The magnificent chandelier. The soft sounds of the piano and violin are ringing in my ears. In addition, the faint sound of tableware clinking can also be vaguely heard.
The space illuminated by the warm light presents a sepia tone, giving people a nostalgic scenery. Watching the backs of the elderly couple walking on the red carpet with satisfied smiles on their faces, their figures complement the antique furniture perfectly, just like a scene in a movie.
"We look forward to your next visit."
Bowing respectfully, the two of them said with a smile that they would definitely come again as soon as possible.
"Oh, what a relief!"
When I was carrying the tableware on the table into the kitchen, suddenly someone patted me on the shoulder. Looking back, a man wearing a suit instead of the uniform of a lobby waiter was looking at this side and smiling cheerfully. Seeing his appearance, I couldn't help but sigh deeply.
"Chris, please don't talk to me suddenly. I'm very busy now."
Seeing his kind smile, I narrowed my eyes. He just verbally apologized and said sorry.
His eyes are long and narrow with a slight droop at the corners, and his hair is a slightly long bright brown. He has a slim figure and a kind smile. He is the manager of this restaurant "TanCarme".
"But really, it was a great help. The girl in the lobby suddenly asked for leave and we didn't have enough staff. Thank you, Blake."
"I won't help anymore."
I'm originally from the kitchen specialty and don't know much about the things in the lobby. When I'm pulled to help during the busy time, to be honest, I feel that I'll become a burden, so I hate it. I told Chris a bit forcefully. He just replied vaguely saying okay, okay.
"I didn't expect you to help many times either. The chef's face is very terrifying."
He chuckled softly. At this time, the chef's rebuke came from deep in the kitchen: "If there isn't enough staff, then work!"
"Manager, can you go out?"
"OK, OK."
He shrugged with a wry smile and was urged by the people in the lobby again. He muttered that he was very popular and then quickly walked towards the lobby. But suddenly he turned back and pointed at me and said:
"Ah, Blake. After finishing tidying this up, you can get off work today."
"Ah? But the time is still..."
Hearing his sudden words, I looked at my watch in surprise. It's just a bit past eight o'clock. My usual working hours are until half past nine.
"There is a bonus subsidy today. Go back and sleep. Looking at your tired face, a student's duty is to study. Ryan has already agreed."
After saying that, he went back to the lobby. I looked at his back in surprise.
I didn't expect that he could actually notice that I'm not in a good state. It is said that although he looks like a male host in appearance and has a bit of a frivolous air, but he is young yet very capable. Chef Ryan said so.
But here is indeed the signature restaurant of a famous hotel. It's very difficult for a man not yet thirty years old to serve as the manager without prestige, brains and abilities.—But, Ryan also said that if it's said out loud, he'll get conceited, so it's better not to say. It really depends on one thought whether it's a success or a failure.
"Hurry up and finish tidying up and go back. Call Soren to replace you."
"Ah, yes."
I was looking at Chris's back as he was accurately giving instructions to the lobby waiters and working efficiently. When I was in a daze, I was suddenly called by Ryan.
"Next time, work in the kitchen."
Although Ryan is past his prime and a bit eccentric, he does have the ability to keep the taste of this restaurant first-class. As a person aspiring to work in this industry, I'm sincerely happy to receive such words from him.
"Ah, good work, Blake."
Hearing the words of the two of them, I went back to the changing room. The person sitting on the chair suddenly lifted his reddish-brown head and looked back at me. It seemed that he was playing with his mobile phone. After turning off the phone, he waved at me.
"Soren, Ryan said for you to hurry back."
"Ah, really? Is it already this time?"
He muttered "crap" softly and put on the chef's uniform that was thrown aside. When he stood up, he was very tall.
"Is Ryan angry again?"
"No, he's not angry."
Soren gives people a composed feeling. Although he is always scolded or called useless by Ryan, in fact he is the most trusted and capable assistant. So I once couldn't help but ask him why Ryan always spoke to him so severely.
The reason is that if praised, there won't be progress. While I suddenly understood, I also deeply felt that Ryan is really good at judging people.
"Are you on the phone again?"
"Um, today I'm texting."
I looked at him throwing the mobile phone into the locker and tilted my head and asked. He shrugged with a wry smile. He is always playing with his mobile phone during the break time, as if frequently contacting the person he is in a relationship with.
"Senior, don't ignore others just because you're angry."
"You guys also had a fight the other day, right?"
Their relationship doesn't seem bad, but he and his partner are always fighting. Maybe this is a typical case where the relationship gets better the more they fight, but he will always be dejected every time.
"This, um..."
Seeing his suddenly dispirited appearance, I gave a wry smile. A twenty-something adult showing such a pitiful expression also shows that he is sincere towards the other person.
"Is it really difficult to get along when there is a big age difference? The age gap between us isn't big, but he might have the self-esteem of a man. He'll also get angry if I take too good care of him or am too gentle."
"For Soren who was originally heterosexual, this is indeed a difficult problem."
"Ah! Does it really have something to do with this?"
"Um, maybe it's a difference in feeling. Maybe he wants an equal relationship."
He himself seems to want to secretly spend time with his lover, but in this workplace, probably about eighty percent of people know that he has a lover.
I don't know since when he started consulting me about relationship problems. When I heard that his partner is a senior from his college days and is a man, I was very surprised. What surprised me even more was that I heard that he forced his way into the other person's house and lived there. I originally only heard that Soren has someone he is in a relationship with. Before knowing the truth, I always thought that a person like him who is popular and gentle would have a cute girlfriend.
Now he knows my sexual preferences. But when he was consulting me at the beginning, I was still wondering why he would tell me these things. He said it's because I can keep secrets well, but maybe he is originally a fearless person. However, his straightforward attitude is still a bit enviable. I simply can't imitate his straightforwardness.
"Um, I think Soren's gentleness is an advantage."
"But it won't work if being too gentle either. It's so difficult. I don't understand!"
Seeing his dejected look, I couldn't help but laugh. I can kind of understand his mentality of treating the person he likes as a woman. For him, this might be a very natural thing. After all, everyone wants to be gentle to the person they like.
"What about you, Blake?"
"That person isn't very sensitive to these things, so I think he doesn't care much about them."
Although when I'm too gentle to him, he'll get shy and flustered, but whether he can feel the love in my heart is still a mystery.
"Aren't you two having mutual affection?"
"If only it were like that."
I muttered with a smile, narrowed my eyes and sighed.
It's been two days since we last met and there isn't any explanation. Even if he is slow-witted, I can't complain that he has lost patience with me. No, considering that he didn't contact me at all, maybe it's not a matter of patience at all. Maybe he didn't think about me at all.
"You try texting or calling him."
"Yeah."
While muttering, I threw the white shirt and apron into the basket for cleaning. At this time, a faint dull sound came from the locker in front of me. I threaded the sleeve of the uniform through the hanger and took out the mobile phone flashing with the incoming call prompt from my bag.
"Hmm?"
Seeing the caller ID, I couldn't help but doubt my own eyes.
"What's wrong, Blake."
"Good work."
"Ah?"
From seeing the incoming call to taking the next action, I myself was surprised by the speed. I first tidied up my appearance. Regardless of whether my surprised expression was seen or not, I ran out.