"Oh! The apple pie!" Jalil's grandma immediately went to the kitchen as she remembered the pie. She didn't even wait for the maids to get it.
They were having dinner, and the table was filled with different dishes. The old couple prepared it all for Eliza alone.
"She's really excited," Jalil's grandfather chuckled. He paused when he noticed Eliza's silence while staring at the table. "Is there anything you don't like here, Eliza?"
Eliza looked in his direction and sweetly smiled as she shook her head in response. "I'm just overwhelmed. There's a lot of food."
The old man chuckled. "We're just too excited to see you, so I guess that's why we prepared a lot."
"Here it is!" They all looked at Jalil's grandmother when she cheerfully entered the dining room with a circle tray on her hands. "It's room temperature, so it's now perfect!"
The old lady put down the tray near Eliza's plate, and then she smiled at her. "I baked this for you, darling."
Eliza was taken aback. She thanked Jalil's grandmother with a deep appreciation shown in her eyes. She started to realize how welcome she was in this house.
"So, let's eat," Jalil's grandfather said, and then they started eating.
Eliza took a bite of the sliced pie she got, and then her eyes dilated as she glanced at the old lady. "This is the best pie I ever had!"
The old lady laughed. "Oh, dear. Thank you."
Eliza took another bite of the pie while also eating the other dishes. "Actually, my mom used to bake pies. She loves baking, but it's just not cut out for her, so she stopped making one."
"Well, there's still room for improvement. Why did she stop?"
Eliza smiled at the old man's question. "My dad forbade her. It's always a disaster when she is left in the kitchen. She almost burned down our house."
The couple laughed.
"She was like Jalil!" The old lady said.
"Yes. Yes. He really set the kitchen on fire! After that, we never let him cook," the old man added.
Everyone paused as Jalil suddenly coughed and drank the glass of water beside his plate. His face was as red as his shirt.
Eliza glanced at him while holding back her laugh with a fork after she ate the last bite of her pie.
"I heard from your mom that you're a good cook," his grandmother said to Eliza, changing the subject.
Eliza was taken aback, then she looked away. She remembered what Jalil said after eating the curry she cooked. Since then, she has started to doubt her cooking skills.
Jalil glanced at Eliza and saw how her reaction changed. He let out a faint sigh, and the guilt started to build within him. "She cooked curry at home before. It was the best."
Eliza looked in Jalil's direction with her brows knitted in confusion. Jalil just simply mouthed the word, 'What? ' at her, then continued eating his food.
"Really? I want to taste your cooking too! Is it okay if you cook for us?" Jalil's grandmother excitedly asked, which made Eliza nod in delight.
"We will visit you soon; is that okay, son?"
Jalil nodded at his grandpa. "You're always welcome in our home, papa."
"Good! Tomorrow then! We'll stay overnight!"
Both Jalil's and Eliza's eyes dilated in shock at what the old lady said.
"Overnight?" Jalil asked in disbelief.
"Yes. Why?" The old lady asked. "Is there a problem?"
Jalil shook his head. "Nothing."
Both of them continued eating in silence and kept glancing at each other. They were as if having a telepathic discussion through their gazes.
They were sleeping in different rooms, and worst of all, there were only two rooms in their house. If Jalil's grandparents stay overnight, it means they have to sleep in the same room. That was the problem with which they were dealing right now.
Who will sleep on the floor?