Season 7 Chapter 5

Naomi: (she clicks her tongue while staring at me in disgust) You are again cooking those western garbage in my kitchen.

Me: What else do you expect from me? Make sushis for those hungry monsters? (I said while preparing pastry batters)

Naomi: The only monster that I know is you. (She says rolling her eyes) I don't think that anyone can beat you when it comes to eating. (She smirks)

Me: Thank you for the compliment. (I said while moving restlessly in the kitchen. Today has finally arrived when those hooligans will stay for a nightout and disrupt my peace. I wanted everything to be perfect so that there was no room for complaint) You know Naomi, it's a mother's responsibility to help out their daughters when her daughter's friends are coming over. (I smirked)

Naomi: I am your landlady. Not your mother. (She frowned before starting to knit the dough) Don't you think that you are overdoing it?

Me: You think so?....(I said feeling anxious and pacing around the kitchen feeling nervous) I….I just want everything to be perfect. (I said while trying not too panic) This would be the very first time, that my friends will be staying at my place and I don't want to fuck up.

Naomi: Anne. Breath. (She sighs)

Me: (I took a deep breath) Where the fuck is Jules?? I asked her to help me out. (I frowned)

Naomi: Anne, its freaking 3 AM at night! Stop and go back to bed! And let us sleep too! (She says pulling my arm)

Me: B-But what if I wake up late and mess everything up? (I said anxiously)

Naomi: Go! (She says pointing at my room)

Me: Fine….(I said groaning as I noticed Jules sleeping on top of the counter) What is she doing here?

Naomi: You guess. (She says facepalming) Get back to your bed, both of you! (Jules jolts hearing Naomi's voice and falls down from the counter with a thud)

Jules: Ugh…..(she grumbles)

Naomi: (rubbing her temples) I swear, you both will be the death of me. Go on, get to bed. We'll deal with this in the morning.

Me: (helping Jules up) Come on, Jules. Let's go. (I glanced back at the kitchen, feeling a pang of worry but knowing Naomi was right)

Jules: (half-asleep, mumbling) But the batter...

Me: (sighing) The batter will be fine. Naomi will keep an eye on it. Let's just get some rest.

Naomi: (she taps her feet on the floor impatiently while frowning) As if I would. (She clicks her tongue before retiring to her room)

I dragged Jules to her room while letting out a sigh. There was visible stress over my forehead, as I placed Jules on her bed and pulled up the blanket over her body. She started snoring as soon as she felt the warmth of her bed.

Jules: Food…..(she starts murmuring in her sleep) Bread...soft…..butt….(she says before going deeper into her sleep)

Me: (a chill ran down my spine as I hear her words) Pervert….

I quietly closed the door to Jules' room, frowning at her sleep-talking habit while wondering what goes on in that little brain. As I made my way to my own room, I couldn't help but feel the weight of the upcoming day. This nightout meant a lot to me, and I wanted everything to go smoothly. I slid into my bed, staring at the ceiling. The twist and turned on the bed for a while trying to calm my anxiety, before getting up and going outside to take a puff. While standing at the balcony with a cigarette in between my fingers, I couldn't help but have various thoughts crossing my mind. With each puff, I tried to calm my nerves, only to fail. It would be the first time that my friends are visiting me, and couldn't help but feel excited and nervous at the same time. I hoped that the day will go as planned, I don't know why Maria tricked me into this scam. She knew how hard it is for me to arrange things when I didn't even have the idea how to take care of guests. Maybe it was easier for Angela, rather than someone like me. A loner can't be a good host.

As I finished my cigarette, I flicked the butt over the balcony and watched it disappear into the darkness below. I took one last deep breath, trying to calm my racing mind, and went back inside. The kitchen was quiet, and I felt a pang of guilt for waking everyone up so early. Naomi was right; I needed to relax.

I trudged back to my room and slipped under the covers, trying to find some comfort in the warmth of my bed. I stared at the ceiling, my thoughts swirling around like a storm. Unfortunately the unwanted thoughts kept me awake all night, as I got out of bed with the first ray of light, which entered through the slight gap between the curtains. I stretched myself before entering the bathroom and brushing my teeth and changing my clothes. I rushed downstairs after completing self hygiene, only to find that the dough and batters were already prepared as Naomi was busy making breakfast.

Naomi: Didn't sleep a wink, did you? (She said as she noticed me smiling like an idiot) Come and help me out. (She says sighing)

Me: (Grinned happily and walked in the kitchen as I helped her prepare breakfast) Thank you, hehe.

Naomi: Shut up. (She frowned) You look like an idiot.

Me: Hehe…..maybe. (I said with a slight blush over my cheek as I knitted the dough feeling excited)

Naomi: What are you planning to make? (She asks)

Me: Pizza, pastry and some fries. (I replied)

Naomi: Agh….you sure that none of your relatives have Italian background? (She says raising her brow)

Me: But French fries are from Belgium and pastries were first created in ancient Egypt. (I said before pouring the batter on the mould) But my father is from US.

Naomi: Explains a lot of things. (She says rolling her eyes)

Me: Do you think, that they will like the preparations? (I asked feeling anxious)

Naomi: There is nothing to hate it, anyways children nowadays prefers these type of foods. (She replies with a smile) Though I am still against you cooking Western dishes in my house. (She pouts)

Me: (smirks) Yeah….yeah….whatever.

Naomi: So, at time are they coming for visit? (She asks as she puts rice and miso soup in bowls along with stirred fried vegetables and omelette.) Have breakfast.

Me: Well, they said they would come around afternoon. Have study session and stay the whole night. (I said while placing the bowls on the table.)

Maria: The food smells nice. (She says with a bright smile as she enters the restaurant.) I could smell the fragrance even from outside.

Me: What are you doing here, early in the morning? (I raised my brow confused)

Maria: What do you mean? I simply came to help you out. (She sits beside me while pulling my meal towards her and grabbing a chopstick) Itadakimasu! (She says before rubbing the wooden chopsticks together and starting to eat)

Me: Hey! That's my food! (I said grumbling in disbelief)

Naomi: Such a good child. (She smiles admiring) She even know Japanese.

Me: Cause she was in Japan for four years! Doesn't mean she will steal my food! (I pouted)

Naomi: Stop complaining and get yourself food. (She says rolling her eyes.) Maria Chan. (She smiles warmly) Hope the food suits your taste.

Maria: I love Japanese cuisine. (She smiles)

Naomi: Oh! Such a wonderful child, or else nowadays these children only cares about burger and pizza. Tsk tsk. (She clicks her tongue looking at me)

Me: Seriously?....she is just speaking nonsense to win your heart! (I complained while pointing at Maria)

Naomi: Stop pointing at her. Its rude. (She scolds me) Go and get food from the kitchen while I speak with Maria.

Me: Fine! (I said sulking and walked towards the kitchen)

As I entered the kitchen, I could hear Naomi and Maria chatting away, their voices a comforting background hum. I piled my plate with some of the breakfast Naomi had made, for some reason their bonding made me feel slightly jealous as my stomach grumbled at the smell of food. Without further word, I sat down in the restaurant eating my meal quietly as I watched them interacting with each other happily.

To be continued....