the trip down

Ever since a friend recommended JT Manukan's Inasal, the King has been wanting to check it out to see if the claims of it serving the best chicken Inasal in the metro are true.

We were talking on Twitter that Friday afternoon when he posted something about the restaurant. It prompted me to do a little research on JT Manukan's branch locations and time of operations. After which, I invited him out to dinner, and the plan was finalized over the short-messaging site.

After work, I went straight to the cafe where he was studying. We stayed for a few minutes as he finished one last chapter before we hit the road.

By 8 PM, we were along EDSA, our cab making do with the Friday traffic, worsened by the dreary weather. It took about an hour to reach Sgt. Esguerra, and a few more minutes of coursing slowly through the busy street to see the signage of the infamous JT Manukan. Out of the cab, under the King's lavender umbrella, we briskly walked to the eatery.

The place looked better than how I imagined it. It was a little small, a little too open and a lot less cozy than the places I'm used to. Well, it was probably because of the rain, or because I was a bit tired, or because of the loud house music blasting from the adjacent bar.

In any case, we settled at the middle table by the wall; and with much anticipation, we ordered. We were both hungry, as clearly evident when our food was brought in. The King and I feasted on the scrumptious servings of pecho. I don't know if it was the hunger talking, or if it was really that delicious but halfway through my meal I already wanted to have another round.

Through the course, the King and I talked about frenemies, acquaintances and common friends; how X met Y, how B knew J, and how A is connected to everyone else. This eventually led to him recalling, "Ang tahimik mo nung una tayong nagkita."

"Hindi kaya," I said as I clearly remember what happened that afternoon of August 31st.

TO BE CONTINUED.