THE WAY TO A WOMAN'S HEART IS THROUGH HER STOMACH I

Ivan had realized long ago that Kaye loves food. Whenever she was stressed she would cook to distract herself. Whenever she was happy she would cook to celebrate. Every shift of emotions made her cook, he even thought she would grow fat, not that he care about her size but it never happened though. The only thing that changed was, she didn't cook extra food for him these past few days.

'She must be angry with me.' Ivan thought while peeling off the shrimp's shell. With his thought wandering to a different world, Ivan accidentally cut his left index finger. "Aaiiissssttt" Ivan hissed from the pain, sucking the blood to stop it.

"What are you doing?" Mrs. Harley yelled at him. "Give me your hand." she instructed him while pulling the first aid kit box. Ivan stretched his hand toward his mother. "You're not even done with the first dish and here you are covered with all size of wounds."

"It doesn't matter cause it doesn't hurt." Ivan told her mother nonchalantly.

"It's okay now." Mrs. Harley patted her son's arm. "Be careful. I don't think the woman will be happy to see you with all the wounds."

Ivan stopped. His world stopped. How did his mother knew? He opened his mouth and close it again. He wanted to say something but he didn't know where to start. He was standing in front of his mother, staring at her blankly.

"Why are you standing there like a fool? Continue cooking. I would never help you with that food." Mrs. Harley urged him though she knew why Ivan stopped.

"Mom, don't do anything. This is my private matter." Ivan couldn't allow his parents to interfere with his private matter.

"Who wants to do anything? I wouldn't dare. Beside, didn't you promise to get yourself a wife? I would just watch you. But Ivan, you're my son. If ever that woman would do something to you, I wouldn't just sit still." Mrs. Harley told her son sincerely. It was her eldest child they're talking about. How could she slack off?

"Thank you mom. I swear she's a nice woman. She's the right one." Ivan faintly smile to his mother as he walked towards the stove to check if the braised chicken and mushroom was cooked.

"When will we meet her?" his mother asked, putting the first aid kit back to the corner where she placed it earlier.

"Soon. I am still working to get her attention. She's really capable and I think I will have a hard time winning her." he chuckled remembering the interactions they had in these past few months.

"I see. Introduce her to us once you succeed in wooing her."

"Definitely."

Ivan continued his working despite the burnt and cuts he incurred. He needed to finish cooking before dusk so he could go back to the apartment as early as possible.

"Don't bring everything to your apartment. Leave some at home. It's not everyday that we'd see you cook here." his father said, walking towards his mother. Ivan and his mother left the hospital together since his father was still in the meeting. He just got home.

"Sure dad. Even if it doesn't taste good, you have to eat it." he teased his father causing Mr. Harley to laugh out loud. Ivan and his family were very close. His parents raised them well but sometimes his character would sidetrack to a world left unknown by his parents and sister.

"Let me take a video. I will send this to Kath. She'll be mad for sure once she watch it." Mrs. Harley took out her phone, aiming the camera to Ivan and started talking how Ivan wanted to cook and what he was cooking.

When Ivan finished cooking the two dishes which were Chinese Braised Chicken and Mushroom and the Spicy Garlic Shrimp, he set off and went back to the apartment.

The sky has turned red-orange, city lights were turned on, streets were bustling with commuters which indicate the coming of night. Soon, Kaye would wake up to prepare for work.

Kaye was currently sitting in front of her vanity mirror, staring into space. When she woke up earlier, it was already six in the evening. She checked if Ivan was outside but she found his slippers on the rack. He left and has not returned yet.

"Why am I worrying about him? He's a grown man. He should be able to protect himself." Kaye sighed, taking the hairbrush and started to combing her hair. "But he's blind. What if some people would take advantage of him?" she covered her face with her hands not knowing what to do. "Should I call him or should I not? I am avoiding him after all." she was hesitating to dial his number and call him. "But I will be guilty to death if something happens to him." she argued back to herself.

It took Kaye thirty minutes to finish her monologue about calling Ivan or not. In the end, she decided to send him a voice message instead.

"Ivan, it's me Kaye. I'm about to leave for work and you're not home yet. You didn't tell me where you're going earlier. I'm not really prying your private life, but if you're fine and you've heard this, please give me a ring to let me know." After sending the message, Kaye went to the bathroom so she could take a shower and start preparing herself for work.