CHAPTER 24

DAKOTA’S POV

“Too bad! Chef Ivo didn’t even listen to me. It looks like Almira’s report was wrong.” Shane was still mumbling as she picked up the mop. We all couldn’t believe what happened. I admit that I have a fault but a part of my heart is hurt because he didn’t listen.

“Why? What happened earlier?” Kurt asked.

I just shook my head. I don’t want to tell the rest of our colleagues about my expressing Almira on my side.

“Are you okay?” Liam asked me anxiously, coming closer.

I nodded. I can’t hold a a resentment because I’m guilty, too. Maybe I didn’t really know Chef Ivo’s rules here at the restaurant, so I couldn’t hold back my emotions. I smiled at them all. “Let it go. I did something wrong too,” I said before starting to sweep the floor.

I can see a wide land from where I stand. This is not the place where I was there the last time I dreamed. ‘What place is this? Where am I?’ I asked myself.

I was sitting on a big rock while looking at the beautiful surroundings. There are houses made of stones, but the one that amazed me the most was the big house. I knew that I was far away from that place, but I smiled. The wind is strong and fresh. I stood up and walked slowly. I stopped for a moment when I heard something and when I turn around, a lion was running towards me.

I wanted to run, but something stopped me. Until the lion attacked me and we both fell onto the grass. I thought it was going to hurt me, but it surprised me when the lion licked my neck and rubbed the lush fur on my face and body.

“S-stop, Baja,” I laughed. I touched his lush fur which he obviously liked.

The lion did not stop. It made me even more cheerful. We rolled until—

WENDY’S POV

“What was that?” I screamed loudly when I heard a crash from somewhere. I looked out the window and saw that it was still quite dark.

Shane, on the other hand, was suddenly turned upside down in her bed. She immediately looked at me and saw that I was at the top of the double deck. “What are you doing there?” she asked while still pointing at me. “Why? What happened?” Shane asked with a sigh. Rubbing her eyes.

We both looked down, where Dakota was on the floor. She’s awake, but I think she fell out of bed. Even Aki woke up and immediately stood up to approach her. “Miss Dakota, are you all right?”

Dakota looked at him, then nodded. “I think I fell on the floor,” she said softly, but we all heard. Her voice is still hoarse.

That made me laugh. “What are you doing there?” I asked, while holding back a laugh. I carefully got down from my bed. Since Akihiro arrived, Dakota and I have changed beds because that child might fall from above, poor kid if that happens.

“Because I got a dreamed,” she said with her eyes closed.

“What did you dream about?” Willow and Aki help her to stand up and get back on top of the bed. Dakota didn’t respond and seemed to be very sleepy.

We just shook our heads as friends. We feel sorry for Dakota, even if we can’t help but laugh. Only Willow and Aki remained serious while their eyes were full of concern for Dakota.

“You slept really strongly, Dakota. You even fell on the floor from your bed. It’s a good thing you were downstairs. What if you were sleeping in your previous bed, right?” I asked as we ate breakfast. Willow and Aki, who had just been bathed, were now with us.

Dakota was listening quietly, as if thinking. “I don’t even know why it happened but because I dreamed that someone was hugging me... it’s...” She couldn’t finish what she was going to say, which is why we hung up. Her face also looks like she can’t say anything.

“What is that?” Shane and I asked together.

She looked at us before bowing her head. “A lion.”

We were all stunned while Akihiro was choked, so I immediately handed him water. I also rubbed his back so that somehow the child would wake up. He looked at Dakota. “Which lion, Miss Dakota?”

“Are you sure it’s a lion? You’re terrible. Don’t you know that lions are dangerous? That’s brave, isn’t it?” Shane said in disbelief.

She looked at us before slowly nodding. “Y-yes. I don’t even know why I had such a dream. I know I should be afraid of lions, but in my dream, I’m not. In my dream, he was like my pet and he was sweet to me.” There is a trace of sadness on her face, and we can see it in her eyes.

“That’s a terrible dream. It seems impossible because it’s a lion, Dakota. There’s no lion to take care of. Well, except if it’s at the Zoo. Didn’t you get hurt in your dream?” I asked, still in disbelief.

She shook her head immediately. “No. Actually, he even kissed me and then licked me.”

I was about to speak again when the new chef, Almira, suddenly entered the cooking area where we were now. She gave us a bad look and passed us by. Shane immediately came forward to say something in a weak way. “She really annoys me, doesn’t she? She thought maybe she was beautiful, nah. She just has a white skin tone.” Shane sneered. She stood up and placed the dishes that we used one by one. Dakota scolded her causing Shane to stop.

I looked at Akihiro, who was seriously looking at Dakota. “Aki, why? Are you full?”

He nodded. “Yes, Miss Wendy. Thanks for the food.” That’s all he said, then he turned his attention back to Dakota who was now looking at the ingredients on the list.