Determined to win Isabella’s heart, Bernie decided to cook her a meal. He’d watched enough cooking shows to think he could pull off a simple adobo, a Filipino classic. Isabella agreed to let him use her kitchen, though she warned him, “I hope you know what you’re doing, city boy.” Bernie waved her off, exuding confidence he didn’t feel. “I’ve got this,” he said, tying an apron around his waist.

The kitchen quickly turned into a war zone. Bernie burned the garlic, spilled soy sauce all over the counter, and accidentally set a dish towel on fire. Isabella, who’d been watching from the doorway, couldn’t stop laughing. “You’re a disaster!” she said, grabbing a fire extinguisher and putting out the tiny blaze. But instead of kicking him out, she rolled up her sleeves and helped him salvage the dish. They worked together, bumping into each other in the small kitchen, their hands brushing as they chopped onions and stirred the pot. By some miracle, the adobo turned out edible, and they sat down to eat on her porch.

“This isn’t half bad,” Isabella said, taking a bite. “You might have a future as a chef… if you don’t burn the house down first.” Bernie grinned, feeling prouder than he’d ever felt. They talked late into the night, sharing stories about their childhoods. Isabella told him about her first crush—a girl from a neighboring town—while Bernie admitted he’d never had a serious relationship. “You’re too pretty for your own good,” Isabella teased, and Bernie blushed.

As he walked home, he felt like he was on top of the world. He didn’t notice Tita Linda and her friends watching him from the window, giggling to themselves. “He’s in deep,” one of them said. “Wait till he finds out.”