Friends

Zhao Mingzhe was patting the dog in his arms as he leaned by the doorway looking at his wife unpacking the stuff they bought.

He was just temporarily banned from the kitchen as Han Yixin wanted to organize the things herself.

With that, Zhao Mingzhe had no choice but to cuddle the fluffy dog as they both watch the madam of the house humming while cleaning and organizing her new tools.

Han Yixin was happily placing new baking dishes together when she heard a growling stomach. She swiftly followed the sound, and saw her husband smiling awkwardly by the door.

"Oh yeah, you haven't eaten." she almost said to herself. She bit her lower lip and looked down as she realized that he had not eaten while she was still full with everything they ate in the café.

She turned to her husband again as she put on an apron. "You can wait at the dining area...I'll...just give me 15 minutes!"

With that, she started gathering her ingredients from the pantry and the fridge. She boiled water in a pot. Then she took out her chopping board and a new, quite sharp knife and started chopping an onion.

Zhao Mingzhe obediently sat at the dining area, as he transferred Oxford on his lap, and continued playing with its fur.

In less than 15 minutes, the dog stood from lying on his lap and was happily wagging its tail with its tongue sticking out with saliva.

"Woah..." Zhao Mingzhe felt his mouth water as well.

Han Yixin placed the dish and plates on the table, then she took the dog from his lap. She made a quick trip to the kitchen then out to the area where Oxford's bowl is, then gave the dog its share of the food.

Oxford happily munched on his dinner.

Han Yixin washed her hands and removed her apron before joining her husband to eat.

Zhao Mingzhe was already getting his portion from the dish plate into his own plate when his wife sat down beside him. He smiled at her and began to fill her plate too.

"Wait! Don't put too much on my plate. I'm still quite full." she immediately stopped him.

He looked back at her as he dropped some pasta in her plate. "This is enough then?"

Han Yixin eyed the plate half full. "Yes. You should eat the rest. You must be hungry."

Zhao Mingzhe widened his smile as he served the plate towards his wife. "You know...being too thin is not good."

She glared at him as she stopped putting pasta into her mouth. "Whaddya mean?"

Zhao Mingzhe chuckled then continued chewing. "You should eat if you want. I can buy all the ingredients you like."

"So you think I'm fat?!"

"Hey, hey! I never said that you're..."

"But you were thinking it!" She pointed her fork at him.

"Hey, don't murder me with a fork!" Zhao Mingzhe was already laughing.

"You..." Han Yixin continued to narrow her eyes towards him, but she was already smiling.

Laughing, he took her hand holding the fork and put it down. "Let's just eat. It's really tasty, y'know."

Han Yixin chuckled, then she continued eating.

After dinner, they went out to the lanai to have some tea. Han Yixin had Oxford on her lap. Cool breeze brushed gently on their faces.

Suddenly, Han Yixin broke the silence.

"Zhao Mingzhe..."

Zhao Mingzhe immediately turned to face his wife. "Hmmm?"

"I don't think...we can be husband and wife right now."

Zhao Mingzhe furrowed his brows. "Why not? Did I do something you didn't like? What's wrong?"

"Well, we don't really know each other that much. I...I think it would be better if we'll just be friends..."

"What? Why?!"

Han Yixin narrowed her eyes when he interrupted her. "I'm saying...we should be friends, for now."

Zhao Mingzhe took a deep breath. "Elaborate."

Han Yixin sighed. "I think, that though we skipped this pace and had an immediate wedding, it doesn't mean we should not be in this stage. I mean...it is already awkward to suddenly be living with a stranger. I think that...doing that thing...is not romantic at all if we are not lovers. Do you get..."

"Okay. I get it." He interrupted.

"Then we..."

"Let's be friends then." Zhao Mingzhe offered his hand.

Han Yixin had a smile as she shook hands with him. "Okay."

"Hey, but you can't move out!" He pointed at her. "I...I'll be like, your friend...but your housemate friend. Okay?"

Han Yixin chuckled. "Of course."

"It's a deal then! I'll move out my things to the other room." He declared, then he sipped his tea.

"Thanks." Han Yixin also took a sip from her cup. At that point, she felt as if she pushed him away.

That night, Zhao Mingzhe kept his word and moved his things and Han Yixin helped him.

He was holding the knob of her door as he looked around the room. "I guess I got them all."

Han Yixin looked around as well and nodded. "Hmmn."

"Well, good night then." Zhao Mingzhe smiled at her then shut the door gently behind him.

Han Yixin stood frozen for a moment. She really managed to make him keep his distance, but why does she have the feeling that he left her?

She remembered how his presence felt during the thunderstorm when they first visited the house. He was a complete stranger then, but she felt protected. Did she offend him somehow? Will he stop caring like he did before? After all, they are now treating each other as friends.

Zhao Mingzhe brushed his teeth in his new bathroom in a daze. He remembered how awkward his wife described his presence around her. He frowned as he thought of how she felt during their honeymoon. Did he force her to do it with him?

He felt like a horrible person. He told himself that he should do his best to keep his distance. In order to elevate his importance from being a friend, he cannot force things.