The One Night Stand

Strike

The air was warm, Kara was staring at the shining sun. There are a lot of people outside, especially in the park. Kara paused to greet the herd of passing dogs, played around for a while, then continued on to the office.

"Good morning Miss Kara" Mike greeted with a big smile. Kara bobbing head re-looks at friends. Mike handed me a stack of files that had to be checked that day, "I'm really happy to be working with you, not a lot of complaints, being able to work together, working neatly, and for sure you're beautiful" Mike said, make Kara stop her work and look at Mike questioningly.

"I mean, what's wrong with you, why haven't you ever been seen dating a guy?" Mike looked at Kara. "You mean I'm lesbian?" Kara asked back. "Yes, it could be," answered Mike lightly, repaid with a paper roll punch by Kara. "Ouch!" Mike grimaced in pain. "Hey, listen up! I'm still normal Mike, I'm just lazy to talk to men, I enjoy it more like this," Kara sighed looking at Mike. "Thank God! I guess you changed her orientation after everything that's happened to you" she said. "Thank you for your attention. How're you? Is anyone close to you right now?" Kara asked back. Mike let out a long sigh, staring at his monitor screen "I like my dance teacher, but please don't spread it with the others!" Mike spoke in an almost inaudible whisper. Kara almost laughs to hear Mike's story, replying to a light pinch by Mike.

"Then the guy who took lunch yesterday?" ask Mike full of questions. "She might be able to be called my new family, Cindy's sister-in-law" Kara replied as she continued her work. Mike nods, seeing Kara busy she doesn't continue her questions anymore, then resumes her work again.

****

After work, Kara heads to the Asian store that Nindy once told her about. Kara saw the ingredients and read the label description on the packaging, many ingredients she had already known from the book, but only this time she saw. Kara also found tempeh, and some food ingredients she wanted to process.

Kara caught her familiar figure on the end shelf. Feeling that someone was watching, the figure approached him. "Hi!" it's like "Jeez, Kevin!" Kara was surprised to see Kevin. "Shopping too?" kevin asked, answered a nod of the head by Kara. "I shop here a lot, I love Asian cuisine. Near my office is a good Asian food vendor, when do I take you there." Kara smiled at Kevin's explanation.

They choose to choose groceries together, sometimes Kevin teases Kara by showing a funny face or showing some ingredients that his name is funny according to him. When they are done, they pay for their own groceries at the cashier.

"You want to go home?" ask Kevin when he gets out of the store. "Yes, I want to cook this," Kara replied as she showed me a bag of groceries. "Well, I'll take you!" Kevin offered himself. "May, if not troublesome." They walked together while carrying groceries, and chatted along the way. Kara was happy to meet her interlocutor again, for some reason she felt comfortable talking to Kevin, even though she had not known him for a long time, as if everything just flowed from her mouth when she told him about it.

"I've arrived." Kevin looked at Kara, they looked at each other, as if there was something Kevin wanted to say. "Would you come by my place?" kara asked, and at that moment she regretted it. Offering someone new known to stop by his residence, stupid me, Kara wrote in her heart, hoping Kevin refused. "May, if not troublesome," Kevin replied with a smile.

"Come!" Kara took the lead into her room, and inwardly still regretted her decision.

Kevin goes into Kara's apartment, "Sit down! I'll prepare the food, you must not have eaten!" Kara deftly tidied up her shopping, and prepared the ingredients to make spaghetti. Kevin puts his shopping bag on the table while observing Kara's apartment. The room is not too big, neatly arranged with minimalist items, but has a complete kitchen even though small. Kevin stands towards the kitchen watching Kara cook. Kara looks very beautiful according to Kevin by using an apron, hair in pigtails, and hands that deftly cut spices and ingredients.

Kara arranged the cooked spaghetti onto the plate, then placed it in front of Kevin.

"God! Like eating in a restaurant, it's so pretty!" Kevin was amazed by how to arrange the spaghetti Kara made, very neat, clean, and appetizing. "Please!" take Kara with a smile.

"The Jones family is indeed very skilled in the culinary field, you are an accountant, can cook as good and beautiful as this!" Kevin praises Kara while eating her spaghetti, a smile on Kara's face.

"I can only cook simple, since childhood my mother taught me to cook. When I was 10 years old, Papa told me to help out at the restaurant, from doing the dishes, to being a waitress, to cooking in his kitchen. Until I was entrusted with opening my own store, which I'm currently handing over to Andy." Kevin heard Kara's story carefully. "Why did you leave it to Andy?" ask Kevin wonder. Kara fell silent, lowered her head, then looked at Kevin. Kevin looked at Kara, then clasped Kara's fingers. "Because Josh? I'm sorry, " said Kevin, who finally realized the reason Kara gave up the shop to Andy. "Here I am, now I have enjoyed life in this place. Though far from family, yet I have friends at work." Kara tried to smile.

"Thank you for the dinner, it was delicious. I haven't eaten a fresh meal like this for a long time" Kevin said with sparkling eyes. Kara laughed, "Same, sometimes some friends come here to eat with me."

"Hmmmmmh... I'll never refuse if you take me out to eat again" Kevin said, tidying up his cutlery. "Let's help wash the dishes." Kara lets Kevin help her wash the dishes, he stands next to Kevin helping dry the dishes with a rag.

Kara occasionally glanced at Kevin, for some reason she felt always comfortable being around him.

"It's done! Thanks for helping." said Kara. "The same, next time I'll get back at her," Kevin replied, making Kara frown.

"I'll take you to dinner. Can I?" kevin looked at Kara. "Yes, I can, with pleasure." Kara's answer made Kevin smile widely, making Kara laugh a little.

After Kevin came home, Kara was pensive in the kitchen, thinking about what had happened, trying to understand everything. Is he trying to open his heart to new people, or hold on first. He was still afraid to lose again.