To surprise Prince Aiji, Vince woke up early the next day. Covering the prince with a cotton blanket, he carried him outside.
"...Dari? Where are you taking me?"
Vince's smile was too wide.
"I'm taking you to a wonderful surprise!"
What could be a wonderful surprise in this place? It was a beautiful sunrise. When Vince put the prince down, the latter's face was filled with wonder. In the distance where the vast sea and boundless sky met, was a mixture of gold and red. The sun was rising that painted the sky with majestic hues. It was reflected in the seemingly peaceful blue sea, a spectacular sight.
"My love, this is what the sea looks like..."
"Beautiful... Dari, it's beautiful!"
"Yes, it is!"
With the prince's satisfied smile, Vince was delighted. He hugged Prince Aiji from behind and whispered. "But in my eyes, you are more beautiful!"
What a cheesy line! But since this Captain was in love, these words were uttered with a straight face.
The overwhelmed prince was speechless for a while. Being struck with this cringy line, his ancient heart was stunned for a moment.
"Thank you, Dari..."
There was a lovely smile that was drawn on the prince's gentle face. Then, a kiss followed. The prince initiated the morning kiss. That cheesy line was worth it!
Vince was kissed. How could he stay calm? He took the kiss over to an intense level for a few minutes. Later, they settled under a small tree, enjoying the perfect view and the perfect moment.
"Dari, the sea is really beautiful." Leaning against a sturdy chest, Prince Aiji uttered.
"Yes, it is." Vince, who was embracing him from behind, answered.
"And the sunrise here is majestic!"
"Yes, it is! My prince, with you in my arms, this scene is truly majestic..."
Prince Aiji chuckled. Once bitten, twice shy. He didn't fall with Vince's cheesy line again.
The two cuddled until the sun rose high in the morning sky.
"What a disgusting scene early in the morning!"
An annoyed voice yelled behind.
Vince looked back but didn't budge an inch away from Prince Aiji.
"Beni, you came early."
"I do, but I regret it now."
"We are watching the sunrise. It's wonderful."
"Of course it is wonderful, especially when you're embracing someone..." Beni muttered.
"Hey, you're getting shady."
"I'm not."
Beni refuted.
Prince Aiji stood up and tugged Vince towards Beni.
"Good morning Beni, what did you bring?"
Beni's attitude changed immediately. It turned a hundred and eighty points positive towards the prince. The smile on his face was big.
"Prince Aiji, I brought your breakfast, but it's not cooked yet. We'll just cook it here."
"Beni, you are too polite with Prince Aiji but rude to me. Who's the father you owed, huh?" Vince scolded.
"I'm not rude, but please don't be too affectionate in front of me."
Two pairs of eyes stared at him.
"Why do you like me?"
"Who likes you!" Beni rebutted.
"I do!" The quiet prince replied.
Beni was startled. "Prince Aiji, I don't like Dari...!"
"You sound like I'm nasty!"
"No, Dari. I don't want Prince Aiji to misunderstand. I don't really like you."
"Do you like Prince Aiji instead? If you do, I'm telling you to knock it off!"
Vince cracked his knuckles, scaring Beni. But of course, it was just a show. He knew Beni was harmless, but when it comes to Prince Aiji, he was cautious.
"I don't like Prince Aiji either!"
Prince Aiji pulled Vince's arm. "That's enough. Beni, what did you bring for breakfast?"
"Ah, Prince Aiji, I brought meat and fish. There are also taros and yams."
A bamboo basket was handed to the prince.
"Thank you, Beni. I will cook it now. Stay here for breakfast."
"Hehe...Prince Aiji, you're really nice. I will stay here for breakfast then."
Vince took the basket and presented to do the cooking. There were milkfish and dark red pork belly. There was also a chunk of solid salt.
"This salt is solid!?" Vince was surprised.
"Salt has been solid ever since." Beni replied.
"Ah, I thought salt is different here. Beni, do you have any spices?"
Beni's eyebrows met. "What are spices?"
"The herbs you add when cooking."
"We only add salt when roasting."
"I see. How about a frying pan?"
"What is a frying pan?" Beni was getting impatient.
"The thing you used for cooking, like a pot but it's flat and shallow."
"Dari, you're asking strange things. We only have pots for boiling root crops here." Beni went inside the hut.
"Dari, those strange things you said were in your dreams, right? Beni is right. We only use salt when roasting, if it is available and pots for boiling root crops."
"Ah, I'm sorry my love. My memory is messed up."
"It's fine."
Beni came back later with two pots made of clay.
Vince rinsed the meat and fish on the shallow well nearby. He took the gills and insides of the fish. Then, he chopped the meat into chunks, separating the lard. When he came back, the prince was already boiling the root crops.
"Dari, what took you so long?" The idle Beni asked.
"I cleaned the fish and cut the meat."
Vince said while he put down the fish and meat. Prince Aiji was looking at the chopped meat.
"Dari, why did you cut the meat this small? It would be difficult to roast it."
"My love, I'm not going to roast it."
Vince said, but the prince's curiosity turned to confusion.
"I dreamed of some cooking ways too." He whispered to the confused prince.
Vince put the other pot on the burning fire. He crushed the solid salt into powder and spread enough amount to the meat. Then he put the lard into the pot.
Prince Aiji was looking intently, while the idle Beni was peeking too. Both were equally curious.
"What kind of cooking is this?" Beni asked.
What kind of recipe was he cooking? Vince didn't know either. He just wanted to extract the oil from the lard and used it to stir fry the meat.
"I don't know. I just want to cook it this way."
"You're so odd." Beni said while turning away, pacing around with his hands on his back.
The lard started melting. Vince mixed it using an improvised wooden ladle he just made out of a tree branch. Prince Aiji was looking at him but didn't ask anything. He was just observing.
Vince added the pork, mixed it, and covered the pot with banana leaf. A few minutes later, he took the cover to mix it again. An appetizing aroma wafted.
"Dari, it smells so good!" Prince Aiji exclaimed.
Vince was delighted. "Yes, but it's not cooked yet."
Beni rushed over, drooling. "How fragrant!"
"Hey, stay farther! You might drop your saliva in the pot." Vince laughed.
"Dari, you are so good. How can you make something delicious! You are the best!"
Beni praised.
"So I am the best now? Just a while ago you thought that I was not!" Vince jested.
"I was wrong! Dari, from now on you are the best! Really!" Beni flattered.
"Fine. If you like to eat good stuff, bring me more ingredients next time. You are a trader, so you can get anything, right?"
"Yes, I can!"
"Bring me all kinds of kitchen wares. Then ask other traders for spices and bring every spice you can find."
"Okay, I will bring everything you need, as long as you cook me delicious food."
"I'm not cooking for you, I'm cooking for Prince Aiji."
"Fine! As long as you let me eat the food you cook for Prince Aiji, I will bring everything you need."
An agreement was settled. The fish was evenly spread with salt and was roasted after.
Another delicious aroma wafted later. It made the Beni restless.
In less than an hour, the breakfast was ready. On a flat stone table, there were three large wooden plates filled with root crops, roasted fish, and the cooked meat served.
"Prince Aiji, taste this." Vince scooped a pork chunk using his improvised wooden spoon.
"I'm going to taste it too." Beni eagerly said.
"Wait! You can taste it after Prince Aiji did."
"Fine!" The annoyed Beni pouted his lips. He stared as Vince fed Prince Aiji. Then, he was staring intently at Vince's expectant face.
"My love, how was it? Is it delicious?"
"It is very delicious!" The prince praised. Vince was pleased. What he did was just simply fry the meat with its lard and a little amount of water, but the ancient palate finds it very delicious.
Vince was ecstatic receiving praises from his prince. "I will cook more delicious food for you!"
"Can I pick now?" Beni was annoyed. He wasn't allowed to eat the delicious dish first but was fed with nasty dog food! His face was irritated.
"Yes, you can!"
Beni immediately picked and chewed a large chunk. He closed his eyes, then suddenly opened it wide after a few seconds.
"Hmm..! Delicious! Dari, how can you be so good at cooking?! I think I can marry you, as long as you feed me delicious food every day!"
Beni mindlessly uttered, then scooped a lot.
"Who is marrying you?!" Vince answered.
"Beni, don't you dare covet Dari..." Prince Aiji jestingly threatened.
They burst into laughter.
The meal was good. For Beni, an ultimate foodie, it was delicious. He even changed his attitude towards Vince.
In the distance, an imposing, young man was intently looking at the trio who were enjoying their meal.