The Chef's Critic

Chapter 12 - Decisions

Maine went back to Manhattan early Friday morning. She was supposedly to have her shift for Saturday noon at L' Hexagon but she was in no mood to work. So instead, she advised the manager that she will not be able to come in for Saturday. When she arrived that Friday morning, she went straight to her bed and just cried the whole morning. She was still very upset with what her parents told her. She feels betrayed by her own parents. But at the same time she knows that at the end she won't have a choice with the matter. She knows that when her father said something, he ensures that the deed will be carried out. Nothing can stop her father. Especially not her. Thoughts of Richard comes to him. She loves him so much and she feels an ache in her heart. She knows that in the end, she will have to leave him as she cannot disobey her parents however she may be opposed to it.

She didn't realized that it's already 7PM. She then heard a knock on her door. She totally forgot about the plan that she and Richard made before she left earlier that week. When she opened the door, she was greeted with the sweetest smile of Richard holding a bouquet of flowers. Richard immediately kissed her and hugged her.

"I missed you so much!" he said.

She meekly smiled and returned the hugged but didn't say anything else. When Richard disentangled his arms, he noticed that Maine was not yet dressed and there's something else that he can't pinpoint.

"Hey, are you alright?" he asked.

"Yes. Yes, I'm alright." She lied.

"Well, you're not yet dressed. We're going to have dinner tonight right." He said pointedly. "Are you not feeling well? Do you prefer to stay here and let's just order?" he added.

"Oh... Sorry. I will just get dressed. Give me 15 minutes." She said but didn't looked at her eyes.

Richard's forehead form cresses and just looked at Maine.

After 20 minutes, they left her apartment. At the car, Richard was telling her how his day went by. Maine occasionally just nod but she never look at him the whole drive. Richard thought it's weird that she's very quiet the whole ride. He reasoned that maybe she's just tired and he feels guilty that he still brought him out for dinner.

When they arrived at the restaurant, Richard resolved to himself that he will ensure that they will have an early evening and will not keep her long as he wants her to get some rest. When they were seated, he said, "Do you want me to order for you?"

Maine who was looking at the menu but was not really seeing the choices, just nodded.

After Richard ordered for both of them, Richard held Maine's hand and placed a kiss at the back of it. He was looking at her the whole time, but Maine was just staring at the lighted candle in their table. She cannot look at him knowing she will need to break up with him sooner or later.

Dinner were served after a few minutes and they ate silently. Richard was become concerned with Maine as she was just playing her food around her plate. Richard tried to engage her into conversation but all she did was either nod or say oh, okay or that's great. He was becoming frustrated with Maine's responses or should he say no reaction but he rationalized that she might just really be tired. After dinner, Richard finally said, "I'll take you home. You seem tired." Maine just nodded again.

When he brought her home, he just stood outside her door. He held her hand and asked, "Are you alright? You were spaced out the whole night. Did something happened to you? You didn't even tell me how was your dinner with your parents."

Maine was planning to tell him of what happened and her dilemma but didn't have the courage to tell me. Well, not yet. She can't bring herself to break up with her. She's still hoping that her parent's decision will change. Well, hope being the operative word. And so she just replied, "Maybe I'm just tired."