“Wow! It looks delicious.” Ivana stretched her hands to take a bite of the food but I slapped her hands off. “Ouch! What did you do that for?” She watched me push the food away from her reach.
“You didn’t wash your hands whereas this is not for you.” I moved the meals I had prepared to a tray as I took them to the dining table to set the meal.
“What?” Ivana said behind me as she leaned close to the dining chair. “Why is it not for me?” She raised her brows at me and I scoffed, turning to her I gave her a once-over. “What is that look for?”
“Where were you when I was preparing all these?” I asked her, tilting my head to my side as I waited for her to speak.
“Hey,” She raised her chin at me showing me a bold front. “I don’t know how to cook, remember.” She placed her hands on her waist and I shook my head at her.
“You are really so shameless,” I turned to continue setting the table. “You say that so proudly and don’t even make an effort to learn.” I sighed and moved back to the kitchen and she followed me.
“What’s there to be ashamed of? There are lots of girls out there who cannot cook.” I glanced over my shoulder at her. “Whereas you only asked me to assist you in shopping and not cooking these meals.”
“You should at least put more effort to impress me.” I leaned close to her face.
“Why should I do that?” She leans backwards.
I scoffed, leaning back I turned to what I was doing. “I thought that’s what girls do when they love a guy that doesn’t love them back, they always try hard to impress them.” I took up the next tray with food and headed over to the dining table.
Ivana stood still for a brief moment as if she was processing the words I have just said and then she rushed over to the dining table. “Did I just hear you say a boy that doesn’t love them back?” She blinked at me. “But you love me…”
“Wake up from that dream,” I told her as I walked past her but she tagged along.
“What does that mean?” She looked so confused and I was enjoying this, I was a bit bored while I was preparing this meal since Ivana was up in her room doing God knows what, I had glanced up the stairs hoping to see her come down but she didn’t, something I read from the internet was cooking a meal with the person you love is also romantic.
“It means I am still in the process of trying to love you, so you still have to impress me since there are a lot of girls out there who can cook too.” I turned to her and she furrowed her brows.
“You are doing it!” She pointed out and I was perplexed for a while.
“Doing what?” I glanced into her eyes.,
“You are using my word at me,” She said and I raised my brows. “My line, I said tons of girls out there can’t cook and now you said tons of girls out there can cook, so, tell me, do you love girls that can cook, I can practice cooking and make you something delicious if you want.” She stuttered and I scoffed at her words. “What?”
“You are not done learning how to dance, you also want to learn cooking?” I shook my head as I walked close to the coffee machine to make a coffee. I glanced at the time and knew my mother would be back. I only hope I don’t see that sad look on her face like yesterday.
I could still remember the sadness in my mother’s eyes when I came home with Ivana last night and walked past her, I never want to see that sadness in her eyes anymore.
“You don’t believe I can learn how to dance?” Ivana seems vexed. “Well, sorry to break it down to you, I am sure I can learn dancing and would beat everyone to it at the Anniversary party.” She said so determined and turned around but halted when she saw something on the table.
“What is it?” I noticed how she had halted so abruptly and wondered what was wrong so I walked close to her and traced her gaze to the cake I had baked that was on the table.
“Was that here all this time?” She pointed at the cake as she glanced up at me.
“Are you sure you are okay?” I asked her and she blinked in confusion at my question. “I was only wondering if your eyes are still good.” I shook my head at him and walked back to continue making coffee.
“Who has those? Why did you bake a cake?” Ivana walked over to it. “Whose birthday is it, because it is not my birthday.” I looked at her. “Or, is it your birthday today?” she raised her brows at me and I shook my head. “Then… could it be…”
We both heard the door open and we turned in the direction of the door. “I think your mother is home.” Ivana looked at me and for a moment I paused, I felt so nervous like I was about confessing to my crush in high school.
Ivana could sense this so she walked over to me and held my hands as she said softly. “I think you should go talk to her, she loves you.” I gazed into her eyes and could see the sincerity in them so I took off my apron and walked out of the kitchen heading over to the sitting room and there I spotted my mother who was taking off her shoes and still looking so sad.
I exhaled sharply as I glanced over my shoulder and met Ivana’s gaze, she nodded at me and I turned to the living room. “Welcome, mom.” I greeted her as I stepped out and her gaze met mine as there was silence in the living room. I couldn’t tell if it was tears but it seems that was what I saw in her eyes as they locked in mine.