Chocolate Kiss Vol. 1: Forgotten Love Song

"Hmmmm?

Did the bell on the front door ring?

Ah! Welcome, esteemed guest, to Chocolate Kiss Cafe!

Enter and be transported to our rustic haven, where you can relax and have some quiet conversation.

Our coffee is the best, our cakes will leave you obsessed.

So come, sit down and take a break. Our service is the best, so no need to hesitate!

But a word to the wise, listen for I tell no lies.

If on your table a fox shall appear, take it with you, don't leave it here.

For the fox will grant a wish, to those who don't resist.

But a curse will be given to those who make the wrong decision.

Ah but I digress...

This one should let you rest.

So sit back and enjoy the bliss that you will experience from Choco Kiss!"

I watched as the Mad Hatter chanted his welcome before he ushered me to an empty table. He looked as crazy as ever with that smile of his that reached ear to ear.

It's been years since I've visited this place, which had always seemed like something straight out of a fairy tale. In fact, I was the one who named the attendant 'Mad Hatter' two decades back. It was because he reminded me of the character in Alice in Wonderland. And yes, he even wore the iconic top hat.

Back then, the cafe really had a fantasy feel to it. Walls and floors made of stone, wooden tables and chairs, oak barrels, and warm, dim lighting courtesy of countless candles on every table as well as scattered around the entire interior. Even the chandelier was filled with candles.

In the past, the customers seemed larger than life and, although I could only see their silhouettes, I knew they were not humans. Some were in the shape of a bear, some are small, like ferrets, and some had humanoid shapes but sported what seemed to me as tails. They talked in a language that I could not understand nor recognize. Thinking back, the words sounded very archaic.

This time around, the silhouettes looked like those of normal humans. So much so that I wondered if it was because of my childishness that made me see them as beings you can only hear in stories or see on TV.

I craned my neck a bit to listen to those at the table next to mine talk. I couldn't help but feel disappointed when I realized that I still can't understand a word they were saying.

"What would it be, Master?" the Mad Hatter asked me as he handed me the menu.

I glanced at him incredulously.

I have been to this place hundreds of times in my childhood and the sequence would always be the same, like a play being performed repeatedly. First, the Mad Hatter would sing his silly rhyme before giving me a table. Then, he would bring me a treat depending on the season. In springtime, it would be a tart or any fruity dessert. In hot summer months, it would be an ice cream sundae or a banana split. Autumn would be pumpkin pies and apple cobblers. And the cold winter months would mean smores, hot cocoa, and eggnog.

This was the first time the Mad Hatter had asked me what I wanted.

He looked at me with his bulging eyes and that wide smile that for a moment I wondered how I wasn't afraid of him as a kid.

I looked down at the menu and decided to choose the first one that caught my eye.

"I'll have a carrot cake and a cafe Americano."

The items appeared on the table in a blink of an eye.

As if to resume the script that had been used for years, the Mad Hatter made a quick bow and uttered the words, "Enjoy," before he turned around and left.

I glanced back at the food that had manifested themselves in front of me and wondered what caused such a change in the sequence. Was it because I am already grown up so I am now able to choose what I want? Or was there something more to it? Regardless, it was a small deviation from the usual script, but it still left a lingering unease within me.

I knew from the very start what kind of place I have drifted into. I had known back then, and I still remember it now. What I do not know, however, was the purpose behind all this. Why am I experiencing them again?

What I recalled next was one that made my heart beat fast. As soon as my mind had called upon that memory, I looked up from my table and saw the exact same scene that made my heart skip a beat even now.

There she was, sitting in front of the bar and looking as she had the first time that I laid my eyes on her twenty years past. It was as if she was stuck in a place where time had stopped and will forever be immortalized in that specific moment.

The only way I can describe her is ethereal. She exuded an aura as if she was not of the real world. There was no breeze yet her long white hair flowed like gentle waves on the ocean. There was confidence and power in the way she held herself.

She glanced at me and for a moment her image seemed to overlap with a white silhouette that was shaped nothing like a human. It disappeared as quickly as it came, causing me to doubt whether or not I had actually seen it. She had also looked away.

Even so, that one glance was powerful enough to capture my heart, whether it was my younger self, or the adult one. I have never been able to forget her face. Even long after I was no longer able to visit this cafe, her face was often in my dreams.

Finding the courage, I stood up, hoping that I had enough time to approach her. She took notice of me once again when I had finally reached her side. She looked at me for a moment, her fox-like red eyes slowly focusing until they reflected something that seemed to me like a hint of recognition.

"It is you," she said simply, and my heart soared at the sound of her voice.

So she does recognize me.

I wanted to say something, but the words were stuck in my throat. Behind her, on the countertop, a small mist had appeared and just as she turned around, it had solidified into a card that had a picture of a court jester juggling some balls in the air.

She picked it up, her eyes lingering on the image.

"The Fool," she muttered almost inaudibly before shifting her eyes back to me.

The jubilation that my heart felt at the thought of her recognizing me was short-lived as I saw her brows furrowed in confusion. Her gaze then became sharp and her demeanor cold.

"You are not supposed to be here, young one," she spoke in a manner that sent an icy shiver down my spine.

This time, the silhouette that hovered around became clearer and I could distinctly see the image of a snowy white fox overlapping with her body. Her body began to flicker between human and fox that it seemed like the glitching of an image in a computer.

"Leave this place at once," she hissed between her teeth and I could feel her temper escalate. Around us, the cafe seemed to melt like hot wax.

She began to laugh hysterically. "Are the gods trying to insult me by sending this boy to my realm?"

She looked at me and sneered. "Go back to your own world, boy. You should know not to listen to beings who toy with others for their own entertainment. Go home and never return."

I felt myself getting pulled away from that place and through a tunnel filled with blinding light.

I opened my eyes and the next thing I saw was darkness. Blinking to adjust my sight, I realized that I was back in my room.

The dream had ended.

It had started the same as it had decades ago, but the ending tonight was very different.

Feeling thirsty, I turned on the lamp beside my bed and sat up to grab the glass of water on the nightstand.

It was then that I noticed a card lying on the tabletop. It had a picture of a girl with one hand pointed to the sky, while the other pointed to the ground.

Written beneath the picture were the words "The Magician."

He tapped impatiently on the table, glancing constantly at the counter as he sat in a booth at a secluded part of the cafe.

It didn't take too long before a girl came and placed a steaming cup of coffee on his table.

"Thank you."

"Enjoy, sir," the girl replied, bowing before she backed away and left.

He sighed, a frown forming on his face, which he immediately shook away. No use getting disappointed so early.

He turned to his side and laid a hand over the guitar case placed on the seat beside him. He has enough time.

He removed his face mask and raised the cup to his face, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee filling his nose. He took a tentative sip, careful not to burn his tongue. When he found that the coffee was still too hot, he set it down and picked up his phone to browse the headlines.

"Leo Adams wins Artist of the Year."

"Leo Adams nominated for Best Actor in the upcoming Actor's Guild Awards."

He smirked, placing his phone down to give another try of his coffee. He looked ahead and saw a middle-aged man in a suit walking towards him, his eyes darting left and right every few seconds.

"I told you to keep your mask on!" the man said in a low voice.

"How was I supposed to drink my coffee, then?"

"You weren't supposed to order coffee. I already arranged some room service."

"There's nobody here, anyway."

He really didn't think it was necessary to go to such lengths to remain inconspicuous. The cafe was deserted, save for the two girls at the counter.

"Nevermind. I got the cottage you wanted. Let's go."

"Ask them to bring the food here. I'm starving."

"What?" The man glanced at him incredulously before taking a deep breath. "Fine." He walked to the counter.

He picked up a brochure from the table. It was about the history of the inn. There was a photo of the front facade of the establishment on the cover.

"Food will be out soon." The man was back, this time sliding into the seat opposite him.

"Mn." He flipped the page.

Foxgrove is a small island about 6 hours' drive from the capital. Ten years ago, it became a popular tourist spot when its pristine white sand beaches were featured on national TV. It didn't take long before entrepreneurs and investors flocked the island to build posh resorts.

Chocolate Kiss Inn is located on the eastern, more traditional side of the island, which forms a huge contrast to the high-rise buildings in the more modern downtown area on the west side. The inn claims to have a history that dates back to almost 300 years ago. It started as a tavern, but eventually changed into a cafe, then expanded to an inn.

He glanced at the cafe interior. He could feel its rich history through its charming, rustic atmosphere. The warm lighting, wooden furniture, and a few strategically scattered plants were a welcome break from the harsh monotony of the modern world. The aroma of excellent quality brewed coffee and freshly baked bread was also a feast for the senses, telling him to relax and leave his worries behind.

"Put your mask on! They're bringing our food out!"

Grudgingly, he placed the brochure down on the table and covered the lower half of his face with his mask.

"Enjoy your meal, sirs."

He didn't notice at first because he was busy fixing his mask, but his ears recognized the voice that spoke. He immediately looked up and was greeted with a dazzling smile.

They made eye contact for a split second, then she bowed politely before leaving. He couldn't help but smile underneath his mask.

"Let's eat," his companion said.

He had just removed his mask and set it down when his attention was caught by the back cover page of the inn's brochure. He picked it up again and read the text in between spoonfuls of food.

There was a widely known superstition on the island of Foxgrove that the old fox shrine used to be a place where people pray when they have lost something precious to them. It was said that when you find something on this island; you need to bring it to the shrine and, in turn, you will find what you are looking for there.

To this day, the people of Foxgrove still honor that belief by bringing lost items to a booth setup in the inn's lobby.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" his companion asked, interrupting his thoughts.

This was probably the fifth time he asked him the question, but nobody's counting.

"I think it's too late to be asking me that now."

"Leo, as your manager, it's my job to tell you that I think this is a bad idea. Especially since Ben isn't here. Why don't we come back after two weeks, when he's back?"

"Just tell him to come straight here when he gets back," Leo replied, wiping his mouth with a napkin. He got up, taking his phone and the brochure with him. "Let's go."

--------------------------

The cottage was the second largest among the three cottages owned by the inn and also the one closest to the path to the beach.

He shifted the guitar case in his hand. The bellboy already brought the rest of their luggage to the cottage at his manager's request.

"I don't understand why you need to carry that guitar case yourself," his manager, David, remarked.

He shrugged. "I like to keep it near me."

"I haven't even seen you use it. Now that I think about it, I don't think I've ever seen what kind of guitar is inside. You're not hiding anything illegal in there, right?"

He chuckled. "Mind your own business."

"You are my business."

David opened the door to the cottage. It was a two-bedroom cottage with two bathrooms, a large living room, a dining area, and a kitchen, furnished with the usual amenities.

Leo headed straight to the master bedroom. It was a spacious room with a queen-sized bed and an en-suite bathroom. The biggest feature of the room was the spacious balcony that provides a fantastic view of the beach and the ocean beyond it.

There was a knock on the door and David peeked his head in. "I already arranged for dinner to be delivered at 7:30. I told them to leave meals at the dining table. Breakfast will be at 8, lunch at noon."

"Thanks."

"I got an early meeting tomorrow so I'll be heading back now."

"Take care."

Leo recalled what he read in the brochure. The inn is a place where people can find what they are looking for, as long as you provide a lost item in return.

He hoped the legend was true.

A hand absentmindedly ran over the guitar case which he had placed on top of the bed.

The red-orange light of the sunset was slowly covered by purple, then black, as the night sky descended on the sea. The cries of the seagulls became drowned by the chirping of the crickets.

Vivi Willows breathed in deeply, savoring the salty, fresh air as it poured into her lungs. She liked sitting by the beach and watching the sunset after a long day. Twilight was her favorite time of the day. It was the only time when she could allow herself to rest and be calmed by the gentle waves on the beach.

It's been five years since she decided to move back to Foxgrove with her little sister to be with their grandmother, who was already in her retirement age. The Chocolate Kiss was a family business, one that has been passed on for generations.

At first, Vivi never wanted to inherit the business. She wanted to live a glamorous life that the island couldn't give her. It was the reason why she begged her parents to let her move to the capital. She thought she could escape the fate of being tied to the island. Little did she expect that she would return voluntarily.

Since the death of her parents, Vivi took it upon herself to manage the inn and the cafe alongside her grandmother. By then, the once prosperous inn had been eclipsed by the towering buildings of modern hotels and resorts.

At the thought of her parents, Vivi's hand automatically went up to her collarbone where a foxtail necklace with a blue gem pendant rests.

The light shone on the lamppost beside her. It was a signal that her break was over. She still has a few more tasks to finish before she can get off work.

She stood up and stretched her arms up to the sky, taking in one last breath of the salty air before heading towards the main building.

She passed by Cottage 2 on the way back and saw that its lights were on. The people at the front desk did tell her that they have a new guest. And a VIP at that.

The handheld CB radio that hung on her waist buzzed, followed by an old woman's voice.

"Vivi, where are you?"

"I was just by the beach but I'm already on my way back."

"We need your help in the kitchen."

"Got it."

She picked up her pace and walked briskly to the main building.

---------------------------

"Please deliver these to Cottage 2."

Vivi stared at the basket of food that one of their senior staff members, Elena, was handing over. "Where are the boys? Why can't they do it?"

Room service delivery was usually handled by the younger male staff.

Elena pulled her hand and placed it around the basket's handle. "It's for the VIP guest. Your grandma wants to ensure that we give them the best service we could offer. And no one could do it better than you."

Vivi gave an exasperated sigh. "That old woman really works me hard."

Elena chuckled.

"I need a raise, Elena. Tell her for me."

"Why can't you ask her?"

Vivi wrinkled her nose. "That old woman would simply talk her way out if I do it. At least she listens to you."

"Alright, I'll try to talk to her. Now you better get going or you will be late."

"Can't leave a bad impression on the VIP on our first day." Vivi straightened herself and walked down the path to Cottage 2.

She wondered what kind of person their VIP was. It was rare for them to receive such guests in the inn, as most of the rich individuals prefer to stay at the high-class resorts on the west side of the island.

She guessed the VIP would probably be some old man or woman, someone who had visited the island years ago and was used to staying in the inn. But she was fairly familiar with the inn's regular patrons and she would automatically be informed of their visit.

The guest at Cottage 2 had piqued her curiosity. Perhaps it was someone who wanted to stay anonymous? Obviously.

She knocked on the door. "Room service."

There was no answer, but she wasn't really expecting one. The instructions were to enter the cottage and place the food on the dining table. Not standard procedure, but doable.

She took out her master key and opened the door.

Quietly, she walked to the dining table. She began to understand why her grandmother insisted on making her deliver the food. If the guest wanted them to enter the cottage, then there was no one else her grandmother could trust more than her to maintain the security of their guests.

She took the items out of the basket one by one, careful not to make a sound. Thinking about the importance her grandmother had placed in their guest, she decided to also arrange the table setting. She saw from a quick glance in the foyer that there was only one pair of sneakers, hence she surmised that there was only one guest. Besides, judging by the amount of food she laid on the table, there was only enough for one person.

She was backing away to admire the work she had done when she suddenly bumped into something. She quickly turned around, but got outbalanced in her haste and tipped backwards.

In a split second, she felt a hand grip her arm and pulled her. Looking up, she was greeted by a pair of dark brown eyes. It took a moment for her to realize that she had seen that pair of eyes earlier that day, when she served lunch to a pair of men at the cafe. They had made eye contact.

"Are you okay?" His voice only confirmed her thoughts.

"I'm fi-" She stopped.

She had instinctively placed her hands in front of her when he had pulled her. So why was it that she felt bare skin on her palm?

She trailed her eyes downward and realized that the man was half-naked. She was touching his bare chest!

She gasped and pushed him away. She could feel her cheeks burning.

"I'm sorry, sir. I didn't mean to touch your..." What in the world is she saying?!

She bowed in apology, not trusting herself to speak anymore. But then she realized something even worse. He was only wearing a towel wrapped around the lower half of his body!

She prayed to the gods for the ground to swallow her up right at that instant.

"It's alright. Are you hurt?"

She shook her head and took a step back. "I'll be going now, sir. Enjoy your meal."

Leo watched as she quickly turned on her heels and fled, an amused smile playing on his lips.