Love Coming From The Least Expected

Out of kindness, I decided not to cook caramelized pork anymore. Instead, I opted for trying my hand at pan-grilled fish in an attempt to show off my culinary skills.

Christopher laughed as he leaned against the sink, watching me roll my sleeves up dramatically.

I gave him a sidelong glance. “What are you laughing at?”

He shook his head, but his eyes were still sparkling with mirth. “Let me clean the fish. You might get hurt.”

He took off his coat as he said so, draping it over my head and using me as a human coat hanger. The faint, intoxicating smell of tobacco enveloped me, and I almost couldn’t bear to take the coat off.

In no time, he was done and promptly took over the rest of the preparation process; pouring oil into the pan, frying up some chopped onions and garlic, and finally putting the fish in the pan. Unfortunately, he had put it down a little too quickly, and drops of boiling hot oil splashed out of the pan as soon as he did.

Thanks to Christopher’s quick reflexes, the oil didn’t splash onto me but onto his outstretched arm protectively covering mine. I noticed his skin instantly start to become an angry shade of red in certain spots.

“Are you okay? I’m going to go grab the first-aid kit,” I fretted, holding his hand up close to inspect it. For some inexplicable reason, I felt my heart clench at the sight of his reddened hand.

“I’m fine.” He pulled me into his arms as he patted my head comfortingly. “I’ve dealt with worse before.”

my gaze to meet his. “You’re used to cooking for

had naturally assumed that Christopher couldn’t either, completely forgetting the fact that just because they were friends didn’t mean

turned back around to focus on the fish

I had the sudden urge to hug him from behind and comfort him.

first being that I couldn’t muster up the courage, and the second

door when he suddenly

What had it done to

while replying playfully, “I don’t

doorbell rang once more, and I didn’t dare

“Why did you take so long? What were you doing? Needed some time to hide away

was aware that she was never particularly fond of me, but her words caught me off guard and caused my palms to

usual before squeezing

one of the decorations on display, squinting at

dust. We’re on earth, after all. There’s

her even further. I merely followed behind her as she