The Ranch

A "Thank You" Gift (2)

Phillip lowers his head. It's one blockade after another. He tries to think of any other way to get his hands on chocolate.

"You have strawberries?" Chef Raphael suddenly asks.

"Huh?" Phillip looks up.

"Strawberries."

"Uh yeah."

Chef Raphael nods," If we have any leftover chocolate, you can use it."

Phillip starts," Thank you so much. I really owe you o-"

Chef Raphael waves him off with his free hand, his other hand is chopping pecans," No. I owe Tih a couple favors, but I can never find a good way of paying it back. You're his friend right? Be grateful you were able to make friends with such an amazing kid."

Phillip's mouth is slightly parted, surprised. He closes his lips, squeezing them for a moment before looking at Tih," I am."

"RAUL, HURRY UP WITH THE CRÉMEUX!"

"We better win this year. I will not break my streak!"

"Chef, we've already won five times in a row. Isn't it time to give another floor a chance, haha."

"That better not be arrogance I hear or I'll smack it out of you! I will not allow those bastards a reason to be smug and gloat for a year."

The staff roll their eyes in unison. It's like this every year. "There's no way they win unless they buy off the voters."

"Didn't they make dishes anonymous and set a bunch of rules to prevent that after what happened last year?"

"Exactly. We're not allowed to tell anyone what we're making." Chef Raphael stares at Phillip. Phillip zips his mouth shut.

After an hour, Chef Raphael hands Phillip a bowl of tempered chocolate. Phillip already asked if they can use the kitchen. He sets the cocoa bean aside and sets the strawberries on the table.

"Wild strawberries? I recommend cutting off the stem and dunking them completely. Make em bite sized. You can just pop em in." The staff member makes a gesture of tossing someone in his mouth.

Phillip finds a knife, struggles to cut off the stem in the small strawberry, and tosses it into the chocolate.

Someone catches it before it falls in when he notices what Phillip is doing,"Woah Woah! Have you washed them yet?"

"What?" Phillip looks at the staff. The man wants to complain. How can someone so stupid be so handsome. It's unfair.

The staff see what kind of person they're dealing with. They use their break to set everything up for him. One person washes the strawberries. Another sets up a tray for the dipped strawberries. One more tells Phillip what he should do.

By now, Tih has already finished the strawberry flowers. He stands next to Phillip, his eyes peak over the metal table.

Phillip follows their instructions and coats the raspberry-sized strawberries in the prepared chocolate before setting them on the tray to harden.

Tih stretches his hand into the chocolate bowl, covering his hand in chocolate. He then notices a mist coming from another bowl. He dips his hand in the ice cold liquid. It instantly freezes the chocolate.

Tih stares at his chocolate hand. He licks it. It's solid. He nibbles on it throughout Phillip's process.

He finishes the first batch and adds the toppings. A caramel drizzle, sprinkles, chocolate flakes, etc. He's very focused and concentrated as he carefully drizzles the leftovers given by the staff after admiring his seriousness. The staff gives him ten points for his hard-working appearance that's very good looking.

One kitchen staff secretly snaps a picture and uploads it after the tournament is over. The tournament includes Phillip; firm and concentrated eyebrows, a drop of perpetration running down the side of his face. An apron hugs his body. That's all they had on hand. He elegantly pinches a pile of sprinkles as they fall on the strawberries below. His diligent attitude is contrasted by the diamond earring in one ear, flamboyant hairstyle, high-end watch, and turtleneck.

In the background, Tih cutely munches on his own hand that's been covered in chocolate. Anything below the shoulders is covered by the table. There's a large height difference between the two.

They might even be mistaken as a father-son pair despite the fact that there's only a six year gap between them.

The careful Phillip is more on the slow side and by the time he finishes its evening. The staff have already left to the third floor, where they'll announce the winner of their competition.

Phillip packs the strawberries,"Let's go." He gives Tih a tired but bright smile. He's feeling accomplished. Anyone would, making something they put their all into.

Phillip brings Tih to their main building, to the head office. He stares at the door nervously, hand hovering in front of the wood.

He pulls on his turtleneck. His throat feels tight and hands sweaty. He worries that it'll melt the chocolate, so he puts it in Tih's hands. Tih's body temperature is lower, so it won't melt as quickly.

When he puts it into Tih's hands, the door opens and out comes Casanova. The hand on the doorknob pauses before it opens the door all the way," Where have you been all day?" He look at Phillip, then Tih, then the chocolate and gets an idea of what happened.

"None of your business," Phillip sneers and pushes past Casanova with his chest puffed out.

Casanova rolls his eyes before looking at Tih," Come in." He makes way.

Tih walks in and follows behind Phillip. Casanova closes the door behind him, staying in the room to watch.

Sinclair looks up," Phillip." He slides off his rectangular reading glasses. They lay against his chest as they're attached to an intricate chain designed like leaves. He puts on a pair of rounded glasses that were on the desk.

"Ma-teacher." Phillip bows his head humbly.

Sinclair's voice is mellow and soft," Is there something you wanted to ask?"

"No, just.." He pushes Tih forward," A thank you gift."

Tih looks behind him at the man who's avoiding meeting anyone's eyes.

Sinclair looks to see Tih. He smiles warmly," Tih, it's good to see you. Have you been well?" He notices a pouch in Tih's hands. "Is that for me?"

Tih turns his head back around. He takes another glance at Phillip. Is he supposed to give it to the sunny person? Phillip can feels Tih's stare. He bobbles his head.

Tih places the pouch on Sinclair's desk. Sinclair smiles," Thank you." He opens the pouch," Chocolates?"

"They're..chocolate covered strawberries." Phillip answers as he watches his master pick one up and place it into his mouth.

Sinclair's face brightens," Sweet." He covers his mouth while chewing," These strawberries aren't from the farm?"

"Yes, they're wild strawberries from the mountains." Phillip has regained some of his confidence after seeing a positive reaction. He gives Casanova a smug smirk. Casanova covered his face with his hand in exasperation. He called it "a thank you gift", the idiot.

Sinclair grasps the key point," You picked them yourself? They're homemade? It's very well-made." He compliments.

"No, well, that's...we borrowed the chocolate, so it wasn't...wholly.. made by us." Phillip fake coughs. His face is turned as far away as possible, exposing his reddened ears.

Sinclair smiles," Thank you, both of you." He looks at his apprentice and his new friend," But the occasion?"

Phillip hurried to reply," Just- as, since I had the chance to give you something...as thanks for taking me in as your student."

Casanova looks up to the ceiling. He mumbles under his breath," There is no god." He feels a deep sigh about to come out of him.

"And your friend helped you. Tih, thank you very much for the gift." He gives the child a light pat on the head.