Chapter 3

Been in class really gets me exhausted. I have been here only for two hours and it feels like 8 hours. I can't wait to leave this class as soon as it is over. It's the most boring class among all the courses I'm taking. My lecturer is an old lady and each time she starts lecturing, I feel like she's singing me a lullaby. My yawning is getting too much now. "Laila, you have been yawning since this lecture began, didn't you get enough sleep?" Jane who is sitted behind me asks me with concern in her voice after giving me a light tap on my shoulder. "Not exactly, I just happen to be exhausted when this lecture is taking place." I tell her while smiling sheepishly. " We have come to the end of today's lecture, I will be sending your assignments in the next 5 minutes which will be due on Tuesday next week." Mrs Godfrey announces. Finally, now I can go to the restaurant and get some work done.

For my part time job, I chose to work in a restaurant which was just a stone throw from my place. I stay alone. I was raised by my aunt after my parents died in a plane crush when I was just 5 years old. She decided to adopt me. She was a single lady then. She later got married when I was in high school to a wonderful man, Uncle Dave. They have twin daughters who are 6 years old, Angel and Cindy. They are identical and so beautiful. This has been the only family I have had. They are very lovely. I started staying on my own when I was in my first year of university because I wanted to be close to the school. Oversleeping is my middle name so I needed a house really close to the school. I visit home more often during my semester holidays and some weekends when I'm free. My aunt and Uncle have taken care of me like they were my parents. I don't know what I would do without them.

I chose to work in a restaurant because I enjoy cooking a lot and trying out new recipes. The man who owns the restaurant is in his mid sixties. He's very kind . He lost his wife quite a number of years ago and all his 4 sons are married living outside town. They do come to visit him from time to time. Mr. Ronald is a great chef. He's like a grandfather to me. He once told me a story of how in his teens he won an award as the best chef in the country. The competition was a tough one because he was the youngest and was competing against elderly men and women. He mostly tells me " Laila, nothing in this life is impossible if you put your mind to it." That statement has helped me see things differently. I have becom more confident in my dreams.

Phil's communication lately has been inconsistent. I asked him about it and he told me he had been busy working on some projects nowonder the inconsistency. He hasn't officially asked me out and we haven't even met face to face. I think I have fallen inlove with Phil. He seems to have most of the qualities I'm looking for in a life partner. He is kind, caring, understanding, respectful and very loving. I just hope he improves on this communication thing. He would sometimes go 3 days without checking up on me and wouldn't respond to my messages immediately. Not that he's ignoring me cause he's usually offline for days. This has been getting to me lately. I just hope he doesn't break my heart.

"Laila, you're here on time today huh?" Mr. Ronald asks with a smile. "Yes Sir, my classes ended quite early today." I respond. "We will be having 25 guests in the next 2 hours. They booked earlier today." "Is it the usual from Golden enterprise?" I ask curiously. "Yes yes my girl, it's them." "Alright, Ronald, we will serve them diligently." I say with a smile and take my leave.

I get to my locker and change into my uniform which is a black and white dress. I also wear my white apron and head towards the kitchen to get to business. My favorite time of the day is always cooking. I find the other chefs busy making different quisines and I join them. "Laila, you're here" one of the chefs looks at me with relief. "Yes chef, my classes ended quite early and this only happens once in a blue moon." I say with a smile. "Laila come over here and help prepare the fried rice." Angela tells me while cutting onions which seem to be great a number." "sure Angela, I'm coming." "Oh Angela, if not for you , I would be tearing up each time I cut an onion." "I'm always glad to be of help my love" Angela responds.

I had always been used to just cutting onions and tearing up until Angela taught me to soak them some minutes before cutting so as to reduce the tears and ever since, that method has been of great help. I get enough rice and put it in a large green bowl in readiness for soaking. After I empty the rice there, I then add enough water to rinse it off so that it's not starchy when been boiled. After I rinse the rice, I put it in the rice cooker and then add water. Finally, I close the lid and allow the rice to be boil. 20 minutes later, the rice is ready. I remove it from the rice cooker and place it in another larger bowl. I then get, some cooking oil and add to a large pan. After few seconds, I pore some cut onions, tomatoes and some spices to it. I also add some boiled mushrooms to the mix and allow them to cook. Few minutes later, I add the rice and mix it with the ingredients. The aroma coming from the rice mixed with mushrooms is breathtaking. " Oh my Laila this looks and smells so delicious. Your gifted hands always have this unique way of making rice taste nice you know." "Thank you Angela." I say with a bow and she laughs beautifully. "Hey guys" Mr.Ronald says with a pause in his speech. We all look at him with anticipation. "This food smells delicious, wow!" He says. "Thank you Sir" We all chorus. "The guests will be here in the next 15 minutes, let's all be ready to serve." "Sure sir" we all respond.