Because our lesson ended early today, I was able to leave early as well. We were grinning from ear to ear because we could finally get some rest. They said our putative Professor was busy with something vital for the last session this afternoon, so we were sent home early.
“Anna, let us go to the mall; there is a new movie coming out in the theater; let us go see it,” Lyka said with a broad grin.
Now that we are inside the cafe, A has joined us. We are having a snack because I am hungry right now.
The fact is that I have been hungry for a long time and am just putting up with it because we have not finished our class yet.
As soon as our lesson was out, I dragged Lyka to the cafeteria. We ran across A on our way to the cafeteria, so we decided to add him.
I”m not sure why, but I am craving shumai and lasagna from the cafeteria. I was salivating just thinking about it earlier. I used to ignore shumai in the cafeteria, but now I am not sure what is wrong with me since I want to eat it right now.
“I am sorry, but I cannot be with you,” I said, my mouth full of food. While expressing that, I even raised my hand.
Lyka mumbled as she shook her clothing, “You are filthy, Anna. Your meal spilled in my face.”
I give her a sidelong glance. The food in my mouth did not come out to her during this woman”s OA. She”s exaggerating!
“It is all in your head, Lyka,” I said, rolling my eyes. “My food did not spill out of your clothes, duh.” Because of what I stated, her expression was worried.
When A”s tissue reached me, I burst out laughing. I thanked him and gave him a big smile.
“Thank you, A,” I said, turning to face Lyka. “You are still very kind to me, while Lyka treats me badly, and she does not seem to remember that she owed me money so she could buy a barbecue yesterday afternoon.”
When I noticed that she was staring at me as though my behaviors were strange, I sighed.
“Oh, why?” I ask, rolling my eyes at her. “Are you going to say you do not remember anything you owe me again?”
Her jaw fell as a result of what I said. She approached me and brushed both of her hands over my face. She fixed her gaze on me, as if she was scrutinizing my features. As she does so, meet her brows.
“Hey, what are you doing?” I groaned at her, but she did not even stir and continued her analysis of my face. My face was flushed with irritability.
“Hey, I told you to let me go, right?” I said angrily. “Are you deaf? Tsk, I am eating, eh.”
When she finally let go of my face, I let out a sigh of relief. Before I began the meal I had missed, I gave her a hard look.
Fortunately, the carbonara and shumai I ate were amazing and exactly what I expected, so my irritation with her vanished as soon as I tasted the food in front of me.
“Hey, Aiden,” I overheard Lyka say to A. “She is acting strange, right?” On the fringe of my vision, I noticed her gently tugging at A”s dress to draw the man”s attention.
Aiden said, “I guess so, too.”
I am only able to shake my head at them. They even tried to quiet and lower their voices when I could clearly hear what they were saying. These two are likewise utterly repugnant.
I simply shrugged my shoulders in response to what my two dear pals were discussing. If they want to gossip about me, that is up to them, as long as I eat my dinner.
When I consume that one full shumai, I close my eyes. This is heaven, oh my god. It tastes great, especially when dipped in vinegar!
When I try carbonara and shumai, I cannot help but smile.
We lingered at the cafe for quite some time, perhaps an hour.
I placed a second order after finishing the first. I did not want to leave the cafeteria since I still wanted to eat, but I had no choice because Lyka”s complaining was becoming too much for me to bear.
I ordered another set of carbonara and shumai and took them out earlier since they were bored, so they could stop complaining. As we walked off campus, I was pouting.
“Are you sure you are not going to the mall with us?” Lyka said again.
I am not sure how many times she will ask me the same question until I give her the same answer. I do not want it.
After eating, I felt drowsy, so I think I will just stay at home and nap. Another reason is that I have been getting bored in noisy locations during the last few days. I will not be able to appreciate it either, because I am sure Lyka”s cruelty will irritate me.
In addition, my sweat makes me feel incredibly sticky. Not to add the sweltering heat of the sun, which is making my blood boil with rage.
“You asked again, Lyka, and I said I did not want to go. The sun is hot, and then there is the noise in the mall. I do not want to be crowded, and then we will have to walk again. Oh, just thinking about it makes me tired. You two can leave, I will go home early,” I grumbled as I fanned myself after stumbling across a cardboard on the sidewalk.
When Lyka heard what I said, she winced.
“I just asked if you want to come, if you have changed your mind and want to come right now, okay?” Lyka replied to my question.
I made a face because of what she said, but instead of responding, I simply shifted my focus to A, who was suddenly silent as we walked.
I waved my arm at him, and he looked at my behavior as a result of what I did. I smiled broadly at him, and he gave me a sweet smile.
I got a taxi back to my apartment.
Just like Lyka had planned, Lyka and Aiden walked to the mall. It is fortunate that Lyka persuaded Aiden to join her, because if she does not, that woman will undoubtedly pick me up again.
When I arrived home, I headed right to the kitchen. The stuff I brought in was placed in the refrigerator. That I will eat later. For the time being, I will sleep in the bedroom.
To check the time, I took my phone out of my pocket. It is three o”clock in the afternoon. When I realized I still had plenty of time to sleep, I smiled.
Atlas usually returns home around 5 p. m. or before 6 p. m.
I climbed the stairs to my room.
When I entered the bedroom, I quickly turned on the air conditioner. I went into the bathroom after putting my bag in front of my study table in Atlas and I”s room.
I washed my body since it was itching, most likely due to the dust I had picked up along the route.
I went into the walk-in closet after I finished my bath. I stood in the middle of the walk-in closet for a long time, pondering what I should wear.
I went to the cabinet where Atlas”s t-shirts were after a few minutes of pondering what to wear.
When I saw his neatly folded t-shirts, I grinned. When I took up his white, I had a big grin on my face.
I even put on Atlas” shirt after removing a panty from my wardrobe. Atlas” t-shirt appeared like a mid-thigh dress to me because he is a large man and I am much smaller than him.
Because I was the only one in the house and no one else could see me, I stopped wearing a brassiere.
Before going to bed, I dried my hair. As I blew dry my hair with a blower, I almost closed my eyes owing to tiredness.
I sat in the center of the king-size bed. I like the softness and warmth of the bed, but it is not comfy for me. When I saw the light enter the room, I grumbled.
To close the curtain, I had to stand up.
I exhaled a sigh of relief when the room was finally dark. I was undoubtedly sleepy, so I fell asleep easily.
When I felt someone kissing me, I awoke. I did not open my eyes right away and was relieved to feel the man lying beside me. He wrapped his hand around my waist and rested his leg on my leg.
“I know you are awake, Anna,” he continued, his voice raspy. Because of what he said, I smiled.
I gently opened my eyes to find his ocean blue eyes staring back at me. I gave him a lovely grin. He did not stop glancing at me. With a kiss, I sealed his lips.
“Did you come a long time ago?” I inquire. He has not put on his suit yet and is simply dressed in a black t-shirt.
“Yup, I assumed you were not home yet when I came, but then I saw you soundly asleep inside our room,” he explained.
I was completely unaware that I was sleeping on his arm. He also stroked my hair lightly, which made me asleep.
“Really?” I ask, my eyes drooping. When he spotted my eyes on the edge of shutting, he laughed.
He laughed and remarked, “Aww, my baby is sleepy.” Because of what he said, I nodded and held him even tighter. I take a whiff of his aroma and smile as it fills my nostril. I believe I am addicted to his scent.
“I came home early today since our professor has something important to do and we do not have classes this afternoon, so I was allowed to go home early, which I am thankful for because I am pretty tired,” I explained softly.
I heard him respond, “Hmm-mmm.”
Following that, we fell silent. We were content to listen to the beat of our hearts as the two of us cuddled on the bed, not making love.
I tried to fight the urge to close my eyes, but I could not. I was gradually overcome by drowsiness. I feel like I have not gotten enough sleep in a long time because I have not been able to lessen my tiredness and instead want to sleep even more.
Atlas shook my shoulder and said, “Hey, do not sleep. Let us have dinner first so you can continue sleeping.” I just mutter. I heard him guffaw.
“I am still so tired, Atlas,” I complained, pouting. I tighten my grip on him and place a glass of mead on his chest.
He simply messed up my hair and made me stand up. Even though my eyes were virtually closed, there was nothing I could do but get up.
I yawned and said, “I will just wash my face to get rid of my drowsiness, and I will just follow you.”
He gave me a short kiss on the lips as he exited the room, nodding at me. As he walked out of the room, he grinned at me.
I can only shake my head in disgust at his misbehavior.
My eyes almost widened when I noticed that it was eight o”clock in the evening when I turned on my cell phone, which was sitting on the night stand. I jumped out of bed quickly and almost dashed into the restroom. To get rid of my tiredness, I washed my face.
“How can you sleep that long, Anna?! You have not even made your supper with Atlas yet!” I moan as I wipe my face. I hurried out of the room and into the kitchen, letting my long hair fall.
Atlas said from the kitchen, “Hey, do not run down the stairs!”
I grimaced and did as he suggested, stopping sprinting and instead walking.
When I get to the kitchen, I am gasping for air. I noticed Atlas preparing food.
He was too preoccupied with his food to notice me.
I took a deep breath and then walked closer to him. He lifted his head from his cooking as he heard my footsteps.
“Hmmm, the dish you are making smells delectable; what are you cooking?” I inquired as I shifted my focus away from what he was preparing.
He gave me a big smile. He did not respond and instead stared at me intently.
His stare shifted from my face to my chest and finally to my feet. I noticed how he seemed mesmerized as he observed my entire being.
His ear became flushed as well. I was taken aback when I finally approached him.
“Your ears are red; is there anything wrong with you?” I inquired innocently.
I stroked his ear, but he moved quickly enough to avoid me. Because of what he did, my brows drew together.
“Fuck!” he exclaims crisply and loudly. When I heard him swear, I cringed.
“Are you sure you are okay? Why are you blushing and swallowing so hard?” I worriedly inquired.
“Does anything hurt?” I inquired once again. In answer, he simply shakes his
head at me.
“Why are you blushing if you are not in pain?” I inquired, surprised. While watching me, he licks then bites his lower lip.
“You look hot in my shirt,” he says, but he cannot look me in the eyes when he says it. I look down at what I am wearing and meet my brows.
“Uh, sure. I could not decide what to wear earlier, so I just borrowed your t-shirt. It is a little too big, eh. It is the size of your body. I hope you do not mind,” I answered with a big smile. He cleared his throat first, then gave me a seductive smile.
“You just gave me a fucking boner, Annalise,” he said seriously. “I am fucking horny right now, and all I want to do is fuck you till dawn.”
My eyes nearly flew out of their sockets with surprise as I heard what he said. I was the one who swallowed hard this time.
“Ahm, w-what are you cooking?” I inquired.
He gives me a smirk, as if he noticed I was changing the subject.
When he did not bring up the clothing I was wearing, I let out a sigh of relief. I am just able to shake my head.
He drew me nearer to him. I gave him a kind grin and walked up to him. He held me from behind when I was finally able to get near to him.
While he hugs me from behind, I can now see and smell the exquisite aroma of what he is cooking.
“Wow! You are cooking kare-kare!” I yelled with delight.
Suddenly, I got a whiff of what he was preparing. Did I mention how much I enjoy things with sauce, as well as sauteed and fried items? I, for example, am a big fan of fats and oils.
When I saw what he was cooking, my tummy groaned.
Kare-Kare is an umami-packed stew cooked with oxtail, tripe, and vegetables in a thick peanut sauce. Kare-kare, when combined with a sweet shrimp paste, creates a flavor explosion in your mouth. The soft, melt-in-your-mouth beef, the veggies, and the ultra-rich sauce are the three elements that distinguish kare-kare.
The meats utilized in kare-kare are not your average beef cuts.
The lining of the stomach is referred to as tripe, and it has a characteristic soft and chewy consistency. The oxtail is incredibly soft and fatty, which adds to the flavor of the meal.
The meal is textured and colorful thanks to string beans, eggplant, bok choy, and banana flowers. There is also the sauce. The ideal blend of sweet and salty is kare-kare sauce, which is infused with crushed peanuts and peanut butter. I am excited to try what Atlas has prepared.
“I am delighted to eat! I am suddenly hungry because of what you are making,” I shouted enthusiastically, my gaze still fixed on the dish. Atlas chuckled as he observed me.
Atlas and I cheerfully shared the meal that he had prepared. While we are eating, we are chatting and taunting one other. His jokes always made me laugh.
“Yeah, I am extremely tired of doing schoolwork,” I admitted, pouting. We spent a lot of time talking about my schoolwork, therefore I always informed him about my rants.
“You are happy you are done studying; no obnoxious Professor will threaten to depose you if you do not meet the standards,” I added as I shoveled the kare-kare into my lips.
Thankfully, the kare-kare he prepared was delectable. My tiredness was eased, and I had a great time eating her food.
He shook his head and said, “Hey, take it easy on the food. You eat like a child.”
I ignored what he said and went back to eating. With a tissue, he wiped the edge of my lip. I grinned as I gazed up at him.
“Thank you,” I answered, smiling. He merely gives me a wink and goes back to eating.
When his cell phone rang loudly, we were in such a scenario. Because of the loud noise, I shuddered.
I noticed him looking at his cell phone, which was on the table, and not answering it when he saw who was calling. I was perplexed as to why he did not pick up the phone.
I was perplexed as to why he did not pick up the phone. Because his cell phone was on the other side of the room and he swiftly switched it off, I did not see who contacted him.
I stare at him, my eyes pleading, but he simply shrugs. When his phone rang again, I was about to finish my meal. I take a long breath and set down the fork and fork I was holding.
“All right, answer that. Maybe it is vital that that person calls,” I informed him with a smile.
His eyes are filled with trepidation as he looks at me, but I simply nodded, urging him to pick up the phone. That turns out to be the most regrettable mistake I have ever made.
I should not have told him to accept the phone call; if I had not, he would still be sitting next to me.