Stuart came back to the living room wearing his pyjamas after a long shower. The enticing aroma of freshly made food literally dragged him to the kitchen where Berry was bringing food to the table. Stuart was relieved when he saw that Berry was now wearing shorts, Kevin's shorts but that was better than nothing.
"You are right on time Stuart", Berry peeped but turned around to face him when he noticed Stuart just standing there without saying anything, "I'll take it that I look good in these clothes".
Unable to restrain himself, Stuart chuckled at the remark. He pushed himself from the wall he was leaning on and wanted to enter the kitchen but Berry's stern gaze told him that it was better to just remain outside. So he stood there, watching Berry shuffle around in the kitchen.
His kitchen now had a new look, clean and free from the mess he had caused earlier. He did not know how Berry managed to fix this place and get it in order in such a short time but he told himself that it was nothing special to Berry since he was a chef and was familiar with every corner of every kitchen.
He waited for Berry to finish setting the table before calling him over to sit and eat. Stuart did not need to be told twice, his stomach had been grumbling ever since that enticing scent reached his nose and messed with his senses.
"Do you have to make so many dishes?" Stuart asked with evident shock as his hungry eyes feasted on the dishes spread out on the table. There were different side dishes, the dessert was plentiful, and the main dish looked so delicious he couldn't wait to take a bite. Though he sounded like he was complaining, he couldn't wait to devour the whole thing. He became so hungry suddenly that even the table carrying the food looked edible as well.
Berry shrugged, "it's a habit", he said honestly. However, he had to admit that it was this plentiful because he was cooking for Stuart. "Well, sit", he gestured for Stuart to sit and the man complied immediately. While he sat at the head of the table, Berry sat beside him.
Without wasting a second, he dug his fork into a piece of meat before he raised it to his lips only to pause when he saw Berry just staring at him with a smile. His cheeks heated up and a pink tint appeared on his cheeks and the tip of his ears when he realised how uncivil his actions were.
He slowly lowered his hand and cleared his throat, his eyes roaming about not wanting to see the smile on Berry's face that was widening every second. The frustration he felt was evident. He couldn't do anything without getting embarrassed when Berry was present yet all Berry did was stare at him and smile. It was really getting unbearable for Stuart.
"Go on, you don't have to worry about me
I can leave if you are uncomfortable". Stuart groaned slightly. This was the second time Berry was saying this to him and just like the first time, he felt guilty.
"You don't have to leave", he mumbled while playing with his fork, the sound of the metal clashing on the plate echoing in the quiet living room.
"Go on and eat then! What are you waiting for?" Stuart grunted his agreement and stabbed the piece of meat again before raising it to his lips, pride swelling within him because he managed to act reasonably this time.
Only after Stuart had the first bite did Berry pick up his fork to start eating. He occasionally stole glances at Stuart who was back to eating like his life depended on it. He smiled at his puffed cheeks but his eyes narrowed realising that Stuart had not praised him for the delicious meal yet.
As the world's number one chef, this was a huge blow to his pride. It was the first time that someone was eating something he made without changing his praises in between mouthfuls. What made it worse was the person who was eating. More than anyone else, Berry wanted to hear the familiar praise from Stuart. He waited and waited, yet there was nothing.
It wasn't the first or second but the third time this was happening. The first time, when he brought Stuart to his house and made him breakfast, Stuart did not compliment him. The second time in that restaurant when Berry had gone to the kitchen to prepare something for Stuart himself, he got nothing!
And now, the third time, which was no different from the other times, he was beginning to think that his dishes were not so great After all. He had never felt so unsure of himself as he did now. Even the tender meat he was chewing now felt like a piece of tissue dipped in sauce.
"You ungrateful man!" Berry suddenly yelled and threw the napkin closest to him at Stuart, hitting him right on his face just as he was about to put something else into his mouth.
Stuart blinked, confused by the sudden noise and the napkin that collided with his face. His mouth was still full of unchewed food so he couldn't say a word. So he chewed slowly while pinning Berry down with a glare.
Berry glared back at him looking as angry as he looked when Stuart almost blew up the kitchen.
"Well… what was that for?" Stuart asked while gently wiping his lips with the same napkin that was thrown at him. Berry's lips twitched and he scoffed before stabbing the chicken angrily. This made Stuart move back instinctively because… well he didn't want to die and Berry looked like he wanted to kill.
"At least give me an explanation for this!" He cried out feeling wronged. Instead of speaking, Berry began to pack the dishes back into the kitchen. If Stuart wouldn't complement his work, he wasn't going to get any of it!
"Wait! What are you doing?! BERRY!!!!" Stuart yelled at once when Berry packed up the food he was eating. He wanted to say that he wasn't done eating but the food vanished before he could utter a word.
He was speechless.