Three years ago I moved to Belgium to care for my elderly mother. At the same time to work as a chef in one of the small restaurants in Brussels. The restaurant, which is still my place of work, provides a variety of Belgian specialties. During the three years of work, I had experienced extraordinary events. It all starts from someone's unfamiliar gaze.
Exactly four months ago when I got my turn to open a restaurant. It was Friday, my favorite day. The morning was quiet and calm as usual, but for some reason there was a gripping aura around me. At first I did not realize that someone was watching me from the corner of the street which was about two buildings from the restaurant.
I was still outside the restaurant, I took the door key out of my bag trying to eliminate the negative thoughts that had arisen. But it didn't help at all because someone on the corner walked closer to me. I still struggling with the key and the padlock in my hand, unfortunately I even panicked.
It still couldn't be read by the guy's intentions, but from the corner of my eye I could tell his suspicious gestures. He was wearing thick, dark clothes which I felt were wearing black suits. His shiny black loafers were hit by a streetlight. At first glance I saw his face hard, there was no friendliness, and he was still staring at me. One hand was hidden in a pocket in a coat as if to take something, it looked even more suspicious. He also did not stop checking his cellphone and watch.
Because three days ago there was a murder in the restaurant area around dawn, just like my condition at that time. Reportedly the killer was still roaming free, and that awakened my parno's intuition. After my business with the padlock is finished, I have to open the second door. Immediately I turned the key at the restaurant door, unfortunately the key I was holding actually fell. I'm crazy, the person is getting closer. Ten, eight, six more steps before me. I took the key that fell at my feet with shudder abruptly. And...
Puk The person's hand patted my shoulder slowly.
"Aaaaa ..," I shouted loud enough while closing my face. Of course the key that I had held fell back, "Please save me, let me write my death certificate, then you may kill me ... Please, please let me open this restaurant first." I continued to talk in a curled up position.
"Mademoiselle [1], sorry I surprised you," the person said quietly calming me down while giving me the keys to the restaurant door. "Mademoiselle." he repeated, tapping his finger on my shoulder. His thick French accent managed to make me look up and stand up slowly.
After I quickly digested what had happened, I began to fix my clothes. "Oh no. Not. I'm the one who apologizes, Monsieur [2], "I bowed my head slightly. I apologize to him for my accusation of indirectly calling him a murderer. "Can I help you?" I said still jerked from the panic earlier. He looked at me quietly, oh come on what's wrong with him? "Are you going to visit our restaurant?" I tried to offer him. "There is a special menu today." My baby.
The person just smiled stiffly then turned around and left without a word. "Hey, sir! Wait a minute! Can you be more polite? " My scream just ejected. He turned briefly to give a strange look, suddenly I shook in fear. Then he continued walking as if nothing had happened.
Two hours later the restaurant had begun to be full of people who wanted to eat breakfast. Thank God I had forgotten what happened this morning. Just before I heard Chef Rey and Chef James's little conversation next to me, I thought back.
"Did you see it? The man in the jacket in front of the restaurant. He has been there since morning." said Chef Rey.
"Yeah, why don't you come in. Ah, but maybe he's waiting for someone." added Chef James casually.
Suddenly I was worried, even though they were both just speculating normally. I'm also not sure who the man in the suit they are referring to, which might be the same person. But seeing his attitude was really rude! I'm grateful he didn't go into the restaurant, I snorted in annoyance.
My brain began to remember the strange look at the corner again, making me cringe and annoyed. I slammed the Teflon lightly on the stove. It really disturbs my concentration. Maybe because the beginning of my favorite day was destroyed by a stranger. Anyway, after all the man was not a murderer who roamed. But remembering that scary smile ...
James who heard me muttered immediately interrupted quickly. "What's wrong with you Lyzz?" he glanced at me briefly, "Be careful with your cooking, you will mess it up," James warned me.
James is my senior who has a long, smooth mustache. Although his mustache is sometimes ridiculous because he was lifted up as he blurted out, there were times when I looked down in fear. James is very sensitive to cooking, a slight mistake in the dish will make him quite tired of temper tantrums.
I realized that I had been grumbling to someone unknown I thought was a murderer. I apologized to James and began to cook calmly. Receiving orders, preparing ingredients, cooking, then handing over the rest for further garnisheeing [3] by another chef in charge, James. The morning's activities continued smoothly without obstacles in line with my expectations on Friday. Busy enough to heed me from the strange thoughts that swept over me that day.
Ting!! The order bell rings again.
"Order 06 Carbonnades Flamandes table [4] !!" I shouted to friends in the kitchen. I looked briefly at the wall clock at the top of the restaurant menu table, it seemed that my shift would soon be over. The bustle that I always see in the kitchen makes me momentarily curious about the buyer at table 06. Looking through the glass of the kitchen door, I look for the number 06 on the table and find it.
Someone who looks scary and in a black suit! Of course I remember it even though he has taken off his coat. Now he is sitting rigidly, struggling with tablets. Tapping his legs clumsily in tune with the music in the restaurant. Bad view. How terrible!
Ah never mind, I thought. "After all he is a customer here. I must get rid of my bad thoughts. Looks like I have to apologize for yelling at him this morning. ” After James finished decorating the dishes, I followed Dean, one of the restaurant waiters. The dish was served on the table by Dean. I was still a little far behind Dean, thinking it seemed like I would be comfortable using French after knowing his fluent French accent. Actually I prefer German, but why should I blame it too.
"Excusez moi * 5" I say as soon as I stand somewhat beside him. He looked up for a moment, looking surprised a few seconds ago and was a little nervous, like an employee whose boss found him lazing while working. As if trying not to panic, he was busy returning to his tablet. "Monsieur, do you still remember me?" I said while helping Dean put his order on the table. He remained indifferent. "For what happened this morning I apologize. Really."
Dean invited the man in a suit to enjoy the meal then he went to the next table. While I am still waiting for the response of the master in suits. He looked at me again reminded me of his terrible gaze at dawn earlier. Honey sbiten [6] has been swallowed before him several times. It seems he wants me to leave. Finally I could not stand being ignored, I walked away to the kitchen.
Suddenly someone's screams stopped me, "Aaaa .." a woman at the table Dean had just left shouted, my head turned back. How surprised I saw Dean looking at me in pain, his hand trying to block the prick from someone in front of him.
Everyone in the restaurant gasped to see what happened. The suspect who had sat next to the man in the suit then escaped, but the man in the suit immediately tackled him until the suspect fell down before reaching the door.
After the suspect was frozen by the man in the suit, I immediately approached Dean. Actually I was panicked by the incident just now, however Dean was injured in front of me. Immediately I took off my apron to close the wide wound on Dean's right hand. It felt like all my suspicions about the man in the suit just disappeared, seeing that he had just caught the criminal.
The police immediately came after James called, apparently the killer who was roaming in the restaurant area had entered the restaurant. The restaurant that was supposed to close until 8 pm was already quiet at 3 pm because of the incident. At present all employees including the restaurant owner Monsieur Bross gathered at the office desk besides Dean who was rushed to the hospital. It's just that the man in the jacket sat beside Chef Rey.
"Friends," said Monsieur Bross opening the meeting. "Today should be a special day where we have new employees coming from France. Previously I apologize for turning off my cellphone so he had to wait a long time to be introduced. ” Monsieur Bross nodded at the man in the suit as if he had been forgiven. I was tired to be surprised, since this morning my energy had been drained. I don't think there is anything more shocking than the fact of the terrible events that befell Dean.
"Introducing a new Chef who will replace Chef Rey, Chef Neil." The person who had just been appointed got up from his chair, he bowed slightly like the conductor who would appear. With a crumpled face in shock, I smiled at him. It turns out there are also more surprising. I don't know why Chef Rey quit, not to mention the man in the suit will replace him. It all happened suddenly too, making my head more dizzy.
Neil glanced at me, I looked down wearily. I have a feeling that he won't bring up my problem with him. Good for me too, I hope I can feel comfortable working with him for the days ahead.
A few moments later, Chef Rey got a message from the Dean family who reported that the criminal would be arrested, questioned for his actions and Dean was still operated on due to the stab earlier. The Deans say they will settle the lawsuit soon. After the riot, the meeting was closed. All went home listlessly, some would see Dean at the hospital. Of course I'm one of them who went to the hospital, I hope Dean's operation goes well.
Thank God It's Friday will be back to fill my favorite day, today there is a morning meeting as well as the last day Chef Rey works at the restaurant. Chef Rey greets all employees at the end of the morning meeting. During that week I also started to get used to Neil, the attitude of him who often makes misunderstandings, his clumsy signs, the way he delivered something I already understood. So my conclusion is that he really is that kind of person, a misunderstood freak. There was no meaning in me being annoyed by her, of course if I thought about it it could harm myself.
"Nein! [7] "I said, I headed for my chair after the meeting. I immediately sat down to calm James over his grief left by Chef Rey. They both are close friends for 5 years working in this restaurant. It's not strange that James is sad.
"James! How about we later ... "someone took my conversation with James. Neil put James away from me as if they had been friends for a long time and invited him to talk nonstop. Turns out he talks a lot too, I thought. He smiled kindly to me on the sidelines of his conversation with James, making me shudder. In fact, I think I'm better able to handle his deadly gaze right now. Maybe because it's the day of parting with Chef Rey, he has changed somewhat. Ah, this Frenchman, thinking of where he came from makes me homesick for my hometown.
Now I just came out of the small roadside stall. It was a relief to be able to take three days off after four months of continuous work one shift with Neil. While sitting I sip a latte ice on the roadside bench. Again, I felt someone was watching me. Sharp eyes that are impossible from Neil's eyes, because as far as I know Neil is working now.
But who? From this moment until now he just stood motionless across the street. Maybe something will happen again? Ah no, maybe I'm too sensitive. Suddenly the wind hit me, the hair on my neck stood up regularly. I hugged my cold arm, covered it tightly with a thin jacket while daring to see the person who was staring at me.
"Riana!" I jerk awake, it turns out he's my old friend from France.
"I'm sorry, did I frighten you Lyzz?" Riana asked while laughing happily while sitting next to me. Riana and I talked for a long time, until I knew Riana had visited my mother first before meeting me.
"Are you still looking for your sister?" Riana asked cautiously. "Your mother said she just got word about him. Someone sent a package and claimed that he was your brother. "
I looked at Riana a long time ago, my sister left me and my mother three years ago because of an incident. At that time we still lived in France which finally made me decide to move to Brussels. "What did he send?" I asked Riana.
"Actually, I'm afraid that it's a trick, because he sent your photos while at work." I frowned.
Riana took a large envelope from her bag, then handed it to me. I took out the contents of the envelope, some photos! A picture of me at work, even at close range. Who did it? Wait a minute, from this close distance? I recalled the incident in the restaurant kitchen in the photo I was holding. "Neil! He is here. " Riana raised her eyebrows, asking for my explanation. "I'm one thousand percent sure that he took my photo." This one too, and this, this too! I had enough.
I stopped at one photo, an old photo. My photo and my brother were 4 years old and he was 7 years old. There were only two photos, one for me and one for my brother to bring it. For a moment I shuddered, "How could he? It could be that he was only asked to please take a picture of me. How could my brother Neil ?? !! "***
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