CHAPTER 7: His Little Game

Napanganga si Aaron nang marinig iyon.

“What did she tell you? Did she confront you?”

“No... We didn’t even talk about it. Parang natatakot lang siya every time na nagkakabanggaan kami.”

Aaron chuckled softly.

“Maybe hindi lang niya in-expect na magiging boss ka niya.”

“I don’t think so... My gut’s telling me na may iba pang dahilan.”

Napataas ang isang kilay ni Aaron.

“What do you mean?”

Napabuntong-hininga si Ethan.

“I have a feeling she’s planning something. Hindi talaga siya taga-Myeongdae. She’s from Haedam Province.”

“Haedam?”

Tumango si Ethan.

“I just find it weird. Wala akong makitang internship record niya sa Myeongdae. Kahit work history, wala rin. So I’m pretty sure may tinatago siya.”

“Ethan, kung gano’n ka ka-suspicious sa kanya, then just fire her.”

Ethan rested his chin on his hands.

“Nah... I wanna play along. Tingnan natin kung hanggang kailan niya kayang ituloy ’to.”

He smirked, looking like he already had something planned.

🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸

📍 KANGÉ GROUP — LADIES’ RESTROOM 🚺

Habang nag-aayos si Bem ng sarili niya, bigla siyang nakarinig ng kakaibang ingay mula sa isa sa mga cubicle.

Dahan-dahan siyang lumapit at idinikit ang tenga niya sa p***o.

May umiiyak sa loob.

She gently knocked.

“Miss? Are you okay?” tanong niya nang mahinahon.

Biglang tumigil ang pag-iyak.

A few seconds later, dahan-dahang bumukas ang p***o at lumabas ang isa sa mga ka-work niya sa kitchen.

“What are you doing here? Okay ka lang ba?”

Halatang kakaiyak lang nito. Smudge ang eyeliner niya, at basa ng luha ang magkabilang pisngi.

“I just... I can’t believe na pinapagawa sa’kin ni Mr. Kang yung resignation letter ko,” singhal niya habang muling napahikbi.

💭 Oh... I remember her. Siya ’yung hindi na-approve ang dish kanina.

Bem reached out her hand.

“I’m Benemella, by the way. Pero Bem na lang.”

She smiled warmly.

The woman shook her hand.

“I’m Julia.”

Sabay silang pumunta sa isang tahimik na lounge area.

“You know what... Natakot din ako kanina nung pinatawag ako ni Mr. Kang. Pero remember what Chef Jason said? Take it as motivation.”

Bem gave her an encouraging smile.

“Na-contact ka na ba ng HR tungkol sa resignation mo?”

Umiling si Julia.

“Not yet.”

“Then may chance ka pa! Just prove to Mr. Kang na natuto ka talaga from his feedback.”

Biglang lumiwanag ang mga mata ni Julia.

Without wasting any more time, bumalik silang dalawa sa kitchen para ayusin at pagandahin ang dish ni Julia.

📍 KANGÉ GROUP — CULINARY DEPARTMENT

Tinikman ni Bem ang seafood dish na inihanda ni Julia.

Sandali siyang natigilan.

“It’s actually good already, pero may konting fishy smell pa.”

Kumuha siya ng isang tea bag.

“Try mong ilagay ’to before you cook it.”

Napatingin si Julia sa hawak niya.

“A tea bag?”

“Yep! Nakakatulong ’yan para mawala yung fishy smell. Try mo.”

They continued working together in the kitchen.

Meanwhile, napansin sila ni Jason at lumapit ito with a smile.

“What’s going on here?”

“Ah, Chef Jason! I wanted to give it another shot,” sagot ni Julia.

“Oh, wow! That’s what I’m talking about! Ganyan dapat. It takes guts to try again!”

They all laughed together.

🗣️ “Do you guys have any idea kung gaano ka-busy ang kitchen ngayon?”

Biglang napalingon sina Bem at Julia.

Ryan was walking toward them, glaring at what they were doing.

“What’s the meaning of this?” he barked.

Sobrang lakas ng boses niya kaya napatingin ang ibang staff sa kanila.

“Chef, I just wanted to try again,” mahinang sagot ni Julia.

Ryan scoffed.

“He already fired you. Bakit pinipilit mo pa? It doesn’t matter kung matagal ka nang nagtatrabaho dito. Once you mess up, there are no second chances.”

His eyes shifted toward Bem.

“You’re Bem, right?”

“Yes, Chef.”

“Are you the one putting this nonsense into her head?”

Napahinga nang malalim si Bem.

“If this dish flops, you better write your resignation letter too. I’ll personally ask Mr. Kang for it.”

Tinuro niya ang kabilang station.

“Now go help over there. Mas marami pang actual work na kailangang gawin kaysa sa ginagawa n’yo rito.”

“Yes, Chef.”

Nagkatinginan sina Bem at Julia, parehong kinakabahan.

🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸

“Sauce!”

“Chop this!”

“Get the steak!”

“Deliver this to Mr. Kang!”

Biglang natigilan si Bem nang marinig ang huling order.

“Sorry, Chef?”

Napataas ang kilay ni Ryan at ibinagsak ang ladle sa counter.

“What?”

“You want me to deliver this to Mr. Kang?”

“Why not? I’m in charge of his meals. Bakit ang dami mong tanong? Just take it to him!”

Napakagat-labi si Bem.

💭 Oh my God. How am I even supposed to face him?

Kinuha niya ang cart, inilagay ang dish, at dahan-dahan itong itinulak papunta sa elevator.

Pagkapasok niya sa elevator, napabuntong-hininga siya.

💭 I’m really about to face him again...

💭 Oh God... Please help me.

Nang bumukas ang elevator doors, sandali siyang nag-atubili.

A cold chill suddenly ran through her.

Dahan-dahan siyang lumabas habang nakatingin sa Chairman’s Office sa dulo ng hallway.

Pagdating niya sa p***o, mabilis niyang sinuot ang face mask niya at inayos ang buhok.

Knock! Knock!

“Come in.”

Napapikit sandali si Bem nang marinig ang boses ni Ethan.

Slowly, she opened the door.

Pagkasara niya nito, nakita niyang may kausap na ibang lalaki si Ethan.

“Sir— I mean, Mr. Kang, Chef Ryan told me to deliver this to you.”

Napabuntong-hininga si Ethan.

Tumayo siya, ipinasok ang dalawang kamay sa bulsa, at lumapit sa kanya.

“Open it.”

Binuksan ni Bem ang takip ng dish, at agad kumalat sa buong room ang rich aroma ng freshly cooked meal.

“Take off your mask.”

💭 What?

Dahan-dahang ibinaba ni Bem ang mask niya.

Ethan picked up a fork and knife, cut off a small piece of the dish, and held it right in front of her.

“Taste it.”

“Huh? You want me to taste it?”

Napatingin si Bem sa kanya, totally caught off guard.

Tumango lang si Ethan.

“I’m sorry, sir... I don’t think that’s appropriate.”

Napabuntong-hininga na naman si Ethan.

“Don’t you know the rules? Any food served to me has to be tested first.”

💭 Is he getting death threats or something?

Inilapit ulit ni Ethan ang fork sa bibig niya.

Napilitan si Bem na yumuko at tikman ang pagkain.

She chewed slowly.

Ethan gave a dry laugh.

“Sit down.”

“Uh... I’m sorry, sir, but I still have a lot of work to do back in the kitchen.”

Matalim siyang tiningnan ni Ethan.

Nagkatinginan sina Aaron at Ethan.

“You’re not leaving until I finish eating this.”

Napakurap si Bem.

“If anything happens to me, ikaw ang mananagot.”

Her mouth fell open.

“Sir... I wasn’t even the one who cooked it.”

“Doesn’t matter.”

Ethan narrowed his eyes.

“Who knows? Baka may nilagay kang something sa food habang dinadala mo dito.”

💭 Ugh, ridiculous! Sobrang paranoid niya. No wonder he treats everyone like trash.