Behind Closed Doors (COMPLETED)

Eleven

#BCD11 Chapter Eleven

ARTEMIS WAS DUMBFOUNDED as she stood in front of Paris. She was holding at the side of the doorway and her shades were almost sliding down back on her eyes.

"Art, nasaan na 'yong —" Natigilan si Snow nang makita siyang nakatayo at nakaharang pa rin sa pintuan na parang estatwa. "Nasaan na 'yong cupcakes?"

"What?" Wala sa sarili siyang bumaling kay Snow. Tinaasan siya nito ng kilay.

"Iyong cupcakes na pinapakuha ni Apollo. Nandiyan lang sa loob." Snow pushed her shoulders gently hanggang sa makapasok na siya nang tuluyan sa loob ng kusina. "Ay, ayan pala kay Chef Holden."

Naguguluhan niyang tinignan ang kaibigan. "Chef Holden?"

Snow looked at her. "Hindi mo pa ba siya nakikilala?"

Artemis glanced at Paris who went back on fixing the cupcakes. Nakatupi ang mga manggas ng suot nitong chef's white habang iniisa-isang inililipat ang mga kulay dilaw na cupcakes sa isang stainless tray.

Kumunot ang noo ni Artemis nang makita kung gaano kakisig ang mga braso ng binata. Those veins in his hairy arms, those long fingers that were so gentle while lifting every cupcakes. It's very uncertain to see a hunk like him holding a small piece of sweet that can be easily crashed inside his palms anytime soon.

Malakas siyang tumikhim nang pasilip siyang tinignan ng binata. Nag-iwas siya ng mga mata at muling ibinalik ang tingin kay Snow.

"Halika. Ipapakilala kita kay Chef." Hindi na siya naka-tutol nang hilahin siya ni Snow palapit sa binata.

Tumigil si Paris sa pag-aayos ng cupcakes at blangko ang mukhang tinignan silang dalawa. Snow was also on her chef's white, leaving her the only person inside the kitchen wearing casual clothes. Nakita niya kung paano pasadahan ng tingin ng binata ang kaniyang suot.

"Chef Holden, this is Artemis Cordova. I assume you already know her," pagpapakilala sa kaniya ni Snow.

"I only know her by her name," sagot ni Paris, sa kaniya pa rin ang tingin. "Her father always talked about her during our short meetings."

Naguguluhan pa rin si Artemis sa nangyayari. Why was Paris inside their hot kitchen, wearing a chef's white, and fixing the damn cupcakes? And how did he know about her dad?

"Girl, this is Chef Holden. He's gonna be our senior chef that will monitor and guide us for a month," Snow said to her.

"Chef Holden?" She tilted her head on the said, unsure if she heard it right.

"Chef Holden Paris Dharmadevas, at your service, madammoiselle," Paris held his hand in front of her, asking for a handshake.

Binangga ni Snow ang balikat sa kaniya nang manatili siyang nakatanga sa binata. Gulat niyang binalingan ang kaibigan.

"Tanggapin mo 'yong kamay niya," bulong nito at doon lang niya napansin ang kamay ng binata sa kaniyang harapan.

"I'm sorry." Mabilis niyang tinanggap ang pakikipagkamay nito. "It's nice to meet you, Chef... Holden."

"Call me Paris if you're uncomfortable with my first name," sabi nito at binitawan na ang kaniyang kamay.

"Chef! Kukunin ko na 'tong mga 'to," paalam ni Snow habang tinitignan ang mga naayos na cupcakes sa mesa.

"Okay. Bring it outside," Paris said.

"Sumunod na rin kayo sa labas, ha? Hahanapin na kayo ng mga bisita mamaya-maya lang," bilin ng dalaga at tuluyan nang lumabas.