Ch. 27 - Realization.

Coming home in that evening is a relief for me, my body is feeling tired and ached. I was tired I didn't even bother changing my clothes and just fall down the couch, my stomach is growling and my head is spinning. My clothes are dirty and drenched in sweat and oil, I stink as well.

But im currently too tired to move, I just lay down there and didn't bother to keep check with the time.

While I laying down all I think of is a hot bath and something to eat. I was craving for some chicken so I stood up and walks toward the kitchen, I take out the chicken from the fridge and look for the seasonings in the cupboard. As I set assembled all my cooking utensils, I came to realize that I have to wait for the chicken to defrost first. Then I thought to myself I could've took a bath first then cook afterwards. But is it really hot today and I would just sweat again if I cook after I bathe. And after cooking all day makes me exhausted and lazy. So I just put them all back in their places and just decide to order food for supper, then bathe and sleep early to compensate my lack of sleep for today.

* The next morning. *

Doing my usual routine in the park, its still early in the morning but im already feeling the grind. This time, I found a huge rock which I place on my shoulders and use it to do dumbbell squatting, I was sweating so much but that's when you know its working. After being well rested my body feels so good and energetic compared to yesterday. While I was exercising I suddenly remembered the girl who gave me some weird feelings yesterday, my first expression when I saw her is like seeing a model. Makeup, exposing clothes, etc. However she seems force to do it considering how shy she is, usually they're very lively and obnoxious but she acts kinda introverted. Maybe im digging too much into this stuff. I was sweating so much than usual, the temperature is finally going up. Spring is about to come, it will be hotter once summer comes in a few months. All I can think of is shower, but I can't immediately shower like this, I have to rest my body first and swipe off any sweat. So I decided to go home early to rest for a bit before preparing myself to go to work.

My usual routine goes, instead of walking to work I decided to take a cab all the way to the restaurant. I still have a long day ahead of me I dont wanna push myself to hard. It was a busy day, new customers are coming to try the new dishes my father and I came up with last weekend. Thanks to my Stepmom for making such good advertisements on media platforms. When the first orders of the new dishes that I propose, I was nervous and very insecure how it would turn out. I made sure to prepare it with caution and passion, gently carrying it to the counter while thoroughly observing how it look. But as more orders came in and nobody seems to complain about it, I just go on with the flow and did the same to incoming orders, hoping its good enough. I was anxious for a few moments but when I receive a review from one of the customers saying its good. I sigh in relief and I was able to focus and stay calm.

I felt proud of my cooking and continued doing my best for the next few hours, however I am getting tired and its exhausting both physically and mentally. We we're getting a bit overwhelmed with orders in the kitchen and our staff is really shorthanded. I seem to have forgotten to talk to my dad about the issue in our manpower.

* Lunch break. *

Chilling in a table in the corner while my friends quietly eat in another table, all looking exhausted no one seems to be in a good mood to chat or be disturbed. l took the time and decided to look for my father and talk about hiring new staff, but he's exhausted as well so I dont know whether this is the right time or not. I head towards his office and peak inside, I can see him sitting in his chair, his eyes are close.

"Is he asleep?"

I asked myself, I quietly enter his office and confirm if he is asleep or just not. As I got a closer look, he really is asleep, I also found a huge stockpile of documents on his desk, he must've stay up late last night because of it. I turn around and try to leave, when all of a sudden my phone's notification tone rang. I immediately press my finger down on my phones speaker and walk outside. I look at my father again as I was closing the door to ensure it didn't wake him up. I check my phone and its a notification from Airi. It reads..."Are you busy right now?".

"What does she want?"

I told myself, we haven't talk to each other for about 5 days now, I wonder what she has to talk about.

I replied..."Im on my break. What do you want?"

I lean on the wall behind me and calmly waits for her reply.

Airi : "Hey, how are you doing?"

Akagi : "Im a bit tired, but in fine."

Airi : "Okay, glad to hear it. Are you having lunch right now?"

Akagi : "I was."

Airi : "Oh, what did you have today?"

I feel like this conversation will reach nothing and I dont think she will tell me something important, so I decided to get straight forward with her.

Akagi : "Is there any reason why'd you chat with me right now?"

Airi : "Actually there is, I didn't know what to say or how to say it. but..."

Im starting to get a bit annoyed, I don't remember telling her something important. Although I didn't exactly give her a legitimate reason to break up with her, maybe she's still troubled and she's trying to ask me the real reason.

Airi : "I just wanna say that you cooked the best steak I ever had. And your other dishes are good as well~"

Upon seeing her answer, its makes me think if she has been one of my customers before. Then I've come to a realization that she might be one of the students in the catering yesterday.

"Wait, we're you in the catering yesterday?"

I curiously ask her.

"Yes, I was and it was a surprise to see you personally."

Before I could reply, I also realized how does she know how I look? I started to feel disturbed and confused, my heart was beating loudly as my hands began to tremble.

"Wait, how did you know how I look like?"

I ask her. She replied by sending me two pictures. I look at the first one, it was a picture of me cooking from a distant, and the background sight with boothes and students walking around is indeed a picture of me in the catering yesterday. When I saw the second one, my heart started to beat heavily, whole body froze and unable to move, I felt goosebumps all over me as I was so shock to see myself in that picture. That picture was the picture of me shirtless, showing off my muscles to her after I was done exercising. I was only meant to tease her but I deleted it minutes afterwards!

I didn't know she saw it before I deleted it.

I was breathing heavily and my mind couldn't analyze anything to say. I was sure I deleted it before she saw it, she also didn't say anything about it. So how can she bring it just now?

Airi : "This is you right? This is definitely you~"

Akagi : "Why didn't you tell me you actually saw that picture?"

Airi : "Because you deleted it a few minutes later, so I thought you didn't actually want to send it."

I facepalm and rub my forehead really hard and told myself while grinning my teeth.

"Why are you such a f*cking idiot?!"

"Who are you talking to in there?"

I suddenly heard my fathers voice coming from inside the office, I opened the door and peeked in. My father was looking straight at me, he looks fully awake and he might've heard me talking to myself.

"Nothing! I was just recording my voice on my phone!"

I wave my phone at him trying to convince my father.

"Why are you standing right outside my door?"

He said while gazing at me steadily, I lean back and messaged Airi.

[ We'll talk about this later, I need to come back to worl now. ]

I didn't wait for her to reply and I just close my phone amd put them in my pockets. I enter the room with a straightforward look on my face as to convince ny father nothing out of the ordinary is happening. As I was approaching his table I said.

"Dad, are we planning on hiring more employees?"

He widens his eyes and pulls out one of the documents and opens it.

"I was already planning to, I have several profile of Highschool and college students here who are looking for a part time job to support themselves.

However, I am trouble which one's to pick. And also, I would like you to orient them when they are selected. As im sure since you're alot younger than me, they would much comfortable around you and you would understand them since..."

As my father was briefing me about hiring new staff and trying to orient me on what to do with them, I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket. It was only once so I assume it was Airi saying "yes" or "bye" after seeing my message so I feel relieved about not worrying about her for now. But then I felt another one, then another, as he sends more I feel more in distress and uneasy. I can't concentrate on what my father is telling me cause she keeps sending me messages and I cannot answer my phone right now especially whenever my father is lecturing me.

I just want this feeling to end. So I secretly snuck my phone into my pocket and feel for the power button once I felt it, I press it down and when I felt it vibrated and went completely silent. I continued to listen to my dad but he was already done when I paid my attention back to him.

"Did you understand what you have to do?"

He ask. Im confused and scared on what to respond to him, he knows me for always paying close attention with analytical feedback. Cause that's how I am when im INTERESTED in the conversation, but if he finds out I dont he might feel I dont appreciate his efforts or im bored in his talk.

"Yes, but just to clarify things, what are the things im not allowed to do?"

I thought to myself maybe if I ask whats not to do, I could just assess and turn what he said into the opposite and figure out that its what im supposed to do.

"Well you shouldn't be mean to any of them and be patient."

Ehh?

"Is that all?"

I said in a shaky voice. My father simply replied.

"Yes."

Im screwed.

"You can come back here and help me select new part time employees after closing. Your stepmom will pick us up and you can stay with us for the night."

He added.

"Yes, dad."

I replied then turn around back downstairs, I feel much better that he gave me a few instructions just now. Its better than being completely blind.