POV: Lianne
I diced the spring onions and sprinkled it on top of the bacon soup all the while I hummed. This tune had been inside my head since I was little. It always made me feel calm whenever I had stressful situations. Cooking however wasn’t stressing me but the tune just popped out of my head the moment I started cooking and it had stuck until I finished.
There. I’m finally done.
With arms akimbo, I stepped backward and surveyed my creations.
A feeling of pride rushed inside me seeing the food I prepared for both of us. I always loved to cook, always had been at ease with the kitchen, but it was my first time cooking for someone other than Jen and my Aunt, and all the more for the opposite sex.
I crossed my fingers, hoping that Ruen would like the soup, and maybe if he wanted, I’d be glad to share a pancake with him.
Now, the last thing would be to set up the breakfast table.
With that in mind, I turned towards the sink, intent to wash my hands and face before I could take my apron off.
After turning the faucet on, I washed my hands, soaped it and then splashed water into my face, immediately feeling refreshed and clean. But that’s the exact moment when I realized something.
I actually forgot to prepare a towel for me to use. Now, my face was dripping wet with water.
Okay, what to do? What to do?
My mind thought hard and fast. Should I just use the apron to pat my face dry? I asked myself as I squinted to look at the apron. Shoot. Not a good idea because it was smudged with the pancake ready-mix I used minutes ago.
I had no other choice but to let my face dry itself up.
I turned around to take the apron off, but as soon as that happened, I gasped in surprise when I saw Ruen standing in the doorway, already keenly looking at me.
Oh my God!
I gulped hard.
“Hey! Hi!” My greeting sounded forced. “You’re already up! Are you feeling better?” I would have wanted to be there when he wakes up, but it seems he had beaten me to it.
Then, I eyed him suspiciously, suddenly realizing something. “Had you been standing here all this time?”
Ruen gave me a short nod and a grin. “Yes, I feel better now, thanks to you, and yes, I had been standing here since give or take about fifteen minutes ago. You were so busy you didn’t notice me, Lianne.”
My cheeks heat up at his words.
He walked towards me and in reaction, my heartbeat tripled. We held onto each other’s gazes until he stopped right in front of me and reached for a cabinet near him.
Confused, I looked at what he was doing.
“Here, ” he said just as he pulled out a blue and white striped face towel from the cabinet.
“Oh… tha-thanks, ” I said, my voice somehow coming out shy.
I took the towel from him and wiped my face hurriedly.
“Hmmm, the food smells good, Lianne.”
“Oh! I ah… I cooked up breakfast for both of us. See?” I gestured a hand towards the table. “I realized you’d be hungry after your… your… ah… your fev… er…” I was out of focus when he gradually stepped closer to me.
Step after step my breathing seemed to pause. His eyes held mine like a spell, unwilling to be unbound. My feet, they stayed in place and didn’t want to run away. As if I wanted to.
When we were inches apart, he reached out to me, snaked his arms around my back, and pulled me close for a really tight embrace.
I was left dumbfounded. My arms didn’t know what to do. Should I embrace him back or not?
“Uhmm, Ruen?” my voice croaked.
In response, he squeezed my shoulders and pressed his cheek harder against the crown of my head.
“Thank you, ” a sincere tone drifted through my ears then.
“For… for what Ruen?” I asked, feeling confused.
“For being here.”
I bit the insides of my cheek. A soothing warmth filled my stomach and it diffused throughout my body. It was wonderful. Addictive even.
“Of… of course. You did say you’d help me remember. That’s why I’m here.”
My lips quivered lightly. Oh, my heart. Be calm. Be calm!
He released me afterward and I tried to keep my knees strong so that I wouldn’t fall to the floor.
“Uhm, let’s eat, ” I said and sensibly turned around to avoid his gaze. If I didn’t and continued looking at his brown-green orbs my heart would probably explode.
I heard him give out an approving sound and then claimed one seat across mine.
***
We ate breakfast together at the same table and it was thoroughly awkward. To be honest, this was not what I had in mind at all. I expected him to be lying on the sofa still half-conscious and I, feeding him the soup. But really, what was I thinking anyway. Feeding him would definitely be more awkward than eating with him at the same table.
We didn’t start any conversations at all throughout the meal, but I noticed him stealing glances towards me from time to time. Either he was a silent type of man or he was just waiting for a good opportunity to open up the subject of my past… or ‘hers’ for that matter.
“Come with me, ” he said after we ate. I looked at the plates unwashed and gave him a questioning look.
“Don’t worry. My household help, Jovan, will take care of that later, ” he informed right after standing up.
Oh, so he does have someone to keep this place clean and comfy.