Chapter 6

The next morning, right after meditation.

"Hey, Oz."

"Hmm?"

"Can I hug you right now?"

"Why?"

"I just feel like hugging you."

"Mmm... Okay, you can hug me."

Natalie scoots over to Osmond and embraces him. A smirk appears on her face.

"Hey, Oz."

"Yes, Nat?"

"Can I sit in your lap?"

"What? Why?"

"I just feel like sitting in your lap."

"I, uhh… It's still too early for that."

"So I can't?"

"No, at least not yet."

"Boo."

"..."

"..."

"Hey, Oz."

"..."

"Oz."

"What now?"

"Can you sit in my lap?"

"No!"

Osmond breaks away from Natalie's hug.

"C'mooon, why not?"

"Let's make breakfast."

"You're such a maiden."

They get up from the couch and walk to the kitchen. Osmond fills two glasses with water and they drink up.

"So what are we making?"

"I don't know, what do you want?

"I don't know."

Osmond puts his hand on his chin. Natalie imitates him.

"How about french toast?"

"Ugh, yeast."

"No, we can get some yeast free bread. I don't like yeast, either."

"I don't feel like going out this early. Let's just have some oatmeal."

"Hmm... Yeah, alright."

They wash their hands and quickly make some oatmeal with sliced bananas and cinnamon.

"I-"

"We!"

"We offer this food to God, Om Tat Sat. Thank you, God, for this food." -They say in unison.

"Hey, Oz."

"Yeah?"

"Can I feed you?"

"Why are you teasing me so much?"

"Because I love you."

Osmond gets a bit embarrassed and averts his face.

"..."

"C'mon, let's feed each other."

"No! Go do that with your boyfriend."

"Then be my boyfriend."

Osmond blushes and tries to continue eating his oatmeal.

"C'mon, let's act all lovey dovey with each other."

"You're making me feel weird!"

Natalie scoops some oatmeal and tries to feed Osmond.

"No! I don-mnn, I don't wa-mmph! Mmn!"

He accepts her spoonful with a scowl.

"Fufufu."

"Shtoph feejinyg me!"

"You're so cute when you're flustered."

He swallows.

"You're being mean!"

"How am I being mean?"

"You're teasing me way too much and you're acting like we're already a couple, even though we're not dating and I still haven't completely fallen in love with you!"

"You haven't "completely" fallen in love with me? So you're already partially in love with me?"

Osmond puts another spoonful of oatmeal in his mouth.

"Oh God, you're so cute."

He tries to ignore her.

"Hey Oz."

"..."

"Oz."

"Don't tease me anymore!"

"Hey Oz."

"What?"

"Can I kiss you?"

Osmond looks at Natalie with surprise and embarrassment. She stares at him with a gentle smile and an infatuated gaze.

"..."

"..."

"I'm going to my room, don't follow me!"

As he gets up, Natalie grabs his wrist.

"Wait."

"What?"

"I'll stop teasing you, so don't go."

"Promise!"

"I promise…"

He sits down.

"...After you respond to my question."

He sends her an angry look.

"..."

"..."

"Only on the cheek!"

She gets up, gives him a big, wet kiss on the cheek and sits back down.

"Are you satisfied now?"

"Mmm… Not really, but I don't want you to hate me, so I'll stop for now."

Osmond relaxes a little.

"So when will you start that book?"

"Sometime today I guess."

Osmond finishes his oatmeal.

"Yeah, but when exactly?"

He gets up, puts his bowl in the sink and goes back to his seat.

"The Overseer only said "next Wednesday", he didn't say at what time exactly."

"I hope it's when I'm at work."

"Why?"

"Because I want to hang out with you some more."

"You mean you want to tease me some more."

"No, I really just wanna hang out, like play games together or something."

"It's true, we haven't really played any games together lately..."

Natalie finishes her oatmeal.

"But yeah, I also wanna tease you a bit more."

"You're such a jerk."

"Meanie."

"Corporate slave!"

"NEET!"

They both scowl at each other, then smile. Natalie gets up and puts her bowl in the sink.

"I should get ready for work..."

"Get going, you bully!"

"Yeah, yeah."

She goes to her room, gets dressed and walks to the front door.

"I'm leaving now, bye!"

"Wait!"

"What?"

Osmond walks over to Natalie and hugs her. Her face brightens.

"Good luck with work today."

"Thanks, Oz!"

She kisses him on the cheek.

"Don't just kiss me like it's normal!"

Natalie opens the door.

"Bye, Oz!"

"Bye, you jerk."

The door slams shut.