Chapter 2 (1/2)
My precious shop, the sweet café ”Trancalm” would often be visited by familiar faces. They would always arrive after closing, during those times, the gentle sound of the bell would indicate that there was a visitor, it would loudly echo across the store.
Today, the sound of the bell reached my ears, along with the voice of my friend calling my name.
”Lia!”
I was was.h.i.+ng and putting away the dishes in the kitchen, stopping for a bit, I turned towards the person who was in front of the display case, and shouted.
”I'm here! Enough, what if you break the door!?”
”I'm hungry!”
”There's nothing left.”
”I brought some ingredients!”
”Can't you go home and make it… won't Gray-san go hungry from waiting for you?”
Nearby the front of the doors just after entering, were gla.s.s displays lined up side-by-side. Although, I could no longer prepare enough cakes to fill it up, all the cakes that were served at the store were refrigerated there.
”I want to eat the dishes made by Lia!”
The kitchen where I was, and the displays were connected by a narrow pa.s.sage. Their voice had moved over to the side of the counter this time. They were seated by the ivory counter that was installed during the renovation. Undoubtedly, they leant over and made the usual sulking face.
”These days, I've been skipping out on meals-”
Next to the counter where guests could lineup and the tables, was the kitchen, to prevent the customers from seeing things like the kitchen counter, large refrigerator and ovens, a st.u.r.dy wall was made from wood. Of course, I had doors connecting to the kitchen made. A kitchen sink was also installed, the dishes cleared from the customers would be brought there for was.h.i.+ng.
”It's not good to skip!”
”I’m-saying. I've simply finished the leftover soup! Since Selena’s portion isn’t-!”
”You’re terrible! I also demand my share!”
I sighed at my close friend's request. The reason for Selena's bad temper was always the same. Surely, she had another fight with her husband.
”Heey, Lia. I'll help you clean up afterwards.”
”Geez… you fought with Gray-san again didn't you…”
”I'll have enough energy to leave after I eat the food made by Lia!”
It's not about your energy, if I were to shout, it wouldn't compare to Selena's loud cry. Bang, bang a sound was being made that didn't give off a good feeling, it was probably her fist. I'd like to ask you not to drill a hole into the counter please.
With the pink duster in the sink filled with water, I moved towards the counter. Looking down at Selena's head who was prostrating on the ground, I gave a small sigh. I stroked her golden hair once and said, ”Fine, I got it.” She raised her face at once.
”Lia!”
Her green eyes were s.h.i.+ning, beautiful curly golden hair swayed in delight.
”That change, you'll help me clean up?”
”Obviously!”
As if she hadn't cried out in grief, Selena displayed a cheerful smiling face. When I pulled at Selena's cheeks, she exaggerated the pain and gave a ridiculous cry.
”Then, I should make dinner.”
As I walked towards the kitchen, Selena also followed. In her hand, she was swinging a large basket with paper bags.
”You bought a lot…”
”I didn't buy all of it. I dropped by various stores on the main street.”
”Ah, I see. You received extras.”
Selena is said to be the most beautiful woman in Arion, she had impressive large cat-like eyes, and distinct facial features. Although her beautiful golden hair was swaying at her chest today, she would braid it up high, it was very hard for me to memorize how to do said variation. Even when going out for a short while, she wouldn't miss a single detail putting on makeup, clothing too, rather than emphasizing ease of movement, she was always dressed fas.h.i.+onably.
I put Selena's beauty sense in high regard. Feeling something similar to respect. There were many points to learn from, my fault was that I couldn't get into the habit. I could be considered catastrophic when it came to beauty. Because having to dress myself up wasn't very enjoyable… if I looked as mature and beautiful as Selena, surely I would have grown a sense of beauty like a high-cla.s.s lady… Surely!
Precisely because it's Selena, if you asked who the most beautiful woman in the town is, everyone would unanimously say her name, if she were to go shopping along main street, she would receive a lot of gifts.
”Lia, look! Wagner-san gave me such a nice fish.”
”Hm, their s.h.i.+p is already back!?”
”Yup, they were ahead of schedule, I think they came back yesterday.”
Everyone in this small rural town was acquainted to each other. The best fisherman in the town, Rayleigh Wagner-san had a close relations.h.i.+p with my family ever since I was a child, he was also a regular at the store. After he finished fis.h.i.+ng, he would always show his face.
'Is that so, I see. Tomorrow, I'll serve Rayleigh-san's favourite white truffle! I'll do my best to prepare-!”
”And just like that, doing your best for an old man.”
”Because Rayleigh-san is cool.”
”Right, right.”
Selena threw off my words without any hesitation, taking out the ingredients from the large basket and paper bag, she arranged them on the cooking top one after the other.
”Wait… what are you trying to do.”
”Taking out the remaining, please make it delicious.”
Meat, eggs, fish, ham. Even fresh vegetables were lined up on the table.
”Amazing. Where did you buy from to receive so many gifts?”
”I don't know which is which. But, I'd still lose to Lia.”
”Huh? What?”
”The number of gifts. Doesn't Lia get more?”
”No, I don't get this much.”
”Liar. Wouldn't the town's desire to protect the errand child get stirred up?”
”What's that supposed to mean!?”
Although I was on the short side, and my face didn't currently look that mature, it's not my fault! That's rude to children doing errands!
”If you put in more effort, everyone would be astonished. I'm always telling you that. Since the material is good.”
”Geez, if you're going to talk about this then take these and go home.”
”What, that was a compliment!”