𝙒𝙤𝙤𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙛 (𝙂𝙭𝙂)

17. Stars

GANGA'S POV

 
Stars....
 
What could they possibly mean?
 
"Are you done with the mochi?" Lucas asked, making me flinch as I looked at him, annoyed.
 
"No," I said, focusing back on the stars.
 
It's been two whole days, and I have no clue what she meant by stars.
 
It's like she is acting differently. She is acting normal, but I feel somewhat of a change in her demeanor.
 
"What are you cooking up in your head?" Lucas asked as I sighed.
 
"Stars..."
 
"Cooking stars?" 
 
"What do they mean?" 
 
"Stars are stuff in space, right?" 
 
"Stars...."
 
"You both are talking about two different things," Sumaira interrupted as we both looked at her.
 
"How so?" Lucas questioned.
 
"Her star has to do with her crush, more specifically the head chef," she said as I looked at her in shock.
 
"How do you know?" I questioned her, turning towards her.
 
"You have been daydreaming and smiling to yourself like a creep," she said as I felt offended.
 
"Excuse mee,"
 
"Well, that's because..."
 
"EVERYONE, ATTENTION," I looked in the direction of the sound; it was the head chef who held a small smile on her face.
 
"Well, I have something to tell all of you," she said, making me frown.
 
"Well, tonight after the shift, the whole kitchen is invited to enjoy themselves in paradise, the sister restaurant of our restaurant," she said as a wild cheer erupted in the room.
 
"All of you, save your energy, please," she instructed as I heard chuckles.
 
"I'm going to get wrecked," Lucas said as I gave him a dead panstair.
 
"I will remain sober," I confessed, as Sumaira agreed.
 
"I am excited!" Jenny said, coming towards us.
 
I immediately forgot about the star and began working. I was more than excited to have a whole meal with everyone.
 

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"Lucas, I wanted to sit there!" I whined as he took my seat.
 
We just reached the restaurant, and the chaos was almost unfolding as we entered. Unfortunately, the intern couldn't join, mainly since they wanted to hang out by themselves, but I still wish they would have joined.
 
"Just sit here," Lucas said, pointing at the seat beside his.
 
I finally sat my ass down, the table was set up, and to my luck, Mahi was right in front of me.
 
I could stare at her beautiful face to my heart's content.
 
We began ordering, and the clutter and arguments unfolded.
 
After a good 30 minutes of just bickering and trying to convince each other to order, the food finally arrived, along with drinks.
 
And to my surprise, Mahi also stayed sober. She ordered a bloody marry, while I ordered a mojito.
 
Everyone was talking loudly, playfully arguing and bullying each other. I couldn't help but notice how Mahi just seemed to fade in; she really spoke, occasionally to bully Alen or Lucas; beside that, she would just listen, nodding and chuckling.
 
"James, what is the secret to your Wellington?" Huan asked, turning towards him as James smiled.
 
"No, because he cooks it to such perfection, like an actual pro!" Alen added.
 
"Come on, now you guys are being too much!" He said I could see him getting embarrassed.
 
"What amazed me was how you can stay calm when shit gets on fire, like I have never seen you raise your voice," Jenny said as Alen agreed.
 
"Hmm, unlike someone who can't go a day without busting their lungs," Lucas mocked.
 
"Hmm, unlike someone who had their pie always turn raw in the centre and brunt in the edges," Mahi taunted, making Lucas roll his eyes.
 
"Hey, most of the time the extra burnt just gives it a nice smoky taste," James said as Alen giggled.
 
"That would have been amazing if it was some fine cut of meat. Unfortunately for our pastry genius, it is an apple pie, and it just tastes burnt," Sumaira said.
 
"Ooohhhhhh! Lucas, I think you got burned," Huan said as Lucas hit him in the arm, taking a sip of his drink.
 
"Oh, please, why do you always act like a nerd?" He asked, making Sumaira push her glasses back.
 
"You mean, smarter than you?"
 
"No, I mean nerd."
 
"Just say you are academically challenged," she said, making me burst out laughing.
 
"Aye, don't fight," Mahi said dryly as Lucas and Sumaira glared at each other.
 
"She acts like she came out with a culinary degree," Lucas said as Sumaira shrugged.
 
"But I won't lie, Sumaira, I look up to you; you have so much knowledge in the kitchen's," Jenny said, looking at her as if Sumaira were her idol.
 
"Me too; I wish that I could also turn my mistakes into masterpieces," Alen said, swathing his body.
 
"Alen, trust me, we all made mistakes. Sumaira, who might seem like a perfect prodigy, once got confused between mint and cilantro," Mahi said, making Alen gasp.
 
"REALLY?" He asked as Sumaira nodded, talking a sip.
 
"Aye, even Mahi, we joined this place together. I still remember the head chef at that time calling her a stupid dumb fuck all because she boiled the milk and it overflowed," Lucas said, making me gasp.
 
"Wait, actually?" I asked, feeling bad for the young Mahi.
 
"Yup, and she could never make the souffles rise; I remember how many of them she made, just to fail again and again," Lucas said as Alen looked at her in surprise and disbelief.
 
"I made so many chocolate souffles that I grew sick of them and can't stand their smell," she added.
 
"Unbelievable," I mumbled.
 
Everyone started talking about their mistakes. It made me feel good because, even though they all seemed perfect, they also had their ups and downs.
 
My eyes met hers for a second. Unknowingly, her gaze held a soft warmth that made me feel all fuzzy.
 
"You know, if I could, I would have just turned into a pop star; I think I have the personality to be one," Lucas said, making Alen shoot up.
 
"Let's start a band!"
 
"Great, I'll be the bassist," Jenny said as I looked at Mahi.
 
"What about you? Will you also join the band?" I asked as she smiled, a smile that skipped my heartbeat.
 
Mahi's expression softened even further as she responded. 
 
"I think I'd rather stick to making sure the kitchen runs smoothly. But I appreciate free tickets." 
 
"Fair enough. She sucks at singing." Sumaira taunted, making her glare at each other.
 
"But honestly, I am proud of our team," James said, making all of us look at him.
 
"Yeah, we are quite badass," Sumaira added, making Huan choke.
 
"No, for real, I am proud that we actually impressed the judges," he said as Mahi nodded.
 
"Cheers for being badass!" Lucas said, all of which flanked our glass, laughing as we got our drinks in.