Chapter 5 Clingy and Childish

“Shoot,” answered Asher with a faint smile. He was also cautious about scaring her if he smiled a bit wider.

“Do you have any allergies? Food or ingredients I should avoid?” Bianca asked casually. She was serious. Food poisoning is considered a crime. She is not going to destroy everything she had built with sweat and blood just because of a foolish mistake.

“None that I know of,” Asher saw her face wasn’t showing any signs of kidding around, so he took her inquiries as seriously as she did. I agree handling food should be taken into great consideration.

“I hope you will not make things difficult for me when the time comes you have any food reaction,” Bianca worriedly uttered. She spoke with her eyes to him as if they were talking about a life and death matter of an issue.

For her, the deal was good. She would like to gamble as she needs all the savings she can make. Her internship will have good results if she can create good designs that could be useful and make good sales for the company she is working for. Her professors are confident she can do it, but she needs resources. She needs the best materials to make her produced item get approved by the bosses. She can also ask her parents, but she would also like to try things that she can handle by herself. She always felt it to be more challenging and overcoming when she tried all possibilities present in her circumstances and only asked when she had tried everything but still failed. Her parents can be her last resort. She wants to prove to everyone who showed disapproval of her choosing this path of her dreams and settle into what path has already been paved for her way back home. Her family is in a food manufacturing business, and they supply almost the most significant part of the country and even abroad. Everyone was expecting her to walk on the trail her parents had successfully made, but her passion isn't into it. However, since she grew up in such an environment, her cooking and kitchen skills cannot be denied to be good and competitive, she chose to follow her dreams. To be a fashion designer. So different from what people expect her to become. The best thing about all of those hindrances is, her parents understand her. They support her. The funny thing is, only the people who envy her being the only heir to the family business show so much dislike of her. She could have just ignored it, but they went overboard, creating a disgracing issue and malicious gossip about her. She can feel, they are already thinking of ways on how to get rid of her when the time comes her parents pass away. She has to make sure that she has already made a name of her own in the fashion world before it happens. The saddest thing is that they happened to be her family friends when her parents were starting the business when she was younger. Their business partners' kids had been her playmates. Now, these old friends became her enemies. Instead of supporting her in her dreams, which would actually be good for them, they pretended to be hurt by her leaving and said unnecessary words, and created ugly rumors when she left home to study abroad. That is why she has to be careful in everything. She has a lot to lose. Her pride. Her dignity. Her dreams. Her future.

“We can make it black and white if you prefer to,” Asher offered.

“Great then! That would be lovely,” Bianca beamed. She even clapped her hands. She was so happy that she realized she should offer her roommate a meal since he did not have his lunch yet. She is sure he didn’t have his breakfast, too.

“Would you like to eat?”

Asher was rejoicing. He thought, 'Getting kicked wasn't that bad after all.' They became roommates, and she is even doing her part of cooking for him since it's the weekend. He felt his heart smile for joy. He was so happy, and since she had her back to him, he did not pretend in pain while he took the distance from the sofa to the dining table in just a few big steps.

She walked towards the kitchen and opened the fridge. “We don’t have much, though,” she spoke as she was still checking the contents of the fridge, unaware of a triumphantly smiling Asher behind her.

“A toast and egg would do. We can head to the supermarket to buy what you need later,” Asher answered as he sat on his spot earlier at the table.

“How about bacon fried rice with egg soup?” She turned around to look at him while she suggested her idea.

“That would be lovely,” Asher answered with glee. He felt warm in his heart that she reminds him of her mom. She died a few years ago due to cancer. It didn’t show any signs until it reached its terminal stage. There was no way they could save her even with all the money his dad had. He didn’t want to go home where memories of her mom in pain filled his mind. He chose to stay here where only the happy memories linger as they stayed here when he was younger.

“Okay, just give me ten minutes,” Bianca put on an apron and started cooking. And after a short while, he was startled to see her holding a tray of fried rice and egg soup. She carefully placed the tray before him and went to get a glass of water.

The tray of food wasn’t fancy at all, but it had been a while since Asher had a meal at home which he did not prepare himself. She sat across from him, and he looked up at her.

“Thank you!” He softly uttered.

Bianca did not know how to interpret his expression. She just nodded at him.

“Please tell me if its taste isn’t to your liking,” she took a sip of her coffee while he was having his meal. She had hers earlier, so he only needed coffee while joining him at the table.

“It’s been a while since someone cooked a home meal for me. I don’t think the taste would ever matter,” Asher replied sincerely. He took a spoon to try the soup.

“Hmmm…” he took another spoon of the soup.

“I don’t think you were lying when you said you’re good at cooking,” Asher’s smile broadened.

“Nice to hear that then,” Bianca stood up and was about to take a step when Asher abruptly asked.

“Where are you going?”

“I need to make a list of what to buy at the supermarket,” she answered.

“Do it here,” he demanded.

Bianca rolled her eyes at him. She was going to do it there even if he didn’t say so. She needs to know what he needs and what he wants to eat next time anyway.

“I will be back with a notepad and a pen. Is that okay?” Bianca asked with her eyes bulging in disbelief. She was thinking, ‘what’s with him?’He looked like a toddler feeling threatened to be abandoned. She felt he was being funny. But she couldn't laugh seeing his clingy but childish acts so suddenly.

Asher sheepishly smiled when he realized she wasn’t leaving him alone at the table. She will be back after getting whatever she needs to make a list of things to buy.

“Okay!” Asher quickly agreed. Then he watched her back as she went to her room.

He felt at home again. Not just with the house he was in, but the feeling of being with someone as a family in a house. No sexual topic is involved, although he would love for that part to be fulfilled as well. The mere feeling of having someone to come home to when he finished his work for a whole week is refreshing. Adding the thought that a delicious homemade meal is waiting for him to share with someone was also exciting. There is the loss of earning a small amount considering the rent would vanish as he suggested he will get it covered. He was still happy to know his deal was not so bad after all.