Chapter 6

Maryann:

"Get it together, Maryann," I scold myself, standing inside the kitchen and preparing a plate of hot custard after I finish frying four eggs for breakfast.

My trembling hands hold the turning spoon as I stir Mike's custard too. My mind pictures the awkward moment Sunny catches me on the stairs.

'How could I have foolishly lost my balance?' I gently knock my head to warn myself to keep away from Sunny, to act normal around him. But it's impossible seeing he's grown more charming.

My heart races wondering if Sunny will join my brother and me for breakfast. Will I be able to sit comfortably around him?

I blush just as I turn off the gas cooker, and the sound of the kitchen door opening gently catches my attention.

I swiftly turn around to see who it is. My brother enters the kitchen, and I feel a little disappointed he's not Sunny.

*How can Sunny sneak into the kitchen with me? What if Mike catches us together?*

My face reddens as I look away from my brother and focus on turning his custard.

My trembling hands reach for the liquid milk, and I open it and pour it into the custard.

Mike then walks up to meet me standing near the kitchen island in our parents' modern kitchen. The kitchen is painted white and full of cooking utensils.

"Maryann, what are you up to?" Mike asks with a bright smile on his face. He's wearing a yellow top that hugs his chest like a bodybuilder, paired with black jeans and black slippers, and he smells fresh like cinnamon.

"I'm making a plate of custard with fried eggs for the two of us," I inform him with a smile, looking up at his face.

My eyes meet his large blue eyes, and he says, "Wow, sis. I don't think I should have hired a chef since your food is aromatic and smells delicious." He chuckles, making my lips curl up too.

"Yeah, I know," I reply, smiling. I shift his own plate of custard and milk to his view as I pass his own plate of fried eggs too.

"It's just simple frying of eggs. What's so hard about it?" I ask Mike, staring at his face as he towers above me.

"Hmm, it's not easy to fry eggs as delicious as yours. The last time I tried frying eggs, they got burnt, and I ended up throwing them away," Mike says, his face darkening with frustration at the recollection of his inability to cook.

"You don't like cooking. Besides, cooking is for girls," I reply, grinning at his inability to cook.

"It's fine. Men don't have to worry about cooking. Your wife will take care of that," I add as I finish pouring fresh liquid milk into my custard and peer at his face.

"You're right. So, that reminds me. Sunny told me that he skipped having breakfast with Jessica at his house because he doesn't want her to follow him here. So, you have to make his own portion," Mike says apologetically.

"Oh oh!" I pout, not wanting to cook for anyone.

"I cannot cook for your friend," I complain, even though my heart swells with joy at the prospect of cooking for Sunny.

*Will he like my cooking? What if he rates me badly?*

I do not want to hear Sunny badmouth my cooking. I remember catching him smiling and chatting with someone, so I frown and look away. I don't want to waste my energy on him since he has a girlfriend.

"Please..." Mike begs, and I roll my eyes at him. How can he ask me to cook for his best friend?

"Fine. I hope Sunny is the only one that I get to make breakfast for today. If another of your friends shows up here to eat breakfast, then you will be the one to cook for them," I mutter, dropping my hands from my chest as I glare at my brother's smiling face.

Mike grins and carries the two plates of custard that I have prepared for myself and him.

"None of them will be here until 6 p.m. Sunny and I have some work to do on my laptop. That's why I called him over. One more thing, my two girlfriends will be here at noon. So get prepared to welcome them. I will take this meal for Sunny and me," Mike says as he quickly steps away from the island, his hands carrying the two meals before I can stop him.

"Wait, that's my own food," I call after him, but he swiftly rushes out of the kitchen door.

Mike bobs his head into the kitchen door and says with a wink, "Make another breakfast, please."

I pout in disagreement, but he shuts the door, leaving me alone.

"Fine." I grumble and reach for the frying pan to make another plate of eggs before I prepare another hot custard for myself.

After I finish cooking my breakfast, I place everything on a tray and want to step out to the dining room that links with the living room, but I think against it.

Mike and Sunny are sitting there, and I do not want to hear any teasing about me.

I don't think my heart can stand it if Sunny doesn't like the food. It's just custard. It's not like it's a heavy meal.

But I shake my head and move to the kitchen small dining table with a set of four plastic chairs to sit and have my breakfast alone.

My mind replays the moment I crashed into Sunny at the stairs. *Did he tell Mike about it? There's no way I will join them at the dining room table,* I mutter to myself as I sit and eat my breakfast.

The rich taste of the fried eggs soothes my racing heart as I eat it with the bread and scoop more warm custard into my mouth.

I lick my lips, hearing Mike and Sunny discussing loudly about their last soccer match in the living room.

I hear Mike complaining about the referee who cheated during the last match. Their argument gets so serious that you would think they're both quarrelling.

My parents didn't allow me to attend the game and watch Mike play football, so I shake my head and quickly finish my breakfast as I clean up the kitchen.

As I step out of the kitchen, Mike and Sunny are still eating the bread and eggs. They are done with their custards, so they pause their conversation and stare at me.

Sunny's gaze locks with mine, and my cheek flushes, but I try to stay calm and act like I'm not affected by him.

"Maryann, where is your own breakfast?" Mike calls out to me when he sees me striding away to the stairs.

I'm consciously aware of Sunny's gaze on me, and I don't want to turn and meet his gaze. But when I hear Mike's question, I know that I cannot avoid him.

"I am done. I will be in my room."

"Are you sure?" Mike asks, standing up to meet me.

I take a step back as I reply, "Yeah, I ate in the kitchen."

"Are you avoiding Sunny? He won't do anything to you. You should see him as your brother and not allow what Mom says to affect your reasoning, alright?" Mike says with a smile, and I cannot believe that he's bringing that up.

"Sure," I reply, casting a glance at Sunny as I see him frown.

*Why is Sunny frowning? Does he think my brother is wrong?*

Anyway, I don't ask him as I quickly climb the stairs and rush back upstairs to my room.

Once I enter my room, I hear my phone ringing on the shelf.

When I rush to pick it up, I see it's Ruth Clement on the line.

Taking a seat on my bed, I quickly answer her.

"Hello, Ruth. What's up?"

"I'm at your house. Since you invited me on time, I'm bored and I don't have anything to do. Can you come over and ask the security man to let me in? He says it's your mom's order and no one is allowed into the house until six in the evening."

I roll my eyes at her words as I cannot believe my mother already banned females too from coming to our home.

"Fine, I will be there. Just give me a moment," I reply, because I wasn't expecting her to show up early at my home.

The thought of meeting Sunny again in the living room made me uncomfortable.

"Fine, I am waiting," Ruth says patiently. I quickly rush to the door to exit the room.

However, I meet Sunny and Mike ascending the stairs to the top floor.