SUCCESS AND SURPRISE

Here I was standing in the kitchen with the smoke alarm as annoying as ever and looking at this lost cause in front of me. I sighed "if you didn't get the instructions you could have said so" I ran a hand through my hair. "And why were you staring it when it was literally burnt already" I laughed. He chuckled.

"Woah..you laughed" I said to him

"Let's just continue" he told me as he brought out another pan.

"Let's do it like this...I explain as I make mine, you just have to follow what I'm doing okay?" I waited for him to reply.

"Okay" he nodded.

I brought out another pan for myself as I put the pasta in it. I put about three cups of water before putting it on the stove to boil. He did likewise.

The next was the chicken. I brought it out from the fridge and washed it. I cut part into pieces. I took out a frying pan and added the chopped chicken into it. I looked at owner, he was so concentrated at what I was doing as he did his too. I took my time explaining to him as I made the chicken sauce. The pasta was ready after a while. I helped him drain out the water because he almost poured it all over himself. I laughed. "You're really bad at this" he scoffed and rolled his eyes.

Finally I had set my plate and he had set his.

"Now it's taste test" I wiggle my spoon as I dipped it into his pasta. I took a huge bite expecting the best. My eyes twitched as I tasted it.

"What what ..is it good" he asked curious

I raised my head to look at him the pasta dangling half way in my mouth. I smiled..in pain. I walked slowly to the trash and spat everything inside. I rinsed my mouth in the sink. He watched me silently.

"It's that bad" he asked "I think you're just exaggerating it" he rolled his eyes as he took a spoon too. He could even get it into his mouth.

"Yeah it's that bad" he said himself.

The thing is the pasta was cooked alright. It was the sauce. The chicken was undercooked, the sauce had too much salt and I could literally taste a lot of raw tomatoes. He didn't let it simmer well. I mentally cried in my head for tasting such attrocity.

"Again" he said. My eyes widened.

"Wait ..what?"

"We're doing this again"

"But.." he glared at me. I shut up immediately

"If you want to complete your next tasks just do as I say" I nodded in frustration.

Fast-forward to 3 tries later. I was sitting on the floor of the kitchen looking like I had given up on life. I mean how can someone be so terrible at making pasta.

The second attempt after the salt attrocity was terrible. The pasta was held together and sticky with the sauce not having enough ingredients.

The third attempt was equally sad because thus time he decided to mix them together in the pan. It was a terrible disaster.

I gave up on him after the third attempt to rethink my life choices. He was still trying his best..I just sat there , on the kitchen floor staring into space.

He came to me with another plateo of pasta and chicken sauce. My pointed a fork to me.

" Try it" he said and I knew he wasn't taking no for an answer.

I hesitantly took the fork and took a little from the plate tasting it. My eyes widened in.. surprise. I took another bite. It was good.

" Better?" He asked curious

"This is surprisingly good....it's a pass. You have finally made a non life threatening pasta" I clapped my hands. For the first time since we met Owner smiled.

I went to bed truly exhausted both mentally and physically. I layed down staring at the ceiling. Owner had helped me complete the remaining tasks by just saying so. I was relieved to finally be free from this. At least for now. I drifted off to sleep.

I woke to the sound of a loud siren. On instinct, I ran out to see what was happening. I met Owner already there.

"What's going on" I asked

"I'm just as curious as you " he replied. I rolled my eyes. The mysterious voice spoke.

PLAYERS YOUR TEST TIME OF OWNER AND HUMAN HAS ENDED.

wait what? My eyes widened I thought we were given forty eight hours, we had hadn't used 24 hours yet.

OUTSIDE THE PLACE YOU'RE STAYING IS YOUR NEW CLOTHES WITH A BOW AND ARROW. TAKE THOSE AND PROCEED TO THE CENTER OF THE CITY.

YOU HAVE 5 HOURS TO PREPARE YOURSELF BEFORE GOING TO CITY CENTER. DON'T BE LATE.

I stood there still confused what was going on. We were starting another game so soon? My hands became sweaty really fast. I went out to the front door to take my clothes and equipments. I turned the bow in my hands. How the hell was I supposed to use this.

"That's why you were given five hours to prepare" o I had forgotten owner was standing there. "And since the owner thing ended already please call me Joseph"

I nodded. "So... Joseph, do you know how to use a bow and arrow?" I asked him hopefully.

He laughed "of course not" my face fell.

"But you should better train now . I have a feeling this next game isn't going to be as easy as it seems"

"As if the games were ever easy" I ran a hand through my hair.

For the next 3 hours, I busied myself with learning how to use the bow and the arrow. By the end, I was a little positive about me using it.

I walked into my room to change to the clothes. I had decided to leave before time so I could locate the city center. I came out of my room set and holding the bow and arrows when Joseph came out of his own room dressed also in the exact type of clothes and holding a bow and arrows too.

I looked at him confused " why are you putting on that" I asked him.

"What? You're surprised" he laughed

What was going on?

"I couldn't tell you because the game didn't permit until after that phase . Owners are players too " he finally said

My heard skipped a beat.