Cooking Research

Donald dragged himself up from his bed. His eye lids were heavy and drooping. He had slept late the previous night and the effects were starting to show up. He had made it a habit to sleep late these past few days and didn't worry about it as long he had his coffee.

He yawned and went to the kitchen to make himself tea. He waited for the water to boil before making the tea. He moved to the living room only to find Priscilla reading on her laptop with a serious expression.

"You're up early which is very unusual for you." he commented and sat down opposite her.

"Very funny, Donald." She faked a small laugh which ended as soon as it began. She then said, "I'm doing a little research."

"Anything I can help with?"

Priscilla glanced at him then scoffed. "I would say that I'm better at this level than you are so your help would be empty comfort."

Donald frowned slightly. He was one of the best surgeons in the country yet she claimed that he wasn't good enough to help in her research? He silently sipped his tea. His eyes were focused on her.

"Quit it!"

"What?"

"Quit looking at me or I'll really do something nasty to you." she said with an air of authority.

"So you've said for the past 15 years!" Donald snapped back and added with a smile. "What is it they say about dogs that bark the most? Oh, they never bite."

Priscilla raised an eyebrow at him with a smirk. "The only difference between me and your imaginary dog is that I'm really capable. Remember what happened third year in college?"

Donald opened his mouth to retort but his words were stuck to his throat.

"I thought so." Priscilla smiled and dropped the laptop and went to the kitchen to get a drink too.

Donald jumped up and quickly turned the computer over and looked at the research she was doing. What he saw made his mouth hang open like he had forgotten what it meant to close his mouth.

'She's studying food recipes? What for? How is this a research?' he thought about it deeply but immediately pushed the computer back and returned to his seat. He continued sipping his tea till she came back with a cup of hers made of her special tea capsules.

"I never knew you were interested in cooking." He said with a mocking smile.

"You looked at my work."

"Of course. I was curious and turns out it was even bigger than I'd expected. You've never been interested in cooking before." Donald sipped his tea with a delicate expression on his face.

"Don't even go there." She glared at him, annoyed.

Donald chuckled a bit. "It's no big deal, Priscilla. Learning to cook to impress me is something that warms my heart."

Priscilla almost choked on her laughter. She dropped her cup of tea gently before saying with a smirk. "Impress you with food? You're quite wrong Donald."

"What other reasons could there be for you to learn to cook?" he questioned.

"You're right I'm learning to cook so I can impress someone but it isn't you," she smiled widely. "It's for Richard."

This time it was Donald who choked on his tea and spewed it out onto himself. He coughed for a bit before raising his eyes at her. "You want to learn to cook for him?"

Priscilla nodded. "I've tried once but he didn't like my cooking so I figured I should improve. I want him to eat a dish that I've made."

"You've already cooked for him?!" this time he raised his voice but had a defeated expression. "How has it gotten to this point?"

She shrugged. "I don't know either but I'm determined to learn the correct methods."

Donald didn't know what else to say. He looked at her and saw that she was indeed pretty serious. She sat down again and continued reading the recipe book and then switched to watching the related videos.

He didn't notice that his tea had gone cold from sitting there for a long while. He sighed and dropped the cup. "What sort of charm is he using?"

"Good muscular body and abs." Priscilla replied seriously.

"I am a doctor and not an athlete, how do you expect me to get abs?" Donald used the situation to ask the question he had wanted to ask before ever since she started to dream about abs and toned muscles.

She chuckled. "You're good, you're good."

She continued to silently carry on with her work not minding the deep look that Donald was giving her. Every time she recalled how Richard had reacted after tasting the food she cooked she felt a knot in her stomach.

She wanted to learn and try again.

….

After a few more minutes, she closed her laptop and stood up with a yawn. Donald watched her from the corner of his eyes.

She went to her room and changed then she grabbed her purse and phone and walked to the door.

"You're going out?" Donald asked.

"Yes, I have some matters to attend to."

"Today is Sunday." He said matter of fact.

"Is it?" she glanced at him with a smile. "I just need to take care of a little problem."

"Don't be out late and…" he paused. He had wanted to say 'don't go to Richard's house' but he realised how that would've sounded. He pursed his lips and could only watch as she opened the door and left.

Priscilla walked down the street before making a call. She was supposed to meet with K9 and the rest to discuss the matter of the military base.

The call was answered on the third ring. "Code of the day, miss?"

She had to get used to this. She replied, "Auburn storm."

"K7, there's a car coming to pick you up. What's your location?"

She told him her location and K9 simply replied with an 'okay' before hanging up the call. She walked down a little bit and stood at the other end of the street and soon a small blue car drove towards her.

A woman stepped out and scanned her for a while before asking, "What's the password?"

Priscilla rolled her eyes. "I don't really like the way you look at me."

She shoved the woman aside and got in. this high level of paranoia meant that K9 was having doubts about her too.