WE MEET AGAIN

“is it who I think it is, I hope so because I’m sure he is not going to let me work at his house, I hope it is not that grumpy man”, I said to myself

As I saw who it was, my heart slummed right into my throat, pounding really fast, it was my ex-boss, that grumpy back bent man, at that moment I knew he wasn’t going to let me stay so I just stood there like a log of wood waiting for him to reject me and throw me out of his house

“okay son meet Sung Min our new cook, say hello to her”, said Babu

“hello”, he responded with his eyes closed

“can I go now Babu”, he added

He must have been very tired, because throughout the entire conversation he didn’t open his eyes to see me

“yes, you can go’, Babu replied

I watched him stagger out of the room, but before he left Babu asked

“Hee Bin should she start today or tomorrow?”

“she can start whenever she like, Babu, let me just go”, he responded

Thank goodness, I said as I watched him walk out, it would surely have been a different story if he was fully awake, I came at the right time. I have been over there for thirty minutes and I haven’t seen a cleaner or anyone else, maybe they all went on vacation, that’s why they needed me to cook for them.

“I’m sure you must be wondering why you haven’t seen anyone else”, Babu said.

“yes sir, I thought they must have all gone on a break or so”, I replied decently.

“well you are right Sung Min, we have two maids and they took a break from work, I don’t think they will ever come back” said Babu.

“and why is that so, Sir” I asked

“Hee Bin, Hee Bin is always harsh towards them, that’s why” he answered.

I was sure he was not going to be any nicer to me, I just had to endure

“Sung Min, will you resume today or tomorrow?” Babu asked.

“I’ll stay today sir and get familiar with the kitchen” I answered.

“okay, come let me show you around and one more thing, don’t call me sir, call me Babu, don’t call Hee Bin master either, you should call him by his name” he said.

I nodded my head in response to what he said and one thing was on my mind, why wouldn’t he want to be addressed as master, well that wasn’t a problem for me, I just wanted to work and get paid, that’s all. Babu showed me the entire house and lastly, he showed me the kitchen, it was quite big, it was even bigger than my kitchen and room combined. I loved it so much, one thing was on my mind for sure, not letting what he says get to me and I said to myself;

“if he dares try to be mean or insulting, I would do the same to him”

I did all I had to do, did the dishes, mopped the kitchen and so on, I wasn’t made to put on uniform, I just wore an apron when I had to cook. It was getting late and my house was quite far from theirs so I went to ask Babu if I get a room to stay, he gave me one and I laid down in the room, I remembered that I had to warm the food I cooked in the afternoon for that grumpy man, so I went to the kitchen to do it, I stood there at the table waiting for the pasta to become hot, I heard the door from behind, so I thought it was Babu and I said;

“Babu I would serve you food if you want”

“who are you?” Hee Bin asked.

I was shocked with the voice I heard from behind, it was Hee Bin, he is going to see me and complain, I was sure of that

“didn’t you hear what I said, who are you?” he said starting to get angry

“I’m the new cook you hired some hours back” I responded without turning my face to him.

“let me see your face and I can’t even remember giving anybody a job as a cook here, so who are you” he kept on asking

I just ignored him and continued with the pasta, I was certain that was disrespect and I knew it made matters worse, I could feel him coming closer towards me but I just stood there staring at the pasta, he moved closer until he was right behind me.

“I said show me your face woman” he said struggling with me

He was trying to get to turn my face but I didn’t allow, he kept on struggling and I kept on resisting, I felt like he was a very disrespectful man because he was handling me roughly, I thought of slapping him very hard when I turned when I turned to face him but on a second thought, what good would that do, I would just lose my job again from the same person so I just gave up, I let him turn my body to face him and from his reaction when he saw me, I could feel that he was shocked that it was me.

” you!” he shouted

“and you are sure I employed you, where is Babu? Babu!!” he shouted as he left the room.

I annoyed him again, I just pray he doesn’t fire me like he did the last time, he kept on shouting and shouting the old man’s name till he came downstairs, Babu came with him to the kitchen.

“Babu, come in, what is she doing here Babu?” he said.

“she is our new cook, you agreed yourself, I know what you have in mind but my answer is no, she is staying and that is final” Babu lamented.

“she is our new cook and I already like her” Babu added touching my shoulder.

“but Babuu!” he complained.

“no, no, no Hee Bin, no ifs and buts, she stays, just be a good boy and let her do her work” Babu said to him

“my dear, please bring my food up to my room” he said to me

“yes Babu” I responded.