LATER THAT AFTERNOON
XAVIER
The lunch rush finally slowed. For the first time all day, I leaned against the counter and stretched.
"My legs have officially resigned." I sighed.
"I have stopped counting individual customers."Ana laughed as she counted another pile of coins.
"Drink."Hin handed me a cup of tea.
"You are a lifesaver."I said as I took one grateful sip.
Then someone cleared their throat.
"Excuse me."I heard female voice.
I looked up. Standing in front of the stall was a young omega dressed in elegant pale blue robes. Two attendants stood behind him carrying an ornate wooden box tied with a silver ribbon.
"Can I help you?"I asked.
"Chef Wei?"He smiled warmly.
"That’s me."I nodded.
"My mother wished to thank you."He said.
"Thank me?"I asked.
"The buns I brought home yesterday disappeared before I could even sit down." He laughed. "She demanded I return today."
One of the attendants stepped forward and opened the box. Inside were premium tea leaves, rare spices, and an incredibly beautiful chef’s knife. My inner chef almost cried.
"Wei."Ana’s eyes became huge.
"Hm?"I asked.
"That knife costs more than this stall."Ana grinned.
"I was afraid you were going to say that."I sighed. "I can’t accept something this expensive."
"My mother insisted."The omega shook his head.
"But-"I tried again.
"She said a chef who creates food that brings people together deserves the finest tools."He said.
"..." I started.
Curse chefs, we were weak against good knives.
"I..."I started speaking.
"Take it."Ana elbowed me.
"It would be rude to refuse sincere gratitude."Hin nodded.
"Fine."I sighed dramatically. "Please thank your mother for me."
"I certainly will."He smiled brightly. Before leaving, he paused. "And..."
"Yes?"I asked.
"I hope I’ll have another opportunity to taste your cooking.He said.
"I am sure you’ll find me at the inn."I said and nodded.
His smile somehow became even brighter.
"I was hoping you’d say that." He bowed politely before walking away.
"That was nice." I carefully wrapped the knife.
I thought that was the end of it, it wasn’t. Not even close. A few minutes later three young omegas approached my stall together. They looked around my age, elegant, beautiful and dangerous.
"Chef Wei?"One smiled.
"Yes?"I asked.
"We finally found you."She said.
"You were looking for me?"I asked.
"We’ve been standing in line every day."She said.
"Oh."I nodded.
"Your buns are wonderful."Another one added.
"Thank you."I smiled.
"And." The omega tilted his head. "You’re much more handsome up close."
My brain immediately blue-screened.
"Thank... you?"I whispered.
"He’s blushing."The second omega giggled.
"I am not."I shook my head.
"You absolutely are."She grinned.
"I think it’s just hot near the oven."I shook my head again.
"There isn’t even a fire burning right now."Hin nodded.
"..."I sighed.
Traitor. The third omega stepped closer.
"Your hair is beautiful."She said.
"My... hair?"I asked.
"I have never seen naturally white hair before."She said.
"Oh."I nodded.
"It suits you."She said.
"Thank you."I sighed
"I was wondering." He smiled softly. "Would you mind if I visited your inn sometime?"
"Sure."I nodded.
"Just me."She said.
"..." I blinked.
Why did he say it like that?
"Uh. If you want food, everyone is welcome."I said calmly.
Ana suddenly turned away. Her shoulders were shaking.
She was laughing and it was absolutely useless.
"Master Wei."Hin quietly walked over.
"Yes?"I asked.
"They are flirting with you." She said it so calmly like she was announcing the weather.
"They are?"I asked.
All three omegas laughed. One covered his mouth.
"Oh dear."One said.
"He’s adorable."Another one grinned.
Adorable? Me? No. I was a thirty year old chef trapped inside another man’s body. I wasn’t adorable, I was confused, very confused.
"I heard you’re unmarried." One omega smiled.
"Yes?"I started.
"That’s wonderful."She said.
"Why?"I asked.
"So nobody will object if we get to know you."She grinned.
My soul attempted to leave my body.
"Get... know me?"I asked.
"Over tea."She said.
"Or dinner."Another one nodded.
"Or perhaps a walk through the capital."A third one added.
I looked left, I looked right, I looked at Ana. Help. She looked away, as she was pretending to organize vegetables. Coward.
"I..." I cleared my throat. "I mostly just cook."
"We know."One said.
"We like that."Another one added.
"I don’t really..." The words refused to come out.
Everything they said sounded normal. But somehow it didn’t feel normal. Why were they smiling like that? Why were they standing so close? Why did every sentence sound suspicious? Was this normal noble behaviour? Was I overthinking? Probably, definitely, hopefully.
"I think a man who cooks is very attractive."One omega leaned forward slightly.
My brain completely shut down. Error. System failure. Please restart.
"I, I need to check the buns."I groaned.
"There are no buns in the oven."She said.
"I’ll... check anyway."I groaned as I walked over to the completely empty oven.
Opened it. Looked inside. Empty. Exactly as expected.
I closed it again, now everyone knew I had panicked. Behind me I heard laughing. Not mocking laughter, warm laughter. I turned around carefully and the three omegas were smiling.
"He’s actually hiding behind his oven."One laughed.
"I am not hiding."I said.
"Then why are you standing behind it?"She asked.
"Strategically."I said.
They laughed even harder.
"This is harder than cooking."I rubbed my forehead.
Ana finally lost the battle. She burst into laughter.
"Oh, Wei..I have never seen anyone flirt with a chef this successfully."She said,
"They’re flirting?"I asked.
All four of them stared at me.
"..."
"..."
"...Yes."Al three said at once.
"Oh no."I slowly covered my face.
"Oh yes." Ana grinned. "This is so much worse than I thought."
For some reason the entire time I couldn’t shake the feeling that someone was watching me from somewhere in the crowd. I looked around once, but all I saw were countless festival visitors. Whoever it was, they had already disappeared.