"Okay, how about a Japanese restaurant?" asked Devan, then turned the wheel, entering the parking lot of a large and luxurious restaurant that happened to be on the side of the road they were passing.
Anna just sighed harshly, if it was like this, why did Devan ask her? If in the end, the man kept doing everything as he pleased.
Again, Anna just obeyed and followed where the man would take her.
Entering the restaurant, Anna was slightly amazed. This was the first time she entered a Japanese restaurant, usually, she only saw it on tv or in magazines. A little information, that since childhood the woman was very fond of all things Japanese. Only because of her family's economic limitations that she never showed that she liked the cherry country.
A few years ago, when her family had just been hit by a big accident where her mother died and her father had gone somewhere, Japanese art and the culinary festival were held in the city where she lived. The event was organized by the Japanese community in Indonesia but unfortunately, at that time Anna could only admire her from afar.
It's not that she doesn't want to be part of the festival, it's just that her job is more important than anything else. Even though wanted to enjoy various kinds of Japanese cuisine and also the knick-knacks that were there. In the end, until the event was over, Anna could only swallow her wish.
Once, Anna invited Brian, but to no avail. The man refused to go on the pretext of being busy. And after that, until now Anna can only watch all the things she likes on tv. Whenever the woman was relaxing at Nicho's house, she never once watched a tv channel other than the Japanese channel.
"You like this place?" asked Devan grabbing Anna's arm.
Reflex Anna nodded, since earlier she had been busy admiring the exterior of the restaurant which is very thick with traditional Kyoto architecture*, although it is traditional in style, anyone can still find a modern touch, also enriched with elements of wood and bamboo so that it gives a strong natural feel. She could feel the sparks of Japanese culture at the place where she was.
Devan smirked at the woman's response.
"I know you like this place, but that doesn't mean you're going to be standing there, right?"
"Sit down, or..."
"Okay," Anna interrupted immediately.
Devan chuckled, then rang the bell that was right in the corner of the table. Just a few seconds later, a female waitress came and handed over a list of food menus in the restaurant.
"What do you want to eat?" asked Devan handing the menu board to Anna.
"Yakitori… Is there?" The woman's response was fast, even though the menu list was still in Devan's hands.
Of course, Devan's brow furrowed at Anna's response. Looking for the name of the menu that the woman had just mentioned and it was there.
"Besides, what else?"
Anna shook her head, "I just want that," Anna replied.
Devan chuckled, "Okay."
Anna, who seemed to have just realized what she had just done froze in place, then looked down again. "E-excuse my impoliteness, sir," she stuttered a little.
"Why apologize? I prefer your attitude just now. If it's just the two of us, don't hesitate and just relax. Also, about you call me, I don't like it," replied Devan.
"Oh, sorry."
"Stop. I don't want to hear you apologize anymore."
"All right," replied Anna shortly.
"Good."
"Have you been here before?" asked Devan again.
"No."
"Really? How did you find out the menu?"
"Th-that, I just guessed it," replied Anna carelessly.
"Okay, looks like you don't want to tell me."
Hearing this, Anna didn't respond anymore and just looked down with her eyes fixed on the toes of Devan who was sitting opposite her. Her current attitude was different when she first entered this restaurant.
"Keep your head up, do my feet catch your eye more than my face?"
"Yes."
"What?"
"Ah n-no. I didn't mean to..."
"What do you mean? Then raise your head, you are not my maid or servant," Devan cut in immediately.
" O-okay," replied Anna briefly and then raised her gaze, but only limited to the table and nothing more, for some reason she didn't have the guts to look directly at the man's face.
Seeing this Devan sighed harshly.
The arrival of the waiter who brought the food menu made both of them silent.
Looking at some of the menus in front of Anna, the girl's brow furrowed, "I didn't order this," said Anna pointing at the menu in question.
"I ordered it for you," said Devan before the waitress who seemed to want to open her voice.
Waiting for the waitress to finish her work and move away from the table, Anna again said, "I only want this Yakitori, not Onigiri," protested Anna again looking at Devan.
"You just eat," she added, sliding the menu in front of Devan but was immediately restrained by the man.
Yakitori is a chicken dish seasoned with sweet salt and soy sauce, this menu is very similar to satay in Indonesia. While Onigiri is the Japanese version of rice balls. In the form of a ball or triangle, inside it, contains salmon/chicken which is then wrapped in Nori (a thin sheet of food made from dried seaweed).
"Your stomach won't be full if you just eat that, Anna. Eat this, or shall I feed you?" said Devan.
"Okay, give this to me, I'll feed you," he added, pulling that menu.
"No, I'll eat it myself," replied Anna immediately pulling back the menu.
"Good."
Anna gasped, again she crossed the line. She shouldn't have behaved like that to her boss.
"No need to apologize," Devan said first as if he knew she would apologize to him again.
Anna lowered her head in shame, cursing herself for not being able to keep her attitude.
"Eat it," said Devan.
Anna just nodded faintly and then started eating the dish in front of her. Even though she knew the name of the menu that had spoiled her tongue, but this was the first time she had tried it, yes her life this was the first time. The feeling of fullness she had felt a moment ago could somehow turn into hunger.
Anna loves satay very much, and that's what made her want to taste Yakitori. Not only that, her insight into the land of cherry blossoms is unquestionable, the only thing she doesn't know is speaking the Japanese language.
When she was still in high school, she once asked her mother to take Japanese language lessons, only the fees were so expensive that she had to bury her wish.
Sad isn't it? None of her wishes were fulfilled because of her family's financial condition, not to mention after the departure of her mother, she was again required to survive on her own during the harsh city life.
Yes, even though at that time there was Brian, but for Anna, the man was no longer included in the list of people who had been present in her life. Her heart hurt, even now, the pain is still there. Just thinking about it sometimes still makes her cry involuntarily.
DESCRIPTION
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*Kyoto is a city in Japan.
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