Kiana And Sal's Bizzare RomCom Drabble Collection

KiaSal Drabble 20: Three Days Of Separation Part 5(Day 3)

Fu Hua: What's your take on love now, Kiana? 

Kiana: What do you mean by "Now"? (They had mostly cleared all the Honkai Beasts in Cape Town and were now simply waiting a few more hours to be picked up by Hyperion. 

Fu Hua: I had asked you the same question three years ago during our Singapore mission. You had a very creative answer.

Kiana: Oh that... (She gave her a dry smile) in my defense back then I was just too infatuated with Mei to give a good answer. 

Fu Hua: So you mean to say you aren't now. 

Kiana: (With a bittersweet smile) Lately, I don't know anymore. It most probably happened after Himeko sensei passed away... But things changed. (Takes a deep breath) Anyways, what answer had I given back then?

Fu Hua: (Having a fond smile) Spending the entire day lazing around in a house with Mei as she cooks delicious meals. 

Kiana: Geh... 

Fu Hua: It doesn't end there... 

Kiana: For the sake of my wellbeing, let's not-

Fu Hua: (Starting a young Kiana impersonation) Then, then, I will get a cat and a dog, and then Mei Senpai and I will live happily ever after. 

Kiana: (Clutching her head in embarrassment) No more Incho! [Class monitor]

Fu Hua: Hahaha

Kiana: Hmph, meanie. 

Fu Hua: Anyways, what about now? 

Kiana: Hm? 

Fu Hua: What do you think of love? 

Kiana: Oh... Hmm... I don't know but (she gave a warm smile as she gazed at the empty food box)... Well... For me it might be waking up everyday just to see the person you love besides you. If I can get that much I think it's enough. 

Fu Hua: I see... Is that why you got better at cooking? 

Kiana: Eh? I wasn't that bad? (She replied defensively) 

Fu Hua: Seriously, now, Kiana? We both know-

Kiana: Fine... It wasn't for anything like that. 

Fu Hua: Hm? 

Kiana: The cooking. It wasn't for any reason like that honestly. I learnt it because... I realized if I didn't I might be putting lives of those I care about in danger. 

Fu Hua: By feeding them cooked poison. 

Kiana: You are really not holding back today, are you, Fu Hua?! But no... Back in the Philippines, this one time, Sal got sick. It was bad, and there was no one around. He wouldn't wake up or even talk properly, and I got very scared. Until then, I had always believed no matter what happened, he would be there, but... I realised that it was stupid of me to think like that. For the first time, it dawned on me I could lose him... And then I remembered Mei had cooked porridge for him in a similar scenario before, so I tried, and it didn't end well. 

Fu Hua gave her a knowing look.

Kiana: I was confused and very scared, and then the neighbours we had knocked. Apparently, they had been alerted after seeing smoke arise from our house. And then the older lady helped me calm down and also cooked a meal for both of us. They also got Sal some meds and looked after him until he was fine. In the end, everything concluded well. But for me, I was guilt-stricken. Sal could have died because of me. That very thought made me feel horrified. And that was when I decided to learn cooking seriously. It wasn't easy, and honestly, even now I can only cook a handful of dishes properly, but I am learning, plus it's fun to see people smiling when they eat what I cook. 

Fu Hua gave the white hair girl a gentle pat on the shoulder. She really had grown, the Kiana Kaslana from years ago would be really proud to see how far she had come.