KITCHEN CLASS
Tide stood near the door, watching Evangeline as she sat against the headboard. She still looked exhausted, but compared to last night, there was definite improvement.
She caught him staring. “What?”
He hesitated before clearing his throat. “How are you feeling?”
She raised a brow, clearly unimpressed. “Like I'm back from the dead.”
He rubbed the back of his neck. “Fair enough.”
Silence stretched between them before he shifted awkwardly, his nerves obvious. He cleared his throat again, suddenly focusing way too hard on the floor.
She narrowed her eyes. “What?”
He looked up at her, hesitating before finally saying, “Second Master asked if you could make soup for Fourth Master.”
There was a pause.
Then—
“What?” Her voice was flat, incredulous.
He winced. “He—he just wants you to make—”
“I heard what you said.” Her eyes slowly widened as she sat forward. “Are you kidding me? Can you not see the state I was in last night? Or do you just not care?”
He held up his hands in surrender. “I—I know, I know. That’s why I came to ask. Besides, if I told him you were sick he'd start to ask why and we both know that's definitely not in our best interest”
She let out an unbelievably dry laugh. “Well, the answer is no. I need to rest for a full day if I want to recover properly. You can make the soup yourself”
It was the audacity that bothered him. She was in the wrong and being ignorant about it, if anything that was one of her traits Tide never liked.
He nodded quickly nevertheless. “Got it. Completely understandable.”
A beat passed.
Then he awkwardly shifted again before saying, “But… maybe you could just sit in the kitchen and tell me what to do?”
She slowly turned her head to look at him, expression unreadable.
“I know I said you should make it yourself, but you? In the kitchen?”
He forced a weak grin. “I mean… how hard can making a hangover soup be?”
She exhaled loudly and shook her head, but after a moment, she nodded. “Fine. But if you burn down the kitchen, I’m not cleaning it up.”
Literally pot calling kettle black
He grinned. “Deal.”
\---
𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐊𝐈𝐓𝐂𝐇𝐄𝐍– 𝐆𝐑𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐃 𝐅𝐋𝐎𝐎𝐑
The grand kitchen of Hera Castle was massive—modern medieval in design with its high vaulted ceiling, stone archways, and chandeliers that illuminated the space. Yet, it was fitted with state-of-the-art appliances, sleek marble countertops, and an enormous center island. Though empty, Evangeline confidently lowered herself onto one of the island stools, watching as Tide moved around the space with the confidence of someone who had no idea what he was doing.
"So I remember we don't have pots, or even plates, the last set was thrown out"
She pointed to the pantry door, "I got restocked last week, you'd know that if you knew what cooking is”
Tide spent the rest of the hour, taking out pots and plates and cups and spoon, every utensils and appliances. Cleaning them and setting them up until he could no longer feel his hands.
He'd never look down upon women who chose to be housewives again, not like he ever did anyway.
When he was done, he wished the soup would make itself while he takes a rest, but even the soup will, Evangeline has promised herself not to let him rest.
She crossed her arms and leaned against the counter. “Alright, first—get a pot.”
Tide opened the wrong cabinet. Wait where did he put it? He wondered.
“No.” Evangeline sighed. “The one next to it.”
He closed the cabinet and tried the next one, finally pulling out a medium pot and placing it on the stove.
“Good. Now, fill it with water—halfway.”
He turned to the sink, filling the pot, but almost spilled half of it while bringing it back.
She pressed her fingers to her temple. This was going to be painful.
“Now, put it on medium heat.”
He nodded, turning the stove on. “What’s next?”
She leaned back in her seat. “Chop some ginger and garlic.”
He picked up the ginger root and just stared at it.
She raised a brow. “You do know how to chop, right?”
“…Of course I do.”
A painful minute passed as he butchered the ginger into uneven chunks.
Evangeline watched in disbelief.
She rubbed her face. “Tide, have you never cut vegetables in your life? The life I don't know about”
He looked at the board. “I think it looks fine.”
“It looks like someone was assassinated on that cutting board.”
He grinned. “Aesthetic choice.”
She let out a very deep sigh, shaking her head. “Just put it in the pot.”
\-----
He carefully set the steaming bowl of soup on the counter, then turned to Evangeline, who still looked like she wanted to kill him and then kill herself.
"I'll take you to your room" he said, moving to her side. "Mine's fine, but you'd probably prefer your own bed."
She sighed, already knowing he was about to start hovering again. "I can walk, you know."
"And yet," He replied, sliding an arm under her legs and another around her back, lifting her with ease.
She rolled her eyes but didn’t argue, resting her head against his chest, she'd let it dangle if she didn't feel like it would fall of.
He carried her out of the kitchen, up the stairs, and to the first floor, pushing open the door to her room with his foot before stepping inside. It was still as neat as ever—her usual scent lingering in the air.
She relaxed as he set her down on the bed, adjusting the pillows behind her back.
"Stay here. Rest," he ordered, standing straight again.
She hummed, already closing her eyes.
He watched her for a second longer, then turned and left the room.
Tide soon arrived at the third floor with the soup. At the rate he was going up and down the stairs today, he might as well cancel his next gym session.