"How could I? How could I what?" I asked in a confused tone.
He jumped up, slapping my hand angrily. My brows got closer.
'What's the matter with everyone today?'
"Don't you know that unmarried men and women shouldn't touch each other? What should I do if no one marries me anymore?" He said, panting with a scrambled face.
I stretched my head to the side of the corridor, looking past flabbergasted Lucas, at the man in question grandparent's direction.
"How old is your grandson again?" I asked loudly, with sarcasm.
"Gaspere is all grown up. He... pfft... will soon turn 12 years old!" Said Mr. Jerald as loud as me. His tone shaking from laugher.
Gaspere straightened his back, his dark brown eyes glowing with pride, trying to look down at me, but in the end, looking up at me. He stared right into my eyes, which made me narrow my eyes more than it already was.
"You are not my type. I like blonds, so don't even try!"
Before I could say anything, he passed me with confidence. His grandfather's laughers filled the house. Mr. Jerald started teasing me.
"Hahaha! It's a shame you can't become my granddaughter-in-law!"
" I don't even want to!"
The loudness of my sound even surprised me! Did I sound dejected? My face heated, and I turned back to the door with a hair toss.
"Ahem, even if there is a shortage of men, I wouldn't marry someone even younger than my child!" I said in a notably lower voice before exiting Mr. Jerald's house.
Upset from losing control because of a child and embarrassing myself, I was kicking the stones on the road that the king of sarcasm came and spread more salt on my sore.
[Clap! Clap!]
"Very capable, aren't you?! To get rejected two times in less than a week! Wow!" Lucas said with sarcasm, smirking.
Biting my lips with anger, instead of answering, I fastened my path. Idiotic kid!
Soon I passed by Gaspere too, since I wasn't walking anymore. This action of mine led to a running competition and by the time we were at the castle's door, all of us were panting heavily while laying on our backs.
"Hahahahaha!"
"Hahhhahahaha!"
The boys were laughing like crazy but I just cast them side eyes, annoying kids.
"Hah, it was fun. I will go back then. See you later!" said Gaspere, as he stood up.
"It wasn't pleasant to meet you, but thanks for the escort..."I shouted after him as I changed my posture from laying to sitting.
"It wasn't for free. I will come for dinner!" He shouted too, waving his head in the air without turning.
Taking my eyes off him, I saw Lucas staring at me with a mischievous expression on his face.
"Do you still remember what I showed you earlier?" I said in a sharp tone.
Lucas scratched his head, looking away from me.
"Yes, ma'am!"
"Good, now could you please feed the livestocks when I make dinner?" I instructed as I walked hastily towards the house.
Remembering the call details, my brows neared each other and my eyes suddenly filled to the brim. I turned back and looked at Lucas, who was now standing a few feet away from me.
We had more in common than I had imagined. Unlike me, he had handled it very well. With two steps, I was in front of him.
"What? What did I do now?" Whimpering back, he said with widened eyes.
Dragging him into my embrace, I gave him a quick, tight hug and realised him saying: "I am very proud of you!"
'Holly shit!' What did I do? My skin pricked in a goosebump.
"Gulp!"
He stood still, giving me the bewildered me a strange look, as if I was a weirdo. I knew my actions could be too much, but I couldn't help it when I thought he might have been in the same situation as me, seeing and hearing creatures while nobody believed him. I was just so proud and did it out of habit..
It was that damned youngest's fault, clinging to everyone saying: "praises should come with hugs!"
The frozen Lucas kept looking at the frozen me. Well, at least he didn't look angry!
"If I may ask, why?"
I stared at him again. Not hearing answers, he passed me. Also, giving me a pat on the shoulder and a look of pity.
"Sigh, hopeless! Whatever, you could just say that. I mean, I am pretty impressive. But no need to be so physical and dramatic. Tsk! Tsk! That's why that guy was angry too! What are you doing going around touching random people's head?" Lucas kept mumbling until he climbed the last stair.
'Chatty parrot! ' I thought as I went to the kitchen.
Inside the kitchen, I saw the spindle nets again, which made my body crawl. It made me feel even more miserable. Am I garbage to live in a garbage can?
Determined not to be miserable anymore, I made hair into a ponytail, put on plastic gloves and mask. Dusting, vacuuming and wiping.
"All done!" I said, looking at the kitchen with satisfaction. My eyes rolled on the brand new stove's digital clock. It showed three in the afternoon and I had yet to even start cooking.
"Shit!"
Opening the door to the spacious almost as big as the kitchen itself storage room, locating next to the fridges, I looked miserably at the pile of ingredients I had hurriedly tucked in inside the already half full storage. Unboxed and next to the pile of dusted boxes and jars that were already there. Again, at least there is a functioning lightning system.
When finding this door behind the old fridge, I was just so happy I had a place to put the things away in that I didn't even bother looking at the insects and dust.
Putting the mask back on, I started opening the boxes. Deciding what to make.
"Spaghetti? Good, it dosn't take long, two packages! My clothes? Ops! Some of them were indeed missing... Rice, a bag of this too! Onions and potatoes? Nah, just onions, I can- Holly shit! "
Bang!
Running out with the ingredients I was hugging, I slammed the door close. Distancing myself from it.
"Sigh!" I most probably can't wear those clothes anymore!
"What happened?"
Now I don't even get scared anymore. I shrugged at Lucas, who smelled like shampoo.
"Nothing, there was a mouse!" I said, trying to be cool, unlike how scared I was, putting the ingredients on the Iceland.
Before I could even put them all on there, Lucas was already on the Iceland. On his four, looking at the storage door with fear.
Too tired to make fun of the other, I gave him a large pot. Pointing to the water tap next to where he sat..
"Did you feed them? Fill up to half!" I asked about the livestock.
"Yeah, I did, but one chicken is missing!" he answered, squawking the four steps until the tap.
I looked at him in thought.
"No problem. It can't have gone anywhere outside since the doors were closed."
He nodded in agreement.
"Enough?"
"Yeah, give it here."
Putting the pot on high heat, I took an oven tray. Pilling 10 onions, I sliced them and added them to the tray.
"What should I do?"
Lucas's question made my brows jump slightly. He seemed adapted to getting orders from me, so I instructed him.
"Take the big bowl and bring me 10 tomatoes, a whole garlic and 20 mushrooms."
Taking out oregano, salt pepper and saffron. I sprinkled of all of them other than saffron on the onions, then run over the fridge next to the one Lucas was almost inside. Hilariously counting.
"5, 6, ..."
Taking out the white cheese, I also took yogurt. Seeing that Lucas was finally done, I made another demand as I put the white cheese blocks on top of the onions.
"Bring me six eggs and also take out a packet of frozen chicken breast. Oh, also when you took them out, unfreeze them one by one in the microwave!"
In a hurry, I washed the tomatoes and garlics and also piling the garlics. After throwing in the garlics as is, I throw in tomatoes and mushrooms after chopping them into slightly thick slices.
Drizzling olive oil over the ingredients, I made sure my oven was hot enough and put the tray in it to bake. Now my sauce just needs to cook. So I went to the rice.
"1 cup, two, cups,... and fifteen cups."
Rinsing the rice, I didn't have time to let it soak in water so I just poured it into the boiling water. Some salt and it has to boil until done.
I took my big colander and put it in the sink for when it becomes done, a member of the set of the XXL large utensils I had just bought to use as decoration, but I was using in real time.
"Ice cubes!" I shouted.
Lucas's running steps sounded. He came panting.
"Where? Where?" He said in a worried tone. I looked at him in confusion.
"Into this saffron boil. Three is enough..."
Hearing this, he gave me side eyes and turned to get out of the kitchen.
"Where are you leaving? What about the chicken?" I pretended to prevent him from going. Then, sighed with relief as I went to chicken breasts. Cleaning the mess he had made, putting the chickens in a bowl and unfreezing them.
Smash and slice. Salt and pepper, baking soda, soy sauce, a touch of oil, a spoon of brewed saffron and stake them until golden. The rice seemed done, so I drained it.
In my big bowl, I added eggs, yogurt salt and saffron. A spoon of rosewater, add the rice and then add oil. Mix and ready to get baked, but the oven is busy.
Face palming, I remembered the spaghettis and filled the pot again. Looking at the oven, I took another deep tray. The sauce will soon be done.
Smearing the tray, I added a layer of the rice mixture. Then shredded the chicken breasts on the layer and added another layer to it. Pressing it with a bit of oil, I took an aluminum foil and sealed the tray.
Taking out the sauce, put in the rice and put on the timer for 40 minutes.
Then, the water started boiling. Such a good timing. I added a spoon of turmeric powder and a half a cup of oil. Now, spaghetti will cook in 12 minutes.
It wasn't enough. I still didn't feel like I was taking enough care of myself. So I started preparing the salad.
When I came to myself, the timer was ticking. I had two gigantic bowls of fruit salad, two enormous dishes of vegie salad, and a road of salad dressings in front of me. My finger tips, probably because of the contact with acidic ingredients of dressings, stung.
Taking out the tray, to be safe, I separated the edges using a fruit knife and then flipped it on my big wooden cutting board. The golden surface showed my mastery. The skills seem to still be there.
Garnishing the chicken and rice saffron cake, with pomegranate, I looked at the Iceland. With this much food, no one would stay hungry, right? Yet, I was still itching to make more...
Looking at my fingers, I grabbed the car keys. There are hungry children waiting for me.
'Everything in this world isn't about you, Dawn.'
My mother's words rang in my ears again.