Writer's note: I'm finally on Winter break! Hoping the ideas would flow this holiday so I could get more writing done. Anyway, I realised that previous chapter might be somewhat too descriptive? I will be adding more conversations from now on!
P.S. I've also re-published this story on Wattpad recently.
To read the other chapters, click the links below:
P.S. I've also re-published this story on Wattpad recently.
To read the other chapters, click the links below:
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the pictures
Flambéed Love
~Thoughts~
Lillie gave him an apologetic look and sighed. She knew how much of a trouble Valentine's Day has given him each year, but there's not really anything that can be done. It's not like he could just rudely yelled at these women to just go home.
She made sure no one was listening and whispered, "Must've been tough, Rae."
Her sentence was followed by a bitter smile coming from the chef. He had never wished to be this popular. Sure, it brought him some benefits, but it was a benefit rather trivial if he compared it to the troubles it has given him.
"Speaking of which, has Melanie been here yet? She mentioned she was gonna give a Valentine's Day present to you too." Lillie enquired.
Raeger shook his head and replied, "Nah, I haven't seen her all day. Do you want to check up on her?"
"Don't worry.. I'm sure she's just late! We could just.." she was interrupted by yet another customer coming in from the front door and immediately chuckled at the sight. "Speak of the devil!"
"Raegerr, Raegeerrr." Melanie ran cheerfully towards where Lillie was standing. She wanted to go behind the counter to hug Raeger but she knew that he would get mad if anybody stepped into his work area. "I have something special for you!!"
Raeger smiled widely and leaned over the counter towards where she was standing, so he could close distance between them, "What is it, my sweet little girl?"
"Uh oh, don't call me a little girl, Raeger!" Melanie pouted. "I've grown up!"
"Ahaha! Aw, I'm sorry, Melanie. What is it that you have for me?"
"I made these for you!" Melanie grinned as she handed him a pack of chocolate shaped into various animals, wrapped in a clear plastic and decorated with ribbons. "Daddy doesn't allow me to be in the kitchen by myself, so I got him to help me melt these chocolate before I shaped them." She paused, showing a sneaky grin. "But someday I will cook something so amazing for you, Raeger!! When I become your bride... that is."
Obviously her bold statement caused ruckus in the restaurant. The other girls now have one more competitor to be concerned of, well, despite her age.
Raeger laughed cheerfully, she never failed to amuse him. "I'm flattered, Melly. Not too many people are actually willing to cook for me since I'm a chef. But I don't know if your old man will be too happy about that!" Raeger joked.
"What do you mean??" Melanie questioned him innocently. She didn't know that Raeger has.. somewhat a pretty bad reputation when it comes to women, even though it was all just a huge misunderstanding. "Anyway, I saw Minori with a very delicious-looking chocolate cake just now!! She was walking towards Mr. Klaus' place so it's probably for him. I wish it's for me instead!!" Melanie pouted.
'I wish it's for me instead too..' Raeger thought to himself. 'Uh oh, there it goes again. Why do I keep having weird thoughts when it comes to her? Is that really for Klaus? Is she gonna be at his place? What will happen then? Will they...'
"Raeger!! You're not listening again, are you?" Lillie yelled.
Raeger snapped out of his thought. "Oh. I'm really sorry, girls. What was it that you two were talking about?"
Lillie let out a deep sigh, "We were just discussing about how you could perhaps bake a chocolate cake for Melanie too someday."
"Hhm that sounds like a good idea! What about next Wednesday when I'm free? The three of us could catch up like we used to. We haven't done this in a while..." Raeger seconded Lillie's idea.
"Oh yaayy yaaay!! You'll do that, Raeger?" Melanie cheered joufully. "Hey, hey, big sis, you'll join us right? You've been so busy lately.."
"Well.. yeah I suppose I could take a day off from work!" Lillie gave her a wide smile.
"Yay it's a promise then!!" Melanie jumped excitedly. "Then we'll meet back here next Wednesday! I have to go home now to catch my favourite cartoon.. see youuu!"
In a split second, Melanie was already storming off towards the restaurant's entrance and quickly made her way back to the inn where she lives. Raeger has also been very much pre-occupied with the two girls that the other women started to leave the vicinity. The restaurant was now tranquil, with the exception of the two childhood friends.
Lillie cleared her throat, and suddenly began to question Raeger, "Now then, shall we talk about Minori now that no one else is here?"
The surprise statement had Raeger taken aback, making him choke a little bit before he replied, "Uhh.. what do you mean by that?"
"Come on, Rae, stop pretending. It's SO obvious you were really troubled when Melanie told us how she saw Minori walking towards Klaus' place."
"You were just imagining things up, Lil." Raeger avoided eye contact.
"Don't make me force it out of you..."
Raeger grunted. Lillie is such a sweet lady in front of everyone... except himself. He'd seen first hand what she was capable of doing, and he did NOT want to experience it again. "Urgh.. I don't know, Lil. I've been having strange thoughts lately.."
"Strange? And by that you mean..?"
"Like.. I don't know. What is she to me? I thought she's simply one of my best friends, but it felt like something more. Then I thought about her as a younger sister, but it just doesn't quite fit in." Raeger let out a sigh.
"Well.. Minori IS one of your best friends. But apparently you just fell in love with her." Lillie said blatantly.
'I what?' Raeger stayed silent for a moment, and he gave her words some serious considerations: why he was having those 'strange' thoughts, and why he had been seeing her in a different way.. and things started to make sense. She wasn't like any other person he cared for. It was love unlike the bond of two siblings, and a connection deeper than what is shared by two best friends. "You're right, Lil. I guess I do have feelings for her. I can't lie to myself any longer."
Lillie let out a sigh, unable to comprehend how such a dense man like him could be so popular with the ladies. "When are you going to tell her?" Lillie questioned him further.
"When the time is right. Or when I see a good opportunity. But... I wanna let her know soon."
Lillie smiled sincerely. She was happy that Raeger had finally found someone he could truly care for. Yes, he's had girlfriends in the past; but all of them were the ones who confessed their feelings first to Raeger.
She got up from her seat, dusted her dress and grinned towards him. "Well, I'll be cheering you up from behind the scene! I have to get back to work now, but feel free to talk to me anytime I'm back okay?"
"Thanks, Lil. I really appreciate it." Raeger smiled sweetly towards her. "Your next three meals will be on the house," he offered.
"Just three?" Lillie shot up a look before walking towards the main entrance.
"Don't push your luck, sweetheart." Raeger smirked.
"There we go again, Rae! You're such a smooth talker, it's no wonder so many ladies are attracted to you. " Lillie protested. "You can't do that anymore if you're serious about Minori."
Raeger sighed, "Yess yessss. I'm sorry, Lil. It's just old habit because we grew up together. Now.. don't you have some work to do?"
"I'm fully aware of that!" Lillie quickly rushed her way out. "Good luck, Mr. Ladies Man. I'll be waiting for good news!"
"Heh, you know I'm a hard-worker, Lillie." Raeger grinned while waving Lillie good bye; with no clue whatsoever of the next customer coming in.
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Flambéed Love
~Thoughts~
Raeger stood behind his kitchen counter, feeling overwhelmed. 'It had to happen every year!' Piles of decorated boxes were already stacked up in front of him just minutes after he started business, and he knew that he should be expecting even more to come. His restaurant was filled with giggles all day long, and barely anyone who visited actually came to order his dishes; with the exception of the local residents. Ah.. yes. It was Valentine's Days.
Raeger tried to contain his exhaustion from speaking to the girls all day long. He'd much prefer some quietness today, but he thought that it would be rude to just shoo the girls away. He didn't have enough sleep last night after all, not after coming back from Minori's place at dawn... not that he minds.
...
"Raeger~" a mature-looking woman who is a regular 'customer' of Raeger walked into his restaurant and greeted him loudly. She strut towards the bar and sighed heavily as she sat on one of the stools that, fortunately for her, had just recently became unoccupied. "Geez.. this town is SO boring! But I came here today just for you..." she smiled seductively, and touched Raeger's arm while continuously blinking her eyes; obviously flirting with him. "Here, I got this limited edition chocolate gateau for you." she claimed proudly.
'A boring town?! She could've at least be nicer to me about it!' Raeger was obviously disturbed by her statement. He spent most of his life growing up in Oak Tree Town, after all.
The young chef took a deep breath and held it in for awhile before he made his reply, "Thank you, Yolanda, I appreciate the thought. Though, I must disagree. I think Oak Tree Town is an amazing, lively town if you pay attention more carefully."
Yolanda, immediately realising his frustration, quickly made up an excuse, "Ahaha..!" She laughed awkwardly. "Oh Raeger, you silly, I was obviously jokiiing~! You know I'd never say that right?" She squeezed Raeger's arm this time and orchestrated her puppy eyes.
Too exhausted to argue further anyway, Raeger shook it off and faked a smile. 'Can it please be over soon?'
Suddenly, the entrance door swung open once again and yet another woman's voice echoed through the facility, "Hey, Rae!"
'OH GOD. Another one?!' Raeger cursed silently and took another deep breath while closing his eyes to prepare him for what could perhaps be something troubling again.
"Raeger.. RAEGER!!" The same voice was heard again, but this time, followed by a smack on his left arm.
"Ouch!" Raeger reacted predictably. 'Who in the world?? No woman I knew would ever do such a non-ladylike act in front of me.'
Raeger tilted his head to see who the perpetrator was, only to find out that a pair of big crystal blue eyes was already staring into him. "Lillie!! It's just you."
"What do YOU mean it's just me?!" Lillie erupted frustratingly. "And to think I actually rushed here from work to get you a Valentine's Day present. Hmph!" She groaned as she shoved him a box of chocolate truffles.
Raeger laughed nervously and apologised to his childhood friend, "Haha sorry, Lil. I don't mean it that way. It's been a long day.. Thank you very much anyway!"
Raeger tried to contain his exhaustion from speaking to the girls all day long. He'd much prefer some quietness today, but he thought that it would be rude to just shoo the girls away. He didn't have enough sleep last night after all, not after coming back from Minori's place at dawn... not that he minds.
...
"Raeger~" a mature-looking woman who is a regular 'customer' of Raeger walked into his restaurant and greeted him loudly. She strut towards the bar and sighed heavily as she sat on one of the stools that, fortunately for her, had just recently became unoccupied. "Geez.. this town is SO boring! But I came here today just for you..." she smiled seductively, and touched Raeger's arm while continuously blinking her eyes; obviously flirting with him. "Here, I got this limited edition chocolate gateau for you." she claimed proudly.
'A boring town?! She could've at least be nicer to me about it!' Raeger was obviously disturbed by her statement. He spent most of his life growing up in Oak Tree Town, after all.
The young chef took a deep breath and held it in for awhile before he made his reply, "Thank you, Yolanda, I appreciate the thought. Though, I must disagree. I think Oak Tree Town is an amazing, lively town if you pay attention more carefully."
Yolanda, immediately realising his frustration, quickly made up an excuse, "Ahaha..!" She laughed awkwardly. "Oh Raeger, you silly, I was obviously jokiiing~! You know I'd never say that right?" She squeezed Raeger's arm this time and orchestrated her puppy eyes.
Too exhausted to argue further anyway, Raeger shook it off and faked a smile. 'Can it please be over soon?'
Suddenly, the entrance door swung open once again and yet another woman's voice echoed through the facility, "Hey, Rae!"
'OH GOD. Another one?!' Raeger cursed silently and took another deep breath while closing his eyes to prepare him for what could perhaps be something troubling again.
"Raeger.. RAEGER!!" The same voice was heard again, but this time, followed by a smack on his left arm.
"Ouch!" Raeger reacted predictably. 'Who in the world?? No woman I knew would ever do such a non-ladylike act in front of me.'
Raeger tilted his head to see who the perpetrator was, only to find out that a pair of big crystal blue eyes was already staring into him. "Lillie!! It's just you."
"What do YOU mean it's just me?!" Lillie erupted frustratingly. "And to think I actually rushed here from work to get you a Valentine's Day present. Hmph!" She groaned as she shoved him a box of chocolate truffles.
Raeger laughed nervously and apologised to his childhood friend, "Haha sorry, Lil. I don't mean it that way. It's been a long day.. Thank you very much anyway!"
Lillie gave him an apologetic look and sighed. She knew how much of a trouble Valentine's Day has given him each year, but there's not really anything that can be done. It's not like he could just rudely yelled at these women to just go home.
She made sure no one was listening and whispered, "Must've been tough, Rae."
Her sentence was followed by a bitter smile coming from the chef. He had never wished to be this popular. Sure, it brought him some benefits, but it was a benefit rather trivial if he compared it to the troubles it has given him.
"Speaking of which, has Melanie been here yet? She mentioned she was gonna give a Valentine's Day present to you too." Lillie enquired.
Raeger shook his head and replied, "Nah, I haven't seen her all day. Do you want to check up on her?"
"Don't worry.. I'm sure she's just late! We could just.." she was interrupted by yet another customer coming in from the front door and immediately chuckled at the sight. "Speak of the devil!"
"Raegerr, Raegeerrr." Melanie ran cheerfully towards where Lillie was standing. She wanted to go behind the counter to hug Raeger but she knew that he would get mad if anybody stepped into his work area. "I have something special for you!!"
Raeger smiled widely and leaned over the counter towards where she was standing, so he could close distance between them, "What is it, my sweet little girl?"
"Uh oh, don't call me a little girl, Raeger!" Melanie pouted. "I've grown up!"
"Ahaha! Aw, I'm sorry, Melanie. What is it that you have for me?"
"I made these for you!" Melanie grinned as she handed him a pack of chocolate shaped into various animals, wrapped in a clear plastic and decorated with ribbons. "Daddy doesn't allow me to be in the kitchen by myself, so I got him to help me melt these chocolate before I shaped them." She paused, showing a sneaky grin. "But someday I will cook something so amazing for you, Raeger!! When I become your bride... that is."
Obviously her bold statement caused ruckus in the restaurant. The other girls now have one more competitor to be concerned of, well, despite her age.
Raeger laughed cheerfully, she never failed to amuse him. "I'm flattered, Melly. Not too many people are actually willing to cook for me since I'm a chef. But I don't know if your old man will be too happy about that!" Raeger joked.
"What do you mean??" Melanie questioned him innocently. She didn't know that Raeger has.. somewhat a pretty bad reputation when it comes to women, even though it was all just a huge misunderstanding. "Anyway, I saw Minori with a very delicious-looking chocolate cake just now!! She was walking towards Mr. Klaus' place so it's probably for him. I wish it's for me instead!!" Melanie pouted.
'I wish it's for me instead too..' Raeger thought to himself. 'Uh oh, there it goes again. Why do I keep having weird thoughts when it comes to her? Is that really for Klaus? Is she gonna be at his place? What will happen then? Will they...'
"Raeger!! You're not listening again, are you?" Lillie yelled.
Raeger snapped out of his thought. "Oh. I'm really sorry, girls. What was it that you two were talking about?"
Lillie let out a deep sigh, "We were just discussing about how you could perhaps bake a chocolate cake for Melanie too someday."
"Hhm that sounds like a good idea! What about next Wednesday when I'm free? The three of us could catch up like we used to. We haven't done this in a while..." Raeger seconded Lillie's idea.
"Oh yaayy yaaay!! You'll do that, Raeger?" Melanie cheered joufully. "Hey, hey, big sis, you'll join us right? You've been so busy lately.."
"Well.. yeah I suppose I could take a day off from work!" Lillie gave her a wide smile.
"Yay it's a promise then!!" Melanie jumped excitedly. "Then we'll meet back here next Wednesday! I have to go home now to catch my favourite cartoon.. see youuu!"
In a split second, Melanie was already storming off towards the restaurant's entrance and quickly made her way back to the inn where she lives. Raeger has also been very much pre-occupied with the two girls that the other women started to leave the vicinity. The restaurant was now tranquil, with the exception of the two childhood friends.
Lillie cleared her throat, and suddenly began to question Raeger, "Now then, shall we talk about Minori now that no one else is here?"
The surprise statement had Raeger taken aback, making him choke a little bit before he replied, "Uhh.. what do you mean by that?"
"Come on, Rae, stop pretending. It's SO obvious you were really troubled when Melanie told us how she saw Minori walking towards Klaus' place."
"You were just imagining things up, Lil." Raeger avoided eye contact.
"Don't make me force it out of you..."
Raeger grunted. Lillie is such a sweet lady in front of everyone... except himself. He'd seen first hand what she was capable of doing, and he did NOT want to experience it again. "Urgh.. I don't know, Lil. I've been having strange thoughts lately.."
"Strange? And by that you mean..?"
"Like.. I don't know. What is she to me? I thought she's simply one of my best friends, but it felt like something more. Then I thought about her as a younger sister, but it just doesn't quite fit in." Raeger let out a sigh.
"Well.. Minori IS one of your best friends. But apparently you just fell in love with her." Lillie said blatantly.
'I what?' Raeger stayed silent for a moment, and he gave her words some serious considerations: why he was having those 'strange' thoughts, and why he had been seeing her in a different way.. and things started to make sense. She wasn't like any other person he cared for. It was love unlike the bond of two siblings, and a connection deeper than what is shared by two best friends. "You're right, Lil. I guess I do have feelings for her. I can't lie to myself any longer."
Lillie let out a sigh, unable to comprehend how such a dense man like him could be so popular with the ladies. "When are you going to tell her?" Lillie questioned him further.
"When the time is right. Or when I see a good opportunity. But... I wanna let her know soon."
Lillie smiled sincerely. She was happy that Raeger had finally found someone he could truly care for. Yes, he's had girlfriends in the past; but all of them were the ones who confessed their feelings first to Raeger.
She got up from her seat, dusted her dress and grinned towards him. "Well, I'll be cheering you up from behind the scene! I have to get back to work now, but feel free to talk to me anytime I'm back okay?"
"Thanks, Lil. I really appreciate it." Raeger smiled sweetly towards her. "Your next three meals will be on the house," he offered.
"Just three?" Lillie shot up a look before walking towards the main entrance.
"Don't push your luck, sweetheart." Raeger smirked.
"There we go again, Rae! You're such a smooth talker, it's no wonder so many ladies are attracted to you. " Lillie protested. "You can't do that anymore if you're serious about Minori."
Raeger sighed, "Yess yessss. I'm sorry, Lil. It's just old habit because we grew up together. Now.. don't you have some work to do?"
"I'm fully aware of that!" Lillie quickly rushed her way out. "Good luck, Mr. Ladies Man. I'll be waiting for good news!"
"Heh, you know I'm a hard-worker, Lillie." Raeger grinned while waving Lillie good bye; with no clue whatsoever of the next customer coming in.
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