Possessive InLove

Chapter 48: A Taste of Effort

Chapter 48: A Taste of Effort

Filip’s POV

The kitchen was a battlefield of pots, pans, and ingredients I wasn’t entirely sure I knew how to use. But I was determined. After everything Rena and I had been through, I wanted to do something special for her and Fil. I couldn’t stop smiling, remembering the peaceful morning we had shared. I wanted to keep that warmth alive, and what better way than making breakfast for my wife and son?

Except, cooking wasn’t exactly my strong suit.

I glanced down at the recipe on my phone—something that was supposed to be simple—pancakes and eggs. But already the batter looked a little too thick, and the eggs were more scrambled than I had intended. Still, I wasn’t going to give up.

“Alright,” I muttered to myself, flipping the pancake with a bit more confidence this time. “You’ve got this.”

Just as I was pouring the next batch of batter onto the skillet, I heard the soft patter of feet behind me. I turned to see Fil standing in the doorway, rubbing his eyes sleepily. His dark blonde hair was tousled, and he had the same look of curiosity that always reminded me so much of Rena.

“Dad?” he said, his voice still groggy. “What are you doing?”

I chuckled, wiping my hands on a towel and crouching down to his level. “I’m making breakfast for you and Mommy. Surprise!”

Fil blinked, looking from me to the mess of the kitchen. “Are you sure you know how?” he asked, his tone innocent but so honest that I couldn’t help but laugh.

“Well, I’m learning,” I said, ruffling his hair. “How about you help me? We can make it together.”

His eyes lit up at that. “Okay!”

I guided him over to the counter, showing him how to mix the batter properly this time. He giggled as I let him pour in the milk and crack an egg (with a little more shell in the bowl than I expected, but that was part of the fun). Together, we stirred the mixture, and soon enough, we had a stack of pancakes that actually looked decent.

“See? We make a good team,” I said, flipping the last pancake onto the plate and handing it to Fil to take to the table.

“Yeah!” Fil grinned proudly, carrying the plate as if it were a precious treasure.

Just as we set the table, I heard the soft sound of Rena’s footsteps coming down the hall. She appeared in the doorway, her face lighting up in surprise when she saw the spread on the table—pancakes, eggs (a bit overcooked but still passable), and some fruit I’d managed to slice up without injuring myself.

“Good morning,” she said, her voice full of warmth as she looked at the scene before her.

“Mom, look! Dad made breakfast!” Fil announced, practically bouncing with excitement.

Rena’s eyes moved to me, a smile tugging at her lips. “You did?”

“With a little help from our chef here,” I replied, gesturing to Fil, who beamed with pride.

She came over to the table, leaning in to kiss me on the cheek before sitting down. “This is a nice surprise,” she said softly, her eyes meeting mine.

I felt a swell of pride and affection as I watched her and Fil sit together at the table. It might not have been the most perfect breakfast, but it was ours, and that made it special.

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Rena’s POV

The smell of pancakes and slightly burnt eggs filled the air as I took my seat at the table, my heart warmed by the sight of Filip trying so hard to do something sweet for us. I hadn’t seen this side of him in so long—so eager, so full of energy. It was as if the weight of everything we had been carrying was starting to lift, and for the first time, I felt like we were building something real again.

Filip sat down beside me, and Fil immediately started piling pancakes onto his plate, his face lighting up as he drowned them in syrup. “These are gonna be the best pancakes ever!” Fil declared, his enthusiasm contagious.

I smiled, watching Filip as he nervously picked at his food, clearly waiting for my reaction. I cut a piece of the pancake, tasting it. It was a little dense, but it was good. More than that, it was the effort that mattered. “These are great, Filip,” I said, meaning it.

The relief in his expression was almost comical. “Yeah?” he asked, his voice hopeful.

“Yeah.” I leaned over, kissing him softly on the lips. “Thank you.”

His hand found mine under the table, giving it a gentle squeeze. “Anything for you.”

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Fil’s POV

I watched Mom and Dad as they talked quietly at the table, and it made me happy to see them smiling again. It felt like things were different now, like we were really a family. And the pancakes? They were awesome.

“Dad, can we do this every weekend?” I asked, my mouth full of syrupy goodness.

Dad chuckled, glancing at Mom with a playful look. “If I survive cooking every weekend, then sure.”

Mom laughed softly, and it was the kind of laugh that made me feel all warm inside. I didn’t really get everything that was going on between them, but I knew one thing—this breakfast, this morning—it felt like everything was going to be okay.

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Filip’s POV

As the morning wore on and we finished our meal, I couldn’t help but feel like this was the start of something new. It was a small thing, cooking breakfast, but it felt significant—like I was finally doing something right for my family. I wanted more moments like this, more mornings where we could just be together, without the weight of the past hanging over us.

As Rena helped clear the table, I pulled Fil into a hug, ruffling his hair. “Thanks for being my sous chef, buddy.”

He grinned up at me. “Anytime, Dad.”

And as I looked over at Rena, catching her eye, I knew that this was what I had been fighting for all along—a future with them. A future where we could laugh, make mistakes, and share moments like this, together.