CUNNING SPIDER

"This is crazy! I hate this!" Kaye was screaming silently, smashing her pillows against her bed to release her frustration.

"Kaye, I'll go buy something outside." Ivan called out to her from the living room. Kaye stopped her tantrums and listened carefully.

"This devil is stupid. I'm avoiding you okay?" she punched the pillow with all her might. "Go wherever you go!" she yelled at him.

"Do you want something? I can buy it for you." Ivan responded despite her childish actions.

"I don't want anything, just go away. I will be sleeping so stop making noises." she was exhausted, sitting on her bed, hugging one of her pillows which she punched earlier.

"Okay." Ivan said softly, his voice sounded sad and lost, like he wanted to say something but he's afraid she would get mad at him, but in truth Ivan was doing it purposely.

When Ivan left, the apartment was quiet, devoid of any signs of life. Kaye stayed in her room, upset, frustrated, sad and other kind of emotions that were new to her. When she was young, she was indifferent to the world, only her cat and Ms. Maine could make her smile. When she was adopted by her loving parents, they didn't force her or set high expectations for her. However, when she met Ivan, her world was turned upside-down. Her emotions were stirred and now they're out of her control.

"I hate you." she whispered, punching the pillow that she was hugging again and again. "I hate myself more." she sighed, tidying her place so she could sleep.

Ivan went to the hospital to visit his parents. Since he left their house, his father changed his schedule to be on the same shift as his mother. Therefore, both parents were currently working.

"Sir Ivan, your father is currently attending a meeting with the board while your mother is conducting surgery. If everything's fine, she'll be out an hour from now." reported the assistant who's responsible for his parent's food and appointments.

"Thank you. I'll be waiting in the office." Ivan said before leaving the assistant to continue her work.

It was just what the assistant said, Ivan waited for almost an hour for his mother. "Ivan, you're here. How are you?" his mother was happy to see him in different atmosphere. He seemed contented and inspired base on her observation.

"Hello mom. I'm doing fine. I hope you're doing well, too. Father isn't done with the meeting yet?" he asked after giving his mother a kiss on her cheek.

"Almost done. Have you eaten?" his mother inquired once again.

"I ate already, but I need your help though." he scratched his head, unsure if he should say it or not.

"What is it? It's very rare for you to seek help. Is this so difficult you can't do it yourself?" his mother teased him. Ever since he was a child, Ivan wouldn't ask help from anyone even when he became blind.

"I want to cook something." he answered her mother softly.

"Huh?"

"I want to cook." he reiterated making sure that his mother heard him.

"I heard that. You...will...cook? Son, you are not sick right?" Mrs. Harley put her hands on her son's forehead, checking his body temperature.

"Mom, I'm fine. I really want to cook. I could actually ask our helper to cook the food, but I couldn't trust anyone outside the family." he shrugged his shoulder slightly.

"Would you like to wait for your father to finish the meeting or shall we go ahead?" Mrs. Harley was still hesitating to let her son cook.

"We can go ahead. I need to finish cooking before dusk." he took his jacket and walked outside, ahead of his mother. Mrs. Harley told her assistant to inform Mr. Harley that she left with Ivan.

When they arrived home, Ivan walked directly to the kitchen. It was his first time in the kitchen after losing his sight.

"What would you like to cook?" his mother asked him, following him to the kitchen.

"Do we have chicken wings, drumsticks and shrimp?" he asked tapping his fingers on the table. "I'd like to give a try with a Chinese Braise Chicken and Mushroom plus Spicy Garlic Shrimp."

"Shouldn't you start with scrambled egg?" his mother joked at him before checking the ingredients that her son would need. "We've got everything you need. Change your clothes so we can start." Mrs. Harley informed her son.

Ivan left to change his clothes specially that he stopped by the hospital earlier. His mother changed her clothes as well.

'Let's see if you can still avoid me after this.' he smirked at his thoughts before putting his phone in his pocket. 'I will not let go of you. Not now that I found you, Therese.'

"Just tell me which to put first or what to slice. It doesn't matter if I hurt myself, mom. You just need to supervise me so I wouldn't burn our place." Ivan said as he put the white apron that he'll be using.

"Alright. I'll just prepare band aid and disinfectant for you." her mother placed the first aid kit on the far corner of the table just within her reach in case her son would get hurt.

Ivan was indeed capable, but it doesn't remove the fact that he's blind. He would still struggle at some point.

"Son, since you like to cook, why don't you go for surgery to make it easy for you?" his mother asked out of the blue while he was slowly slicing the onion.

Ivan stopped for a while looking at his mother's direction, "Not now." 'This is my leverage to gain her attention. Why would I throw this chance away?' he wanted to add it but he didn't want his mother to start checking Kaye's private life.

With that response Mrs. Harley stopped inquiring about his decision and started to assist him instead.