Midnight Diner

Episode 1

He looked at the clock : 2am.

Its probably too late now, she probably went home because she was too tired to come, he thought.

He carefully put the food into a Tupperware container, one that was specially reserved for her. He had made her a simple cha soba tonight, as the weather had been hot lately. Having cold and refreshing noodles would help her sleep better, he thought.

He closed the container and put it in the fridge...

"I'm back !!"

He looked up from the counter. Standing at the front door, she smiled at him.

He smiled back.

***

He was halfway through mopping the floor when he saw a girl walk into the store and sat at the counter, she was typing furiously into her phone. That was probably why she missed the 'CLOSED' sign. He looked around and saw that he had no customers and had done all the dishes. He put down the broom and tightened his apron.

"What would you like to eat?" he asked, a little stutter in his words. He was a little nervous.

She was cute.

She looked up from her phone, adjusted her glasses and tidied up her hair.

"I'm so sorry, I just got off work and I had this assignment due at midnight and I just really had to finish it. Do you have a menu?"

"Not really. Just let me know what you're thinking and I will try my best to make it."

"Oh...that's an interesting concept. Let me think about it."

She studied him. He had curly hair in a 60/40 part, wore a simple black chef's jacket with a red apron. He looked very young.

"If you can't decide, I could make something for you and see if you like it," he offered, smiling a little awkwardly. "Do you have any allergies?"

"Thank you so much. Sorry I'm a very indecisive person. And no I do not have any allergies and am open to trying anything :)"

He gave a light bow and walked towards the kitchen.

He walked around and grabbed some eggplant and minced pork.

He started a pan with some oil and added the minced pork in, seasoning it lightly with salt and Chinese five spice. He then put the eggplants into the steamer. Once it was soft, he transferred the eggplants to a pan and fried it skin-side down, so that the skin caramelizes and tastes sweet. He then added in some salted fish and the minced pork and seasoned it with fish sauce, soy sauce and oyster sauce, finishing it with some cornstarch slurry (cornstarch mixed in water) to thicken the sauce. It was served over rice.

"Itadakimasu," he wished her as he set the bowl down.

She tasted it and instantly liked it. The salty and rich aroma from the salted fish gave the plain but fragrant jasmine rice a kick of taste. The sweetness from the eggplant evened everything out and the minced pork just absorbed all the flavour. It was like a work of art in her mouth. She really liked it.

She continued to study him.

"Do you work here part time? Where is everyone?"

"I actually own the place. I work alone haha."

Why would someone so young run a business alone, she thought. Surely, there must be better things for him to do.

"Why do you choose to open a restaurant?" she asked him curiously. "And tell me more about this strange concept of yours."

He was a little taken aback. No one actually showed much interest in his art before. Usually people only come around to eat at his place because it is the only one open late at night. His usual customers consist of night shift workers that came after work.

He pulled up a chair and sat across from her and the two exchanged stories :)