CHEF

Even though the clock was showing an hour past his work schedule, Rio didn't seem to care. He casually got off the bus and walked slowly, the black jacket and the hood he wore on his head made him look so cool. His sharp eyes that seem to hold a million stories are focused on looking ahead. The weather was so cold that many times Rio had to rub his hands together just to get a warm feeling. His steps quickened a little when he saw the brown-painted building that said Rose Caffee. He seemed to be able to breathe a little easier because there were no customers in sight at the caffee table yet. The handsome man immediately walked towards the kitchen. That's right, Rio is not a customer at this restaurant but someone who is struggling behind the scenes. "Oh?" Rio narrowed his eyes slightly when he saw his co-workers looking pensive and as if they had something on their mind. "What is wrong?" he asked as he put his bag in the corner of the dressing room. Hearing the warning, everyone who was there immediately looked up. "Hey!! What kind of Sous Chef is coming at this hour?” reprimanded one who was wearing a white chef's shirt as it should be. Rio just shrugged his shoulders and immediately prepared to change his clothes with the clothes he hung in the cupboard. "No customers have come yet I guess that's okay..." he said lightly. "The boss was here, he said tomorrow our new executive Chef will come..." "Is it true? That is good…." The man named Alvin was seen standing and then approached Rio. “Doesn't that mean you'll soon be back to being a sous chef? Your position of replacing Chef will end soon..." he said giving a slightly seductive tone. "As long as I'm still being paid I don't care..." Rio said nonchalantly. This made Alvin a little annoyed because Rio was never provoked by all his jokes. "Hey! But I'm curious about our new Chef, it would be better if he's a nice person….” Dea snorted. "That's right… I'm also very curious, but whoever it is, I hope he has magic recipes that can bring this place to the success it used to be..." added Alvin. This time Rio agreed with what Alvin said. The chef who just came out was indeed a little troublesome. In addition to the difficult rules, the menu he gives is sometimes confusing. So that in the kitchen no one can understand him. Rio felt the impact the most, because he was a sous Chef who doubled as assistant, complaints were always made to him. The salary he received was cut a lot. This man who always looked cool had to be absent for several months to pay his rent. And this time he really hoped that a miracle would happen. He had a lot to do with money matters. Rio's daydream immediately stopped when he finished buttoning his uniform, he immediately invited the others to immediately do their work. Several visitors were already seen attending. As Chef's replacement for a while, Rio worked hard to give his best, especially if he could stay in this position, of course a lot of profit would come to him.   *** The puff of smoke and heat seemed to be felt in the kitchen, everyone was busy doing their respective tasks. Alvin is still busy processing all the fish because today's menu is fish special. Rio has to repeatedly make sure all dishes are served perfectly so that customers are satisfied. The sound of the kitchen utensils clanging against each other also made the atmosphere even more noisy. Today, quite a lot of customers came because the menu provided matched the cold air that was being felt outside. Until it was time for a break, the customers had started to leave. The lunch cover board has also been installed in front. “Fiuuuuuuh…… Tired….” Alvin threw himself on the chair and relaxed. Sweat was dripping down his face. The others were no less tired, like they had worked for years without rest. "I don't even have the energy to find food..." said Dea. The others followed Alvin to unwind in the chair. Maybe it's not that tired compared to the restaurant situation a while ago, and they were quite happy with the number of customers who attended. Unlike Rio, he is still strong enough not to complain. And maybe he's the only person there who never complains about any situation. “I'm going out to buy lunch for a bit….” “Ahhh that's good, hurry up I'm already hungry…!” Alvin immediately agreed. Rio just smiled and walked back. Even though everyone was tired, there were still some dirty dishes on the table, it was Sivia's job to pack them up. He just didn't want dirty utensils to interfere with the view inside the table. Compared to the others, his job was easier. Only an assistant assistant whose job is only to prepare materials, prepare equipment and wash dirty equipment. Triing… "Oh?" Sivia looked surprised because the restaurant door suddenly opened. This made him immediately turn his head to see who was coming. Sylvia's small eyes looked from bottom to top. There was someone who had just entered standing in front of the door while looking into the restaurant. The girl was wearing white shoes and black pants, her body was wrapped in a white t-shirt that was still wearing a black jacket. The hood of the jacket is also attached to his head. When Sivia's eyes looked up, she was quite amazed, this woman in front of her seemed to be a student. His face was pure white and baby face, Sivia swore, Alvin always said he was the cutest but this time he saw someone who was cuter and cuter than him. The girl looks still with her style looking around the restaurant. "Sorry, we are taking a lunch break, we don't receive visitors until two o'clock..." said Sivia politely. But it seems that the words were ignored by him. The young man casually walked in, still looking around. Then he chose one of the seats and reached for the menu book. Shiva soon followed. “Once again I'm sorry, but we're taking a break…” “This is all there is on the menu…?” he asked without looking at Sivia, from his voice the boy looked very arrogant. And he didn't pay any attention to Sivia's question at all. Alvin, Dea and the others who saw it looked surprised. Alvin immediately got up and approached. "What is this? Sivia why did you let her in? We're on a lunch break…” “He forced his way in, he didn't hear my words…” Sivia whispered. Alvin took a deep breath then turned to look at the young man with a slightly forced smile. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be rude or anything but we were having a lunch break, and the Chef was out too..." “Doesn't this place consider servants to be kings…?” "Sorry?" Alvin was surprised. "Then I will give a bad rating about the service of this restaurant because of the lunch break problem..." The girl looked at Alvin seriously, her clear little eyes made Alvin amazed for a moment. He had never met a customer like this. Seeing Alvin still stunned, Dea and the others started to get angry, this could make their rest time wasted. "Brother.." Dea spoke up. “Once again we apologize, but…” "Never mind..." Alvin intervened, this made the young man look back at Alvin. “What do you want, we will serve you wholeheartedly….” He finally said. "But..." Alvin shook his head indicating Dea not to answer anymore. "I want to order a special meal today, I want it to be served quickly because I don't like to wait, and drink it...just water..." he said while putting down the menu book. "Okay..we will prepare..." Alvin and the others immediately went to the kitchen to serve the menu once again. This is accompanied by complaints from others, this should indeed be a break but must be disturbed by the arrival of annoying customers. Alvin and Dea quickly collaborated, actually Rio was the most reliable, but considering he was out earlier. Even the fish with good quality had run out, Dea was forced to use makeshift fish. "Don't be gloomy, put on a cheerful face, after all he's our customer..." Alvin scolded Dea. "Done, immediately serve it to him..." The smell of the finished food really made their stomachs even more hungry. If it wasn't for the rules, they might have eaten using the ingredients in the kitchen there. "Enjoy .." Dea said trying to be as friendly as possible. He just hoped that this customer would quickly eat and leave here. He was really bored. "Wait a minute…." The words could not help but stop his steps and return to face the customer. The girl observed the food that had just been served by Dea. Like a professional Chef, he really looked at her with observance. He even used a knife to cut the food and looked inside. “This fish is still undercooked, you can give your customers raw food…” "What…??" "I want this food to be repaired, I won't eat it until it's repaired..." Dea sighed in annoyance. “But the typical menu here is like this customer, you will feel something different after eating it…” "Yes and after that I will go to the hospital ..." he said lightly. "I'm already hungry, quickly fix this food ..." he said again. With a little grumble Dea took the plate and brought it back to the kitchen. Apparently there are still obstacles for him to rest soon. "Why did you bring it again?" said Alvin. Dea put the plate down roughly. “The customer said that if the fish wasn't cooked, he asked to fix it again….” he said. "What….?? Not even a minute…” Alvin shook his head. "Never mind expelling customers like that, it's just a hassle..." said Ray annoyed. The others also seem to agree. Alvin shook his head quickly. "No, he's a guest, we have to serve him well..." Patiently Alvin immediately adjusted his apron back and cooked. He thought he had cooked it properly, Rio also did the same but didn't get any complaints from the customers. Ahh this is indeed proof that all customers have their own tastes. The aroma has smelled very good, when tasted the food also feels delicious. Alvin smiled, this time it would work. "It's done, you deliver it back to the customer huh..." "I don't want to..." Dea refused. “I don't want to see such arrogant humans again…” Alvin smiled. "Okay, I'll take it..." he relented. Everyone just shook their heads at Alvin's patience. Besides being kind, Alvin has everything, a handsome face, maybe second only to Rio, and he works here maybe just spending his free time. According to rumors circulating he is the son of a rich man. But how rich and handsome Alvin is every time he is near Rio he will lose. Rio would be perfect if he was rich like Alvin. "Sorry for the long wait..." Alvin said friendly, he served his food well. “The level of maturity is to your liking…” Once again the girl watched him, while Alvin continued to explain. “This meal is a special meal for the day so we try our best to make the customer satisfied, then….” “This sauce has a bad color, and from the smell it has no taste at all…” "Sorry…?" Alvin looked surprised. "But you haven't tasted it yet, how come you..." "This is tasteless, I can assure you, I asked for a perfect dish, and this dish is nowhere near perfect, once again please serve this perfectly!" she asserted as she took her phone again and turned up the volume of the music flowing through her headset. Alvin took a deep breath, there was something attractive about this woman that made him want to do it or not. Her sweet face that looked like a child reminded her of someone. “Alright…this food will be fixed soon…” The handsome-looking man immediately took back his plate to take to the kitchen. At least with this he can hone his cooking skills. "Why? He doesn't like it anymore…?” Dea and the others have already put on a furious look. "Just throw it away!!!" said Ray. "That's right, Vin, you're too patient, we'd better get rid of it, it's our time to rest, why do we have to bother serving annoying customers like that huh??" added Dea angrily. "Be patient, there's no harm in obeying him..." "Why are you cooking? We're taking a break…” Rio appeared from the back door carrying a plastic wrap. Shiva immediately approached. “There was a customer who came and insisted, it was cooked but he said the food was not cooked and so on…” “He's a crazy customer!! Just throw it away!!” Dea is still angry. "It's really nice to have customers like that, it looks like you cooked it right, it's even very similar to what I made..." Rio then took a spoon and tasted it a little. “And it tastes good too…” Hearing that Dea and the others grew furious. "Really looking for trouble with that person, never mind, let him eat this food, who does he think he is..???" he said annoyed, he then took the plate containing the food and brought it. "Hey!! Dea Amanda! Don't make trouble!” Alvin shouted, but Dea didn't care about it at all. “Gosh, this is terrible! Come on!!” "You guys go first, I'll change first!" Rio said while running towards the changing room. Seeing the innocent face of the young man made Dea even more furious. "Sorry Sis..." he said as he put the plate down. “We do not accept food repairs, please enjoy this food because there is nothing wrong with what we have served…” “Hmm…?” The girl raised her head and looked at Dea, she then put her hand in her jacket pocket casually. “Should I eat something that might kill me…? Haven't you guys been taught to respect customers…” "Sorry Sis, we always know how to make customers feel comfortable, but we've never had customers who are as demanding as you..." Alvin and the others immediately came, they looked panicked if there would be a commotion. If it comes down to it, it's certain that they will all be in trouble. "Dea, stop it..." Stop Alvin while pulling Dea's arm. "Forgive us miss..." "Shut up Vin!! A customer like this should be taught a lesson so that he is not arbitrary, who does she think she is..?” The girl seemed interested in what was going on, as evidenced by her leaning back on the chair while crossing her arms watching them. "Good grief Dea Amanda ..." Alvin looked confused. "Once again, I'm sorry miss, we will replace this food soon according to what you want ..." "Alvin!" Dea doesn't look happy. "Never mind, why did you replace it again, he only made a loss...!" "Aaah..what's this why is everyone gathered here.???" Hearing the sound of the reprimand, everyone immediately looked up, from the entrance a man who was not too tall and wore a neat suit entered. The man seemed to be in a hurry, immediately approached them. "Mr. Stefan" all greeted in unison. "What brings you here?? Is Boss here too…” “Ahhh that….” The man called Stevan immediately wiped his face with the tissue he brought. "Ohh..." His eyes widened when he saw someone sitting there. Precisely at the annoying woman who had made the atmosphere hot just a moment ago. "Young lady you are here..." he said as he approached the girl, she seemed expressionless when she saw Stevan. Unlike the others, the expression on her face that was angry before now turned into confusion, it seemed that Stevan knew this young girl. "So you guys met? Thank goodness it seems I don't have to reintroduce you guys…” said Stefan breathed a sigh of relief. Alvin and Dea looked at each other not understanding. Likewise with the others. "What do you mean sir?" "Ahh apparently don't know..." Stefan was disappointed. “Young lady should I introduce now…?” Stefan asked the girl politely. What made everyone surprised was that the young man looked much younger than Stevan, but it seemed that Stevan really respected him. "She is young Miss Ify Zevana, the nephew of Mr. Gevino, she has just finished her studies abroad, and she will replace Chef Dicky to work here until the appointed time..." One second…two seconds…three seconds still no reaction. The next second. "WHAT????" Everyone was shocked and immediately looked at the young man in shock. At that time, Rio just emerged from the kitchen and was a little surprised to see the commotion going on there. “So even though he's still young he's an amazing Chef, Hey!!! Rio Aditya Stefano! what are you doing there? Hurry up and say hello to your new Chef!” cried Stefan. Rio who still didn't understand immediately realized and immediately rushed over to them. “Oh good afternoon…” “Young lady….she is Rio Aditya Stevano who temporarily replaces the Chef position, Rio greets him, Miss Ify Zevana…” "Oh of course I just did, What??" Rio who was initially happy suddenly showed a surprised face. "If..." Unable to contain his surprise, Rio immediately looked at their new Chef, the Chef who was holding hands and also looking at him. Their gazes collided, small and clear eyes that were glaring sharply at him..Rio suddenly felt his heart beating so fast. His tongue froze without being able to say anything. The gaze completely rendered him immobile. “Alright young lady…because we know each other, everything in this restaurant is under your control, good job…” Not a sound was heard from everyone standing there. Maybe just the sound of running water from the wash basin. No one wanted to speak up or start a conversation.   ****