One night, with nothing but hunger and good company in mind, we ended up at the food park near Philippine Arena in Bocaue. It was alive in the best way—people lined up at food stalls, plastic chairs scraping against pavement, and the air thick with the smell of grilled meat and deep-fried everything. No music, just the raw clatter of conversations and orders being called out.

Gino pointed us straight to Kraken Roll. He knew the owner from back in the day when music events and studio sessions were our weeknights. He didn’t have to say much—just mentioned giant butterfly pusit and we were sold.

The wait was just enough to get us more excited. They were cooking the squid fresh, and once it hit the tray, it looked like something out of a food dream. Huge, fried to a golden crisp, and opened up like wings. I went for the Korean sauce flavor—spicy-sweet, thick enough to stick to the crunchy batter, and perfect with two cups of garlic java rice and a bit of mayo on the side. Each bite was soft and juicy on the inside, with a crunch that held up even after a few minutes.

Aldi said it was his first time trying butterfly pusit, and by the way he finished his plate, it was safe to say it passed the test. He tried the soy garlic flavor, along with Paul, and both looked like they were ready for another round.

After we ate, Aldi and I walked over to a nearby stall for dessert. We grabbed frozen boba—cold, creamy, sweet, and just the thing to wash down something fried. On the way back to the table, Aldi nearly lost control of his cup and spilled some on the table. We all cracked up, especially Ryan, the owner of Kraken Roll, who was nearby and witnessed the near disaster. One of those moments that makes the night memorable.

As we sat back and finished our drinks, Paul and Aldi started throwing jokes around. Aldi even teased Paul about having a crush on Ryan, which turned the whole group into laughter again. We ended up swapping a few stories from our old music production days—late nights, stage mishaps, the usual chaos that used to feel like everything.

It wasn’t just about the food, though the food was really good. It was the familiar faces, the shared jokes, and the way a simple night out turned into something more. If you’re ever near the Philippine Arena, swing by Kraken Roll. Try the butterfly pusit. Bring people who make you laugh. And don’t forget the boba—just hold on to it tight.