Writer's note: My short winter break has ended since three weeks ago.. and that means more sets of work are coming.. and that means I would have less time to write! :( Don't get me wrong, I love what I'm studying but I also equally love writing. Anyway, I'll try to write more regularly when I can, and I hope more inspirations would come! A new character will be a part of the main story in this chapter, and I'm sure you'll quickly guess who :-)
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Disclaimer: I do not own any of the pictures
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Flambéed Love
~Wölfe~
Despite coming into the restaurant at the same time today, Klaus and Giorgio did not sit together at the same table; in fact they never did. While the two gentlemen are fairly acquainted (only because of their mutual friend Marian), they prefer to have their meals alone. Being a busy perfumer and farmer respectively, they truly value the time they get to unwind.
However, being the observant gentleman that he is, Klaus immediately noticed Raeger's sudden uneasiness when he stepped into the restaurant with Giorgio. More importantly, he noticed how Minori was desperately trying to hide her face from everyone present in the vicinity, with her posture slumped. Concerned, Klaus approached Minori's side instead of his usual table and took a seat beside her. He took off his coat to allow easier movement, and simultaneously patted Minori's back gently as he finally settled down.
"Is something troubling you, Minori?" Klaus spoke quietly, to prevent anyone else from listening.
Minori tilted her head towards his direction slowly, and bit her bottom lip lightly. Her heart was still pounding quickly, her cheeks rosy. She needed someone she trusts to confide in, and the right person was now just in front of her. She wanted to tell Klaus everything. But she didn't know where to start, nor could she find the right words to describe her feelings.
"Uhm.. I, uh.. it was.. uhm.."
She continued to stutter, and thus drawing an unsettling sigh from Klaus. He leaned his arm against the counter, and bent his back slightly down to look at Minori in the eye.
"I apologise for prying into your business, Minori, but does it perhaps has something to do with Raeger?" Klaus questioned politely.
Minori flinched for a second, terrified of the accuracy that Klaus has when it comes to reading her mind. But to her, this was perfect - because it saves her the trouble of having to start the discussion awkwardly. She took a deep breath, and slowly nodded her head.
"Yeah.. well, we were kinda in the middle of something before you and Giorgio came.." Minori explained sheepishly and she suddenly halted. "But I'm not blaming you in any way, Klaus!!" She quickly waved her hands in disagreement as soon as she realised how her words could have been misinterpreted.
Klaus chuckled lightly, "Of course, Minori. I know you'd never do that!"
He paused, and looked at her gently, "You like him, don't you, Minori?"
"Yeah.." Minori replied shyly. "I was so sure that he wouldn't feel the same way, but recently.. I've, um, started to be hopeful."
Klaus raised an eyebrow subtly. "Could you elaborate on that, Minori?"
"Well.. it could've just been my imagination, but.. I feel like he's been more conscious around me lately... He's always been sweet and caring towards me too, but it somehow feels.. different now - in a good way." Minori recalled recollections of the time she spent with Raeger. "He was about to say something to me.. but he didn't manage to complete his sentence."
"I know that you are going to object this, but I can't help feeling guilty for interrupting your conversation. My humblest apology, Minori." Klaus frowned.
The young farmer chuckled in amusement, yet admiration for Klaus' gentlemanly nature. "You didn't do anything wrong, Klaus. The timing was just bad.. that's all."
Klaus remained silent for a moment, before he enquired Minori further, lowering his tone of voice, "You do know how his reputation is like, right? Do you still wish... to be with him?"
She looked at him in disbelief. "What?! There are a lot of rumours in town, and yes, I've heard not-so-pleasant things about him, but none of them is true!" Minori raised her voice unknowingly.
"I'm sorry, Minori." Klaus quickly apologised before Minori could continue any further. "I was.. somewhat testing you. I just wanted to make sure that you are fully aware of the situation and certain of what you truly desire. I never want to see you get hurt." Klaus carefully explained. "It was never in my intention to offend you, or Raeger."
Minori softened her expression. She had misunderstood Klaus' intention and it made her feel embarrassed, if not ashamed. "Ah! I'm sorry for raising my voice towards you, Klaus! I should've known better!"
Klaus shook his head. "Not at all, Minori. I would have reacted the same way if anyone were to insult or accuse a loved one of mine." He then changed his facial expression, into something less stern and more tender. He gave her a gentle smile, and squeezed her shoulder lightly. "Don't worry about it, Minori. I'm sure he will continue what he wants to say as soon as he gets the chance. Or.. would you like my assistance, M'lady?" Klaus smirked unexpectedly.
"Eh? What do you mean by that, Klaus?" Minori shot him a look of surprise.
"Hhhmm?" Klaus smiled slyly, and swiftly wrapped his arm around her shoulder. "I told you, Minori.. I feel guilty for interrupting. Let me make it up to you two."
"Wh..what? And what do you intend to.."
Her sentence was cut the moment she heard footsteps coming from the direction of the restaurant's kitchen, and saw Raeger walking out while holding two plates of meal that he had just cooked. He immediately noticed Klaus' proximity and had a look of disbelief when he particularly saw Klaus' grip around Minori's shoulder. 'He's just like a brother to her.. he's just like a brother to her..' Raeger repeated himself over and over.
He held his urges back, and inched closer towards the counter to serve Klaus his meal, "One bouillabaisse", before he proceeded towards Giorgio's table to present him his penne all'Arrabbiata. As Raeger was walking on his way back into the kitchen to clean up, he noticed a back-view of Klaus pulling Minori closer towards him. He halted almost immediately, and squinted his eyes in suspicion.
Klaus looked into her eyes and motioned her to look back into his. Minori gave him a look of confusion, but Klaus carried on and gave her a sweet and gentle smile. He took Minori's palm with his right hand and bent his head slightly down to place a tender kiss. At this moment, Raeger was already gritting his teeth inside his closed mouth, but he remained composed for there was nothing major as of yet that he could suspend; until Klaus declared something that Raeger would never have expected.
"Minori, would you stay with me?" Klaus pleaded, still holding her hand.
"Wh..wha..what are you saying now, Klaus?" Minori flustered. "Is this what you mean when you said.."
"I mean it, Minori." Klaus interrupted her words. "I've been acting like a brother to you, but truthfully, I need you in my life." He gazed at Minori lovingly, and let go of his right hand that was gripping Minori's palm. He raised his hand towards her chin, and brought it downwards very gently so that her lips was now slightly apart. Klaus slowly inched closer, and before long he would've closed the gap between them.
"H-HEY!!"
Klaus and Minori looked back at the same time to see the bearer of the sound. What they found was Raeger staring in shock, while clenching his fists at his side. He darted towards them, and grabbed Klaus' arm away from Minori, "What do you think you're doing?" Raeger questioned irritably.
Klaus shot him a look of innocence combined with a little bit of annoyance, "What do you mean by what I think I'm doing? I'm having a very important conversation with Minori. Is there anything wrong with that?"
"You're bothering her." Raeger made up an excuse.
"I am not. I am simply being honest about my own feeling towards Minori." Klaus denied. "I don't think there's anything inappropriate about that. You seem to mind, though, Raeger.. You're not dating Minori, are you?" Klaus gave him a sharp look and raised an eyebrow.
"W..well, no.."
"Oh, so do you like her?"
"Th..that's..!" Raeger stammered involuntarily.
"No?" Klaus interpreted conveniently. "In that case, there is no reason for you to mind my actions. I apologise for my impudence, but will you please give us some privacy? Now if you'll excuse us.."
"No! Stop!" Raeger protested. He looked at Klaus sternly, and uttered a few words, "I'm sorry, Klaus. But you can't have her."
He turned his attention towards Minori, who have been staring at the two gentlemen and listening to their dispute, feeling flabbergasted all throughout. "Minori, would you come with me somewhere?" Raeger extended his arm to request for Minori's company.
"But your restaurant.." Minori asked concernedly.
"I'll watch it over for you." Klaus immediately offered.
"Huh? Really, Klaus?" Raeger stared in shock. "You.. you're not even mad?"
Klaus gave him the exact same sly smile that he gave Minori earlier, and winked playfully.
"D..don't tell me..?!" Raeger gaped at him in disbelief, and his eyes widened in further shock when he saw that Klaus did not flinch one bit and instead kept smiling in satisfaction. Raeger now fully understood the situation, and how Klaus had been playing the strings all along. He covered his face in embarrassment, and took a long deep breath before he faced Minori once again.
"Shall we go, Minori?" Raeger offered his hand.
Minori nodded slowly, took his hand and finally stood up from her stool. She followed Raeger's lead towards the exit of the restaurant - her hand gripped tightly by the chef, and her heart was once again pounding quickly in anticipation of what's going to happen next. Looking behind one last time before leaving the vicinity, Minori saw Klaus smiling gently towards her.
'Good luck!' Klaus mouthed from afar, as he watched Minori beamed lovingly in return for his gesture, before she finally left.
Flambéed Love
~Wölfe~
Despite coming into the restaurant at the same time today, Klaus and Giorgio did not sit together at the same table; in fact they never did. While the two gentlemen are fairly acquainted (only because of their mutual friend Marian), they prefer to have their meals alone. Being a busy perfumer and farmer respectively, they truly value the time they get to unwind.
"Is something troubling you, Minori?" Klaus spoke quietly, to prevent anyone else from listening.
Minori tilted her head towards his direction slowly, and bit her bottom lip lightly. Her heart was still pounding quickly, her cheeks rosy. She needed someone she trusts to confide in, and the right person was now just in front of her. She wanted to tell Klaus everything. But she didn't know where to start, nor could she find the right words to describe her feelings.
"Uhm.. I, uh.. it was.. uhm.."
She continued to stutter, and thus drawing an unsettling sigh from Klaus. He leaned his arm against the counter, and bent his back slightly down to look at Minori in the eye.
"I apologise for prying into your business, Minori, but does it perhaps has something to do with Raeger?" Klaus questioned politely.
Minori flinched for a second, terrified of the accuracy that Klaus has when it comes to reading her mind. But to her, this was perfect - because it saves her the trouble of having to start the discussion awkwardly. She took a deep breath, and slowly nodded her head.
"Yeah.. well, we were kinda in the middle of something before you and Giorgio came.." Minori explained sheepishly and she suddenly halted. "But I'm not blaming you in any way, Klaus!!" She quickly waved her hands in disagreement as soon as she realised how her words could have been misinterpreted.
Klaus chuckled lightly, "Of course, Minori. I know you'd never do that!"
He paused, and looked at her gently, "You like him, don't you, Minori?"
"Yeah.." Minori replied shyly. "I was so sure that he wouldn't feel the same way, but recently.. I've, um, started to be hopeful."
Klaus raised an eyebrow subtly. "Could you elaborate on that, Minori?"
"Well.. it could've just been my imagination, but.. I feel like he's been more conscious around me lately... He's always been sweet and caring towards me too, but it somehow feels.. different now - in a good way." Minori recalled recollections of the time she spent with Raeger. "He was about to say something to me.. but he didn't manage to complete his sentence."
"I know that you are going to object this, but I can't help feeling guilty for interrupting your conversation. My humblest apology, Minori." Klaus frowned.
The young farmer chuckled in amusement, yet admiration for Klaus' gentlemanly nature. "You didn't do anything wrong, Klaus. The timing was just bad.. that's all."
Klaus remained silent for a moment, before he enquired Minori further, lowering his tone of voice, "You do know how his reputation is like, right? Do you still wish... to be with him?"
She looked at him in disbelief. "What?! There are a lot of rumours in town, and yes, I've heard not-so-pleasant things about him, but none of them is true!" Minori raised her voice unknowingly.
"I'm sorry, Minori." Klaus quickly apologised before Minori could continue any further. "I was.. somewhat testing you. I just wanted to make sure that you are fully aware of the situation and certain of what you truly desire. I never want to see you get hurt." Klaus carefully explained. "It was never in my intention to offend you, or Raeger."
Minori softened her expression. She had misunderstood Klaus' intention and it made her feel embarrassed, if not ashamed. "Ah! I'm sorry for raising my voice towards you, Klaus! I should've known better!"
Klaus shook his head. "Not at all, Minori. I would have reacted the same way if anyone were to insult or accuse a loved one of mine." He then changed his facial expression, into something less stern and more tender. He gave her a gentle smile, and squeezed her shoulder lightly. "Don't worry about it, Minori. I'm sure he will continue what he wants to say as soon as he gets the chance. Or.. would you like my assistance, M'lady?" Klaus smirked unexpectedly.
"Eh? What do you mean by that, Klaus?" Minori shot him a look of surprise.
"Hhhmm?" Klaus smiled slyly, and swiftly wrapped his arm around her shoulder. "I told you, Minori.. I feel guilty for interrupting. Let me make it up to you two."
"Wh..what? And what do you intend to.."
Her sentence was cut the moment she heard footsteps coming from the direction of the restaurant's kitchen, and saw Raeger walking out while holding two plates of meal that he had just cooked. He immediately noticed Klaus' proximity and had a look of disbelief when he particularly saw Klaus' grip around Minori's shoulder. 'He's just like a brother to her.. he's just like a brother to her..' Raeger repeated himself over and over.
He held his urges back, and inched closer towards the counter to serve Klaus his meal, "One bouillabaisse", before he proceeded towards Giorgio's table to present him his penne all'Arrabbiata. As Raeger was walking on his way back into the kitchen to clean up, he noticed a back-view of Klaus pulling Minori closer towards him. He halted almost immediately, and squinted his eyes in suspicion.
Klaus looked into her eyes and motioned her to look back into his. Minori gave him a look of confusion, but Klaus carried on and gave her a sweet and gentle smile. He took Minori's palm with his right hand and bent his head slightly down to place a tender kiss. At this moment, Raeger was already gritting his teeth inside his closed mouth, but he remained composed for there was nothing major as of yet that he could suspend; until Klaus declared something that Raeger would never have expected.
"Minori, would you stay with me?" Klaus pleaded, still holding her hand.
"Wh..wha..what are you saying now, Klaus?" Minori flustered. "Is this what you mean when you said.."
"I mean it, Minori." Klaus interrupted her words. "I've been acting like a brother to you, but truthfully, I need you in my life." He gazed at Minori lovingly, and let go of his right hand that was gripping Minori's palm. He raised his hand towards her chin, and brought it downwards very gently so that her lips was now slightly apart. Klaus slowly inched closer, and before long he would've closed the gap between them.
"H-HEY!!"
Klaus and Minori looked back at the same time to see the bearer of the sound. What they found was Raeger staring in shock, while clenching his fists at his side. He darted towards them, and grabbed Klaus' arm away from Minori, "What do you think you're doing?" Raeger questioned irritably.
Klaus shot him a look of innocence combined with a little bit of annoyance, "What do you mean by what I think I'm doing? I'm having a very important conversation with Minori. Is there anything wrong with that?"
"You're bothering her." Raeger made up an excuse.
"I am not. I am simply being honest about my own feeling towards Minori." Klaus denied. "I don't think there's anything inappropriate about that. You seem to mind, though, Raeger.. You're not dating Minori, are you?" Klaus gave him a sharp look and raised an eyebrow.
"W..well, no.."
"Oh, so do you like her?"
"Th..that's..!" Raeger stammered involuntarily.
"No?" Klaus interpreted conveniently. "In that case, there is no reason for you to mind my actions. I apologise for my impudence, but will you please give us some privacy? Now if you'll excuse us.."
"No! Stop!" Raeger protested. He looked at Klaus sternly, and uttered a few words, "I'm sorry, Klaus. But you can't have her."
He turned his attention towards Minori, who have been staring at the two gentlemen and listening to their dispute, feeling flabbergasted all throughout. "Minori, would you come with me somewhere?" Raeger extended his arm to request for Minori's company.
"But your restaurant.." Minori asked concernedly.
"I'll watch it over for you." Klaus immediately offered.
"Huh? Really, Klaus?" Raeger stared in shock. "You.. you're not even mad?"
Klaus gave him the exact same sly smile that he gave Minori earlier, and winked playfully.
"D..don't tell me..?!" Raeger gaped at him in disbelief, and his eyes widened in further shock when he saw that Klaus did not flinch one bit and instead kept smiling in satisfaction. Raeger now fully understood the situation, and how Klaus had been playing the strings all along. He covered his face in embarrassment, and took a long deep breath before he faced Minori once again.
"Shall we go, Minori?" Raeger offered his hand.
Minori nodded slowly, took his hand and finally stood up from her stool. She followed Raeger's lead towards the exit of the restaurant - her hand gripped tightly by the chef, and her heart was once again pounding quickly in anticipation of what's going to happen next. Looking behind one last time before leaving the vicinity, Minori saw Klaus smiling gently towards her.
'Good luck!' Klaus mouthed from afar, as he watched Minori beamed lovingly in return for his gesture, before she finally left.
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