Chapter 5

• "Crrrrriiiiiiinnnnngggg!"
• Ivan stop the alarm and pulled his body up. He look around as both his hand hold his head. "Staff quarter? How did I end up here?"
• "My head... it hurts!" he exclaimed. It feels his head is about to explode. He definitely over drunk himself last night.
• Ivan tries to remember what happen last night but he can't remember how he end up in the staff quarter of Legacy Restaurant. "Maybe Tristan brought me here when I really got drunk last night." he thought
• As Ivan tries to compose himself, he heard footsteps coming closer.
• "Knock! Knock! Ivan are you awake?"
• He stand up and open the door.
• "Haha it seems you had bottomless drink last huh? I'm quite sure you are having clear head right now? And hehe very much ready for work." tease by a beautiful young lady in kitchen uniform. She is Helen, the assistant chef of the morning shift.
• "Hehe. Isn't obvious? Of course I'm always clear headed and always ready for work. Sadly though, today is my day off." Ivan answered sarcastically.
• "Oh! Well I guess you don't need this then." Helen said as she turn around and pretend to leave.
• This two are obviously familiar with each other. But hearing how they talk with each other, no one could say if they are friends or enemy.
• "Wait. What is that?"
• "I can call it as..." Helen paused and look at Ivan playfully then she continued "hang... over.. SOUP!"
• She said as she opens the lid of the container she is holding. She let the fragrance of the soup escapes then she close the container and pretended to move away again.
• When Helen came she notice that Ivan wasn't not around so he asked Jerry, the security guard on duty. That's when he learned that Ivan got totally drunk last night. That Jerry and Tristan had to literary carry him to the staff room.
• So she went to kitchen and prepare the soup.
• 'Hangover soup'
• "Wait Helen! You win! Alright I ain't filling well. I definitely having hangover. Can you..." Ivan was about to plead. But Helen suddenly turn back and laugh as she hand over the soup.
• Ivan gritted his teeth as he receive the soup. He look at Helen as if he was looking at an evil. 'Did you really have to tease me that much?' he thought.
• Then...
• "Ha ha ha ha ha ha!"
• They both laugh.
• Truth be told this two are really close. Usually Helen comes to work an hour earlier before time in as she doesn't want rushing. And to relax first before going busy. By then Ivan was already done with maintenance work so he was but waiting for his time out.
• So almost every morning this two had an hour of "one on one" talk. But unlike normal conversation, this two's conversations are full of teasing, sarcasm, bullying and the like. Yet no one get angry or agitated, rather it is mood boaster for the two of them.
• And every time Ivan goes home, Helen always give him a take home foods. Helen always reasons out that it is her leftover. So Ivan have no reason to object. Though he wasn't really sure if was really but a leftover.
• After finishing the soup, Ivan look Helen seriously then said. "I'm leaving tomorrow. At most I be gone for 6 months."
• "Haha." Helen didn't believe as she thought that Ivan maybe playing prank yet again.
• "I being serious here, Helen. If only I don't have to, I never prefer to leave." Seeing the seriousness in Ivan face, Helen's heart jump and start beating faster. She start to get nervous as what might Ivan has to say next. Yet she still pretended to be calm.
• "Who are you trying to fool? You didn't really believe that I will believe that line do you? Haha." She really doesn't want to believe it.
• But this time Ivan didn't answer. He just bow his head and remain silent.
• Few minutes of silent, Helen finally can't take it anymore as she panic. "Why? Why so sudden?"
• Ivan raise his head sadly and look Helen in the eyes. "I can't really tell you the details as I myself ain't sure what waiting for me to where I am going. But... but..."
• Ivan want to continue but he can't find the word to say.
• "But what?" Helen persisted.
• Ivan summoned all his courage then finally continued. "But by the time I'm back and you are still single. I hope... I hope you can be my girlfriend."
• 'Be my girlfriend'
• Surprised by the sudden change of the topic, Helen can't hold it anymore as emotions burst out from her heart. She punch both her fist into Ivan's chest as tears falls from her eyes. She had been wishing this word to come out from Ivan for a long time. And now... why? Why it has to be this way.
• "Idiot! You really an idiot! Of all the time, you are telling me this as you are saying goodbye! Idiot! Idiot! Idiot" cries Helen as she continues to punch Ivan's chest with both hands.
• What she had wish as a happy moment turned into a painful one. She would rather now hear those words if it comes with "goodbye." And this cause her this reaction.
• Ivan was surprised by Helen's reaction. He was not expecting this. Though he had idea that Helen likes him, he never expected to be this deep.
• Finally, Ivan pulled her in his embrace. He tries to comfort her but to no avail.
• It took almost 30 minutes before Helen finally calmed down. Coming to her senses, she push herself out from Ivan's embrace.
• "What are still doing here? Go to the others and also destroys everyone's mood. I'm sure everyone in the morning shift are all here by now. Go! Go! Go! And be today's mood destroyer!" Back to her usual self Helen manage to say as she push Ivan out.
• Ivan doesn't know how to reply. He shook his head and go out of the staff room. He went to their co-workers to say his goodbye.
• Helen watch Ivan's back as he go farther. Only when he can no longer see Ivan that she also move out and go directly at the kitchen.
• Since the restaurant just opened so their was no customers yet. So, Ivan was able to see everyone. As expected everyone were saddened by what Ivan has to say. But no one tried to stop him, they know Ivan so well. Being a workaholic, if it is not really necessary then there is no way he will be leaving.
• After talking to everyone, Ivan want to see Helen again before he go. He doesn't really had anything to say, he just want to see her again. He went to kitchen but stopped at the door. He look at Helen who seems to be busy with something so he decided not to disturb her.
• Helen also noticed Ivan, who is standing at the door. But pretended not to see him. Though they don't have customer yet, she was actually busy and rushing something.
• Ivan went back to pack-up his thing then go. He was already at the road, quite hesitant to call for a taxi when he heard a shout.
• "Wait! Ivan! Wait!"
• He turn around and saw Helen running towards him with plastic container in her hand.
• When their co-worker saw this it piqued their interest.
• "Does Ivan owe Helen something?"
• "Or thus cat still wish to fight with the dog before he go?"
• But to everyone's surprise, instead of their usual "cat and dog" scenario, Helen handed the plastic container to Ivan cautiously. But after that...
• "Here!"
• "What is this?"
• "They are called COOKIES!"
• "Of course I know what cookies is. What I'm asking is what is this for?"
• "To be EATEN of course."
• "Grrrrr..." Ivan gritted his teeth
• Hearing this, everyone laugh out loud. The usual "cat and dog" scenario after all.
• "Bye!" Ivan continued
• "Wait!"
• "What again?"
• "The container!"
• "What about the container?"
• "Those are my favorite. I want it back in 6 months. If not, don't ever let me see you again!" Helen explained.
• "Then why did Helen had to put those cookies in her favorite container. She could had put it in any other container as not to burden Ivan for having to return it." the crowd though.
• The crowd took Helen's word literally.
• But the two of them knows exactly what was hidden meaning in those words.
• "6 months. I will!" Ivan answered.
• Only then did Ivan finally stopped a taxi.
• "I will wait for you. Even after 6 months or even if takes years, I'll be waiting. So, please come back." Helen thought as they watch Ivan's taxi pull away.