, I'll join you."

"Yaay! Thanks, Azmina!" Flonne shouts for joy.

"Hehehe! Your welcome!"

Azmina's POV:

I accompanied Alex and Alice in going into the public wet and dry market, where we buy kilos of brisket beef and some spices. Based from the order of the ingredients that they brought...Alice is planning to cook some...

"Hey, Alice! You'll gonna cook some beef pares, right?"

"Huh?! How did you know that?!" Alice is startled by my question.

"Well, that's my favorite dish! Hehehe!" I giggled back at her. "You should know that beef pares is one of the specialty dishes that is being served in my dad's restaurant! Aaah...I remember that first taste...it's so tangy and sweet! And I think I know the recipe on how to do it. I can teach you if you like."

"Re-really?! Please teach me, please?" Swiftly, Alice pleas to me with puppy eyes. "I can't remember how my mom cooks beef pares! Please, please help me remember mom's recipe!"

"Hehehe! Well, you asked for it...sure!"

We returned to Alice's food truck, where I taught Alice how to cook some beef pares, as I assigned Alex to cook garlic fried rice...a perfect partner for the dish...

After an hour....

"Here you go! We're done!"

A scrumptiously delicious beef pares is made...accompanied with garlic fried rice. Hmm...I wonder what's the significance of this dish with Alice's two brothers right now.

"Alice! Alice!"

"Oh! Yes, Kuya Kyle?" Her older brother calls her attention.

"Alice, the operation is completed. He's safe now."

"Oh, I see." Alice smiles after she heard a bit of good news. "Wait for me, I have something to bring for both of you on the room. Lexi, please join me as well."

"Yes. Certainly, Flonne."

We came down of the food truck, carrying the dish that we have made. Since I won't seeing them two for awhile...

"Hey, Alice..."

"Hmm? What is it, Azmina?" She stops from walking and turned back to know what I'm about to say.

"I hope this dish will solve your problems...good luck."

Alice smiles...and winked at me.

"Yup! I'm sure that this would work. Trust me. Hehehe!"