Everyone was surprised when Lance and Vince came back from lunch. The atmosphere between the two was very tense. Lance did not greet anyone at all and basically ignored them. It was the first time he had ever done that. So the employees were not only worried but also very suspicious.

Lance didn’t talk to anyone, after returning to his office. He wasn’t angry, but he needed time to calm himself down because he was afraid that he might say something very unreasonable to Vince.

Vince wasn’t speaking as well. Lance could see that he was very focused on his work. Vince finished his report and, gave it to Lance, without uttering a word.

It was impressive how polished Vince’s report was. There was no doubt that Vince was very capable.

Looking at Vince with amazement, Lance felt a little better. He saw Vince took out a plastic container filled with thin chocolate sheets and started snacking on them. Vince was facing the computer quite intently with his lips slightly moving as he read something.

“How can such a brilliant chef be like this?” Lance heard Vince said. “Wow… all are great reviews… how clueless these people are…” Vince continued. “Great food… but…” Vince sighed. “What a waste… He would be really famous if he isn’t so uptight…”

Lance closed his eyes. He realized that Vince was researching about Henry. His temper was rising once again. He hadn’t realized that he was staring at Vince with an obviously angry stare.

“Is everything okay?” Vince asked carefully.

“Yes. Why wouldn’t it be?” Lance answered back with a very irritated tone. “What are you doing?” He asked Vince.

“Ahh… I was just researching about Henry. Did you know that he won many contests in France? He is very famous there as well. Career and socially wise.” Vince said seriously.

Lance became really pissed off after hearing Vince talk about Henry. He stood up and went towards Vince’s desk and pulled the plug of the computer. “Hey! What did you do that for?!” Vince stood up.

Lance looked at him with sharp eyes. “If you’re just going to use it to research about Henry Amato, then it's better turned off! Stop wasting the company’s electricity!” Lance said before turning back.

“What the hell? Why are you angry?!” Vincent answered back defiantly.

“I’m not angry.” Lance lied. He sat down on his chair, still feeling a bit annoyed.

“Yes, you are. Ever since we got back, you have that crease on your forehead, and your eyes look really sharp and scary, you haven’t greeted any of your staffs, and ignored everyone in your way, that’s not how you act usually, so I know that you are angry.” Vince said.

“I said I’m not angry, so why force it?!” Lance raised his voice.

“Fine!” Vince answered back angrily. He sat back down, frustrated. “I forgot. I’m only your employee, what you do isn’t any of my concern, so I’m sorry for being worried.” Vince then took another piece of chocolate and took a bite, making a loud snapping sound.

Lance froze after hearing Vince’s words. He felt suddenly terrible, after hearing that Vince was worried. “You were worried…?”

“Did I say I was worried?” Vince said sarcastically without looking at him.

“You just said you were worried.” Lance argued.

“I said I wasn’t worried, so why force it?” Vince said, looking at Lance with a stoic expression.

“You…, it seems that you always forget that I am your boss. You always talk back.” Lance said slowly.

“Not really. It’s you who always forgot that I am only your employee.” Vince said. “Anyway, since you’re not angry, and I’m not worried, why don’t we just go back to what we are doing before?”

“You mean you’re going to research about that Henry again?” Lance’s tone was very impatient. He finds it so hard to control his own emotions every time he is with Vince.

“Yes. Why, is there anything wrong with that?” Vince sounded very provoking.

“Henry… Henry… Henry… Ever since we got out of that restaurant all you do is talk about that guy!” Lance was pretty angry. “Henry this and Henry that! You kept repeating that he looks good! WHY?! Do you like him?”

He saw Vince looked at him dumbfounded but instantly looked away stoically. “I’m only researching about him because of my mother’s recipe.” Vince said carefully and defensively.

“The one in the recipe is the Soul Chef! Cedric Amato! Not that Henry!” Lance stood up in anger. “Ahh… is this your way of telling me that you don’t like me? That you rather date that Henry than me!”

Vince looked at him with sharp eyes. Vince stood up. “Huh?! Why would I like to date such a guy?!” Vince answered with great disagreement. “You may be right about Cedric being the one in the recipe, but, I want to know how the grandson…”

“Stop it!” Lance hit the desk. “I don’t want to hear you say anything about that guy anymore!” He felt so bad that he stormed out of the office. He felt that if he argued with Vince any longer, that he might say something to hurt Vince, and probably do something that he would regret.

He couldn’t even understand himself. It was the first time he felt that jealous. “Do I like him that much?” He asked himself as he walked. He was oblivious to the stares that he was getting.

When he went back to his office, almost everyone in the department was gone, except for Fredrick. “Vincent, did he go home?” Lance asked. He still felt a little bit angry, and jealous, but he was starting to calm down.

“Yes… but, Director, is everything alright between the two of you? Everyone heard your fight…” Fredrick said carefully.

“Everything is fine.” He said and then walked into his office.

He looked at Vince’s desk with a lingering stare. He regretted bursting out like that. It was not his intention to shout at Vince at all, he just couldn’t control his feelings.

Lance saw the plastic container of chocolates on his desk. Vince must have put in there. Was that Vince’s way of saying sorry? He looked at it hesitantly. Vince said he studied chocolates, did he make those chocolates himself.

His phone suddenly rang, the call was from Vince. He looked at his phone for a while before finally deciding to answer it. “Vince…” He said.

“Lance… I left my chocolates on your desk, I made them myself. You should eat them, it might make you feel better, even if just a little. I know it isn’t much, but that’s all I could think of to apologize. I’m sorry. I was insensitive. I shouldn’t have talked about Henry that much.” Vince’s voice was calm and soft. It sounded so beautiful that it pierced through Lance.

“Vince, I’m sorry too. I was a bit unreasonable. When I heard you talk about that guy, I just get so jealous that I lost all control. It seems that I don’t really know how much I like you.”

Vince was quiet for a while. “I don’t like Henry at all, just so you know. I would stop talking too much about him, I’ll make Cedric eat my mom’s chocolate sooner so I wouldn’t have anything to do with Henry anymore.” Hearing Vince talk like that made Lance’s heart beat faster. It was like Vince was reassuring him. “Lance, I have never said that I don’t like you, it’s just that, right now, I can’t date someone like you.”

Lance was confused as to what Vince meant. He wanted to ask, but Vince hanged up. He felt his heart fluttering, he felt like he was lying in bed flowers, he felt so happy, that he couldn’t stop smiling. Vince hadn’t really said that he liked him as well, but he understood what he meant.

He looked at the chocolates on his desk and took one. As soon as he ate it, his eyes widened in surprise. The flavor exploded in his mouth, it was not too sweet, and he could taste the flavor of the cocoa beans properly. He had eaten many chocolates before, but nothing could be compared to what Vince had made. He felt like he was swimming in a pool of chocolate. Just a little bit more, and it would have been perfect. “Almost.” He said with a smile.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The smell of cocoa beans roasting floated in Melissa’s kitchen. Vincent just put his phone down with a wide smile on his face. He was feeling better, happy even, after his talk to Lance. He was about to make chocolate for the Soul Chef that night, and he couldn’t make it if he was feeling bad or down.

His mom always taught him that the feelings you have when cooking would be felt by the one who would eat your food. Chocolates are meant to make people happy, so it is only logical that the people making the chocolates should be happy as well.

Making amends with Lance was just what he needed that night to make him feel happy. “Was that him?” Melissa was leaning on the island of the kitchen where all the tools and ingredients for making chocolates were.

Vincent looked at her and smiled. “We made up.” He said as he smelled the roasting beans on the oven, it was about ready based on the time it was roasting, but Vincent was still waiting for that particular smell to come out from the beans. No one ever understood his method, no one had ever smelled the scent he was looking for, but Vincent was special. His mentor in Europe told him that he was born to make the best chocolates, he has unique abilities just for making chocolates.

“That fast?” Melissa. “You must really like him to make up with him this soon. To think that he was the one who shouted at you, yet, you’re the one who called and apologized first. Who is that man exactly?”

“Sec~ret~…” Vincent said as he took out the cocoa beans. He put it on top of a wooden board and started running it over with a rolling pin, each move was delicate and majestic. “If I told you who it was, you would tell Abby, then Abby would tell it to Jovan, then Jovan would meet him to talk.”

“What’s wrong with that?” Melissa was watching him closely.

“Every time Jovan would talk to the people that I’m interested in, he intimidates them, and scares them off.” Vincent answered defensively. Jovan was overprotective of him, it was like that ever since they became friends in college. After their talk with Jovan, those people never show themselves to Vincent again.

“Ohhh… Are you worried that Jovan would scare him off as well? You would hate that won’t you?” Melissa teased.

“Of course.” Vincent answered back with a smile as he removed the hull of the cocoa beans.

Melissa helped him. “You really like him. But why did you say that you don’t date people like him?”

Vincent didn’t answer back for a while, it was only when his chocolate mixture was ready to cool that he answered back. “I’m afraid. I’m afraid to get hurt and be abandoned. I don’t want to be left alone again.” Vincent’s tone was very sad. His sadness was very eminent in his eyes as well.

“Why are you thinking so negative?’ Melissa asked seriously. “Not all people are like them. You should at least give it a try.”

“It’s just that things are moving so fast, the first day he told me he likes me, and then today he was acting very jealous and we had our first argument, the rate things are moving, I’m afraid that he would leave me sooner.”

“Why do you keep on thinking that? The way you talked about him, I could tell that he really likes you a lot, and you do as well. Have some confidence. You should give him a chance and you should give yourself a chance as well. If there is anyone I know that deserves to be happy, it is you.”

Vincent stayed up all night, making the chocolate for the Soul Chef. He slept on the sofa and woke up late. He panicked when he saw the time and rushed, he didn’t even have the chance to see that Lance sent him a message. He was so tired when he got near the office.

He got a call from Lance. “Where are you?” Lance sounded very worried and panicked.

“I’m near the office. Sorry, I woke up very late and…”

“No, it’s okay. But, whatever you do, don’t go into the building. Understand? Don’t even go near it. Wait for me at the coffee shop at the nearby strip mall.”

“Why? What’s going on?” Vincent was really worried because of how Lance sounded that time.

“Just listen to me. I’ll explain later. Don’t go in.” Then Lance hanged up.

Vincent was very curious as to what was really happening at the office. He knew that it somehow involves him and that’s the reason why Lance didn’t want him to go in there. He didn’t wait long for Lance. As soon as Lance saw him, Lance smiled, but Vincent knew that something was really going on.

“What is really going on? Why can’t I go to the office?” Vincent asked very curiously.

“Don’t be angry…” Lance said hesitantly. “Rumors started circulating in the whole building this morning, apparently someone saw us eat at Cibo Per L’anima, and they also heard about our argument last night. That’s why they’re saying that we are dating…” It was obvious in the way that Lance spoke that he was careful not to make Vincent feel annoyed.

“WHAT?! Hey! This is because you pulled me out of your office like that on my first day, you even moved my desk inside your office. I knew that something like this would happen. They were staring at me very suspiciously yesterday, I should have known.” Vincent was a bit panicked.

“That’s why it’s better if you would just take the day off today.”

“Huh?! Are you kidding me? Why would I take the day off, if I do that then I would look guilty to them, plus it’s not like I did something wrong? As far as I am concerned, the reason that this whole thing is happening is that of you. Being childish and overly jealous for no reason…” Vincent looked at Lance with a straight face. Lance looked very guilty and about to answer back. “Do you think I would tell you about my father leaving my mother or about my mom’s recipe notebook if you are just anyone? I haven’t told anyone about that but my friends. We haven’t known each other for long, but I still told you that. Why? It’s because you’re special.” Vincent said with full confidence.

Lance's eyes widened before he gave a wide smile. “What do you mean by I am special?” He asked happily even though Vincent knew that he already knows what he meant.

“You are special to me. That’s all that you’re going to hear from me.” Lance smiled even brighter. Vincent blushed because of Lance’s stare and smile.

“That’s all I need to hear anyways.” Lance took a piece of paper and then gave it to Vincent.

“This is…” Vincent was pleasantly surprised as he read the contents of the paper. “Lance, this means a lot to me. I don’t even know how to thank you.”

“It’s alright, I already have something in mind.” Lance smiled. There was a tugging suspicion in Vincent’s mind but he was simply too happy that he got Cedric’s address to even think of what Lance might be planning. The worst that Lance could do is to ask him in a formal date for a whole day, which isn’t a bad thing at all.

“Thank you.” Vincent said sincerely. “I was actually planning on going to Henry’s place to ask him about his grandfather, but I guess there’s no need for that now.” Lance’s expression changed as soon as Vincent’s mentioned Henry.

“You were planning on going to Henry…?” It was obvious that Lance was trying to hide his irritation.

“Ahh…” Vincent saw through Lance so easily. He didn’t want things to get out of hand again, like the night before. “But, I don’t need to anymore, I won’t go there.” Vincent explained, wanting Lance to calm down.

“That’s good.” Lance said then stood up. “I should go back to work. Good luck.” He said before turning away and started walking slowly.

Having Lance by his side gave Vincent much more confidence. He felt that if Lance is with him, then everything would be fine, that everything would be in its place. Somehow, suddenly Vincent felt that he needed Lance more than anything. “You’re leaving…?” Vincent said shyly as he looked at Lance.

Vincent had no idea of what kind of expression he was making at that moment. He looked like a little child when his favorite playmate is going away. He looked very sulky and his eyes were looking at Lance longingly.

Looking back with a confused and shocked expression, Lance met Vincent’s gaze. Vincent felt his heart skipped a beat and he flushed beet red in shyness. “Just this moment, you sounded like you didn’t want me to go.” Vincent looked away. “You looked like you wanted me stay.” Lance said carefully and slowly.

“What are you talking about?” Vincent felt really embarrassed. He took a sip of his coffee and tried his best to avoid Lance’s eyes. What Lance said was true, but he was simply too shy to admit it.

“You’re blushing.” Lance said as-a-matter-of-factly.

Vincent almost spat his coffee when he heard Lance. He couldn’t believe how transparent he was at that moment.

“Your lips were pouted and your eyes looked like those of a lost puppy.” Lance said with a smile as he stepped closer to Vincent. “Just admit it, you want me to go with you.”

Lance was correct, Vincent wanted Lance to go with him. Vincent simply feels more confident when Lance is around, he feels that he could achieve and do anything, he feels comfortable and safe. But still, he wouldn’t admit those things, especially not to Lance.

“Just go back to your office.” Vincent said weakly without looking at Lance.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Lance was doing his best to hold back his happiness. The expression that Vince had a while ago was priceless, and even though Vince doesn’t want to admit it, Lance knew that Vince likes him as well.

They were both in Lance’s car on their way to Cedric’s house. Vince was still avoiding Lance’s eyes. When Vince told him to go back to his office in a very weak, but sulky tone, Lance simply became more adamant in accompanying Vince to Cedric’s place.

“So, you made that chocolate the whole night?” Lance asked, not being to hold back from talking to Vince.

“Yeah.” Vince’s reply was short and low.

“Did you have enough sleep?” Lance asked.

“Yeah.” Vince replied without looking at Lance in a monotone.

Lance kept on glancing at Vince, waiting for Vince to speak, as usual, but Vince was silent. “Ok, what’s wrong? And don’t try to say that there is nothing, because there definitely is, you wouldn’t be that quiet otherwise.” Vince still didn’t say anything. “Why aren’t you talking?”

Looking at Lance briefly, Vince spoke nonchalantly. “Because there is nothing to say.” Lance didn’t know what was happening at all. He was confident that he would understand once he sees Vince’s face, but with him driving and Vince avoiding his eyes, there was no way Lance could tell at all.

“Speak up.” Lance said in a gentle tone. “It’s not like you to keep quiet like that. I feel like something is wrong, is there?” Lance was genuinely curious and worried. He was worrying that he might have done something to upset Vince, after what happened the night before, making Vince upset again is the last thing he wanted.

“Nothing’s wrong.” Vince said briefly then closed his eyes and pretended to sleep.

More than feeling uncomfortable, Lance was deeply worried. He had no idea what was running on Vince’s mind at all. Even after arriving at Cedric’s place, Vince was still avoiding eye contact. Vince was quiet, and lance just couldn’t get used to it, he like the way that Vince talk, how Vince could say what he feels without inhibitions.

They were welcomed warmly in the house. Cedric was an energetic old man, and as soon as he saw Vince, Cedric smiled. It was only after they were all seated in the living room when Cedric finally spoke. “You grew up well. You look exactly like your mother.” He said looking at Vince.

“You know me?” Vince was as shocked as Lance was. Vince leaned forward with his hands on the table, while looking at Cedric. But instead of becoming curious as to why Cedric knew who Vince was, Lance became more absorbed in Vince’s expression. Vince looked like a surprised child, with his wide puppy eyes, instead of looking shocked he looked cute instead. Lance found himself deeper into the hole he dug himself.

Cedric laughed. “You’re still as adorable as ever. I remember when you were little, every time I would visit your mom’s shop, you would make me eat one of your newest chocolate concoction. There were nasty ones, but there were great ones as well.” Cedric reminisced with a smile.

“Wa-wa-wait a minute…” Vince sat back, his eyes rolled and he was quiet. Again, Lance was more focused on the expression that Vince was making. “Ahhh… Old man Eric!” Vince suddenly stood up pointing at Cedric.

Cedric laughed happily once again.

It seemed that Cedric Amato was an avid follower of Vince’s mom’s chocolate shop. He would visit every week and would buy a whole batch of the specialty. He was actually nervous about visiting every week because of Vince’s concoctions, he didn’t know whether it would be good or bad, but he just simply couldn’t reject Vince. It seemed that he found the young Vince very adorable, almost as adorable as his grandson. But Cedric went to France to start his new restaurant when Vince was in junior high, and when he returned, Vince’s mom was already dead, and Vince moved away, taken by a foster family.

“I missed your mom’s chocolate, that’s why when I heard from Lance that you wanted me to taste a recipe she specifically made for me, I didn’t think twice.” Cedric smiled. “I knew that one day you’ll be like your mother, the chocolates you made back then were all very imaginative.”

Vince smiled. “Thank you.” Then he took out the box of chocolate and pushed it towards Cedric. “My mom left me a recipe book, the name Soul Chef was written on one recipe, the recipe she made for you. I guess even though you hid your real name, she knew that you are the soul chef, maybe not by your identity, but by the food you cooked for us.”

Cedric looked at Vince and left the box alone. “Even though I know that this is your mom’s recipe and that you matured as a chocolate maker, I still couldn’t help but be nervous about the taste, maybe because of the memories I have of your past creations.” Cedric said in a jest. He pushed the box backed to Vince. “Why don’t we do this? My grandson, Henry, is a chef, but even though he is recognized by many, for me his foods are…”

“Soulless…” Vince continued. “His cooking, even though it tastes great, it is void of any emotion, I could tell that his heart is not into it, it’s like he’s just cooking for the sake of it. There is not even a tiny bit of emotion in it.” Vince said lowly, looking at Cedric. “I’m sorry…”

“Don’t be. You are exactly right. That’s why I am giving you a challenge. If you make Henry cook any dish that I could feel any kind of emotions after eating, then I would eat your chocolate.”

Vince looked hesitant for a while. “My mom told me to never take the easy way out. Well, Lance was the one responsible for finding you, I feel like I did no effort to find you at all, plus having Henry cook with his heart would be great, his food would be amazing if he does. So, I guess it’s a challenge then.” Vince said with a smile.

Lance became irritated after the mention of Henry’s name, and after hearing that Vince would be glad to teach Henry, he became instantly jealous. He stared at Vince, containing his jealousy and irritation.

Suddenly, Vince met his stare and instantly looked away. “By the way, I remember you always mentioned that it would be perfect if I marry your grandchild. Could I know who it is?” Vince suddenly asked.

“Huh?!” Lance reacted looking at Vince even more intently. “Why do you want to know? Are you interested?” He asked quite pissed off.

“That grandchild I mentioned before is the very same one I want you to teach, Henry.” Cedric said with a little smile.

“What?!” Lance suddenly stood up looking at Cedric. “Do you think it makes sense that you want to marry off your grandson with Vince?” Lance blurted out without thinking. He simply just couldn’t control his emotions.

“Hey!” Vince said as he stood up looking embarrassed. “I’m sorry for his rudeness, we’ll go now.” He said and then started to walk away. “What are you still doing, come on.” Lance was still staring at Cedric.

“You like him don’t you.” Cedric told Lance when Vince was already gone. Lance was surprised and wasn’t able to answer back. “That child would be even greater than his mom, he’ll even be better than me or anyone else. Even when he was young, his heart was always on the chocolates that he made, that is why even though some of it tastes bad, they were still one of the best because he put his love into it. You should never let someone who cooks that way go. Because people like him are the ones that loves the most. It’s a waste… he would be perfect for Henry.” Cedric said in a friendly tone.

“I never intend of giving him away to anyone, so forget about your wild idea. Vince is mine.” Lance replied in a decisive and yet friendly manner. He smiled courteously at Cedric before bidding his farewell and walking out.