Chapter 8 - Can We Go Out Together?

Tacky's cell phone was ringing. It was the alarm he set last night: 7:00 am. He slowly opened his eyes then got up. He looked around. Ryu was not in bed anymore. He probably went off first. He saw Lance still sleeping. He also went outside.

Tacky and Ryu were back inside their room. They saw that Lance was not here anymore. "Where could he be now?" Tacky said. He was ruffling his hair with his left hand. "We'll be leaving soon!"

"He must be taking a bath by now," Ryu said, stating his opinion about Lance's whereabouts.

"Why did he get up so late, anyway?!" Tacky was really annoyed. "It's 10:00 already!"

"Why are you so angry?" Ryu asked him, pouting. "Let's just wait."

Tacky let out a resigning sigh. "Well... You're right."

Lance, on the other hand was in the kitchen together with many busy staff, while he was eating a steak and vegetable salad.

Claire was also here. She was the reason why he came here. She was busy preparing many kinds of vegetables and chicken.

"What's for lunch?" he asked her.

She didn't look at him. "Chicken Fricassée and Braised Chicken Knox."

"Wow! I like that." He said. "Too bad I can't have a taste of that..."

There was no respond from her. But he knew this will happen. He just continued eating. He drank a cold orange juice. He finally finished it all. "I have something to say..." he started. He said it in a serious tone. It seemed that it was not like his cheerful self.

She noticed it but didn't stop from working. "What is it?" she asked. It's obvious that she was not really interested in what he would be saying.

"I'm just thinking if we could go out together," he straightly said. "Will you go out with me?"

She suddenly stopped. She turned to him. "Go out?" she asked skeptically.

The people with them heard their conversation though it was not so loud. They continued working but their ears were listening.

Lance stare was fixed on hers. He nodded and smiled. "Yes, I'm asking you on a date. Is that fine with you?"

"No." It was her straight answer.

Lance slowly lowered her head.

"I know that's gonna be your answer," he sadly said. "Am I so fast?"

"Yes, you are," she told him straightly. "Let me tell you this..."

He looked at her.

"You are taking me so lightly." She placed a cold stare at him for the second time.

"What...?"

"We're not close by any chance. We've just happened to talk last night because you were asking about the house. I just answered your questions because you're 'our costumer'. Personally, I don't even think we're friends. Don't act so friendly toward me."

He didn't expect that coming. "I'm sorry..." he sincerely apologized. "But... I just want to know you."

She didn't say anything anymore and just shook her head.

He stood up and placed his palms on the table. He stared at her eyes. "I need to..." he said. "I believe acting friendly with you is not wrong. I'm just being myself. However, I also know it is a mistake for asking you so forwardly. But still, I won't give up." He then smirked. He continued, "I'll ask you many times until you give in."

"Are you crazy?" Claire said. "No chance!"

"Why not?" he grinned. "It's just a date, anyway. What do you worry about? Come to think, it's just like spending your leisure time with someone."

Claire crossed her arms and thought silently. "Hmm..." She then asked, "Do you really want to date me?"

He was happy by what she said. "Of course!"

"Then..." she said, grinning and staring very sharply at him. "You must beat me in a cooking contest..."

>>>>>>> <<<<<<

The Bonne Appetite Restaurant closed as early as six o'clock in the evening. The manager, who was also the owner of the restaurant, allowed Lance's and Claire's competition to be held here. After all, he was Lance's good friend. The taste's judges were Mr. Angelo Bonne, the said manager, Tacky, Ryu, Ms. Annie and Mrs. Grace Madrigal and Mr. Willard André, the man from house of watch and repair. They were seated in front the long rectangular table.

Lance and Claire were in the kitchen laboratory. They stood at each cooking places. Their ingredients were already ready. The main ingredient was Mandarin shrimp. This was the dish the judges agreed upon. They want to taste a whole new shrimp dish. However, they still don't know the reason why the two were having a competition.

"Let me warn you," Claire said. "You are the 56th man who will suffer from date-loss after this match."

"What?! 56th?!" Lance burst out.

"Yes. None of those 55 men had dated me. They were not good cooks, rather didn't know how to cook."

"None of them, you say?" he said. He then smirked and laughed, as if he has a plan.

"What's funny?" she asked.

"I'm just excited," he said, full of energy. He was gritting his hand. "I may not match your skill but I'll make sure I'll win over you!"

"Huh! How's that possible? Just ready yourself to lose."

He just shook his head. "Nope, nope. Like I said, I'll win over you. I'll break your record."

Claire snobbishly looked away while she folded her arms. "Let's start at 6:30. Time limit is one hour," she said.

The minute hand of the clock finally turned to number 6. They finally started to cook their own shrimp specialty. Claire was the first one to finish.

Their dishes must be served at the same time so she waited for him. She looked at him, who looked very determined but happy. She didn't expect she could stare at him even though with no thoughts. Her mind consciousness woke back upon hearing him say that he was done.

The waiter served the two mouth-watering and well prepared and garnished dishes. The six judges looked at these. These were very presentable. Nobody knew which was Claire's dish or Lance's. They first tasted the shrimp meat in thick yellowish sauce. They ate at the same time. It's just like an ordinary dinner. The next dish was also shrimp meat but in clear orange-colored sauce.

Lance and Claire just stayed inside the kitchen. When they saw that they were done eating, they went out and told each of them to choose which of the two dish passed his/her taste. They were given a piece of paper. They should write "1" for the dish they first tasted and "2" for the second one. They wrote their bets.

The two competitors looked very confident.

These were the result: Ryu – 2; Tacky – 1; Ms. Annie – 2; Mrs. Grace – 1; Mr. Angelo – 1. Everyone waited for Mr. André. Finally, he said no. 2.

"It's a tie, then," Mr. Angelo cleared.

Claire's facial expression changed a little. She was a bit angry about the result. "What?" she told herself. "My dish tied with this amateur's cooking?"

"Hey, Claire..." Lance called her out, in whisper.

She went back to herself. She looked at him. "It's a tie. What shall we do?" he asked.

She snobbishly looked away. "I can't accept that!"

His brows curved down and pouted. "But that's the result..."

"Another taster is needed!" she demanded.

The manager heard her. "Jack can be the other judge," he suggested.

Everyone looked at Jack, the waiter who served the sumptuous dishes. Claire looked at him. "Please choose the best one," she eagerly told him, with eyes full of determination. Jack sat down. He took the reserved plate, fork and knife.

Lance and Claire fixedly looked at him, who was eating the dishes one at a time.

"So, which tastes better?" Claire asked him eagerly.

"Ahem..." he started. "Both taste very good. I can't really decide."

"Choose the best one. No 'both'!" she strictly demanded.

"Ok then." He closed his eyes. "I choose this... one." He slowly tapped the dish plate with fork. It was the shrimp dish in yellowish sauce.

>>>>>>> <<<<<<<

It was past nine when everyone decided to leave. Lance and Claire waved thanks and good night to the seven people. Tacky, Ryu and Mr. André headed off first. Mr. Jack, Mrs. and Ms. Madrigal were escorted by Mr. Angelo, with his white car, to the train station.

The two of them were left in front the closed restaurant.

"So..." Lance started to say.

She crossed her arms.

He continued, looking victoriously at the snobbish girl on his right. "I won."

He smiled though she wasn't looking. "Tomorrow, then," he said.

"I'm not available tomorrow. I have work," she snorted, a little furious and annoyed.

His smile was broken. "When are you available, then?"

"I have no day-off for the next 3 months, no, for next six months."

"No fair!" Lance protested. "I won fair and square."

She let out a surrendering sight. "Next Sunday is my off," she finally replied.

"Noted!"

Claire started to leave.

"Hey, wait!" he called out, following her tracks. "Where should we meet?" he asked.

"You decide it," she said flatly. It's obvious she's not interested.

"At the FountainPark. Ten o'clock in the morning. Is that okay with you?"

"It's fine. Make sure I will have fun," she said sarcastically.

"Of course, you will!"

They stopped by 8th Street. They waited for a bus. When it stopped by their place, Claire came in.

"Don't forget on Sunday!" he reminded.

"I'll forget it," she told him.

Lance just laughed. "I'll just call you for reminders. Good night!"

"Night," she replied dully. She was really showing him her unfriendliness.