CHAPTER 16

DAKOTA'S POV

I let out a deep breath as I looked at the vast sky. I didn’t feel okay even after a day had passed. We were busy at the restaurant. There were many customers, but I really couldn’t help but think about that. It’s a gigantic puzzle to me why I had such a dream? Does that have a connection to my true personality?

I don’t want to think about it again because how can I be? I don’t want to get dizzy and have a headache again. My friends and Chef Ivo are what I will thinking. I just shook my head to get my mind off of my dream last night.

I turned around at the door that behind me. Because I heard it and I was right. Someone came out from there—it’s Chef Ivo.

I stand straight right away. I don’t know if I will face him or if I will remain staring into the night sky. It looked like he could see that I was panicking, so I turned to face them, but I didn’t meet his gaze. He might scold me, so I am nervous. I’ve been so careless at work that it’s not unlikely that I’ll be punished now. I simply took a deep breath because I was so nervous.

“Why are you here?”

“J-Just getting some air, Chef.”

He nodded slowly, then walked further until we were now facing the vast sky. Fortunately, it’s not raining. There are many stars in the sky so it’s relaxing to watch at this time. The breeze was not that cold either. Just right to not feel cold or hot.

“How are you feeling? Do you still have a headache?” he asked me, causing me to look at him. That’s when he looked at me.

I blinked and then looked away. “I’m fine, Chef. When I know my head is going to get sick, I immediately take medicine.

“Good.”

I laughed softly because of what he said. “How about you, chef? How are you? We had a lot of customers earlier, didn’t we?” I asked.

“Yes. It’s a bit tiring, but that’s how it is. I’m used to cooking like that.” He smiled slightly at me, causing my heart to skip a beat. I think my heart wants to get out of my chest and then will jump to the building where we are standing now. Hey…

“Obviously, Chef.” That’s when I remembered that I once tasted his cooking. It’s delicious, so it’s no wonder that many people eat at the restaurant that owns him. “You cook really well, Chef, so your customers will come back to you.” I can’t help but praise him now. What I say is also true.

Chef Ivo couldn’t believe what I said because he looked shocked. “Really? Why? Have you eaten what I cooked?”

I nodded. I hesitate because I might not be able to eat his food in a restaurant. “Y-yes... but I wasn’t the only one who ate, and I only ate a little,” I told him. I bowed down because I was suddenly overcome with shame. What if it’s really not allowed? Hey!

Then he laughed. I don’t know why, but he seemed happy with what I said. But in fairness, he laughed handsomely. Those white teeth of his coming out. Add to that the scent of him. The smell of his perfume wafts through the air, which is sure it was expensive.

“W-why are you laughing?” I asked shyly. “I-Is it forbidden to eat, Chef?” I even covered one of my hands over my mouth. “Come on! Sorry, Chef. I do not know.” I backed off a little.

Chef Ivo immediately shook his head, then calmed himself down. “No. No, it’s okay. Don’t worry. It’s okay to eat food here at the restaurant. No problem with that.”

I nodded. Somehow, I breathed a sigh of relief. “Ah… that’s good, Chef. I thought it was forbidden. I got nervous.”

Chef Ivo was still smiling at me. I don’t know how long he was like that with me. He’s just so good to watch when he’s like this. In addition to being cool, when he cooks, he is serious. His focus is on cooking. Even I just smiled at him.

“By the way, earlier, I heard that Shane was talking about you having a bad dream?”

Because of his question, I was stunned, and my smile slowly disappeared from my lips. I also looked away from him. “Ah... y-yes.”

“What did you dream about?” he asked in a voice that was obviously curious about what happened to me.

I looked at him. “T-That’s nothing.”

He stand straight and then face me. “If it really nothing, why are you so quiet during the day? I noticed that too, but I just didn’t ask earlier.”

I got nervous. Will he scold me? But I deserve for him to scold me because I was not attentive at work earlier.

“C-Chef, sorry. Tomorrow, I will be attentive to work. If you found me very slow earlier, I will do my job tomorrow double time.” I even raised one of my hands to show that I promise and I’m serious about what I’m saying. I really won’t be affected tomorrow by whatever I dreamed about. Why was I thinking about that earlier?

“Dakota, it didn’t affect your work earlier. I saw that you did your best at your work, but it was noticeable that you were quiet and deep in thought. Do you want to talk about your dream?” he asked.

I stared at Chef Ivo. I don’t know how I will feel. I didn’t tell my friends much about what happened in my dream because it wasn’t very detailed either. “Ah, is that it? That doesn’t matter anymore, Chef. It was just a dream.” I laughed, but it was obviously fake.

“If that’s not important, maybe you should tell me that.”

My heart beat faster. I didn’t expect Chef Ivo to want to know about my dream. I don’t know why he seems interested. I took a deep breath before asking him. “Chef, why do you want to know?” I don’t mean anything else with my question, but I just really want to know.

Chef Ivo looked away. “Well, let’s just say that it is necessary that you are not keeping secrets from me because you work for me. I am the one who shelters you.” He faced me and crossed his arms across his chest.

“Ah... yes, you are right,” I answered. At some point, I felt frustrated. I thought Chef Ivo had another reason. I smiled at him. “Because I dreamed that I was in a maze or labyrinth. I tried to enter and acroos to that place, but no matter what I did, nothing happened. I can’t move from where I am. I saw a man, but he ignored me. He can’t hear me either.”

“Man Which man?”

I shrugged my shoulders. “I do not know. He seems familiar to me even though I don't know him. The shape of his body is familiar to me, but his face is not clear.” I tried to calm down, but the feeling that I was there in my dream came back. The fear in my chest, the trembling of my body. I can’t hide it. I swallowed.

I was just as surprised when Chef Ivo suddenly held my hand. I looked at him. Maybe he could see that my dream had a different effect on me. I don’t know if what I see now on his face is real. Is he worried about me? He squeezed it a little more, so I gradually calmed down.

“Chef...” I called him. I can’t seem to move my hand. I don’t know if I will be taken back or what. He has a soft hand. And now I also noticed the distance between us. He is close to me.

“Are you okay?” I can clearly see again in Ivo’s eyes that he is worried about me. Is what I’m seeing true or am I just mistaken?

I nodded, but I couldn’t look back at him. His eyes seemed to hypnotize me, so it was hard to avoid. “Y-yes, Chef,” I stuttered to answer.

Chef Ivo squeezed my hand again, which is why my attention went there. My heart feels like it’s going to come out. The strength of the beat and because it was so strong, he could hear every beat of it. His gaze at me and I feel like I’m drowning.

“Whenever there’s a problem with that, I’m right here. I’ll listen, okay?” he told me.

I don’t know why I feel this way. I feel better now because of what he says. Is this right? Is it right for me to be comfortable with him? I just took a deep breath.

He smiled at me, then lightly held my head with one of his free hands. One was still holding one of my hands. “I’m only here when you feel scared, Dakota.”