Destiny or Coincidence (AlanxJeff) VI

Culinary skills

Alan

Nights tend to feel endless when your emotions are running high, don't they? I kept asking myself that, tossing and turning in bed, unable to find peace. There I was, in my house, but in another room, was the person who had awakened my heart. The person who, with just a glance, could stop time. And at that moment, he was so close yet so far away. My destined person... but also, the most stubborn and obstinate person I had ever met. Stubborn, yes, but also so adorable, so impossibly cute. And again, stubborn.

I closed my eyes tightly. I knew that if I got too close too soon, if I made the wrong move, I would lose him. He would run, I could feel it. But even so, there were moments when I longed to feel him closer, just a little more. That kiss we shared at the registry was my downfall. A simple touch, a fleeting brush of his lips, and my entire world shook. How could such a small gesture stir such intense emotions? I wanted more. I wanted to kiss him for real, to feel his skin, but I knew I had to be patient. I had six months to win his heart, and I couldn't rush it. Six months to secure a life together. A life I wanted with all my heart.

Eventually, sleep found me, though in short bursts. At dawn, I got up determined to clear my mind. I put on my running shoes and went out for a jog. I felt like if I didn't control the pounding in my chest, I would lose my mind. But of course, I couldn't stop thinking about Jeff. Even in the quiet of the morning, the fresh air hit my face, but not hard enough to calm the storm of thoughts and emotions he had stirred inside me.

After my run, I stopped by the store and bought soy milk and everything I could think of for breakfast. Jeff had told me he ate just about anything, but what did he really like? I wanted to know every little detail about him. Learn what he preferred for breakfast, his favorite flavors, how he liked his coffee. Everything. It was a journey that had just begun, and each step filled me with excitement.

On my way home, a florist shop caught my eye, as if the flowers were whispering to me to go in. Before I knew it, I was buying a bouquet. They were beautiful, fragrant, but not even the most beautiful flowers could compare to the soft, sweet scent of Jeff. Every time he was near, his essence seemed to fill the room, tangling up my senses, making me dizzy. Holding the bouquet in my hand, I thought I couldn't just give them to him. I had no non-romantic excuse for it. I knew that if I tried something so direct, he'd become defensive.

"No, no, these aren't for you, Jeff!" I imagined myself saying. "They're for the house. They smell nice. I thought they could fill the place with their fragrance." Although deep down, what I really wanted was for his scent to fill every corner of our home.

I reached the door, mentally rehearsing how to say all this without sounding suspicious, when suddenly a loud crash pulled me from my thoughts. A bang, followed by the high-pitched sound of the fire alarm. My heart skipped a beat.

"Jeff!" I yelled as I rushed toward the kitchen.

There was Jeff, standing in the middle of the kitchen, holding a pot lid over what looked like a disaster waiting to happen. His chest was rising and falling as he tried to catch his breath. Water from the fire sprinkler system was cascading down, soaking everything around him... and the kitchen... well, it was a total mess. Flour was everywhere, dirty dishes piled up, and a burnt smell filled the air. My heart pounded with worry and, of course, with how incredibly adorable he looked even in the middle of such chaos.

I hurried over and turned off the alarm. When he turned to face me, his eyes were wide with surprise and guilt. He looked like a child caught doing something mischievous, and it made my chest swell with indescribable warmth.

"Are you okay?" I asked softly, my voice laced with concern.

He gave a small nod, avoiding my gaze as he muttered, "I'm sorry. I made a mess."