Chapter 35: Chapter 35

“Case!” I turned around and saw my parents waving me over with huge grins plastered on their faces. I could feel a mirroring grin spread over my face as I ran towards them and launched myself into their embrace.

“How was your flight?” I asked them when they finished giving me hugs and kisses. I took my mom’s bags from her hands and pulled it along towards my car.

“Oh, it was wonderful, there were no kids kicking the back of my chair this time. I slept peacefully throughout the flight.” My mom giggled at my dad, knowing that having his chair kicked continuously throughout a flight was one of the things that could make my dad blow his top.

“How have you been, honey? Nothing interesting while we were away?” My mom asked as we walked down the rows of parked cars.

I shook my head, giving her my best smile. “Same old,” I lied to her smoothly. If she knew what’s been happening lately, she’d freak out so hard I fear she might faint.

I helped my dad putting the luggage in the trunk, a déjà vu feeling overcoming me as I remembered the last time we did this. It was the day I told them about Adam being my boyfriend. I unconsciously smiled sadly as I remembered our visit and my dad offering him some durians.

I quickly shook my head, making that cloud of thought go poof. I got in the driver’s seat and started driving home while listening to my mom ramble on about their trip and how much she’ll hate the next trip. They’ll be leaving again on Sunday and today was Monday. For once, I was glad that they won't be home for so long because that means I wouldn't have to put in to sneak out to attend the fights. I hated lying to my parents and I was horrible at it. I’ll start going to college tomorrow too and that means I can go home late by saying I have a study group after school.

An hour later and I was pulling up at our driveway. We got the luggage out and dragged them along into the house. I let my parents retire into their bedroom and decided that I wanted to try to make dinner tonight.

Adam had taught me a few things about cooking before the accident happened and I was positive that I knew enough to at least avoid burning the kitchen down. I’m sure that making the food taste good wouldn't be as difficult as cooking safely but just in case, I decided to call Monic and ask for directions.

“Case! It’s been so long! How’s everything going?” Monic gushed as she picked up the phone. I smiled at her greeting.

“Everything’s fine Mon. I just need your help.” I answered her, bringing some pans out of the kitchen cupboard and setting two of them on the stove. I decided that I wanted to make some spaghetti. I figured it was the easiest thing I can make with the ingredients I have in my fridge.

“Are those pans I hear?” Monic sounded genuinely scared and I couldn’t blame her. She was well aware of my tragic cooking skills. She was one of the many people in my life that has always tried to steer me away from the kitchen in fear that I would destroy it.

“Yeah...” I trailed off, knowing that she’ll probably freak out but also knowing that I didn't have anyone else to turn to. Monic’s cooking skills weren’t high up on the chart but what she makes are edible and they can taste good at times.

“I need your help cooking spaghetti,” I rushed out. Before she gets a chance to refuse, I quickly added in, “I’ll get you anything you want.”

There was a pause from her side before she asked me cautiously.

“Anything I want?” I smiled at her question, knowing she couldn’t see me.

“Anything.” I’ve got her now. “Okay, deal.”

I did a victory dance before retrieving the ingredients from the cupboards and setting them on the kitchen countertop.

“Okay, fill a pot with water and put it on the stove. Turn the stove on and let the water boil then put in the spaghetti noodles.” Monic instructed. I set her on speaker so that I could move around the kitchen and use both of my hands.

I waited for the water to boil, taking out the noodles from its packaging before realizing something. The noodles were longer than the pot. I set the noodles next to the pot to measure it to make sure, careful not to catch the fire that was licking the sides of the pot from underneath it.

How do you cook something that didn’t fit the pot?

“Um, am I supposed to snap these noodles in half or something? They won’t fit the pot.” I asked her, ready to snap it in half as I held it in both of my hands above the pot. I eyed the phone warily when there was no answer. I shrugged and went with my instincts; that told me to snap the noodles in half.

“N-” Monic was about to say something when there was the snapping sound of the noodles being snapped in half and the splashes of the halved noodles falling into the boiling water.

I heard Monic sigh. I smiled sheepishly, staring into the halved noodles in the pot as the steam from the boiling water rises.

“Oops?” I muttered.

“Well I guess that could work too,” Monic mumbled into the phone, sounding unconvinced but attempting to be positive.

“Okay, are you making the sauce, or do you have an instant packet of it?” Monic asked. I looked through the cupboards, sure that I saw a bolognaise sauce packet somewhere in them the other day.

“Aha! Got you!” I yelled when I finally found it.

“Everything okay there, Case? You sound like you’re chasing a rat that’s hiding in your cupboards or something.” Monic voiced her concern and I laughed.

“No, I just found that sauce packet. It’s an instant one,” I told her and she muttered a ‘thank God’.

“Hey!” I called out, offended. “This hasn't been so bad,” I defended myself.

“No, correction, it hasn’t turned out bad. I don’t want to be the one you can blame when your cooking skills shows its disastrous trait,” Monic said.

“Okay, Case, there should be simple instructions on the back of that sauce packet. Just follow whatever is written there and try not to hurt yourself. I have to run but I’ll get back to you on that promise you made me about giving me anything I want.” Monic was, what I’d like to call, speed-talking before she hung up on me.

I sighed in defeat. I didn’t know why I was so hell bent on getting her to help me cook. I didn't even like cooking that much. I mean sure, it could be fun when done with friends but it was never something I’ve wanted to do for the heck of it.

I tried to continue telling myself that it was definitely not because it reminds me of the good times I had with Adam was trying to teach me how to cook safely. It was hard not to think about him when everything seemed to lead my thoughts to him. It was like he was everywhere. It was honestly infuriating. I bet he didn’t have this problem. He’s probably thinking about where he's going to take that Kiara girl for their date.

Without noticing it, I’ve sawed the top of the sauce packet off with a knife. I was lucky that I didn’t cut my finger while carelessly zoning out. I ignored the jagged top of the open sauce packet as I tried to find the instruction on the back. Apparently, it did not have instructions since it was a ready to serve kind of thing so I took out a huge bowl to put the noodles in.

Monic forgot to tell me when to take the spaghetti out. Lucky for me, I’ve always loved food so I was familiar with what the spaghetti is texture should feel like.

When I felt that it was soft and gooey enough, I took out a sieve and set it on the sink. I turned off the stove and got two napkins to grip the pot’s handles with. I tilted the pot to let its contents flow out into the sieve. The water passed through the tiny holes and I watched with satisfaction when the noodles flopped against one another, growing into a pile of gooey strands.

I took the sieve and transfer the noodles into the bowl I’ve wiped clean before pouring the sauce on top of it and mixing it. The spaghetti’s color turned into a shade of red.

I remembered that I bought some instant mini meatballs the other day that just needs some microwaving and since I’ve microwaved without destroying anything so far, I decided that it would be a nice topping to the spaghetti.

When the food was ready, I was pretty proud of my work since the kitchen was still intact, the fire alarms and sprinklers didn’t go off and the food looks to be quite edible. I pat myself silently on the head before setting up the table for 3.

Before I could head up to call my parents to have dinner, they were already at the kitchen door, looking surprised and worried.

“Case, did you make those noodles?” Dad eyed them warily and I rolled my eyes at how untrusting he was―not that anyone could blame him. Mom hit him on the arm, being the supportive mother that she is. She took a seat on the dining table and took some of the noodles, putting it on her plate.

“Well I guess we don’t need to go out for dinner then,” Mom smiled at me before looking at Dad. She gave him the look, silently telling him to sit his bum down and take some of the food. Dad grumbled under his breath before complying.

I wasn’t expecting much from them, they knew how horrible of a cook I was. I guess Mom trusted the food I just cooked more since she knew that Adam taught me how to cook briefly.

We ate in silence and I was proud that my dad didn’t turn green for once. I felt like he had something to comment about the food but I felt my mother’s feet move under the table. Dad ended up giving me the sweetest smile I’ve ever seen him give anyone before.

“So sweetheart, how’s everything going with the Jones’? Have you visited them lately?” My mom asked.

“Oh yeah, I actually cleared things up with Adam. We’re not back together, mom. But we’re okay,” My mother’s face fell when she heard that I wasn’t back together with Adam. I actually think that she was more disappointed than I was.

“Well, Jerry and the kids are doing great. I think you guys remember Maddison? She was Bryant’s girlfriend.” Both of my parents nodded. Bryant introduced Maddison to them the after asking her out. Since she was the first girl he actually brought home. My parents actually liked Maddison, she was polite and sweet before that night happened.

“Well, Preston is seeing her right now,” My dad coughed loudly a few times before apologizing. My mom gaped as they processed the information. Jesus, if this was their reaction to Preston seeing Maddison, I’m kind of scared to see how they’d react to Adam seeing someone else. Not that I had any stake of claim on him, he’ was his own man and he can make his own choices.

“Um, that’s wonderful, dear!” My mom recovered, a small smile on her face. “I’m happy for Preston, Maddison’s a lovely girl.” My dad nodded along, having nothing to say.

“How’s that Adam kid?” My dad asked finally and I gulped hard.

“Well yeah, about that. I actually visited them yesterday and bumped into his girlfriend.” I trailed off, trying to mumble the word girlfriend as inaudibly as possible while still getting it out there.

This time, I think my dad choked on his noodle. He started beating his chest and coughing loudly. I quickly rushed to get him a glass of water. My mother was quiet. She had a sad look on her face.

“Oh sweetheart, are you okay?” I shook my head at her, giving her an honest answer for the first time today.

“I know it’s my fault for letting him go, mom. But I never thought about the possibility of this happening. I guess with everything that has happened, I never imagined the thought of having to see him with someone else.” I replied honestly. I could see it in my parents’ faces that they were sorry for me.

“Oh, Casey. If you still loved him, why did you walk away?” My mom asked softly, wrapping her arms around me as she stood up and came around the table to comfort me.

I shrugged my shoulders meekly, burying my head on the nook of her shoulder. I couldn’t tell them the whole story. It’ll kill them to know that I’ve been hiding this big of a secret from them for so long. Maybe I’ll tell them one day, when all of this is over and I’m done with it for good.

I looked at the empty seat beside me, immediately thinking of Bryant. It had been years and I still missed him. Even though I couldn't remember his different types of smiles, or the sound of his laughter in detail anymore, I could still remember the warmth that would surround me when he hugged me.

What would Bryant say if he was here right now? Probably that you’re an idiot.