"Look at you." Alec gave me a wide smile, "Haven't you already been doing better than yesterday."
I couldn't help but blush a little, "Thanks."
He sucked in a breath before getting upâstretching out a little, "Aren't you going to ask if I want something to eat?"
I was closing my book when I stopped in between and looked up slowly. Alec was staring down at me with his sky blue eyes while his eyebrows were raised at me in a questioning wayâstill waiting for my answer.
Not only does he shows up unannounced, he wants to have dinner too.
Here I am not even sure if I will have dinner tonight or I will just order something in and look at him being too straightforward about it even after having a caretaker at home.
"I will order in something to eat." I said placing the book on the table and getting up.
He shook his head while saying a 'no' with his index finger, "Why should we order when we can just cook?"
I stared at him in disbelief. Not only does he want to have dinner but he wants me to cook it too. I don't cook for myself. I DON'T KNOW HOW TO COOK.
"Why should we cook when we can just order in?" I asked squinting my eyes.
He laughed lightly, "Because it seems fun."
"What does?"
"Cooking."
"I am not cooking for you." I said sourly.
"You are not cooking. We are cooking. I don't have anything to do anyway now. At least I can have dinner here."
I opened my mouth to say something but he cut me off, "Come on. I know you are bored too."
I pursed my lips. He was right. I was bored. I didn't have anything to do anyways. I would be all alone once he went. Again. Besides, I can give it a try.
"Do you know how to cook?" I asked expectantly as I walked towards the kitchen.
He must know how to cook since he seems too confident. Besides, in the movies the guy growing up in a big house with a caretaker is a good cook, isn't he? He just learns it naturally.
"Not at all." He said with enthusiasm.
I turned around to look at him with a blank expression. By now, I was pretty sure he has lost his sanity. Has he given it all to Liya? Is that the reason?
He doesn't know how to cook. I don't know how to cook. Why were we still cooking? What was he so excited about?
This will be a disaster. I just know it.
Alec saw the concern on my face because putting the best confident face he could muster he said, "We have YouTube. It can't be that difficult."
He was yet again right. You know what? Who gives a shit, one must try to know if it will be a disaster or not, right? The gut feeling can lie too.
I clapped my hands together, getting myself ready, "What are we cooking?"
He gave a thought for a while before bringing his phone and opening YouTube, "Mac and cheese should be easy."
I nodded my head at him. It sounds good. It can't be much difficult. I mean, it is Mac and cheese. The most we will need is cheese and macaroni.
Alec opened the video for us to watch together and put it on the kitchen counter. The first thing the video showed us was all the ingredients we would need. Alec paused and took a screenshot.
"Come on." He said picking up his phone and walking out of the kitchen.
"Where?" I asked confused.
He rolled his eyes, "We are buying ingredients, duh."
Without even waiting anymore he went straight for the door. He opened it and before going out asked me to hurry up.
Once he was out, I sighed. Was this right? Allowing him to stay here for dinner?
All my worries vanished away when I realised that this was the least I could do for him since he literally came all the way here to apologise to me and even tutored me.And strangely enough, I was enjoying his company. I know I should not get involved with him outside of our classes.
But he seemed happy. So yes, we are cooking today.
"What's taking so long?" I heard his loud voice from the door.
"I'm coming! Let me grab my phone."
â¢â¢â¢â¢
And that's how we ended up in the supermarket to buy the ingredients for our Mac and cheese. With a trolley in front of us we searched for the ingredients.
"Why do we need three types of cheese for this? Can't we use one?" Alec said trying to figure out different cheeses in front of him.
I checked the shelf behind him looking for other ingredients as I said, "We are following his guidance. It's better we get everything he is asking. With no compromises because if we do it might just not be in our favour."
He turned around and pointed at me with two packets of cheese in his hands, "Smart."
I shook my head at him with a smile on my face as I went and picked out a few seasonings just as they were mentioned in the ingredients.
I saw Alec on the billing counter waiting for me as I went and handed him the seasoning. He gave them all for the billing as I took my wallet out.
A hand came and rested on top of mineâstopping me from opening my wallet. I looked up and saw Alec looking at me strangely. His eyes clearly asking me what was I trying to do.
"Paying for the groceries?" I said unsure.
Isn't that why a person takes their wallet out in front of the billing counter? To pay.
"Who said you are paying?" Alec said in a serious voice.
Oh no. If he thinks I am letting him pay for everything then he is totally wrong. We were not on a date where he should feel the need to pay for me.
I tried to remove his hand which was still covering my hand.
"You should let your boyfriend pay."
I snapped my head to look at the cashier standing in front of us. She was smiling very sweetly at us as she waited for us to hurry up. I could feel Alec being shocked upon hearing her too because he let go of my hand and started to explain it to her that we were not a couple.
She looked a little annoyed as she asked, "Then who's paying?"
"Me."
"Me."
We both said in unison.
"And you say you are not dating." She muttered to herself.
"We are not!" We both said in unison again.
I turned my head to glare at Alec. He did the same.
Would you look at that? Why is he glaring at me? I am the one who is paying! I don't need someone else to pay for me.
"Let me pay." Alec said.
"We are cooking at my home. I will pay for it." I retorted back.
"But we both are cooking. So I should pay."
I shook my head as I took money out from the wallet and put it on the counter, "I refuse. I can pay for them on my own."
He pulled out money of his own and put it beside mine and smirked, "Or you can let someone else pay for it too."
We both snapped our heads to the cashier waiting to see whose money she will take. She will determine the winner now.
She tried laughing before taking both of our money. We looked at her confused as she split both of them in half.
"Just split the bill." She said handing the rest of our money back, "that is what most of the couples do when they can't decide."
"We are not dating!" We said again before sighing.
The cashier waved her hand in dismissal and asked us to get out because we took so much of her time.
We didn't though. We were just paying our amount. Why did she seemed pissed by the end of it.
"Why didn't you let me pay?" I asked annoyed as Alec and I both got out.
He was silent as he walked beside me. He was carrying the bag in his other hand as it made a sound whenever it hit his leg lightly.
"Just because." He finally said.
I huffed out some air before looking for the car. Alec raised his hand and pointed at the white car.
"That's the one." He said.
I nodded my head at him. I couldn't help but notice as he shifted the bag in his hands and made it hang behind his shoulder.
"Serenity?"
"Huh?" I looked up at him in alarm.
The sun was setting and you could see the sky getting pink, red and orange. The wind seemed in a good mood as it blew just the right way.
"The first one to reach the car gets to pay next time!" He yelled as he ran away with the bag still swinging behind his back.
Wait. WAIT. I ran after him with all my might as I tried to outrun him.
"You got a head start!" I yelled as I ran behind him.
"Rules are rules." He laughed as he continued running.
I could see his blonde hair bouncing as he ran and the colours of the sky reflecting on the back of his head as I tried to catch up with him.
This was beautiful. The wind. The sky. And right now, even Alec.
___