My mouth opened but no sound came out.
Somewhere without realizing it, Claire had swiped all the cookies and had already planted herself at the tv, watching something...
Huh... seems like she could read Japanese.
My thoughts were buffering, so I had to look for such things around me. Amara began to take out the pots and pans when she suddenly stopped and slowly stood to stare at me.
"Kagami... thank you for today. But.." Amara folded her lips for a second and blinked at me a couple of times. "Get out of my kitchen."
"Ah..."
"You're distracting me." Her gaze gravitated to the floor then swept over the things on the table.
"I... I could help."
"I don't even know what I'm going to cook!" She smiled then frowned and furiously shook a bucket of KFC. "That's why I cheated and bought some fried chicken!"
Why did she seem so adorable as she angrily chucked the bucket at Claire, who cried out, at first but then squeaked at the sight of it, eagerly scooped it up before the chicken could spill out and sat in her lap. She went back to watching tv.
"But it doesn't feel right because she wanted me to make MY chicken. The heck even is MY chicken. Chicken is fucking chicken. There's millions of different way to cook it if she doesn't even specify what chicken that I've ever cooked that she liked- She's been over dozens of times!" Her anger only rose as she whipped out a scallion and started cutting.
I quietly interjected my thoughts. "I'm... pretty sure she probably just wanted your cooking.
Amara shook her head so hard her stiff coils from her twin buns moved too.
"If I don't make what she likes, she's going to be like "Oh" I was hoping you were going to make such and such!" She stabbed the cutting board.
Ah... I could understand that might be annoying... but it was also fine, wasn't it?
"Well, maybe you can ask your Mom or-
"Fuck it!" She glared at the bag of potatoes as if it were her enemy.
"I'm just making whatever!"
And she did.
I cut up the scallions and onions in silence, and peeled potatoes, without instruction. While she seasoned the chicken, chucked it in the fridge, and prepared to crack a couple of eggs, mix it with flour and milk. Then she abandoned it, to make a pancake mix, she fished out an appliance.
"Is that a waffle iron?"
She flinched at the sound of my voice."You're still here?!"
"You're making waffles?!"
"...Yes."
"Chicken... and waffles?"
"Yes."
"That's a thing?"
"...Yes."
Claire rushed over, I'm not sure which one got her more excited, chicken or waffles but she suddenly had the motivation to cook.
"I'll make a potato egg salad!" She announced.
Amara ignored her.
"I'm taking these, Sugar boy."
She took my peeled potatoes and chucked them in a pot. She took out some canned corn, mushrooms, and bacon and got to work, and began to fry them. Filled a pan with water, and put in the eggs.
Surprisingly she could cook... what was that about burning the kitchen down?
"I thought... she couldn't cook..." I mutter.
"She finds the inspiration whenever chicken and waffles were involved."
"Did you do this on purpose?"
Amara took out a fresh-baked waffle that looked perfect before putting in a new mix.
"I forgot she was even here. Also, when are you leaving?"
I continued prepping veggies in silence.
Eventually, they used it.
Potato bacon egg salad with cheese, corn, and mushrooms, crispy fried chicken and waffles, a huge salad bowl with pecans, strawberries, and cheese, spinach cheese square-shaped pizza, Claire was in the process of making something called dirty rice when Amara got the call that her "Aunt and them" planned to eat at a restaurant.
Claire slammed down her knife that was about to open the package of ground beef and Amara who was preparing to take out the dishes as it grew late, swore in unison.
As they stared at the food in contemplation, Claire grinned while Amara's was... passive. No dead inside seemed to fit more.
"You're still here?" She suddenly noticed me again.
"Sugar boys been prepping behind the scenes like a pro... real MVP here!"
Amara stared at me.
"What about your Mom?"
"Huh?"
"It's pretty late."
I pulled out my phone to text her when I saw her text saying she was out with friends and might come back late so to eat without her.
Claire peered over my shoulder. "Eat with us!"
I looked to Amara but she was already decorating her waffle with bananas, while Claire spread peanut butter and jelly on hers.
I was beyond confused.
"Don't just stand there, Sugar boy!" Claire addressed me, her tone was one of warning.
"Cause there not bout to be none of this here, left."
I took heed of her advice and made a plate of the mashed potatoes, ah I mean potato salad with waffles and chicken. Claire squirted syrup on my chicken and waffles.
Syrup on chicken... Eh?
"Ehhhhh?!"
Claire burst out laughing and pointed at me.
Amara was calm on the other hand and used honey on hers.
While I wasn't looking, Claire smacked a slice of pizza on my plate.
We ate out in the small inner courtyard, a courtyard with a tiny waterfall and rock garden covered in moss, we didn't have something like this, in our house, which oddly had the same layout, looks like it was renovated with this in mind. While staring up at the sky we ate at the long table there.
While I ate in silence, well, Claire's eyes were fixed to the tv.
Another bubble of mine had been popped.
Unexpectedly, chicken and waffles... it was good. Well, everything was good but the chicken and waffles were the most surprising and unexpected combination, or maybe its because the chicken itself is so crispy and flavorful...
Claire's mashed potatoes were also a favorite of mine. It was loaded with so much...
While we dined the front door opened and even poured in some Amamiya-san, blacks, a blonde caucasian, and an Asian guy. He looked at me, pointed, and waved. I think... perhaps we're both the only Asians. He looks Chinese though...
I blinked and awkwardly held up a hand.
I would later learn that he's Claire's Dad.
Amamiya-san traced the guy's gaze and spotted us. Her lips curled up and her eyes shimmering with warmth.
"Awwwwwwwwww, hoooooooooow cuuuuuuuuuuuute!" But as she walked over her face frowned and when she squinted at our plates, she suddenly ran to the kitchen.
I nearly choked. It was funny, seeing her break out running in her heels.
Another woman approached, she was a lot shorter and thicker but also a lot lighter than Amamiya-san, her honey toasted skin and grey eyes screamed Claire's mom.
Her hair was arranged into mature puffs, that front of her hair had been neatly jelled back and she wore big hoop earrings. She smiled at us in greeting but then her smile dropped, she whipped her head in the direction of Amamiya-san and screamed.
"Uh-uh, NO! I know you did not just-
It got rowdy. We later realized because of the chicken and waffles.
I watched the men arrange more interesting combinations, bacon, avocadoes, and blue cheese and hotsauce with Amara's chicken and Claire's potato salad. Or Claire's potato with avocadoes, chicken and... pepper, then syrup...and hotsauce. The combination is bugging me. Is it really good?
The adults had brought over wine, liquor and while dining at the dining hall they became rowdy again.
Their laughter and conversation trickled down the hallway.
"Didn't they eat already?" This left Claire and Amara visibly speechless.
As Claire left to check, the Chinese man emerged with a white box.
"Papa!" Claire cried out ready to voice her grievances.
The man handed her the white box with a warm smile and left.
I was unable to hear what he said to her.
Claire returned and opened the box. A variety of cheesecake, tiramisu, peach tarts, and daifuku. Claire got excited but Amara seemed uninterested perhaps because she was full.
I was shocked by her indifferent response but I think it also helped me understand her better. The saying that women had a separate stomach for sweets didn't apply to her. Wait... I don't remember her ever eating sweets aside from bocky and nutty chocolate.
"You should take something home, Kagami." Amara glanced at me.
She's kicking me out again.
Well, it was late and we did have school tomorrow.
She slowly stood, stretched, and paused to grumble. "Assuming the adults didn't already eat everything that's left. I'm pretty sure they all ate sushi or ate at some fancy place... damn fat asses."
I stood up to check but instead, I got stopped and beckoned over by Amamiya-san. She was eating a familiar cookie.
"Did you have fun?"
"Ah... yes, ma'am."
Claire's jaw dropped.
"Is you- Aunt Naida! Them cookies is mine, I know you is not eating them!"
I assumed Claire ate them all but apparently she had some leftover. A lot actually.
"The whole batch can't be yours, there are tons! Share them with Amara too! Her share is my share."
Amara's voice rang out from the kitchen. "By that logic, they are Kagami's actually. He's the one who made them by himself after all."
The round-faced woman's jaw dropped.
"Claire, you didn't help him?!"
"He didn't need it!"
"She made the mashed potatoes..." I said quickly.
Claire's dad cackled and held up a wine glass. "I knew I loved it for a reason!"
Aw.
Claire cutely posed but her face was mischievous. Her Mother rolled her eyes.
"What about the chicken?" Claire's Mom probed.
"That was all Amara."
Claire's Mom's face lit up.
"Who else would make the chicken you asked for?" Amamiya-san's expression was all-knowing, she rolled her eyes at Claire's Mom.
"Amara, mara! That chicken was bomb gurl!" One of the men yelled.
"Ma niece!"
As they inquired more about who made what, they began to move on to my work.
Amamiya-san was bragging about me. Under their awed gazes, I felt rather bashful.
A warm hand tapped me on the shoulder.
"Kagami," I turned out and she chucked a bag at my chest. "Get out."
I got kicked out again but this time I actually felt grateful.
"Amara, don't be so rude!" Amamiya-san scolded her but Amara completely ignored her.
"If you don't leave now, you'll be standing here forever. It's late now and we both have school tomorrow."
"A-ah..."
Surprisingly, it was as if another adult had spoken for me, I felt like I had permission to leave, as the adults, agreed and waved their goodbyes and nicetameetchyas.
Amara saw me off at the door at a distance, I saw her standing there with folded arms. But she didn't advance.
"Ah," I held up a hand. "Goodnight."
"Night. Also... thank you for your help today, although it was unnecessary-"
Claire poked her head out from the corner.
"She lying!"
"For you to stay this long." Amara finished, her eyes shifting to Claire in her peripheral vision. "I'm sure you have a lot of things to do."
"Even if I do, it's nothing that urgently requires my attention...and also... I like... hanging out with you."
She blinked at me a couple of times. She had gone back to her calm, unreadable self, but I'm not complaining. I've already seen a sliver of her true thoughts.
I've learned a lot about you today, Ms. Amara. It felt as if I've finally come to understand how you think. I've never felt so happy and sad at the same time.
As I walked back home, my smile faded.
*I'll consider you.*
I felt cold.
"Kagami."
I turned around. Amara had come out as I reached my gate.
"We are friends." Her words made me blink, the relief I felt then was delayed.
"I..." She tilted her head. "Consider you a friend, but... I don't expect you to be friends with me."
What?
"I mean..." she tried again. "I don't expect too much from you... in terms of staying friends with me..." Her eyes seemed slightly somber looking. "Why does that sound worse once I say it out loud? It's not that I look down on you, I think you're amazing really..." She turned around and left.
Eh? That's it?!
I ran after her but the door had already shut and her silhouette disappeared.
I had wanted to tell her... that I thought she was amazing too!