Chapter 13: Trying New Things

"Camz, you're phone is ringing."

Camila was in the kitchen making them some turkey sandwiches. It was the holidays and there was no school for about three weeks. They were in their flat at the first day of their break, just chilling out and resting, when Camila's phone blared out it's annoying ringtone.

"Lolo lunch is ready!" Camila called out from the kitchen. Lauren stood up and made her way to the kitchen where Camila was frantically wiping her hands. Camila hurried to Lauren's side and pecked her lightly on the cheek before dashing past her to her phone in the living room. Lauren laughed as a blush and content smile crept its way to her face. She sat down and grabbed her turkey sandwich, biting into it and moaning in delight.

A few moments later, Camila came in the kitchen with her phone in hand. She gave Lauren a small smile before pressing something on her phone.

"Lauren's here, mami, papi." Camila held the phone out between her and Lauren.

"Lauren, mija, how've you been?" Sinu asked brightly from the other line. Lauren smiled at her happiness.

"I'm great. How are you and Ale?"

"We're great mija. We called to ask you over for the holidays, if you don't have any plans."

"That'd be great. We don't have anything planned, actually." Lauren pecked Camila on the cheek, eliciting a blush on the soft skin. Lauren held in her laugh as she witnesses her girlfriend's cuteness.

"What about the girls? Do they have anything planned?"

"They're spending the holidays with their families." Camila answered. Sinu sighed from the other line.

"Oh well." Sinu said, genuinely wanting to have the girls over for the holidays. "Lauren, you're family's coming to Christmas dinner too." She said with pure happiness on her tone.

"Thanks Sinu. Tell them I love them and I miss them." Lauren said. She hasn't called home for a while because of school and responsibilities.

"Of course, mija." A deep distant voice could be heard calling Sinu's name in the background. "Sorry girls I have to go. Take care of yourselves, love you both."

"Love you too mami!" Camila cheerfully said. "Bye Sinu. Take care!" Lauren waved her hand, even though Sinu probably couldn't see it. The call ended and Camila set the phone down and immediately devoured her sandwich.

"Slow down there tiger. I don't want you to choke." Lauren said as she went back to her sandwich. Camila shrugged her shoulders dismissively.

"Smorry camt hewp it. Aym humgwy." Camila responded with a full mouth. Lauren just laughed and shook her head, entertained by her girlfriend's antics.

"Are we gonna tell them?" Lauren asked out of the blue. Her mind went back to what happened a few years ago, in high school. Her mind couldn't forget how protective Camila's parents were of her. Hiding the truth from them would be preposterous and just stupid.

Camila looked at Lauren with less puffy cheeks. She titled her head to the side, not on the same page as her. Lauren sighed and set down her half eaten sandwich on her plate.

"Are we gonna tell them about what happened?"

Camila looked at Lauren while swallowing down the last piece of her food. She looked at her serious face for a second before sighing and looking down.

"We should tell them. They deserve to know Lo." Camila said, she was nervously fumbling with her fingers.

"But I don't wanna disappoint them, you know? This happened two times already. Two freaking times. I don't want them to think of me lowly. I don't want them to think that I can't handle myself. I don't want them to think that their daughter is so vulnerable and weak. I don't wanna be a disappointment Lo. I can't bare to look at them giving me disgusted looks. I've already let them down once and I don't wanna tell them just to let them down again."

Lauren was quick to move to Camila's side and engulf her in a hug. She stroked her hair and rubbed her back, telling her it's gonna be alright. Camila's parents have been very supportive and understanding, so Lauren has hope that they will pull through with it.

They stayed like that until Camila wasn't shaking anymore. Lauren wiped the remaining tears off her face before pecking her lightly on the cheek. Camila smiled and kissed Lauren back. Lauren went back to her half eaten sandwich while Camila went over to the fridge to fetch Lauren some dried mangoes and picking a banana on for herself.

"When are we gonna go home?" Camila asked. Lauren stopped for a second before swallowing her food.

"Knowing your parents, they already booked our flight without us knowing." Lauren said, joking about the Cabello's wealth. Camila chuckled a little and peeled her banana open, biting into it.

"Yeah you're probably right." She said after swallowing her food down. "Let's just hope they won't forget to tell us, not like the last time."

Lauren laughed, remembering the time when Sinu and Ale totally forgot about their plane tickets. They had to stay in a hotel for two more days.

"Where did this come from?" Lauren asked as Camila handed her the packaged dry mangoes.

"Someone from class told me about their family business. They run a Filipino business a few miles from university and they sell delicious delicacies. It's cheap too."

Lauren eyed the packaging. Filipino food, she's never tasted some before. She loves mangoes but has never really tried dried mangoes.

She opened it and picked out one piece, eyeing it carefully. She took a bite out of it, her face contouring slightly from its light sour flavor followed by sweetness. A moan elicited from her mouth as she tossed the rest of the piece in her mouth.

"This. Is. Delicious." She said as she took out another piece. "Thanks Camz."

Camila gave her a toothy smile. "You're welcome."

"Did you know that Balut is a very special delicacy in the Philippines?" Camila asked Lauren, well, more like stated a fact to Lauren. The green eyed girl halted her movements.

"Balut? What is that?" She asked, curious.

"A Balut is a developing bird embryo that is boiled and eaten from the shell. It's usually a duck or chicken egg." Camila said, scrunching her face up in disgust.

"That sounds interesting. Are they selling Balut as well?" The green eyed girl asked, finishing her dried mangoes. Camila looked at her in disgust.

"You wanna eat a freaking bird embryo?!" Camila asked in disbelief and disgust. No way in hell is she gonna try that. She's too picky of an eater.

"Of course. People are eating it so there's no harm in that." She shrugged. "I'm not picky in what I eat. If I haven't tasted something before, I will try it. If you present me with monkey brain then I'll eat it because I haven't tasted it before. Who knows, it might taste like chicken."

"You sick creature.." Camila joked, feigning disbelief. She has always known Lauren wasn't picky and the girl wanted to try new things. She remembers the time when Lauren would pester her to eat fish eggs because they're healthy and delicious, she said.

Lauren shrugged. "You have to take me to their store some time. I need to restock myself on these." Lauren said, pointing to the empty plastic hanging from her fingertips. Camila laughed and thought of an idea.

"We have to bring some back home for them to taste!"

"That sounds like a good idea, Camz." Lauren said as she threw the empty plastic away, Camila following soon after.

"We can go tomorrow. They're always open." Camila said. They were putting their dishes on the sink. They retired in the study where they lounged on the comfy seats, cuddled by each other.

"Sure. I can't wait to get my hands on some more dried mangoes."

~~~~~~~

"Wow.." Was the only thing that Lauren could say. The place was exotic, yet homey. There was this unique scent that covered the establishment which she couldn't put a finger on. On one side of the shop was all novelty items and souvenirs. The right side was where all the food was beautifully displayed.

They went over to the food area first. A voice called Camila's name somewhere behind the counter.

"Camila! Nice to see you again." A beautiful girl greeted Camila and engaged in a short hug. She looked over at Lauren who was silently watching the exchange. The girl gave her a smile.

"You must be Lauren. Hi I'm Chiara." She extended a hand out for Lauren to shake. "Nice to finally meet you. Camila talks about you all the time." Lauren shook the girls hand, brows raised. She looked over at her girlfriend who was trying her best to not make eye contact with her.

"Oh really?" She asked, amused. "I hope it's all good things."

"All good things indeed." Chiara gave her a wide inviting smile. "So what can I do for you girls today?"

"I wanna buy a few packs of dried mangoes, please." Lauren said softly. Camila looked at her, amused.

"A few huh?" Camila challenged. Lauren gave her a playful glare before looking back at Chiara who was patiently waiting for them.

"I'll actually have quiet more than a few." She admitted shyly. Chiara just laughed and wrote something down.

"That's understandable. Dried mango really is delicious, no one can deny that." Chiara said truthfully, giving Lauren some reassurance. "How much is 'quite more than a few'?" She asked, readying her pen and paper.

"Maybe fifteen packs? We're bringing some home too." Lauren said and Chiara wrote down the number.

"Anything else?"

Camila butted in. "Lauren would loooove to try some Balut." She said, pointing at a bowl of eggs labeled with 'Balut'. Chiara raised her brows.

"You sure? Is this your first time eating it?"

"Uh yeah." Lauren said. She looked at the eggs. It seems normal so far. Chiara faced them again with a wide smile.

"Tell you what, I'll go get your dried mangoes and when I come back I'm gonna teach you guys how to eat a Balut. Deal?"

"Sounds like a plan." Lauren said. "Cool." Camila said as both of them gave Chiara a thankful smile. Chiara disappeared behind a door. Camila and Lauren looked around the store. There were tons of interesting stuff.

There were cool shirts saying 'I love Philippines', 'It's More Fun In The Philippines', 'I Love Cebu', etc. there were tarsier key chains, stuffed animals, handmade bracelets, and many more. It was all very ethnic and exotic.

"Look at this Lo!" Camila went over to a gray hoody saying 'Love Only'. She placed the hoody over her body only to find out that it's the perfect size for her. Lauren went over to the hoodies and picked one as well.

"I want a pair too." Camila giggled and kissed Lauren on the cheeks. "Sure babe."

They heard a door open and their heads snapped to the direction of the sound. Chiara was holding a full paper bag, someone following close behind her holding a plate of eggs.

"Here are your dried mangoes." Chiara said cheerfully, placing the bag on top of the glass counter. The girl who was trailing behind Chiara walked over to the tables and chairs on the corner of the shop. She placed the plate and went back to Chiara, wrapping her arm around her waist.

"No need to be territorial, babe." Chiara playfully said, sensing her girlfriend's change in demeanor. The girl playfully pouted and crossed her arms over her chest.

"Am I not allowed to protect what's mine?" she challenged. Chiara smiled and pecked the girl's pouting lips. "You can. But babe, you have nothing to worry. I'll always be yours." she sent a wink at her girlfriend who had a blush on her face. 

Lauren and Camila just watched the adorable interaction in front of them. They could clearly see that the two were deeply in love. Camila kept on adoring the sight while Lauren cleared her throat, getting everyone's attention. Chiara looked at them while the other girl looked down bashfully, scratching the back of her neck nervously.

"Sorry 'bout that." Chiara said. "I want you to meet my lovely girlfriend," she wrapped her arm around the girl's waist, engaging in a side hug. "Her name is Hailey."

The girl beside Chiara raised her head and waved her right hand shyly. "Hi." she said in a very small voice. Camila gave her a comforting smile. 

"So you're Hailey! Chiara always talks about you." Camila gushed. Hailey smiled bashfully while it was Chiara's turn to blush hard. Chiara ducked her head down, flustered. Hailey looked at her amused. Camila was about to keep going but Chiara was quick to intervene and change the topic.

"Let's try the Balut, yeah?" she changed the topic. Lauren clapped her hands and nodded hastily. "Yes please! I'm so excited!" she gushed.

They made their way over to the table were the plate of eggs was placed. They all sat down as Chiara took one egg and held it up. She had a spoon on the other hand.

"So first, we break the shell using a spoon." she tapped the spoon lightly on the shell with enough force to crack it. She peeled some of it off, leaving it open on the top.

"Now we take our salt and sprinkle a bit on the content." she sprinkled some salt on the egg. "We drink the broth," she slurped the liquid inside the shell. Lauren was concentrating on the lesson while Camila's features were showing disgust. She's not so sure if she's a fan of this.

"Now that all the liquid is gone, we peel the remaining shells," she took off the shell and all that's left was the egg. Camila swears she could see a duck head there.

"Now we eat it. You can put some salt if you like." Chiara took a bite of the egg, showing the gross contents of the egg. Camila felt the bile from her stomach rise. She immediately placed her hand over her mouth instinctively.

"Is that a fucking head?!" Camila asked with wide eyes. Chiara laughed and nodded her head. "Yes, that is indeed a head. A duck head, specifically." she answered in amusement. That was the typical reaction they get when foreigners try Balut for the first time. Lauren, however, was so eager to try it.

She took an egg and did every step perfectly. She ate it without flinching or changing in expression. Camila looked at her in shock while Chiara and Hailey looked at her, amused.

"That wasn't bad." Lauren commented. Camila raised her hands, mouthing a big 'WHAT?!'. Lauren laughed at her girlfriend.

"That's it. I'm breaking up with you. I wouldn't date an embryo-eater." Camila said playfully. The rest of the girls laughed, amused by her reaction.

"Aww. I love you too." Lauren said, kissing her girlfriend on the lips. Camila kissed back but immediately retracted when she tasted something unknown on her lips. Her eyes widened and she grimaced.

"Eeeww! I can taste it!!!!" she exclaimed. Lauren smirked mischievously, getting an idea. Camila looked at her girlfriend. It took her a few seconds before she knew what that face was. She leaned back, holding her hands up.

"You better not.." she warned but Lauren just smirked and leaned forward. She puckered her lips and leaned more to kiss her girlfriend. Camila's face wrote fear and she backed off some more, holding Lauren in place with her hands.

"NO LAUREEEEEN! STOOOOP!"

"Come on Camz. You said you like kissing me." Lauren smirked, eliciting a blush on Camila's cheeks.

"Not anymore if you keep eating.. that!" she pointed her finger on the remaining eggs on the plate. Chiara and Hailey were looking at them with wide smiles, clearly amused.

"Let's make a deal. You try one Balut and I'll never eat it again. You need to finish the whole egg." Lauren challenged. Camila was scared for her life. She couldn't even look at the contents so she surely can't eat it. She sighed, defeated. It's a great trade for Lauren's lips.

"Fine." she sighed. Lauren clapped her hands. "Yeay!"

Everyone watched her as she took one egg. She was very hesitant. She slowly cracked the egg with the spoon and peeled it slowly, eyes closed. She peeked with one eye and she could see the duck head looking directly at her. The whole shop was filled with a loud screech. The girls laughed as Camila was backing away from the egg, fearing for her stomach.