Heidi Kim

I left shortly last night when Vina fell asleep. The morning after, I woke up with a lightness I hadn't felt in years. It was as if a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. I was still nervous, of course, but there was also a sense of excitement, a thrill that tingled through me.

I arrived at Flavium early, eager to see if Vina would be there. I found her at her usual spot, her eyes sparkling as she prepared a plate of perfectly arranged vegetables.

“Good morning,” I said, my voice a little breathless.

Vina looked up, her smile widening. “Good morning, Heidi. You look… happy.”

I blushed. “I am,” I admitted, feeling a warmth spread through me.

We spent the morning working side-by-side, the atmosphere in the kitchen lighter than usual. There was a comfortable silence between us, punctuated by occasional glances and playful touches.

Just as the lunch rush was about to begin, Mr. Laurent announced that we had two new recruits.

“Alright everyone, I have an announcement to make,” Mr. Laurent announced, his voice booming over the clatter of pots and pans as the lunch rush loomed. “We have two new additions to the team. Say hello to Chloe, our new server, and Ethan, our junior chef.”

Chloe stepped forward, her smile dazzling. “Hi everyone,” she chirped, her voice bright and bubbly. “I'm excited to be here!” Ethan followed, a slow grin spreading across his handsome face. “I’m Ethan, pleasure to be here,” he said, his gaze sweeping over the kitchen, lingering a moment too long on me.

I tried to ignore him, focusing on the mountain of orders piling up. But Ethan was like a persistent mosquito, buzzing around my station. “Need any help with those onions, chef?” he'd offer, his voice a low rumble, his eyes tracing the curve of my forearm as I chopped. Or, “Those knives could use a sharpening,” he'd say, leaning in a little too close, his breath warm on my neck.

Vina, my savior, seemed to notice my discomfort. “Ethan,” she'd say, her voice firm, “I think I've got this one. Why don't you see if Chef Damien needs a hand with the sauces?” He'd retreat, a flicker of annoyance in his eyes, but Vina would stay close, her gaze sharp and warning. I was eternally grateful for her silent support.

Later, during a brief lull in the service, I couldn't help but notice Chloe's intense focus on Vina. She'd hover near Vina's station, offering unnecessary assistance, her smiles a little too wide, her touches a little too lingering. “Such beautiful hands, Chef Vina,” she'd purr, her voice laced with a subtle insinuation.

Vina, to her credit, maintained her composure. “Thank you, Chloe,” she'd reply, her tone polite but firm. “But I need to focus on these orders.” She subtly shifted away, a flicker of annoyance in her eyes. I could practically feel the simmering anger radiating from her.

As the day finally drew to a close, I felt a sense of unease settling over me. The arrival of Chloe and Ethan had shattered the comfortable rhythm of our kitchen. It was more than just the extra bodies; it was the unsettling undercurrents, the unspoken tension that hung heavy in the air. I wondered what the next day would bring, and whether I'd be able to navigate the shifting dynamics without losing my sanity.

That night, as I lay in bed, I couldn't stop thinking about Vina. I imagined her face, her eyes, the way she looked at me. I replayed our kiss, the feel of her lips against mine. I knew I was falling for her, falling hard. But with Chloe and Ethan now in the picture, I was starting to worry. What if Chloe was a serious threat? What if Vina was starting to have second thoughts?

I tossed and turned, unable to sleep. I knew I needed to talk to Vina, to express my feelings, to see where we stood. But I was afraid. Afraid of rejection, afraid of ruining the fragile connection we had built.

The next morning, I arrived at Flavium early, hoping to find Vina alone. But Chloe was already there, her smile a little too wide as she greeted Vina.

“Good morning, Chef Vina,” she said, her voice a little too sweet. “You look… radiant today.”

Vina forced a smile. “Thank you, Chloe. How are you feeling?”

“I'm fine,” Chloe replied, her eyes lingering on Vina's lips. “A little nervous about my first day, but I'm excited to learn from the best.”

I felt a pang of jealousy. I wanted to be the one complimenting Vina, the one making her feel special.

As the day progressed, the tension in the kitchen grew. Ethan continued his pursuit of me, while Chloe's attention toward Vina became more and more blatant.

I watched Vina closely, trying to gauge her reaction. She was outwardly calm, but I could see the simmering anger beneath the surface. Her eyes would flash, her jaw would clench, and I knew she was seconds away from losing her temper.

During a particularly busy lunch rush, Ethan bumped into me, which made me drop the spoon I was holding. I was about to taste today’s soup.

“Oh, I'm so sorry, Chef Heidi,” he exclaimed, his eyes wide with concern. “Are you alright?”

He reached out to pick up the spoon, his hand brushing against mine. I flinched, pulling away.

“I'm fine,” I said, my voice sharp. “But perhaps you should be more careful.”

Ethan looked hurt, but he quickly apologized and scurried away.

I turned to see Vina watching me, her face a mask of fury. Her eyes were narrowed, and her knuckles were white as she gripped the edge of the counter.

“Vina,” I whispered, concerned. “Is everything alright?”

She didn't answer, her gaze fixed on Ethan, who was about to go to the soup area, when he bumped into Chloe, who was holding a stack of plates, sending them crashing all to the floor. Chloe let out a startled yelp, and Ethan rushed to help her. It all happened so fast that I was too shocked by what had just happened. Then suddenly, Vina exploded.

“Chef Ethan, watch where you're going!” she yelled, her voice echoing through the kitchen. “This isn’t a playground!”

Ethan looked up, startled. Chloe, however, seemed to find the situation amusing.

“Whoa, someone's a little feisty today,” she teased, her eyes twinkling.

Vina's face turned crimson. “I suggest you focus on your work, Chloe,” she said through gritted teeth. “Before you make another… ‘accident’.”

Chloe's smile faltered. She looked at Vina, then at me, and finally at Ethan, who was looking decidedly uncomfortable.

“I… I apologize, Chef Vina,” Chloe mumbled, her eyes downcast.

Vina turned away, her shoulders shaking with barely suppressed rage. I knew I had to do something.

“Vina,” I said, my voice gentle. “It's okay. It's just an accident.” Vina turned to me, her eyes filled with a mixture of anger and something else… something deeper.

“An accident?” she repeated, her voice low and dangerous. “Or is it something else? I noticed how close you have been with Ethan. Care to lighten me up?” I hesitated, not sure how to respond. The tension in the kitchen was palpable.

“I think you need a break,” I said, gently taking her hand. “Come on, let's get some air.”

Vina looked at me, her eyes searching mine. Then, without a word, she nodded and followed me out of the kitchen. We walked in silence for a few minutes, the noise of the lunch rush fading into the background. Finally, Vina turned to me, her eyes filled with a mixture of anger and vulnerability.

“I’m so sorry for my outburst, Heidi,” she admitted, her voice still a little shaky. “I don't know what came over me. I'm usually not the one to lose my temper.”

I took her hand, my fingers intertwining with hers. “It's okay,” I said softly. “Things did get a bit heated.”

Vina's gaze lingered on me, a flicker of amusement mixed with something deeper. “To be honest, I don’t like the way he looks at you.” Her voice was quiet but firm as she gestured toward the kitchen, where Ethan was still hovering near Chloe.

I blinked, caught off guard. “Who? Ethan?” I whispered, my brows furrowing.

Vina looked away, a faint blush creeping up her neck. “I… I don’t know what came over me.” She exhaled, rubbing the back of her neck. “I just… I don’t like how he’s always around you.”

A slow smile tugged at my lips. “He’s just asking me to supervise his work, that’s all. Nothing’s going on.”

“I know.” She bit her lip. “I’m just… jealous.”

I chuckled. She was cute when she was jealous. I tilted my head, amused. “That’s rich, coming from you.”

Vina raised an eyebrow. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Well, you’re not the only one who’s… jealous.”

Her expression shifted. “Really?”

I hesitated for a beat, then sighed. “I… I don’t like how Chloe was all over you.”

Vina’s lips parted slightly before she let out a breath. “I’m sorry, I’ll try to avoid her,” she said. “But she’s persistent.”

“Maybe you enjoy it,” I teased, a playful glint in my eye.

Vina’s gaze sharpened, her expression unreadable. She took a step closer, the air between us shifting. “If I enjoyed it,” she murmured, her voice lower, “why would I do this?”

Before I could process what she meant, she leaned in and kissed me. A long, slow kiss that sent my heart into a freefall.

The world around us blurred, the distant clatter of the kitchen fading as my senses narrowed to the warmth of her lips, the soft press of her body against mine. By the time we pulled back, my breath was uneven, and she was smiling. Cheeky bastard.

“I don’t like them,” she whispered against my lips. “Especially Ethan.”

I exhaled a laugh, tugging her closer by the waist. “They’re new. Let them off the hook.”

We stood there for a moment, lingering in the quiet space we’d carved for ourselves, our foreheads nearly touching, lips ghosting over each other’s as if the moment itself wasn’t ready to end.

Finally, I sighed, forcing myself to step back. “We should get back.” My voice was still husky, betraying just how much she had me undone. “The lunch rush isn’t over yet.”

Vina grinned, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “You’re right.”

As we walked back to the kitchen, hand in hand, I felt a sense of confidence I hadn't felt in a long time. I knew we could handle anything, as long as we had each other. And as I looked at Vina, her eyes sparkling with amusement and affection, I knew that this was just the beginning of our adventure.