Chapter Nine: First Things First
1765 Words
Molen is nervous.
It's an underrated feeling but she's really nervous right now. She is anxious for two reasons; first, they’re shooting the first clip of the vlog with Flynn and Calyx. Second, she's new to the whole video and online platform thing, but it has been a dream for Molen since she was young. Another reason why she wanted Flynn to taste the dessert she made but fate played between them. And destiny played again because the collaboration between her, Flynn and Calyx was bound to happen today.
Earlier, her hands were cold even though she was just memorizing the process of the recipe they were going to make today. It was Flynn's special request, since he liked the enhanced flavors of her chicken wings recipe. She had also heard several times before that he liked her work in recent days. It was as if she wanted to give up but Vina and Abbey wouldn't let her. They pushed her and boosted her confidence even more.
While Nana Rosa reminded them that rejections and failures are part of life, she said they shouldn’t be discouraged.
She repeated the recipe until it stuck in her mind. But the nervous feelings are still there. It's hard to remove and she’s not in front of the camera yet. What if she’s already in front of the camera?
“Monica? What are you doing there?" a question that provoked her and intensified the nervousness she had been feeling a while ago. "Are you nervous?"
She turned and looked straight at Flynn. “This is my first video appearance and the issue between us is still circulating online. I'm not sure if this is a good idea or if we're just looking for our doom day.”
Flynn chuckled.
Molen saw how Flynn put his camera on the side before holding her hands. She was slightly taken by electricity that suddenly flowed through their skins. Molen doesn't believe in anything that concerns sparks and love connections. She was too busy with such feelings, so she chose not to focus her attention on it. All she needed was a stable income for all of them, with her cousins and a home.
“Whenever I feel nervous, I close my eyes and think about where it all started. Once I re-focus my mind on my goals again, everything will be okay slowly.”
Molen took Flynn’s advice to her even though it’s been weird being hands-on with him lately. Even Abbey wonders, but it just leaves it all up to her to decide. Flynn hasn't done anything wrong in the past few days. But it was still not enough for her to be complacent. Everything suddenly needed a sound reason to trust him again.
As she opened her eyes, their eyes met. "Do you feel better now?" Flynn asked.
"Slight ... My hands are still shaking and sweating a bit."
She knew Flynn noticed that but she chose to ignore it to encourage her. Molen’s interpretation of what was happening was correct. Molen knew he was really up to something she couldn't name up until now.
"You'll be fine, don't worry."
Flynn's video with Molen and Calyx wrapped up after three hours of filming. Calyx immediately said goodbye to them because he had another appointment outside. He was left with Molen and her cousins, who were still obviously resentful of him. Flynn knows that it doesn't fade away easily. He often told himself that he needed to fix everything to gain their trust.
"Are you free tomorrow?" he asked Molen.
"I think so, why?" This is another question, not an answer to what he asked Molen.
“Is it okay if I schedule a meeting with another potential investor?” Monica didn't seem to expect what he said. Flynn knew he had crossed the line that she had first placed between the two of them before. “It’s okay if you’re not that comfortable yet. I accidentally heard you and Abbey talking about getting a bank loan and got rejected.”
Monica's lips formed an O shape after hearing what Flynn had just said. He didn't mean to hear anything because he wanted to. Flynn spoke to the well-known but didn't seem to agree yet.
"Is it okay to get an investor instead of taking a bank loan?"
"Both are good sources of money for startups, but I prefer pulling an investment instead of a bank loan."
He saw Monica think for a moment before looking at him again and agreeing to what he wanted to happen. They talked and decided to work together to make the product they would present to their potential investor. He promised to help her make a business plan today. Flynn will only use the strategies he knows to help Monica get an investor to continue her business. He bade goodbye and went straight home.
"So, you're helping your enemy now?" Josh asks him after he catches up with him, taking his business plans out of the storage.
“She’s not an actual enemy. It’s a child-like quarrel, Josh.”
"Don't tell me you're into Molen Tejada now?"
“I’m not. I just want to help her. It's different from liking her as a person. I want to be friends with her, though.”
“Woah! Calyx was right after all. She has already bewitched you.”
He shook his head. “No one is bewitched, Josh. I want to help her,”
“Whatever, Flynn. I know you more than you knew yourself. ”
He ignored Josh's words, took what he needed, and then speared him. He immediately got into his car and maneuvered it toward Monica’s house. He says they are bound to discuss the strategic plans they add to the developing business plan for the investor, he tells Mr. Uytingco for a long time. The old investor follows every video he uploads online. Mr. Uytingco helped every business – primarily companies – he featured in his videos. That’s why he wanted to bring Monica’s business closer to him. Monica's works have potential, only emotion reigns here, while he is pride. He admitted the fact because there was a real chance that he was like that to whom.
One of the cruel characteristics of a Sandoval which Flynn hates the most. He sometimes hates himself. He sometimes beat himself for something he'd done in the past.
The past.
Flynn wanted to forget that already.
Molen opened the door for Flynn and she let him enter her kitchen. Now they will talk about the dishes that will be displayed and will be tasted by the potential investor as it says. Her cousin just let her and Flynn do their thing and gave them a chance to talk now.
"Which one do you prefer?" he asked Flynn.
"A tea is enough for me," he replied to her.
“That’s all? Don’t you want cookies? ”
"I'll take that." Flynn picked up one and immediately tasted it. “Uhm, this is so good! You're improving slowly and that's good.”
"I bought that outside, Flynn." The young man stopped eating and swallowed only what was in his mouth. “It’s okay. I'm gathering some samples so I know what to improve with my dishes and desserts. I’m going to make my dessert tastier than that.”
“That’s a good idea yet critical. You're set to imitate someone's dishes.”
Molen nodded as she remembered what Flynn was saying to her. What he said was also true, so she must stop collecting samples first. Molen should focus on her craft more than others.
“Why don’t we re-create the dessert you brought for me before?”
"I haven't changed nor re-focused my attention on that."
"I'm sorry, but you'll just need to add something to make it tastier."
What could that be?
She had been looking everywhere for a long time but she couldn't really get what was missing from the dessert.
"What is it that you're looking for that dessert?" She boldly asked Flynn.
She has long been curious about what is missing there, and it is hard for him to prove it wrong. But the wind has changed, and he is now helping her to plan for Molecules’ Café. Abbey said she noticed something had changed in Flynn. But for Molen, it was still the same with Flynn she had known, fought with and hated before.
Hated before. Does that mean I don’t hate him now?
She was still a little annoyed, but because of the help that was within, she just let it go and finally accepted it. She does not see any hidden plan that is hidden from his knowledge.
"Something I'm lacking too," he told her.
Her forehead twitched suddenly. Does that mean compassion?
Impossible,
According to Vina, she has the most selfless heart of the three of them. She has been abused sometimes. That's why they scrutinize her thoroughly before she grabs Flynn's deal. They don't want her to be used again just because she’s kind.
"What is it?" She asked maliciously. He pretended not to know even though she already had a prediction.
"Happiness and free will," Her forehead furrowed even more. “Your dessert is the saddest dessert I ever tasted. I know that there is a story in it, but the food usually brings joy to people. That's the goal we're targeting now - to make food that will bring happiness to everyone.”
Molen was happy when she made the dessert that the young man tasted then. She just didn't know if that was enough or if more should be added.
How would she do that? Where will she draw happy emotions?
“Don’t worry, Monica. I’ll help you do that, okay?”
She smiled sparingly at the young man and resumed making his request. Molen knew it would take them overnight, so she dug into the work. She didn't even bother Nana Rosa to serve the two of them later. Molen told them that she would take care of everything tonight.
“Have you been in a relationship, Monica?”
“Is that still related to our business deal?”
“Yeah. Aside from happiness, the receiver of food should feel that it is also made of love. That's why I'm asking you if you've been in a relationship.”
Molen replied shyly. He didn't want to let her, but Flynn Sandoval seemed really interested in her personal life.
"No, I haven't."
"I think that's where we should start first."
What does he mean?
- Writer
