Intoxicated Romance

Read Story: SEASON 1 EPISODE 15

Toni:

I cant believe i cried just because Steven was laughing at me and again, because of food. What must he think of me now.

My mission is supposed to be to get him to love me but i think i almost chased him away.

When he left for a long time to get me garden egg, i though he’s left me.

Thank God he came back

. While he was gone, there was a text from his brother. Steven had left his phone on the bedside table and

when it kept ringing, i checked to see ‘James’. Not knowing who James

was, i left it but when i heard a message alert i checked again and it

was James. When i saw the highlight of the message, i couldn’t stop

myself. I opened it.

Wow brother, you’ll go to great lengths to win me. Btw, Does she know

about your plans or should i tell her?

That message was on my mind for a while until my dad started calling.

I paced the room thinking of if i should answer the call or not. He

calls for about 6 times before he sends a message.

Come home sweedy. Lets talk this out.

As a daddy’s girl, i already miss my father but i have to Steel myself

for this. After waiting for Steven for awhile, i order food from the

reception then fall asleep after eating

. I am woken up by Steven who’s

bought the garden eggs i was craving hours ago. Well, i don’t want it

anymore. I check the wall clock and i see that’s it almost ten and

know Steven hasn’t eaten. I need to redeem myself after all i have

taken him through today.

“am sorry for taking you through so much today, Steven. I was just

craving garden eggs so much, i couldn’t help it”

“craving?” he asks and look at me thoughtfully.

“yea. Anyways let me cook for you”

“don’t bother your self, I’ll just order from downstairs”

“its past breakfast time. There may not be any food left and i want to

cook for you. So just let me.okay?”i ask and pout my lips at him

“alright. I agree before you start crying like a pregnant woman” he

says and his eyes go to my stomach for a second. I place my hand on my

still flat tummy.

“i am not pregnant!”

“i didn’t say you are. I only said you cry like a pregnant woman”

“ok, whatever. I’m off to the kitchen” i say and dash off. This talks

of pregnancy isn’t good for my nerves. He is not supposed to know yet.

I still don’t know what his reaction would be if he finds out. I think

he is beginning to warm up to me though.

I enter the kitchen which is like every chef’s dream with all the

machines and stuff and prep everything I’ll need for a fast brunch. I

lift my head from my task when i see Steven walk in.

“need help?” he asks and props himself on the high stool by the counter.

“how good are you at cutting?” i ask with a smirk. I expect him to say

‘no good’ but he gets off the stool and goes to the cupboard to

retrieve a knife. He flips the knife in the air and catches it with a

flair then walk to my side.

“I’m super good. What should i cut?” he asks me. After picking my jaws

from the ground, i assign him to tomatoes and pepper slicing duties.

I’m making fried plantain and eggsauce.As i fry the plantain, i watch

Steven dice the tomatoes and pepper with a chef’s precision.

“wow, where did you learn that? It took me a year to be that good”l ask him.

“i developed a crush on cooking while taking care of my mom when i was

younger”he says grinning at me.

“you cooked for your mother? Wow, that’s so sweet”

“well she was sick so i had to” he says and i see sadness in his eyes.

“was?. Is she okay now?. I’ll love to meet her” i say.

“well, you cant” he says and my face falls

“i understand. Who would want his fake fiance to meet his mother”i say

“that’s not what i meant. I mean-” he says, rubbing his forehead and i

cut him off.

“oh, the plantain needs my attention now” i say with fake cheerfulness

and hurry to the frying pan. I flip the plantains as i close my eyes

to hold my tears at bay.

“ow!” i scream as the hot groundnut spray on me. Steven is by my side

in seconds and he drags me to the sink immediately. He turns on the

tap and places my hand under. He lifts my hand up again and brings it

to his lips as he blows on my fingers.

“i am okay” i say and try to retrieve my hand but he doesn’t let go. I

look at him and see that his eyes are fixed on my bracelet. Does he

think its weird?. I know it looks a bit old. I use my other hand to

cover the bracelet and his eyes goes to mine.

“what’s this?” he asks, pointing to my wrist.

“its my lucky charm”i say and i feel him stiffen.

“i know its old and weird but it was kindof a gift”i say and retrieve my hand.

“a gift from who?” he asks. I don’t want to tell him, i got it from a

strange boy eight years ago. That would make me seem weird.

“a guy i met somewhere” i say “by the way, your brother kept calling.

You should go call him back. I’ll take care of the rest cooking” i

continue just to change the subject.

“I don’t need to call him back. And he’s not my brother, he’s just my

father’s son” he says and i crease my forehead.

. Well, atleast i

diverted his attention from my bracelet. We don’t talk for the rest of

the time we cook. After cooking, i set the table for two.

“i thought you said you’ve eaten?”he asks

“well, i am a little hungry now”i say and move to the fridge to get water.

As i open it, the smell of the meat i bought this morning hits my nose and i feel my belly turn. Not again.

“um excuse me” i say and dash to the toilet to gag. I come back to see

Steven has finished setting the table for me.

“you should go for a check-up”he says

“i don’t need a check-up, i am fine” i say

“then what’s with the vomiting?”

“um. Its the flu. I’ll be fine” i say and sit on a chair.

“i love eggs” i mumble as i shove a spoonful in my mouth. This food

needs more seasoning but i stay put.

“wow, this is delicious” Steven says as he swallows down the whole

meal and i blush. The rest of the day is taken up by packing as we are

leaving for Paris tomorrow. We ordered pizza which we eat as we pack.

By the time we are done, its already 10pm and we crawl to bed together

and without thinking, we spoon.