CHAPTER 6.

MARYANN

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

My trembling hands hold the spoon as I stir Mike's custard, too, my mind picturing the awkward moment Sunny caught 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 and to act normal around him. But it's impossible, seeing as 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, and I feel a little disappointed that he's not Sunny.

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

My face reddens as I look away from my brother's face and focus on stirring his custard. My trembling hand reaches for the tin liquid milk, opening it and pouring it into the bowl.

Mike then walks up to meet me standing near the island in our parents' modern kitchen, which 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 a black pair of slippers, smelling 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 ones 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 plate of custard and milk into his view, passing his plate of fried eggs, as well.

"It's just simple frying of eggs. What's so hard about it?" I ask him, 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 rage at the recollection of his inability to cook.

"You don't like cooking. Besides, cooking is for girls," I reply, grinning at his struggle. "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 didn't want her to follow him here. So, you have to make his portion, too," Mike says apologetically.

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

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

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

I do not want to hear Sunny bad-mouth my cooking. I remember I caught him smiling and chatting with someone on his phone, 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 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 arms from my chest as I glare at my brother's smiling face.

He grins and reaches to carry the two plates of custard I prepared for myself and him.

"None of them will be here until 6:00 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 food!" I call after him, but he swiftly rushes out the kitchen door.

Mike bobs his head back through the doorway 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 fried eggs, before I prepare another bowl of hot custard for myself.

After I finish cooking my breakfast, I place everything on a white tray and start to step out into the dining room that links with the living room, but I think better of 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.

I shake my head and move to the small kitchen dining table with its set of four white plastic chairs to sit and eat alone.

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

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

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

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

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 custard, so they pause their conversation and stare at me.

Sunny's gaze holds mine, and my cheeks flush, but I try to stay calm and act like I'm not affected by him.

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

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

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

"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 he frowning? Does he think my brother is wrong? *

Anyway, I don't ask Sunny, as I quickly climbed the stairs and rushed 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 early, I'm bored and 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, unable to believe that my mother already banned females from coming to our home, too.

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

The thought of meeting Sunny again in the living room makes 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.