Breakfast with Love

"HEY."

Rhea looked up and smiled at Desmond, who had just sat down in front of her with a plate of breakfast.

"Long time no see." Desmond rolled up his sleeves.

Rhea smiled knowingly. She glanced around the cafe and spotted Samuel staring at them.

"Come and join us, Sam." Rhea asked nonchalantly. Despite their distance, Rhea was sure Samuel understood what she was saying.

Samuel looked away, feeling embarrassed.

Desmond just shook his head at Rhea. "You're intentionally bullying him," he scolded.

"Bullying a bad guy is not a crime," Rhea chided.

Since what happened that day, she hated Samuel to her heart's content. If she had been allowed to kill him, she would have done it without remorse.

"How's Emery?" Desmond changed the topic so that Rhea would take her attention away from thinking about 'killing' Samuel.

"Same old, same old," Rhea reacted, feeling bored. Since they rekindle, their life is back to normal, just like before. Too normal. Boring. Monotonous. To expect Emery to change, it is impossible.

"How's work? You seems busy lately. Stuck in a backlogs?"

"Same old, same old." He repeated Rhea's word and chuckled without mirth. "It's the same old backlogs. And then Mona wants us to go on vacation. I couldn't say no. She wouldn't understand even if I explained. So I'm stuck."

Rhea smiled sympathetically. She and Desmond had opposite fortunes. Desmond's wife wanted his attention 24 hours a day, and he was a good man who always gave in and tried to make her happy. Sometimes, Rhea felt Mona was outrageous and took advantage of Desmond's kindness.

It was different between her and Emery. They were both champions in their own way. Rhea had once thought about imitating Mona's attitude. But would Emery care if she did? What if he continued to give her the cold shoulder?

Rhea wondered aloud, "If I act like Mona, would Emery like it?"

"You can try but not all men have the same kind of patience."

"But you could." Rhea smiled. Deliberately want to tease Desmond.

"She's my wife...I have to do what she says. I can't just ignore her." Desmond laughed, but his laughter was laced with guilt.

Rhea laughed in agreement. Mona is indeed a fortunate woman to have a husband like Desmond. He not only cherishes her feelings, but he also takes care of the children. Mona can just relax and take care of herself. How lucky!

"Emery is a good person, even though he may not seem like it. He cares about you, or he wouldn't have helped us that day. He's done some digging and knows my wife's name. I was worried he'd go to our house and ask her about us, and she'd be mad at me without giving me a chance to explain."

Rhea was stumped after listening to Desmond. He was right. How could Emery know Mona? They had never met. Emery had never attended any events organized by Rhea's company. Rhea usually came alone or not at all. Should she ask Emery about it?

The aroma of nasi lemak permeated the house, causing Emery's stomach to growl. He was about to go out and buy breakfast when the scent of pandan leaves filled the air. When he entered the kitchen, he was surprised to see sambal, eggs, cucumbers, and hot fried chicken on the table. Rhea was in the middle of filling a bowl with nasi lemak. He asked, "Did you cook all of this?"

Rhea has never cooked since she got married. She usually prepares light and simple meals such as omelets, instant noodles, and takeouts. They often eat at Eleanor.

Rhea beamed as she asked Emery, "Would you like some breakfast?" She brought a bowl of rice to the dining table and spooned it onto a plate before placing it in front of Emery.

Rhea served Emery a plate of nasi lemak, which she had not made in a long time. She spooned sambal, boiled egg, fried peanuts, and cucumber onto the plate and then added a piece of chicken thigh. She was imitating Eleanor, who always served Emery like a kindergarten boy.

"Please have a taste." Rhea continued to sit before sipping coffee to wet her throat.

Emery pulled up a chair and sat hesitantly in front of a plate of nasi lemak. The fragrant smell of pandan and sambal made his stomach churn. After saying a prayer before the meal, Emery reached for a spoon and scooped up some nasi lemak with sambal.

The food was heavenly, just like his mother's cooking! He jumped up and went to the sink to wash his hands. He wanted to eat the nasi lemak with his hands as he found it more satisfying and enjoyable than using a spoon.

Emery, after his second helping, questioned Rhea, "Since when do you know how to cook?"

Rhea, chewing on a cucumber, continued to answer, "I do know how to cook." She was sure Emery had no idea that she had always helped Eleanor cook when she went to the main house. Maybe all this time, Emery thought Rhea only knew how to cut and wash.

Emery looked at Rhea for a moment before continuing to eat. "Why didn't you cook at home before this?"

"If I cooked, would you eat it? I can only cook on weekends, and I'm too tired to cook after work on weekdays."

"Next time, just prepare the meal. I'll eat it." Emery got up and took his empty plate to the sink.

"Please wash your own dishes. I'm not your maid," Rhea said casually.

Emery frowned at first, but then he smiled. Eleanor always told him the same thing. After eating, wash your own dishes. There are no servants in this house to serve you. It seems that Rhea learned a lot from her mother.

"How's the nasi lemak?" Rhea asked before Emery came out of the kitchen.

"Hmmm," he said, giving her the shortest, most meaningless answer possible.

Rhea shook her head. Emery was a man of few words. But then she smiled. He had eaten two helpings. Who was he trying to fool?