33: New Skills

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In the early hours of Saturday, Jacqueline was still sound asleep when her ears started picking up the sound of very soft music coming from a distance. Drifting in and out of sleep, she could see herself in a serene environment, dancing to the rhythm of the music, surrounded by her favourite flowers, the cherry blossoms.

Next thing, it was as if her nose was trying to depart from her face in order to become one with the aroma of pancakes that surrounded her.

Her eyes opened but her body remained in position, in a bid to give her brain a few seconds to adjust to waking life.

She turned over and saw that it was 7am. The smell of pancakes cooking in the kitchen persistently interrupted her train of thoughts so she got out of bed and decided to go and investigate the source of the aroma, since it was unusual for her mom to be up at 7am cooking.

"Nolan?" Jacqueline's eyes widened as she glanced around the kitchen to see if their mom was there.

"Morning Sis! Hope you're hungry. I made pancakes and there's freshly squeezed juice in the fridge." He said as he wiped the traces of oil off the burners.

"You made these?" She asked feeling astonished. "No way! Where's mom hiding?"

"Search all you want dearest Sister. You wouldn't find anyone but me here." He smiled.

"How did you know how to make pancakes? I haven't even seen you boil water!"

"Well I only prefer to execute my skills on special days like this."

"Special days? Like this?... So what's special about today?" She sat on the chair and folded her arms.

"Everything! Look around you. Look outside." He motioned his hands to face the window. "The sky is beautiful, the trees are magnificent, the air is lovely, the people I love the most are all around me... and they love me too. How can you ask me what's special about today?" He laughed joyfully.

"Huh? Nolan... Are you in love?" Jacqueline's eyes lit up.

"What? Ew no!" He shook is head.

"Nolan... You're in love! Wow! Who is she?" Jacqueline stood up and walked over to were her brother stood.

"I really don't know what you're talking about. Just how did you come to that conclusion?"

"Nolan, I'm not a child. I know how these things work. Besides I knew you went on a date yesterday." She rolled her eyes.

"Huh... He told you?" Nolan dropped the dish on the kitchen counter and turned to face her.

"Who told me what?" She immediately asked.

"Oh, nevermind!" He picked up the dish again.

"Hey, tell me! Who's he? Oh my God! Are you...?" Her eyes lit up and a big smile appeared on her face.

"Oh dear God! No I'm not gay Jacqueline. I thought my friend stopped by to tell you I was on a date."

"Aha! So you were on a date! I was right!" She giggled.

"Okay, okay fine! Please don't tell mom yet. Not ready for her to find out."

"My lips are 100 percent sealed. So who is she?" She asked inquisitively.

"A girl from school." His expression was calm.

"And? Go on!"

"That's it!" He set a plate heaped with pancakes in front of her.

"That's it? So you're not going to give me the details?" Jacqueline frowned.

"There's not much to discuss. We went out for ice cream and I came back home."

"Hm!" She arched her eyebrow.

"How did you know I was out on a date Jacqueline?"

"Because I saw you with my eyes? You decked up real nice and wore that expensive cologne I bought you last year."

"I wear cologne everyday." He rolled his eyes.

"Yeah but not that one. I noticed you only wear it on special occasions like when you go on a date." She giggled.

"I'm not going to hear the last of it." He covered his face with his palm.

"Oh come on! Who are you going to discuss these things with if you don't discuss it with me?" Jacqueline struggled to get the words out over a mouthful of pancakes.

"Uhm... A guy like me?"

"Boring! Guys don't have women all figured out. You can only get a guy's opinion about a woman based on his point of view."

"Worked pretty well for me!" He poured the fresh juice in two glasses and passed one to his sister.

"Worked pretty well? Who have you been talking..... huh!!! Oh my God, you've been talking to Chris?"

"Uhm..."

"Good morning my darlings!" Jasmine said as she emerged from her bedroom.

"Oh, thank God! Morning Mom." He let out a sigh of relief.

"This is not over!" Jacqueline whispered to him. "Morning Mom. Hope you slept well."

"Oh yes I did. Wow, something smells delicious in here. What did you prepare Jacqueline?"

"Oh not me, Mom! Ask our chef over here." She pointed to her brother.

"Nolan... You mean you made this? All by yourself?" Her Mom asked surprisingly.

"Yes Mom! I made it specially for you but Jacqueline couldn't stop drooling all over the counter so I had to give her some."

"Very funny Nolan!" Jacqueline rolled her eyes.

"Oh, you kids crack me up all the time."

"Here Mom, have some." Nolan put another plate of pancakes on the table for Jasmine.

"Oh wow!" She exclaimed after putting some in her mouth. "This is really delicious Nolan. You've outdone yourself."

"Thanks Mom. Glad you like it." He smiled.

"Mom, you've never said that to me since I've been cooking for you. Nolan makes pancakes and now he is some kind of superstar?" Jacqueline frowned.

"Oh no, someone is jealous." Nolan chuckled.

"Oh Baby you know I love your cooking so much. But for Nolan who's never even prepared noodles, this is outstanding." Jasmine patted her son on his shoulder. Thank God you didn't burn the kitchen on your first try."

"Ugh, Mom give me a break!" Nolan covered his face with both hands.

Jacqueline and her mom were both laughing at him when she stopped abruptly.

"Did you here a knock on the door?" She asked and everyone kept quiet.

After a brief silence, the knocking continued.

"Don't worry I'll get it." Jacqueline got up from her seat. "Just a second!" She said as she walked to the door and opened it after unlocking it.

Her body suddenly went rigid at the sight of the person standing before her.

Her heart flooding with rage and her mind drowning in confusion, she managed to utter one word.

"Dad...?"

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