The One

Mood Swing: Part 2

 Half an hour later, she emerged from her bedroom, freshened up and looking adorably casual in her oversized shirt and comfy trousers. She made her way to the kitchen, ready to tackle the grocery chaos.

"Leo, you really don't need to do that," she said, eyeing him as he diligently tidied up the remaining items.

"No problem at all! It's my pleasure to help. I'm already sweaty and smelly, so I figured I might as well organise your groceries before I go clean up myself. I promise I'll come back and keep you company in a bit, aright?"

"Okay, Leo, you go and do your stuff. Thank you for helping out!" she replied, not feeling an ounce of guilt as she began frantically searching for her missing pickles.

With a bemused expression, Leo couldn't resist asking, "What on Earth are you looking for? You're rummaging around like a squirrel in a nut shop!"

"I'm searching for my pickles," she declared, flipping open the overhead compartment with the seriousness of a detective on a case.

With a slight chuckle, Leo headed over to the fridge, "Baby girl, the pickles are in here," he said, retrieving the jar and handing it to her. She beamed at it as if it were a treasure.

"Thank you, Leo! You are the best—though seriously, stop calling me 'baby girl'," she huffed, trying to twist off the lid as her expression shifted from gratitude to annoyance in a heartbeat.

"Here, let me help," he said, reaching out.

"Thanks!"

Before he handed her the opened jar, Leo added with a grin, "Just don't fill up on those, okay? The last thing I want is you clutching your stomach in pain."

Like a hyena spotting a meal, she seized the jar, popped one of the pickles in her mouth, and munched enthusiastically before throwing open the fridge door and rifling through its contents.

She pulled out an array of ingredients and glanced over at Leo. "Fancy a sandwich?"

"Are you making one for yourself, too?" he queried, a knowing smile stretching across his face.

"Of course, I'm desperate for a tuna pickle sandwich right now!" she replied, brandishing a knife and deftly chopping onions.

"Count me in! I'd love to taste your wonderful creation," Leo said, cautiously maintaining a safe distance from her knife skills as she quipped, "Don't get your hopes up in case I turn it into a disaster!"

"Aright, in that case, I'll be back in about 15-20 minutes," he said, glancing at her with mock seriousness.

"Hmm?" she raised her eyebrows, momentarily pausing her chopping.

"I'll go freshen up while you whip us up some sandwiches. Bye!"

With that, Leo darted out the front door, leaving her to finish chopping and arranging the ingredients with the finesse of a master chef.

Fifteen minutes later, just as she was finally concentrating on assembling her sandwich—a task interrupted when she had to rush to the toilet due to a wave of nausea—the doorbell chimed, startling her. She hesitantly opened the door to reveal Leo, who looked effortlessly handsome in his casual attire.

Her heart did a little flip-flop as she took in his appearance, quickly recovering to smirk at him, "I can smell delicious food wafting from your direction! Is that our dinner?"

"Haha, I made us sandwiches, and I really hope you'll enjoy them!" she replied, grinning as she limped over to the living room area.

"I'll grab the sandwiches!" he called, swiftly retrieving them from the kitchen and heading back.

He had anticipated that her leg might be protesting after the lengthy errands without any rest—a reality for someone pregnant and on the move.

Demonstrating his inner 'dad mode,' Leo set down a delightful spread of sandwiches on the coffee table. "Need a drink with that?"

"I'll just have warm water. Wait, let me help you!" Karol insisted, attempting to rise.

But Leo gently pressed her back down onto the sofa, saying sweetly, "No need to move, I've got this. Just relax and get comfy, okay?"

Leo turned around and headed to the kitchen to grab their drinks. A few minutes later, he re-entered the living room with a triumphant flourish, balancing their drinks like a circus performer. She smiled sweetly at him, her eyes sparkling, and mumbled a soft, "Thank you," her cheeks flushing slightly.

"Let me give you a leg massage. I bet your leg is sore from standing while making those delicious sandwiches," he offered, his tone teasing.

Karol, who had been busily fiddling with the television remote, quickly shook her head, her expression a mix of amusement and stubbornness. "There's really no need for that, and don't worry about it."

Leo, a man who never took no for an answer, gently grasped her ankle, looking up at her with a playful grin. "You can't let it be like that! It might get worse, you know. Just let me do it for a bit, and if you hate it, I promise I'll stop."

With an exaggerated sigh, she relented, rolling her eyes but unable to suppress a smile. "Fine, but only because I don't want to hear you whine about my poor foot later."

As he began to knead her slightly swollen foot, he chuckled. "Thank you for indulging me."

"You're most welcome, baby girl," he replied, his eyes twinkling with affection. Her heart skipped a beat at the warmth in his voice, but she quickly composed herself.

"Go and wash your hands before we eat these sandwiches. I love you, but I don't love your kitchen hands!"

With an exaggerated salute, he grinned back at her, "Aye, aye, boss!" He marched over to the sink, splashing water playfully as he washed his hands, much to her laughter.

The rest of the day unfolded with ease, Leo keeping her company as they caught up over sandwiches and quickly cleaned up their culinary chaos. They settled down on the couch, indulging in horror films that made them jump and laugh in equal measure. Eventually, as the credits rolled, Leo stood to leave for his apartment, a hint of reluctance in his steps.

"Can't wait for tomorrow," he said, giving her one last smirk that promised more adventures.