My Sweet Superchef

Chapter 1

I met Lucien in one of my travels. He is a traveller too. A real one. A backpacker. A globetrotter. Oh yes, he is a chef. One hot sexy handsome French chef! Tried and tested. Lol. Tall, dark brown hair, brown eyes, with a cleft chin, athletic build. He displays a bad boy image which most of the girls find irresistible. He smokes. He drinks. Yeah, this sounds like a profile in a dating app. Would you swipe left or right? Yes or no? Lol. I think I did.

We were at the same place at the same time or I should say, at the right place at the right time. However, we didn't know that until we bumped into each other in a restaurant.

It was my first night in Cebu. I was sitting alone in a semi-crowded nice French restaurant. It was recommended by a friend. I googled it and saw that indeed it was lovely. It was in for my taste. The front part of the resto was a cafe and the back part was an open-air space where pink and purple lights twinkle in fake sakura trees. There were glow in the dark hard plastic tables and couch-shaped chairs (yeah, they weren't the soft cottony couch). A giant igloo-shaped hammock was hanging behind a big tree at the center. There were 4-5 dimly-lit gazebos for group dates (with 4-6 chairs each) and some good-for-2 and long tables scattered in the place. I was seated at the corner. Away from the crowd. Watching the people around me.

A waitress came to my table and asked me, "You wanna order now, ma'am or still waiting for somebody else?" (She spoke in Cebuano but no problem because I understand their dialect).

"Oh yeah, I'm waiting for somebody else," I replied with conviction (though fact is, I was waiting for nobody! Lol! Poor me!) I just wanted her to go away while I figure out what I am gonna do that night. Order and eat alone and look kawawa? Or just order to go and leave, then eat at my hotel room while watching tv and feel like I'm just home rather than in Cebu.

I took some photos of the place and a selfie and sent them to my friend that recommended it with the caption.. "Indeed it's a beautiful place but no good to be alone" with a laugh emoji. Instantly, I got a reply saying, "But it's a nice place, don't you think? Actually, it's better with a group of friends. Yeah, no good to be alone. Just enjoy the place."

I tinkered with my phone, swiping left and right. I was getting bored. My mind was battling with whether I should leave or not. I got up and went to the cafe area. I decided to order to go and have coffee before I leave. It was self-service. I saw the customers carry a rectangular basket and a tong while they choose the bread from an open counter with varieties of french-named bread. I looked around where to get the basket. I saw it in a corner table. There was only one left. As I was approaching the table to get it, I saw a tall white guy in gray fedora hat going to the same direction as mine. He got there first (of course he had big steps compared to my baby steps! Lol) and picked it up.

All I said was, "Aww, it's the last!" He looked at me in a friendly manner and offered his basket, "You can have mine." I was hesitant but I was glad that he did. I asked him shyly, "Are you sure?"

"Yeah, sure. Take it please. Ladies first," he answered nicely with a slight bow. I took it, smiled and thanked him. So, chivalry is not dead.

From his accent, I could tell he's not American. He sounded like somebody I know. Yeah, I know for sure you knew too. Right, this guy is French. Is he trying how french bread in the Philippines tastes like?

I tried to make little conversation with him. Just being polite that he gave me his basket.

"Which country are you from?" I started. Did I just try to confirm his nationality? Yes I did.

"France," he answered.

"Really? Wow, I guessed it right! I was thinking earlier that you're French." I replied confidently.