亚洲综合中美

There, she browsed the multiple stalls with purpose, the body knew where it was headed, as for the mind, nothing. The festive mood sure was contagious, people handed out flyers – crowds from all over came to partake. A local band performed tranquil music to set the mood, the guitar-focused olden-style altered the whole setting. The antique architecture couldn’t have been more perfect. And so, amidst the countless queues – she headed north, past the stage in the middle to a clearer opening. There, stalls and people were few, the path curved around Loron’s place outwards to the other adjacent buildings. ‘Here of all places?’ she joined one of the queues. One would have the impression there weren’t many customers – however, the queue, the curved peculiarity gave said illusion. In fact, there were more than thrice the people here compared to the other cooking stalls. The cooks worked tirelessly, ingredients constantly supplied and the queue advanced without stop nor delay. The pace sufficed to prevent any crowd gathering.

“Good morning, might I take your order?” asked a stern lady overlooking the queue.

“I’d like today’s special,” said she woefully, the tell-tell signs of extensive crying showed on the swollen face.

“That would be 15 Exa,” said she.

‘Expensive...’ reluctantly foraging the wallet, “-here.”

“Thanks,” nothing need be said or done, she turned to the cooks and gave a detailed order.

.....

“It will be done in two minutes,” said she pointing to a larger area, “-wait over there.”

‘This is where Igna’s been working for the past months,’ she gawked the expensive-looking arrangement. The line didn’t exclude white-collar workers, there were even a few men in well-tailored suits. ‘They must be a great deal,’ thought she leaned on the simple railing, ‘-why am I here... are they not going to search for me?’

Meanwhile at the kitchen, delivery for meat came steadfast. “Can you take care of it?” asked Joe holding the back-lines.

“Sure,” dropping the hat, he dashed into the alley where men in blue-attire waited.

“We’ve got the delivery for Loron,” said he gazing at the backdoor, “-might I see the manager?”

“Lady Jola is preoccupied,” said he rubbed his fingers on the apron, “-payment has been readied, yes?”

“Yes...” paused the deliveryman tapping the metal-truck twice, “-please, check on the quality.”

“Sure,” he climbed inside, the lenses examined the quality with approval, “-good,” said he, “-the last crate isn’t fresh. I do hope it wasn’t meant for us...” dropped onto firm ground, the somber threat brought a gulp.

“Yes, it’s actually meant for the animal shop, we must have gotten confused.”

“Do refund the amount due, no questions will be asked then,” he made for the kitchen.

“Alright everyone, get down here,” the scrambling of workers went to and fro. The walk-in fridge to the side breathed open the same coldness of the alps. The foam of coldness, the tingling scent of raw meat. Inside was cleaner than the outside, Chef Igona made it his duty to always watch over the ingredients.

“Chef Joe,” the chopping board riddled by the sound of the knife, “-I’ve checked on the meat. Anything else?”

“No,” he wiped his forehead, “-we’ve prepped for the next two hours or so. Go take a break, it’s complete,” the knife rested vertically beside the board. “-have a stroll around the festival, I’ll take a nap.”

“As you wish, Chef,” folding the apron, the white-collar chef’s outfit had Loron embroidered near the chest. ‘A few months ago, I came to work with nothing more than a plain-shirt. Look at me now,’ the outfit made him proud, ‘-I belong here. The disagreement between us and the Lordon all but reinforced my bond. Chef Leko, the experience has truly been eye-opening.’ Through the back-alley and into the town-square, Emma, Emmy and Igona worked through sweat and smile.

“Going to take a break?” shouted Emma stir-frying vegetables.

“Yeah, we’ve readied the ingredients for the next two-hours.”

“Good job there, boy,” said the always grumpy tone of Chef Igona.

“Don’t worry about him,” laughed Emmy, “-he’s telling you to go enjoy.”

“I will, thank you, everyone,” a gentle nod and he escaped onto the fuller queue. ‘Now then,’ the contacts scanned the vicinity for inconsistencies. éclair viewed in more detail the external cameras dotted around. Said amount of people would surely bring chaos and trouble.

‘Isn’t that?’ through the scan, ‘-Jen?’ she sat lonesome with a plate in hand and food in mouth. The way she ate felt painful. ‘Something happened?’

“Igna, would you like to know a secret?” voiced éclair.

“Sure?” he paused with arms crossed, “-impress me, dear friend.” Details of the argument, the call itself, the opinions, and different sides of the story were made obvious. He assimilated the issue with a grain of salt, ‘-should I even get involved?’ their refusal prior made it awkward to try and get involved. ‘She’s on the verge of crying,’ giving into the fading sense of friendship, “-Jen.”

‘That voice,’ she turned, “-Leonard!” the eyes met, relief turned to disappointment, “-Igna, it’s you,” she sniffled trying to hide the want of crying.

“Very enthusiastic,” said he leaning against the railing, “-the others aren’t here?”

“No,” the focus turned to the food.

‘This is awkward,’ thought he at her visible discomfort, “-I’ll leave you to it then.”

“Stop,” voiced she loudly.

“-huh?” paused in the motion of walking away, “-something you got to say?”

“Yeah,” the empty plate dropped into a nearby bin, “-you’ve changed a lot.”

“I know,” he smiled, “-so have you,” said he reminiscent of the old-time, “-getting in relation with Leonard, a noble no less. It goes without saying, I’ve grown more perceptive. I knew the first moment I entered the mansion that my presence was no longer welcomed. You and Rena feel threatened, tis what I felt. Anyway,” he patted her shoulders, “-are you going to keep moping or will you join me for a stroll around the festival?”

“What do you mean?” a raise of the brows masked the woeful slumped lashes, “-I’m not moping around...”

“Please,” he chuckled, “-you’ve been crying, it’s plain to see. I won’t pry,” he faced the ungodly sized crowd over yonder, “-failing to enjoy the moment might be worse.”

“But...”

“Shut up,” he grabbed her arms and pulled, “-we’re friends, aren’t we?” they made for the inside where snacks, food, games, and various other actives waited. Her reserved smile slowly turned the frown upside down. Each passing moment in his company gave a sense of freedom. ‘Igna’s changed,’ thought she running with him at the front, ‘-he’s moving forward with or without us. We pushed him away and didn’t try to understand what he’s been through... makes me, envious,’ an hour flashed in a blink and only a fifth of the festival was explored.

“That was fun,” said he panting over a wooden bench near the guard station.

“How?” asked she sipping water, “-how can you move forward?”

“A matter of mindset,” he smiled, “-there’s only the future for me. I don’t have a past, no memories... still, someone is waiting at home.”

“Someone waiting at home?” she frowned, “-are you dating someone?”

“Heavens forbid,” a nervous chuckle escaped, “-I’m not cut out for that sort of thing.”

“Igna,” she gripped his arms, “-I’m sorry for the way we acted yesterday.”

“Don’t worry about it,” he gave a comforting pat, “-we’re all dealing with our own demons. It’s a battle that has no end, either you give or you fight, the result will vary. Some find happiness, others fall short. Look at me talking philosophically.”

‘He’s more mature,’ she kept on gawking, ‘-why does he feel like a big brother. I guess I never knew him. Leonard, Lampard, Rena, I’m starting to realize how lucky we are to have one another. He’s been alone for so many months, no one to rely on, no family. Compared to him, my troubles and hardship seem naught but Childsplay. I was selfish, the smug expression is his way of showing kindness. All be it weird, the grin needs work.’

“Why are you grinning, are you mocking me?” he frowned in jest.

“NO, NO.” *Dring,* “Incoming call, Rena.”

“Pick it up,” said he nicely.

“Ok.”

‘She smiled for the first time, I guess her mind is cleared for now. Leonard is being pressured by his family to break the relation. From what éclair showed, he hasn’t broken the news yet. I wonder what he’s thinking. He’s stronger than any of us, the resolve might be troublesome. Either he follows the family or chooses love, either way, someone is going to get hurt. I better not get more involved,’ he stood while she faced the other side.

“Igna!”

‘Who is it now?’ new visitors came for the afternoon concert.

“It’s you!” a pair of delicate arms wrapped around his torso; “-I’ve missed you. Why have you not been to the mansion lately?”

“Lady Syndra. Please, it’s unbecoming for a noble lady to be so open in public. Is your lady mother here too?”

“Yeah,” the lady emerged out of the crowd with arms locked to her husband.

“Igna,” said Lord Lordon through narrowed eyes, “-what was that?”

“Lord Lordon, it was beyond my control, lady Syndra latched onto me, please, I apologize for the disrespect.”

“How scandalous,” chuckled Lady Yuki, “-my daughter has fallen for my apprentice. O’ the tragedy, am I to side with my angel’s chastity or the firm libido of my prodigy.”

“Lady Yuki, please,” he bowed, “-tis nothing of the sorts.”

“Stop bowing,” a slap to the back of the head forced him upright.

“My lord?” what returned was a pure smile.

“We’re merely teasing. I know you and Syndra are close, it’s all good.”

“See,” said she rubbing shoulders, “-my parents have no qualms, why should you?” she winked. Her usual twin-tail hair was tied in a classy simple bun. She wore a lovely light-blue dress reminiscing of the sky paired with lighter-blue heels. Fair in complexion, her rosy lips, and curvier figure caught the eyes of many wandering guests.

“Igna, Rena said they’re coming to join us,” Jen’s pace soon halted in face of the Medusa of Cooking and her husband, the feared food critic.

“Who’ s that?” said Syndra tilting her head, “-don’t tell me you have another girlfriend,” she cupped her mouth to hide behind Yuki.

“Did I come at a bad time?”

“No,” he laughed, “-Lord Lordon, Lady Yuki, here’s one of my roommates from the Academy, Jen.”

“Nice to meet you.”

“Igna, I expect you at the kitchen later,” voiced she strongly, “-Syndra, what are you going to do?”

“I’ll have Igna show me around the Festival,” she snapped his arm, “-Father, mother, please don’t worry.”

Sat on the lonesome bench, Syndra spoke extensively to Igna. He could but answer to her whims – more often than not, she’d get closer as if they were in relation. Jen watched from the sideline reservedly. A strenuous situation to handle.

*Dring,* “Incoming call from éclair.”

‘éclair, you’re amazing,’ seeing a chance to flee,”-I’ll be right back,” he faded into the crowd. Before Syndra’s charm, Jen sat waiting for her friends.

“What’s your relation with Igna?”

“Friends, I suppose,” returned Jen, “-things haven’t been that simple between us.”

.....

“Friends, I hope it remains so. I’ve set my eyes on Igna, none shall take him from me,” the beautiful pupils sprawled as if the wings of a phoenix.

“Do as you wish,” said she, “-I’m in a relationship. That aside, I’ve seen you before. Are you Syndra Lordon, the pianist?”

“Look at that, you know who I am?” a pleasant chuckle eased the prior misunderstanding