"What are you doing in bed?"
Afternoon sunlight slanted in, filtering through a busy window. In Lima's bedroom, Luca lay on the bed, smiling at his phone. "Of course, I'm playing a game!"
"Idiot!"
A loud shout came from the phone.
*Beep beep~*
The call ended.
Luca shrugged his shoulders. His back was still hurting. What else was he supposed to do if not play games?
"Lima, hurry up! The game is starting!"
Lima was lying beside him, holding a game controller, and nudged him with her long legs.
"I'm coming!"
Luca put down his phone, picked up the other controller, and the two began playing *Call of Duty 1*, the first-person shooter game series released by Blizzard this year. It's considered one of the earliest and most classic shooting games globally, which paved the way for games like *CS*, *CrossFire*, and *Red Alert*.
The first installment was called *Call of Duty: United Offensive*. The game was set during World War II, where players could take on the roles of soldiers from the U.S., U.K., and Soviet Union. Completing more than ten missions would let players pass the game. In it, you could drive cars, boats, and even pilot fighter jets—a really cool game.
"Luca, be careful of the dogs. You've died here three times already."
Lima gently reminded him.
"Don't worry, I'll make it through this time."
This level was the "Battle of Stalingrad." Their squad was tasked with a special mission: to infiltrate a German ammunition depot and destroy the target.
To reach the depot, they had to pass through the Vokhovsk forest, where many Germans lay in ambush.
"Fuck~ Why are there so many dogs here?"
As Luca was shooting and retreating, a pack of German Shepherds suddenly rushed out of the nearby woods. He shot while running, yelling, "Lima, help me!"
Lima glanced at him helplessly. "Stop struggling, you're already dead."
Just as she said that, Luca's character got overwhelmed. He managed to shoot two dogs but was knocked down by the others, and one bit into his character's neck.
"Fuck~ fuck~"
Frustrated, Luca slapped the bed. "Lima, it's not my fault. Those German Shepherds are just too strong!"
"Really?"
Lima fluttered her long eyelashes, wielding a knife as she approached the dogs. With quick, precise movements, she took down the entire pack.
"⊙ o ⊙"
Luca was dumbfounded. "Lima, are you cheating or something?"
Lima rolled her eyes at him. "Why were you running from the dogs?"
"If I didn't run, they'd surround me!"
"What's the gun in your hand for? Just aim and shoot. They don't have bulletproof vests."
"Ugh..."
Luca gave up, tossing aside the controller and lying on the bed. "I'm just no good at this. My fingers are too clumsy for these games."
Lima smiled slightly. "It's not that you're clumsy. You type really fast on a computer. It's just that you get too nervous and forget to aim. You always get too into the character, and when you see dogs, you just want to run, hahaha~"
Luca shrugged. He used to play more strategy games like *Romance of the Three Kingdoms*, *Total War*, and *Age of Wonders*, but he was never great at shooters.
"Luca, we're passing this level. Let's keep going!"
Lima bumped his shoulder.
"I'm done. I actually prefer watching you play."
Luca snuggled up to her, lying beside her on the bed.
"Alright then!"
Lima tilted her head, lifting her chin.
Luca gave her a light kiss. "Lima, are you hungry? I can make us something to eat."
"Sure!"
Luca got out of bed and left the room.
Lima watched his back as he walked away, a broad smile on her lips.
*Sizzle~*
In the kitchen, Chef Luca was in action.
This time, he didn't opt for Chinese cuisine but was making steak instead.
He had tried making Chinese dishes before—like fish-flavored pork, twice-cooked pork, and braised pig trotters—but Kate thought they were just okay.
Even Luca himself felt they were average. Although he used his old cooking methods, his taste buds had changed. His sensitivity to flavors like sour, sweet, bitter, spicy, and salty had shifted. Eating the same Chinese dishes no longer gave him the same experience, something he found hard to adjust to.
Today, he decided to make a lemon steak.
Brazil is known for its strong cattle industry, and their long-standing culinary tradition of grilling and frying beef meant Brazilians love eating it in all forms.
Luca, now a Brazilian, had also developed a love for beef. Though beef was expensive in his home country, in the U.S., it's much cheaper. The good cuts of beef Kate often bought, like Wagyu, only cost around thirty dollars a pound.
He took out a piece of beef and cut it into one-centimeter-thick steaks, seasoning them with salt, lemon, pepper, sugar, and red wine to marinate for a while.
In a skillet, he melted a little butter—Wagyu had plenty of fat, so it didn't need much oil.
*Sizzle~*
He placed the steak in the pan, searing it on high heat for about a minute. After adding a few slices of lemon to the pan, he flipped the steak over, searing both sides, and then briefly seared the edges. Adding a splash of water to the pan, the steam further cooked the steak on low heat.
This was a method he had learned from food videos and had often cooked for Kate.
Kate always refused, saying she needed to watch her figure, but she would eventually give in and eat one piece, then another, filled with guilt. This meant she had to exercise for an extra hour every day.
Every time, Kate would complain about him but still couldn't resist.
Lima was similar, needing to maintain her figure, but she preferred to keep her curves. So she could eat a bit of beef daily.
With the steak done, the pasta on the side was also ready. The pasta was simple: wide noodles with tomato sauce, chili, cheese, ham, and fruit pieces, resembling lasagna but with a more complex flavor—sweet, salty, spicy, and tangy—a true Brazilian dish.
"Wow~ smells amazing!"
Lima pushed open the kitchen door, lured in by the aroma as Luca sliced the steak on the cutting board.
"Hold on, almost done!"
He still needed to make a fruit salad. Lima couldn't eat too much meat.
"Okay."
Seeing how skilled he was, Lima asked curiously, "Luca, do you often cook at home?"
"Not really. You know Kate has always had a dream of becoming a chef, so she never gives up the kitchen."
Lima chuckled softly and leaned against him, watching him slice the steak, squeeze lemon juice, and chop the fruit.
"Luca, why don't we move in together?"
Suddenly, she said quietly.
"What?"
*Chop chop chop~* Luca's knife stopped mid-cut.
Lima wrapped her arms tightly around his waist from behind, pressing her cheek against his back. "Having you around makes me feel happy and warm. It makes this place feel like a real home and not just a temporary space. Luca, move in, and let's live together."
Luca paused, then put down the knife and turned to embrace her. "Lima, I'm sorry, but I can't move in right now."
"Why not?"
Lima frowned. "Is it because of Kate?"
Luca nodded. "If I move in here, Kate will be alone."
"But I'm your girlfriend."
Lima complained, feeling upset.
"Yes, you are, Lima, but Kate is the only family I have in this world."
Luca sighed deeply. "When I was injured, she took care of me. When I was disabled, she stayed by my side, never abandoning me, even when I was a burden. Without Kate, there wouldn't be the Luca you know today. Without her perseverance, I might've died on the streets. Lima, do you understand how much she means to me?"
Lima was silent. She knew it was true—without Kate, Luca wouldn't have become the charming man he was now. Should she be grateful to Kate?
She let out a light hum. "Fine, don't move in then. I only asked because you can cook and clean. Otherwise, why would I want you here? A guy who can't even play games and gets nosebleeds all the time."
Luca laughed, hugging her tightly. "Lima, don't be mad. I'll come over every week to play games with you, cook, and clean. How does that sound?"
"Hmph, it's your duty! You're my boyfriend, after all... Wait, something's burning."
Lima sniffed the air.
"Oh no! The pasta!"
"Haha, with cooking skills like that, you need more practice!"
(End of chapter)