The House by the River

Chapter 20

A/N: The image above does not belong to me. It belongs to the person who uploaded it on the internet.

Third Person POV

"I'm hungry," Saint announced to Perth.

"Let me see what I can cook for you," Perth said, walking in the direction of the kitchen.

Saint followed him.

In the kitchen, Perth opened the fridge door and opened the freezer compartment. After looking at what was inside, he turned to Saint.

"I can make some shrimp tempura out of these jumbo shrimps if you want," Perth said.

"I will help you to peel them," Saint offered.

"No need," Perth said. "They have already been peeled and de-veined before they were packed and frozen."

"Well then, let me help you prepare the other ingredients," Saint offered, wanting to feel useful to Perth in the kitchen.

"Okay," Perth agreed. "Wash this package of string beans and cut them into manageable length. And when you're finished doing that, you can rinse these eggplants and cut them into diagonal bite size pieces."

Saint nodded and obediently washed the vegetables and cut them into the desired length and shape. 

While Saint was taking care of the vegetables, Perth prepared the batter that he needed for the shrimp tempura. Then Perth placed a large frying pan on to the stove and poured some cooking oil into it and turned the flame on.

"What are we doing with these vegetables?" Saint asked.

"What do you suggest?" Perth asked him.

"I don't know much about cooking," Saint confessed sheepishly.

"Don't worry," Perth assured him. "I will take care of you in the kitchen then you can take care of me later in bed."

"Whaaattt???" Title said as he walked into the kitchen.

Oh shit, he had heard every single word that Perth had said to Saint.

"I was just kidding," Perth said, blushing furiously.

"What are you guys cooking for dinner?" Title asked.

"Shrimp tempura," Perth replied. "We haven't decided yet what to do with these vegetables."

"How about vegetable panang curry?" Title suggested.

"That sounds great!" Perth and Saint exclaimed at the same time. "Do you know how to make it?"

"Of course," Title replied. "Have you cooked any rice yet?"

"Uh oh, we forgot about the rice," Perth said. "I don't know how to cook rice though. Do you know how to cook rice, Saint?"

Saint shook his head.

"How about you, Title?" Saint asked.

Suddenly Title's face looked very sad.

"I know someone who knows how to cook rice and he had promised to teach me how to do it," Title said, his eyes suddenly turning moist. "But he has decided to leave us and go back to Bangkok with his boyfriend Santa."

"I'm sorry," Saint said, gently tapping Title's back to comfort him. Saint knew that Title was referring to Earth.

"I have an idea," Perth said. "Why don't you google it on your phone and try to follow the instructions as much as you can."

"Okay," Title replied, digging his phone from his pocket. "Saint, can you take out some onions and garlic and red peppers from the vegetable crisper in the fridge?"

"Sure," Saint said. "I will cut them up for you while you cook the rice."

Title did his best to hold back his tears while cooking the rice according to how he read the instructions from his phone. He was thinking of Earth the whole time and missing his company so much. He was remembering how Earth had promised to teach him how to cook rice while they were on this vacation and now he was gone even before this vacation ended. Thankfully, tomorrow everyone would be on their way back to Bangkok to resume their busy lives. There would be no time to miss Earth.

Among Title and Perth and Saint, they were able to finish cooking the shrimp tempura and the vegetable panang curry and the jasmine rice.

Mean walked into the kitchen saying to Perth, "What's cookin', good lookin'?"

Plan followed close behind and kicked Mean on the leg.

"Oww!" Mean complained. "What did I do to deserve that?"

Plan ignored him and said to no one in particular, "I can smell something really good here. If everything is ready to be served, I will take out the plates and bowls and utensils."

"Yes, everything is ready to be served," Perth announced.

"I will prepare the drinks," Mean offered, taking two empty pitchers from a kitchen cabinet and getting two bottles of fruit concentrates from the fridge.

While Mean and Plan were busy with their tasks, Perth leaned close to Saint and whispered in Saint's ear, "I was serious about my request of you taking care of me later in bed."

"Shush," Saint scolded him.

Suddenly Gun walked into the kitchen and surveyed the feast that was laid out on the table.

"Thank you, everyone, for taking care of preparing dinner," he said appreciatively.

"It was mostly Perth and Title," Saint informed him.

"Will it be alright if I don't join you for dinner?" Gun asked. "I will just bring a tray of food into my room for Mark and myself."

"Sure!" everybody replied. "We understand that you have to take care of Mark."

Gun smiled, trying not to feel too embarrassed.

After dinner, Mean and Plan offered to take care of the used dishes.

"I can stay to help," Title offered.

"Don't worry about it," Mean said. "Plan is all I need ..."

"... to help with the dishes," Mean added when Plan stared him down reproachfully.

As Title walked out of the kitchen with Perth and Saint, Title said, "I won't be sleeping with you in your room. I would rather sleep out here in the living room. The couch is wide and comfortable enough for sleeping."

"If you insist," Perth said, feeling very happy that he and Saint would have the room all to themselves for the night.

What they didn't know was that Title wanted to be alone because he didn't want anyone to hear him sobbing into his pillow during the night.

After everyone had finished their evening showers and evening rituals, they all bid each other a good night.

But not Perth. He was not yet going to let the night end yet ......

It was not until three in the morning that a very happy and satisfied Saint finally fell asleep in the arms of an equally happy and satisfied Perth.