30 Days Marrying You

chapter 17

By the time they got to the kitchen, sure enough, it was in an unbelievable state.
It was in a state of disarray.
Why were the sink full with pots and bowls? Some vegetables were lying all over the place on the counters.
jessica had to stride cautiously on the floor to avoid tripping as there was liquid in some parts of the floor which she believed was water. She didn't believe the maids of the house didn't do their work of cleaning the kitchen.
But, to believe the whole mess was the sole work of Daniel , who was left only for not more than fifteen minutes, rather unbelievable too. How could he manage to turn the kitchen upside down just for cooking? And how could he still be relaxed while cutting the carrots? As Jessica stepped closer, she cleared her throat .
"so, what are you cooking?"

" I don't know. I just tossed everything that I think would look tasty into the pot.
Then, maybe it would turn out nice and edible" He said without a shred of embarrassment.
He was done cutting the carrots and readied to put it in the pot on the stove.

She stared at him with suspicion." Maybe? What if you were wrong?" Daniel smiled innocently. "Huh? Honestly, that thought hadn't occurred to me." The carrots were dropped into the pot. "Honestly, that thought hadn't occurred to me. You've got to be kidding me! Jessica exchanged look with Xavier , who was leaning calmly against the wall.

Xavier sent her telepathically message as if telling, "I told you he is useless." .

" oh , don't bother with the tiny little details! You just go wait outside and let me do my cooking. You don't have to worry much."

This time, Daniel grabbed some zucchini.

"no I'm worried! I'll stay and watch. How's the cooking going?" Jessica peeked at the inside of the pot and her eyes widened in shock.

"oh , it will be okay!" Oblivious to jessica's reaction, Daniel chopped the zucchini.

"but , it just turns blue!" She pointed the pot. What meals were blue in colour? Daniel was still smiling. It is . "But it will be okay." Plop. The zucchini went into the pot too.

"what will be okay?" jessica's voice raised an octave. Xavier who was only watching till now cracked up laughing. That caught their attention. Jessica narrowed her eyes as she faced Xavier . "that is so not funny!" All this chaos made her forgot their early conversations.
Her weird feeling also seemed to disappear into the thin air.

"sure it is. You just don't see the humour." Xavier grinned, still wearing the amused look. One glare and Xavier shrugged.
" I'll wait in the living room." He was still laughing as he walked away.
Daniel continued with his work as soon as Xavier left. He was rummaging through the refrigerator and draw out something with deep satisfaction

Jessica's eyes were drawn to his hand. " what's that?"

"Amm,, strawbarries" Daniel answered. Jessica caught Daniel's hand just in time as he wanted to put those pinkish-red fruit in the pot.

" and why do you need to add strawberries in the cooking?"

" because I love strawberry..?" that's it. She hit her limit. "this is so frustrating! Here! Let me do it!" Jessica nudged him aside. She turned off the stove and dismissed the pot. This was no longer edible. She would get sick if she ate it. She would end up in the hospital, she knew it. So, it would be much safer if she cook it herself. She couldn't trust Daniel . He was beyond hopeless. Jessica looked around.
From the pile of vegetables on the counter, she could make up some of them. There were some leftover carrots and zucchinis. She also saw some onions, garlics, tomatoes, potatoes, bay leaf and green chilies. She instantly knew what she was going to cook. " are you okay with stew?" Daniel blinked.

" i guess "

"I need a new pot" Jessica started tying her hair in a bun for hygiene purpose and to avoid her hair to become a nuisance later.

" here" Daniel gave her a new pot.." good" She put the pot on the stove and added some oil. After it heat up, she sauteed the onion that was finely chopped a moment ago.

" anything I can help with" Daniel offered.
Jessica shook her head . " no I've got this covered." Her hands were working amazingly fast as she minced the garlics , sliced the carrots and diced the potatoes and tomatoes.

" wow! You can really cook! It is always my dream to have a wife who can cook!" Daniel watched in admiration as jessica put the garlics, bay leaf, some chicken broth and some spices in the pot. After it boiled, she added carrots, potatoes, zucchini and chopped chicken breast.
A cool smile curled her lips, a smile that stunned Daniel for a moment. They were standing so near to each other, so near that his skin prickling with her nearness.
It gave him the chance to observe her for the first time.
Up close, she looked so beautiful. Her brown hair was curled into a bun. A few loose strands were sticking to her neck. She pushed a dangling lock of hair behind her ear and concentrated on her cooking. He couldn't take his eyes off her. The view of her cooking was dazzling it could almost blind his eyes.

"i.. I want to help!" His tone was unnaturally high. Daniel bit his lip. "Damn it! Why am I stuttering?" he thought

" no need. I just have to simmer all this until the vegetables are tender." Jessica was oblivious to his action. She was too immersed with her cooking to be bothered with her surroundings.

" then I'll cook some rice" Again, he was stuttering. He slightly cursed himself. " okey" Her head was looking down at the stew. But then, something crossed her mind. " wait , you do know how to cook the rice, right?" She asked, her head snapped up. She followed her gaze to see Daniel , carrying the rice to sink to be washed and rinsed.
" i know. You don't have to guard me so much. I can cook the rice perfectly fine."

" no, I'm scared! For some reason i'm scared!" She was still having some doubt. Daniel just looked like the type that was all talk. The kind to be enthusiastic but with no real meaning.

" you really don't trust me, huh?" Daniel sounded almost hurt as he put the cleaned rice in the rice cooker.

" of course. Because you are stupid" Instant blow. You really don't need a knife to kill someone, huh?

" you really don't hold back , do you " Daniel chuckled.

"So honest. She was just so honest. In a cute way. Wait, did he just say cute?" He clutched his chest. His heart was beating irregularly.

" Daniel , are you okey ?"Jessica tapped his shoulder with concerned look. " Did I say too much?" She wondered.

" sorry, I need to find Xavier " Daniel turned around, leaving Jessica puzzled.

Back in the living room, he saw Xavier , lying on the sofa and looking immersed in one of the magazines stacked on the coffee table. He stepped closer to him, his hand was still on his chest.

" Xavier , I don't know why but my heart feels wrong, I might not live long, What should I do?" Xavier lowered the magazine and looked briefly at Daniel before continuing with his reading." I think your brain is wrong.".

"but , hear this. It is thumping crazily" Daniel plucked the magazine out of his hand.

" i recommend a psychiatrist." Xavier replied and sat up straight. His hand rubbed his neck, still not taking him seriously.
Instead, he felt annoyed for being disturbed suddenly. He tried to take the magazine back from Daniel

"what should I do? I only thought Jessica is cute. Then, it suddenly becomes like this.

" Xavier dropped the magazine on the floor.

" what did you just say ?" .....