Chapter 57 - Good Food

My mouth was watering by the end of it all but I wanted to plate him a really good design for I wanted him to praise me and realize how useless he is in the kitchen.

I took out from the cupboard two of our finest crockery plates that we never use and began to plate.

I started off with the rice using a ladle to get them in a circular shape and place 3 circles each onto our plates.

Then it was time for the chicken. I took his chicken from the container that it was in that was wrapped in paper towel to get the excess out out and placed it as neatly as I could on the plate.

It the last few seconds I had remembered that I didn't make any sauce for the chicken so I had to move fast adding ketchup, barbeque sauce, lemon juice, hot sauce, water, sugar and salt to a pan and brought it to a boil.

That is all I could have done on such short notice so I hope it tasted okay.

I used a table spoon and drizzled some of the sauce over the chicken and rice before moving onto the side dishes.

I took the pasta, potato salad and raw vegetable salad out of the fridge placing them on the counter for easy access.

I hadn't realized that Minjae was watching me all this time but oddly his gaze never felt electrifying.

Not like Shiwoo's did.

I sighed and shook my head to get rid of the thought as I used a clean table spoon to scoop some of the potato salad onto our plates beautiful before moving onto the pasta then getting a thong to stir the salad before plopping it on our plates.

There was only one things left and then we could eat.

I preferred my plantains to be soft and sweet so I would look for the ones of that description and add them to my plate but Minjae didn't have a preference of how he like liked his plantain done so I just gave him whatever and it was now time to eat.

I bounced with joy as I put back everything in their respectful place before getting myself my favorite eating spoon giving a fork to Minjae, gently sliding his plate towards him before I took my seat at the island.

H e was about to dig in when I remembered something, "wait!"

He was startled but more annoyed and hungry, "what? what is it!?"

"We need to say grace," I said clasping my hands and closing my eyes, "so... say grace. I'm starving." 

He sighed before dropping his fork then clasped his hands and began to pray, "dear food Jesus, thank you for this food and thank you for the woman that made it. I wish you could send me my personal one and also one for other things like cleaning and pleasing-ow!"

I kicked him on the leg when I realized where his prayer was going but kept my eyes closed and hands clasped.

"As I was saying" he began again, "thank you for this delicious food and the wonderful friend that prepared it. It truly is a blessing."

"Amen!" we said in unison and now there was nothing stopping or holding us back from having our meal.

"Wait!" said Minjae suddenly as I was about to break down onw of the rice tower and I almost fell, "we need a picture for Instagram."

"Ughh seriously? Are you trying to leave a mark on my baby?" I asked getting more annoyed and hungrier by the second.

"Just one minute" he said taking out his phone snapping pics of his plate, then mine. then the both of ours before taking a selfie with himself then the both of us, "there. All done."

"Good" I said using my spoon to break one of the towers scooping up some of the rice to taste.

"Mhmmm" I said in satisfaction, "wahh~~. I really put my foot in this one huh!."

Minjae chuckled at me before he too dug in eyes going wide as he tasted the potato salad, "woah! This is so good. Can I have the recipe? No scratch that it probably wont be as good but damn girl. I should tie you to my kitchen stove."

I was beaming with pride but also blushing from being flustered and decided on being modest, "come on its nothing. I eyeballed it and everything was rushed. You should taste my mom's cooking. She would have you tied just like my dad."

Minjae took a bite of the chicken of he placed it back on the plate before shaking his head and applauding me, "I don't know what you put in the food but you have me tied already sister!"

I laughed at him whole heartedly as I dug into my food fighting the  to suppress a moan.

It really tasted amazing and I outdid myself with such a short amount of time with out proper preparations.

We both remained quiet as we dealt with our plates mouths too full and bellies too satisfied to speak.

My phone began to rang and I sighed as I took it from my pocket checking the caller ID and saw that it was my mom.

"Hey mom!" I said after properly chewing and swallowing my food.

"Hey baby!" she replied immediately after, "what are you doing I hear annoying mouth noises."

I glared over at Minjae telling him with my eyes to eat quieter and he raised his hands in defense.

"Atalia?" my mom asked after a few minutes of silence.

"Yeah yeah I'm here I'm just having dinner." I replied sticking a piece of chicken into my mouth.

"What are you eating?" she asked.

"Well you know rice and peas, fried chicken, pasta, potato, vegetable salad and plantain." I replied eating a whole slice of plantain. 

"So when you cook that today no what will you cook on Sunday?" she asked and I sighed.

"I have plenty left over mom, it can serve till Sunday. Plus I will be studying for finals."

I imagined her nodding her head and I placed my phone down putting it on speaker, " are you eating with your friend. What's her name?"

"No."

"Oh" she said after hearing my short response, "are you by your self? Are you okay?"

I looked over to Minjae who was quietly trying to eat his dinner and I almost snickered at how funny he looked, "yeah. I am alone"

"Oh well be careful and don't let strangers into your house." she added.

I shook my head sighing at her words, "I know mom. I am not some kid anymore."

"I know you aren't and that brings me to what I wanted to ask you. What are you doing for your 22nd birthday? It is like 3 weeks away right? It is now July the end of the first week and your birthday is the August the 2nd." 

"I know right but it will be finals week, The last week in July and the first in August and then Graduation in the second week of September. I'll have to leave celebrating until then."

She sighed and so did I, "well I wish you were her. This will be our fourth birthday without you. When are you coming home?"

I thought about it carefully before answering making sure that my schedule can match up to it, "well I will be jobless and homeless after graduation so until then I guess."

"Yay!" she clapped her hands and I smiled feeling happy that she was happy.

"I'm going to tell your father and get your room ready. I have so much planned for your I cant wait!"

I could feel her excitement through he phone and I smiled knowing I made her this happy but my smile faded when I realized that I was not only bringing a degree home but also a baby bump."

"Well then mom until then. I also have a surprise for you that you will get to see in two weeks time. Promise me that you will be considerate and not extreme and be open minded and forgiving okay?"

"Yeah yeah I will" she said assumingly and I shook my head knowing damn well that she didn't hear a word that I had just said.

"Well I have to go now its getting late here and I gave to finish my food. Love you mom. Take care." I said sending kisses through the phone.

She sent me kisses before hanging up and I felt them on my skin.

Not a day that goes by without me missing my mom.

I looked over to Minjae and smiled.

"I am glad you are my friend." 

"I am glad you are my friend." he replied smiling.

We got back to our plates and it amazed me at how long it took for us to clear it.

We are having fun enjoying each other's company when the door opened and our mood dampened.

In came Harin strutting like she owned the place and I immediately lost my appetite.

"No no don't make me ruin your little date. Carry on." she said smirking and went into her room.

Neither Minjae nor I didn't like her so we just scrunched up our face and rolled our eyes.

We dumped the left over crumbs in the garbage before placing our dirty dishes in the sink.

"Thank you for dinner" he said sincerely.

"No problem. No. Dishes boy."

He sighed and rolled his eyes as he got out the gloves and began to do the dishes and pots.

I am glad he was here for all I wanted to do now was sleep, sleep oh and sleep.