One Last Time
#1 5 Years Later
Outside the airport 5:45 PM.
He walks out and inhales, taking in the fresh air.
He smiles and then hails a taxi.
Inside the taxi, he takes out his phone.
Alex
Let's meet at that place tonight. You guys coming right?
He let go of the audio recording.
He looks out of the window to see the trees whizz by.
She walks into the building of her dreams.
Stepping in the elevator, she press the button which indicate to the floor she was instructed to work at.
She tries and calms herself down but she can still feel her hands tremble as she walls across the room to the office.
Walking straight, remembering the layout from when she visited here during her interview.
She clears her voice as she knocks.
Editor-In-Chief
Come inside.
She takes a big breath and enters in.
Melissa
Good morning sir. I'm the new writer you employed.
He looks at her trying to remember.
Editor-In-Chief
Ah right! Melissa, right?
Editor-In-Chief
Ok, I was too busy working and I wasn't able to remember you well.
Editor-In-Chief
But that's how busy our magazine is.
Editor-In-Chief
Sometimes we must keep pending our personal matters before our work.
Editor-In-Chief
Especially new workers.
He says raising his eyebrows.
Editor-In-Chief
You can do that right?
Editor-In-Chief
Good. Here take this file.
Editor-In-Chief
It is your first project.
Melissa takes the file he hands her.
Editor-In-Chief
Taste his food and write about it in brief.
Editor-In-Chief
But write more about the chef in detail, okay? Interview him!
Editor-In-Chief
Also, his picture is needed.
Editor-In-Chief
Ask me if there's any questions.
Melissa nods and opens the file.
She looks through the information.
Melissa
There's no picture or number? Just his workplace and email?
He looks up from his desk.
Editor-In-Chief
It's a test. Get what you can with what your provided.
Editor-In-Chief
Also he is not very open to media. You will need to persuade hard.
Editor-In-Chief
Ready yourself with his special dishes if you want to get in favour with him.
Editor-In-Chief
Then, see yourself out.
Melissa heads out to the desks and sees her name printed in paper pinned there.
She gave it her all to work here.
And she will do her utmost best and get promoted!
She turns on her computer.
After setting up the computer with passwords, she goes to email.
She finishes it after 20 minutes, editing her first ever business email to her level of perfection.
She looks through the email once again before she press send.
She leans back to her chair finally finished.
She looks towards the worker beside her, she made herself familiar with the worker when she entered.
Melissa
Wanna go get something to drink?
She spend the rest of her first day doing small tasks for her superiors.
At 7Pm, she logged into her email.
Melissa
I received an email back!
She had received an response from the chef!
#2 First Love
It was a cold day in December.
Melissa gathered her coat and hitched it to feel warmth as she stood outside the restaurant.
It was her first task and she needed perfection.
Melissa
I can do this! I'm Melissa.
She cheered herself in the cold, shivering.
She slowly enters the restaurant.
Her eyes gave view to a pleasant surprise.
The restaurant emitted a warm vibe with warm toned lights and heating.
With Christmas tree in the corner and a mistletoe above the fireplace.
It was a place like a warm paradise.
It warmed her heart as she entered the place.
She showed her identification for the reservation she had made.
A waiter came and lead her to her reserved table.
She sat down, and her eyes roamed around the pleasant place.
She had read about the chef in the web with little information they had of him.
He had himself decorated this place according to his wishes! It looks so aesthetic.
She smiled and took pictures of the decos and the place.
Started as a small chef abroad but after gaining interest by the people came back to the town he grew up in and started this.
Picking up the menu she asks the waiter.
Melissa
What's your most special dish?
Melissa
Which we can only find it here?
The waiter points out a menu.
Melissa
Ok, get me that..Thanks.
The waiter comes back with the dish in her tray.
She places it down smoothly on the table.
Melissa stares at the dish.
She takes the picture of the dish.
Melissa
Can you tell me about this dish?
The waiter however declined as she was new.
She asked if she should bring a senior staff but Melissa decides to ask the chef himself.
Melissa decided to wait for the chef.
The Restaurant was closing down for the day.
Melissa waited for the chef the whole time.
She hadn't seen the chef yet as he occupied the kitchen mostly.
After a while, the manager came and gave directions to the owner/chef office.
She proceeded with the directions and came before a door.
She knocked on the door and entered.
As she saw the person before her, she fell back shocked.
He had changed completely...
Junio
It's been a while, Melissa.
She blinked unable to process.
She trembled remembering the past.
Melissa
What are... are you doing here?
Junio
Your asking the chef what he's doing here, when your here to interview him?
He smirked a tiny bit enabling Melissa to notice.
Melissa
Did you know that I was going to be the one to interview you?
He scoffs as he stands up from his desk.
Junio
We haven't spoken for 5 years.
Junio
How could I have known?
Melissa nods compiling to his wishes.
She also needed a seat from the shock.
Junio
You need to interview me?
Melissa
Wait.. one sec. Let me find it..
Melissa
I had written a set of questions.
She fumbled through her bag to find the piece of paper.
She looks back to Junio, unable to look him in the eye.
Melissa
Yeah, it.. Must have forgotten about it...
Junio
Well, what do you wanna do about it?
Junio
Your not gonna ask me?
Junio
I have other matters at hand.
Melissa
Oh wait, I need to do this interview.
She said grabbing his hand.
He shrugged it off instantly.
Melissa
(Thoughts) Of course, he would not want to see me again after that.
Melissa
(Thoughts) Or even know me.... I should finish this quick. I'm sorry, Junio.
She picks up her camera determined and shows the dish she had earlier.
Melissa
Can you tell me about this dish?
Melissa
The waiter said it was special and can only be found here.
Junio nods looking at the dish.
Junio
Yes, I made this dish.
He sits down in the seat adjacent to hers.
Junio
I made it a few months ago, back the the taste was a bit incomplete so I tried...
He starts explaining, however Melissa signals him to stop
She goes into her bag and finds her recording device.
She turns on it and signals to start.
Junio raises his eyebrows.
Junio starts explaining about the dish in detail.
Junio
Like I said, in the beginning when I tried it, it was incomplete but...
Melissa
(Thoughts) He looks so much different now.
Melissa
(Thoughts) He looks healthier....it's been a long while. 5 years.
Melissa
(Thoughts) I have not seen him since that incident...
Melissa
(Thoughts) I must have made a huge scar on him then... I can never forgive myself, Junio. I'm so sorry to you and what I made you go through.
Junio notices her staring at him.
Melissa caught with surprise, instantly looks away.
Junio notices and goes back to explaining.
Melissa
(Thoughts) He noticed me staring...
Melissa
(Thoughts) Even after all this while, I can't still meet his eyes
Melissa
(Thoughts) It's disturbing me....
After the interview, they both head together outside.
The cold wind welcomes them.
Junio
You must have been surprised.
Junio
To see me there right?
Junio looks at the sight in front.
Junio
It's been 5 years, Mel.
Junio
Looking back now, I can see how childish I was back then.
Melissa felt the heat of her body in tension.
Her eyes almost teared up.
Junio
I did a lot of things considered stupid.
Junio
I liked you back then and I did everything I could to meet you.
Junio
Learning to skateboard, early morning jogs, diets.
Junio
It was a turbulent time.
He said looking at Melissa.
Junio
We both should forget about it.
Junio
When I learned it was all a bet, I was not willing to accept it.
Junio
And when I finally did, It got me at my worst.
Junio
It really hurt me back then after all, you were my first love.
Junio
I ended up in that accident.
Junio
You never came to visit me.
Junio
You didn't have the courage to come and visit me.
Melissa
I hovered outside and roamed there.
Melissa
Never came inside.
Melissa
I felt guilty after all it was because of me you were there...
Melissa
You wanted to escape from me... when it happened.
Tears welled up in her eyes.
Junio
I'm talking about a lot of irrelevant things here, I.. should stop.
Junio
What I wanted to actually say was..
Junio
We should let go of the past.
Junio
Introduce ourselves newly.
He turns to Melissa and lends out his hand.
Melissa
What are you doing?
Junio
It's been five years, Mel.
Junio
You should forgive yourself.
Melissa looked at Junio and nodded.
Melissa
Since I'm leaving here...
She said as she went down the stairs and looked back from the pathway
Melissa
I'm sorry for everything.
She collected herself and entered a cab stationed in front of her.
Junio looks at her go away.
Junio
She still hasn't let it go...
He takes out his phone and listens to the audio Alex sent him.
Junio
I'll be there soon. See you.
#3 Fated gathering
It was a bustling place with people moving around alot.
Junio enters the restaurant.
Junio
Reservation. Room 4.
The waiter nods and leads him to the room.
He opens the door and he smiles.
The other two come and hug him.
All three of them stays in place for a while before they move away.
Jun
More than three years.
Alex
Yeah, since we have all been together.
Junio
I know, I missed you guys.
Alex
Well we met as a duo but one was always busy so they could not come.
Jun
Let's sit down! I'm hungry.
All three of them sit down and pick out the menu.
They rang the bell gave their orders and sat down looking at eachother.
All three of them broke into laughters.
Jun
We should really do something about that.
Alex
Then should we say what we have been upto these days?
Jun
As you know it's my last year at uni.
Jun
I've done my internship just finished.
Junio
Wow, so our Jun became a doctor 😁
Alex
Anyway, we are proud of you.
Alex
Oh, How's it with your parents?
Jun looked at Alex and sighed.
Jun
After they divorced, they are still living together. Better than before, because they have no expectations.
Jun
So that's that. What about you Junio?
Junio
Well, as you know I started my own restaurant.
Alex
Oh yeah, why didn't we meet there instead?
Junio
True, but all my employees went home.
Junio
If there's an extra event, I need to inform them before...
Jun
Dude, your the owner. But I guess so.
Junio
I couldn't because of you Alex.
Junio
You weren't even sure of when you will depart.
Junio
Anyways, today was a bit...
The other two raised their eyebrows.
Junio chuckled nervously.
Junio
Wait, it wasn't intentional.... or maybe
Alex
What are you talking about ?
Jun
Don't you remember what happened?
Junio
She's a magazine writer who wanted to write about my place and me.
Junio
She didn't know who I was... when she accepted, I'm guessing.
Junio
Well I gave the interview and then
Junio
When we were leaving, I told her to forget about useless past and move on.
Junio
And I will do the same.
Jun
I guess it's best choice.
Jun
Both of you should not dwell on the past.
Jun
Even though I'm not a huge fan of Melissa, I know she also received a huge shock that year.
There was a moment of silence..
Junio
What about you Alex?
Junio
You finished everything and came back here.
Jun
This will be interesting...
Jun
You never indulged on it in our chats
Jun
You made me mad hell curious
He takes a sip of his drink.
Alex
H.J Wilson and Company.
The other two were shocked.
Jun
Isn't that Derek's company?
Alex
I looked into the matter more
Jun asked with a rather a stern voice.
Although Jun had decided to give up on Alex for the best interest, there was still lingering feels.
He especially didnt want Alex to go back to Derek after how Derek treated Alex.
Alex
And it was just a lie
Junio
You mean that whole video?
Jun
Why would anyone even do that?
Jun
And plus back then Derek didn't even call u back.
Alex
It's because he was who sent me that video
Jun
Why would he send you the video?
Alex
So I'm gonna to the company
Alex
And ask Derek, wait till he tells me himself
Jun's smart so he understood what Alex said.
Jun
So you want to pretend to be a fool about this matter until you hear it from himself?
Jun
But what does this even do?
Alex
You know how frustrated and unhappy I was when this ordeal happened.
Alex
I want him to feel the same.
Alex
Because I know the truth... where as he doesn't know I do.
Junio
I guess this is why you were the last
Junio
You have a god damn plan
Junio
To make your ex feel uncomfo
Junio
That's why your last?
Jun
Can you be clearer you fatto?
Junio
I'm now handsome and cool ^^
Junio
Many people chase after me
Jun
Do you think we don't know?
Jun
Didn't you become like this because of Melissa?
Jun
Anyway what were you telling?
Junio
The person with the most important thing to say always ends up last
Junio
Or they aren't even given the chance.
Junio
That's why I think it's like Alex.
Jun raises his eyebrow in question and sighs.
Jun
What are you even saying?
Jun
Go on with what you were saying Alex.
Jun
We wont ever know what Junio is saying
Jun
Whoever marries him, gOoD luck
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