Days After You's

Chapter 6 - Eating a Lot

Note :

Country and City in this story because it is pure in the fictional world of the author, will only use the letter name ya~misal Country A, City B, etc. It wasn't the initials of the original city or country, so pure fiction. Thank you and happy reading.😊

I just closed the front door when the sound of pop music came from inside. I'll shut up for a second. This voice must have come from Stella who was playing the song again in the kitchen. She used to do it, something similar swaying and singing while waiting for her cooking to cook, only she didn't know that I often accidentally caught her. I think he's done that a lot in the past, but I'm the one who always comes home late and just found out not too long ago.

As you probably already know, Stella often does things that are not graceful and I who have not so found a reason to go home protracted again end up often find her doing those things. She is not a melodious singer, nor a great dancer. His voice in my opinion is mediocre and his movements tend to be clumsy to sometimes feel tickling when watching it.

I don't really want to care so much about what Stella does, she wants to do whatever it's none of my business, the problem is that I have a habit of washing my hands every time I just come back from the outside. No matter where I go, every time I go back I have to wash my hands before I can continue to work again. And to wash my hands, I used to use the sink in the kitchen, of course I could use the one in the bathroom, but any one still I had to go through the kitchen to get there.

I thought it was going to be awkward when he found out I should just shut up and watch him here. What am I supposed to do when she stops knowing I'm home? Should I praise her singing? There's no way I'm just going through it without saying anything, I at least know I have to say hello when I get home. Usually after weighing this up, I always end up going out again just to buy some time by taking a walk around the apartment before coming back again when sure he must have finished his business in the kitchen.

But today, however, I cannot buy time because I have to immediately complete some important deadlines from the company. I have to face this right now. So with my face thickened, I started to take off my shoes and step inside. As expected, Stella was cool to wear a spatula in her hand as a mic and swayed strangely on a song that I don't know who I'm singing either.

I cleared my throat to give Stella a cue before I showed up in the kitchen, "I'm home."

Hearing my greeting, Stella stopped and turned around. Our views met and for a few awkward seconds, none of us said anything. He just stared at me with his round eyes that looked quite shocked, while I just kept quiet to wait for any response from him in order to break free from this atmosphere immediately.

"I'm home" I said. If Stella still doesn't respond, I'll just go straight to the bathroom. Yeah, it should have been so from the beginning.

Instead, as I set myself up to lift my legs, Stella finally smiled, "Ah, you're home...Welcome, Luiz."

I nodded, looking calm, "Hm. You—"

What was I gonna say? The words I had originally prepared from the entrance were instantly forgotten. Why do I always end up looking stupid in front of Stella? He's not even superior to my father or business partner that I've been dealing with all this time. Then why?

"...You're cooking?" The question came out slowly from my mouth. Now I want to slap myself to ask the exact answer.

"Yes, make dinner" Stella replied, "You've just arrived or are you from here, Luiz?"

"New to."

Although faint, I could see Stella sighing, not long after she also laughed softly, "Oh so. Alright, alright. Dinner's still a little while away, Luiz, you go get yourself."

I think Stella's relieved of something, but I'm not sure, maybe it's just my imagination. I don't know, what's important is that I don't want to talk anymore.

"I'll go to the bathroom first."

"Yes." Yeah."

So, I quickly escaped to the bathroom and washed my hands clean. Thereafter, I realized that the music Stella played had also been turned off shortly after, changing to the sound of the television playing the news broadcast. I wonder if I am bothering him from having fun?

Nnnnope. Whatever the answer is, I don't want to think about it too much. I can't care too much about him, I wrote that on our agreement. I took off all my clothes and turned on the shower and started taking a shower.

Fifteen minutes passed.

"Luiz, the dinner is ready, after finishing the meal immediately, yes" Stella said as soon as I just got out of the bathroom. Sure enough, a cheese-like fragrance welcomed my smell. Unknowingly, I was so hungry.

"Okay," I replied.

But strangely, Stella did not even budge from her position. He stood in front of me, preventing me from moving forward. I began to look at him in wonder before realizing that his eyes were not on my face anymore but on my body which apart from the towel coiled around the waist, was not covered by anything. Just because it was too late in my mind, I forgot to take a shirt first and just shower. As a result, it becomes like this.

Eve from the hot shower that still covers my body suddenly felt increased. I cleared my throat but Stella didn't blink at all. His cheeks were flushed but before long he looked up while looking at me with sparkling eyes.

"You have torn bread, Luiz!"

I almost choked on my own spit, "...Huh uh?"

"Snork bread. Abs! You must be exercising, huh?"

I blinked, "Uh, not really, just in spare time."

"really? But it's amazing."

I didn't know how to respond to the compliment, so I acted like it didn't affect me at all.

"Hm. If there's nothing else, I'll go to the room first."

"Oh, yes. Don't be long, the food will be cold."

"Hm."

I really don't understand Stella. I could never predict his reaction to anything. Sometimes I wonder if he would, but in fact he did the opposite. Plus, she doesn't look like a woman who's as shy as she's often described.

Before long, I got dressed, and I got off. I took the seat next to Stella at the dining table, face-to-face to the flaming television. When Stella asked why I wouldn't sit opposite her, I reasoned that I wanted to watch the news while eating, although I was honestly just looking for something that would distract me from being alone with Stella. At least by watching, I have a reason not to talk to him, or even if the atmosphere suddenly becomes awkward, the news on television can be a topic for conversation.

I was scooping up mushroom soup when I remembered that there was something I had to tell Stella.

"Oh, where?" Stella asked after swallowing her food.

"Country B."

"Away yes. For how long?"

"Week if there are no obstacles" I replied, then shut up for a moment, "...What do you want?"

"Ah? Me?"

I'm asserting. I ask because all this time the father and some colleagues in the company always do the same for their wives, sometimes they can go home with a variety of grocery bags full of branded goods and the like. Besides I should have, I've never bought Stella anything while out of town because I still felt too awkward to do that, now I don't think it's wrong to give her something she wants as a thank you for cooking such a good meal all along.

"Hmm..I don't want anything really.." murmured Stella before chiming in, "Ah! There-there! If you go to Country B, you should definitely bring your chocolate home. Luiz, how about chocolate?"

"Can" I replied. I did plan to bring home the cokekat from Country B, where their chocolate has a characteristic sweet taste. It may not seem like it, but I really like sweet food.

Stella's answer on the other hand, was not surprising at all. From his type, he does not look like a person who is interested in branded goods, or rather does not care actually. As long as it's something simple and looks cute, I think she'll like it.

Instead I was reminded of the chocolate dessert box that mom gave me yesterday, when she went to the office to visit dad and stopped by my room for a bit. He said it was from a newly opened booth on the street near the house and it tasted really good.

"Speaking about Stella's chocolate, didn't I give you mom's dessert box to save yesterday?"

"Aah?"

"Dessert box" I said.

"As for that, I have eaten it."

"Hm, there are two boxes, right? The one is for you."

"Mr..."

Stella pulled her lips straight while scratching her cheeks.

I just woke up, "...Did you eat everything?"

Stella laughed stiffly, "I thought yesterday that you didn't like it and gave it all to me."

I—

"Sorry Luiz," exclaimed Stella, patting both of her palms in front of her chest, "I'll buy another special one for you instead. With large portions! I'm sorry, I really think you gave it all to me for not liking sweet things."

It always happens. Why does everyone always think I don't like sweet things? Which part of me lured them into thinking that?

I sighed, my fault was also not speaking clearly, "What's wrong. It's just food."

"really? But it's very tasty. I can order it again."

"really. Don't think about it."

I wouldn't act like the world would end if I didn't eat that box of chocolate dessert boxes. It is quite sad, but there are still many opportunities to order it later. I'm just quite amazed about Stella being able to spend two boxes of dessert boxes overnight, at dinner she seems to always keep the portion of the meal, making me eat the most food, he said, it's only natural that I didn't suspect it.

Wait for. Is that why he always eats less? Suddenly an enlightenment hit my mind. I glanced at Stella's plate which she ate slowly, only left behind the rice alone with a small piece of chicken. I always thought he wasn't the one who ate, apparently...

My grip on the spoon tightens. I don't know what got into me, my hand moved around scooping up pieces of cheese chicken and putting them on Stella's plate. He was silent before looking up.

"Eat. You always make me eat the most, you want to make me fat?"

Stella nodded quickly.

"Mama said I had to satisfy my husband a lot so he wouldn't snack outside. Luiz eat until you're satisfied."

Mother-in-law what advice have you given her? And Stella, you don't even understand what that advice means. I let out a breath.

"You should eat a lot too, Stella."

"You work harder, so you have to eat more" she said.

"Then, if that doesn't bother, cook a little more for the next portion, so you can still eat without holding back. I'll be satisfied if you eat full, too, okay?"

Stella nodded, then with eyes full of twinkle asked again.

"Luiz, are you a psychic? How did you know that I was holding back on eating all this time?"

I choose to ignore that one.