"Baby, have fun and make lots of friends, okay? Papa will come to pick you up after some time," Kevin told his excited son outside the school gates. Kyle, bubbling with enthusiasm for his first day, hugged his father tightly.
"Yes, Papa! Kyle will make many friends. I'll miss you, Papa," Kyle said with a smile, planting a kiss on Kevin's cheek. "Bye, baby," Kevin waved as Kyle joined his teacher and classmates, disappearing into the school building.
Kevin sighed deeply as he made his way back to his car. Driving to the interview location, memories flooded his mind. The restaurant where he now had an interview was where he had his first date and first kiss with the love of his life. He felt a pang of guilt and sadness, knowing he had moved on without ever truly resolving his feelings for his lost love.
Arriving at the restaurant, Kevin greeted the manager, a man in his late forties, who invited him to sit down. "Mr. Ross, I assume?" the manager asked, gesturing for Kevin to take a seat.
"Yes, sir. I'm applying for the position of assistant chef at your esteemed restaurant," Kevin replied confidently.
"Very well. Tell me about your work experience and what dishes you specialize in," the manager inquired, his gaze sharp and assessing.
"I have a degree in business administration and I interned at Ross Cooperation for two years and worked at Karen Enterprise until recently, where my project was unfortunately taken credit for by someone else. I specialize in cooking main courses and have extensive knowledge of traditional desserts from various countries," Kevin explained earnestly.
"Very well, Mr. Ross. Let's begin with the practical interview, shall we?" the manager suggested, leading Kevin to the kitchen where aspiring chefs honed their skills.
"Please prepare sesame chicken with rice while explaining each step. You have 45 minutes," the manager instructed.
Without hesitation, Kevin gathered the ingredients, worn an apron and began cooking, narrating each step aloud. He moved with precision and confidence, drawing on years of experience and a passion for culinary artistry. Finally, he plated the dish and offered it to the manager for tasting.
"It tastes excellent," the manager complimented with a nod, a subtle smile crossing his face. He glanced at a camera in the corner of the room, which went unnoticed by Kevin.
"Thank you, sir. I look forward to hearing from you soon," Kevin responded gratefully as the manager escorted him back to the office.
"Thank you, Mr. Ross. We'll be in touch," the manager assured him. Kevin nodded appreciatively before leaving, feeling a mix of relief and anticipation.
Driving to the market, Kevin purchased vegetables and groceries for home. As he waited for Kyle's school dismissal, he reflected on the day's events and hoped for a positive outcome from the interview.
When the school bell rang and children poured out, Kevin scanned the crowd for Kyle. Not finding him immediately, he approached a teacher who had escorted Kyle earlier.
"Excuse me, ma'am. I'm Kyle Ross's father. Have you seen him?" Kevin inquired anxiously.
"Oh, Mr. Ross! Yes, I saw him playing in the garden with the other children. He might still be there," the teacher informed him kindly.
Grateful for the information, Kevin hurried to the playground area and soon spotted Kyle fast asleep atop the slide tower, nestled beside another child.
"Baby, wake up! It's time to go home," Kevin gently nudged Kyle, trying to rouse him. Instead, the other child stirred awake.
"Hello, buddy! What's your name?" Kevin asked kindly, kneeling down to the boy's level. "Hi, I'm Sam," the boy replied shyly. "Who are you?" he asked curiously.
"You see this little guy, Kyle here? I'm his papa," Kevin smiled warmly, his heart swelling with pride as Kyle woke up and greeted him excitedly.
"Papa!!" Kyle exclaimed, throwing his arms around Kevin's neck. "Papa, look! I made a friend. His name is Sam," Kyle introduced proudly.
"Hello, Sam. I'm Kevin. You can call me Uncle Kevin," he chuckled, extending a hand to the boy who slid down the slide and joined them.
"Let me take you to your parents. They must be looking for you. School ended a while ago," Kevin suggested, guiding both boys toward the school gate. Sam held his right hand, while Kyle clung to his left.
As they approached, an elderly woman rushed towards them, her face etched with worry. "Oh my goodness, Sam! Where were you? I was so scared," she exclaimed, engulfing Sam in a tight hug.
"He fell asleep on the slide with my son. I thought someone must be looking for him, so I brought him here," Kevin explained kindly, earning a grateful smile from the woman.
"Thank you, young man. But I must say, you look so familiar to me," she remarked, squinting at Kevin with recognition.
—
