As Earth busied himself in the kitchen, the aroma of cooking filled the house, drifting into Mix's bedroom and rousing him from his slumber. Feeling much more energized than before, Mix rose from his bed and made his way to the kitchen.
There, he found Earth bustling about, occasionally stirring the pot of soup while adding spices. Despite still looking a bit awkward in the kitchen, Earth seemed to be improving after cooking two meals already.
Mix couldn't help but chuckle softly as he watched Earth navigate the kitchen. He found his boss's slight mishap with the noodles endearing, even if it almost resulted in a burn.
Earth glanced over as he heard Mix's chuckle, his expression turning to one of relief when he saw that his assistant was awake.
"Oh, Mix, you're up?" Earth said with a smile. "Sit down at the dining table; lunch is almost ready."
Mix took a seat at the dining table as instructed, eagerly awaiting the meal Earth had prepared. With a proud grin, Earth placed a bowl of classic noodle soup in front of Mix.
"Menu for lunch: Classic noodle soup," Earth announced with a sense of accomplishment.
Mix took a look at the soup, inhaling its comforting aroma before cautiously taking a spoonful to taste. As the familiar flavors flooded his senses, Mix couldn't help but be surprised. Each meal Earth had prepared for him tasted just like his mother's cooking.
Mix looked up at Earth with a smile, his eyes filled with gratitude. "Mr. Pirapat, your cooking tastes exactly like my mom's."
Feeling a bit embarrassed by the compliment, Earth smiled sheepishly and rubbed the back of his neck. "It's because I obtained all these recipes from Auntie," he admitted shyly.
Mix's expression shifted to one of surprise as he processed Earth's words. "Did you call my mom, sir?" he asked, curiosity piqued.
Earth nodded, his cheeks turning slightly pink. "Yes, I called your mom last night," he explained.
"She gave me some recipes and tips on how to take care of you. She was worried about you, Mix."
Mix's heart warmed at the thought of his mother's concern. "Thank you, sir," he said sincerely, touched by Earth's gesture. "And thank you for taking care of me."
With a smile, Earth nodded in response. "Of course, Mix. We're friends, after all."
Mix couldn't help but feel a pang in his heart. The words "friends" echoed in his mind, stirring up a whirlwind of emotions within him.
Mix felt a surge of disappointment wash over him as he realized that Earth might only see him as a member of his professional circle, nothing more. Despite the care and attention Earth had shown him, Mix couldn't shake off the feeling of being relegated to a role that didn't quite capture the depth of their connection.
With a heavy heart, Mix finished his soup in silence and quietly left the table, his mood somber. Unaware of Mix's sudden change in demeanor, Earth continued to clear the bowls and do the dishes, assuming that Mix was simply feeling weak from his illness.
As he washed the dishes, Earth couldn't shake off the feeling that something was amiss. He couldn't help but wonder if there was more to Mix's subdued behavior than just his illness. However, he decided to give Mix some space, hoping that he would feel better after resting.
Inside the room, Mix remained silent, lost in his thoughts as he grappled with his emotions. Despite the ache in his heart, he couldn't bring himself to open up to Earth about his feelings, fearing rejection or misunderstanding.
