takuyaki sa clav

takuyaki sa clav

written: aug 27, 2020

(i forgot to post it here)

Five months had passed since I last tasted the best takuyaki in Davao City—yes, ’takuyaki’ with the ‘u’ kasi nga ’uctopus’ ang main ingredient. Charot. Mema. Going back, I really miss that cheapskate takuyaki nga halang.

Every TTh, since 9:20AM man akong first class, I stop by the takuyaki stall beside Jade Bookstore near Claveria gate of AdDU. I-timing ko jud na. I leave my unit around 8:50AM or exactly 9AM para ‘di ko ma-late sa akong first class. Every time mamalit ko kay daghan jud customers, bai! So para ‘di ko maabtan sa time, dapat sakto jud ang timing para maka-avail. Murag fangirl nga nag-atang sa meet and greet.

Ah, grabe maka-miss. My left hand misses carrying the four hot takuyaki balls fit on a small paper bowl while my right hand lingers to hold the two thin sticks I use (murag chospticks). Gimingaw jud ko mag-answer kay ate og “oo” without thinking twice whenever she asks the question, “halang, gang?” Tapos mubaklay dayon ko pasulod sa campus ug makidutdot sa elev, letting them smell the freshly cooked takuyaki. I can see their “Ah, yawa kahumot” expressions. Legit.

I eat these takuyaki balls gawas sa room dapit sa vendo machines, hopefully if wala pa si ma’am. If naa na siya, I would eat it as fast as I can even if it burns in my mouth—the kshfhfhshhahs eating method.

My purchase and consumption of takuyaki balls serves as my breakfast and sometimes lunch na rin. I eat another one again after class which ends at 3PM. Suki ra pud kaayo no? True.

After five months without eating it, naa jud times na mingawon ko’g kalit. My tongue really craves for it.

Ganina I went out for groceries at GMall. Nagbaklay ko paadto kay lesser ang risk of transmission kontra magsakay og jeep. I passed by the very stall, and that’s when I remembered the feeling. I could not fully remember when was the last time I ate those takuyaki balls. The only thing I could grasp from my memories was the last last time I saw him before this quarantine happened. Remarkable jud ‘to na moment kay rare na lang man gud nako siya makita around the campus ever since the confession was made.

I was also on my way to GMall that time. He was with two of our mutual friends, eating my favorite takuyaki. He seemed to be enjoying it the same way I do. Hays. If we did work out, it could have been our favorite. We could’ve spent our meryenda there like a mini date. Sayang.

Upon seeing him, I really had the urge to hug him. Gina-hug man gud jud nako siya always inig magkita mi tapos tawagon dayon nako siya using our endearment. Pero during that time, dili na ‘to possible ilabi na’g nakita nako sa iyang IG Story nga legal na sila sa iyang girlfriend. Our phase was already done. Instead of doing the routine, we waved at each other and smiled. Atay. Awkward pa lagi gamay. Then medyo gipaspas dayon nako akong paglakaw. Ma-feel nako ang heartburn nga wa man unta ko nagkaon og init nga takuyaki nga halang.

Timinga. Who would’ve thought na the last time na makita nako siya kay coincidental with the last time I could see the takuyaki stall. If I had known na mao na ang last time, edi nihapit unta ko. I should’ve enjoyed my last time eating it, not just glancing and smelling it. Kung kabalo lang jud ko. Pero like the smoke coming from the takuyaki cooker, my chances vanished in the air after a short time. It was not a full experience; I did not fully savor the chance I had. After all, both the smoke and my chances cannot be grasped with my hands. Abstract eh, and I was too late to realize that. What my hands could have done was to experience for the last time the warmth of the small paper bowl.

I was there maybe just an hour ago. Nagtindog ko on the exact spot of the stall, nag-moment. Daghan jud nausab; akong feelings ra siguro ang wala.

Wala na ang stall didtoa. Wala ko kabalo kanus-a nihawa. Pero I can still visualize it. The sign says in a japanese-like font, ‘takuyaki,’ still with the ’u’.

-jewel liaison