Come and Go (Part Two)

Chapter 3

"Dip the broas in the coffee but not too long... You don't want to get it soggy. Just dunk it for a few seconds–Why? What's so funny?"

Elle was demonstrating how to make tiramisu to Seth over video call. Both were in their kitchens with ingredients and bowls set up in front of them. They'd been making it simultaneously step by step. They were in the middle of the recipe when she got distracted by him laughing.

"Sorry! I just can't help it." Seth said, trying to recover when he saw that she wasn't pleased. "You're super serious whenever you teach me stuff like this. It's like watching a cooking show."

"Isn't that the point?" Elle said, cocking an eyebrow. Seth nodded with a forced straight face. She took a clear, rectangular pan and proceeded. "Next, layer the cookies on a pan–like this–and put half of the cream mixture on top...WHAT?"

"'S like a cooking show but with guns pointed at me!" Seth had gone at it again. He could hardly speak in between fits of laughter. "Are you ex-army, Pig? Will you shoot me if I don't follow the instructions? You're not even smiling!"

"Damn you!" Elle began chuckling too. She threw her apron at the screen. "I'm nervous! You said you want to learn dad's recipe. It's my first time actually making it too, you little–Oh, Hi Tita!"

Laura Del Mundo, Seth's mother, came into view. She was wearing a paisley scarf around her head and was a little bit pale. But it's as if that was all there was to her illness. Her face was open, her smile was sweet, and her eyes were dancing with mischief.

"Hello Elly dear. Forgive this boy. He couldn't boil an egg properly if his life depended on it." 

"For real, Tita?" She was laughing hard now. "I learned how to boil an egg when I was what, three?"

"Impossible!" Seth huffed. "You know what? I can do this. Watch and learn from the cooking master boy himself." He then began dipping the biscuits but as soon as it touched the coffee, it crumbled. The look of pure undiluted confusion on his face got the two girls cracking up.

"What did I do? How did you do that?" He said, pointing at her layer of still perfectly intact broas.

"Son..." Laura began carefully, not knowing whether to laugh at or take pity on her youngest. "Aren't you supposed to let the coffee cool down first?" His bowl of espresso was still steaming.

"But... She didn't tell me that part!" He said, pointing accusingly at Elle.

"I did too! I did too! You just weren't listening. You were too busy making fun of me, Cooking Master Boy."

"Oh right." He smacked his hand on his forehead and laughed. "You two are bullies! I'm recording this, by the way. So the world will know how much of a bully you are."

"Good. And so the world will know how helpless you are in the kitchen!" Elle countered.

"Planning to upload it on YouTube eh?" Laura teased.

"Arrgh!" He then smeared cream on his mom's cheek. The other yelped, grabbed some herself, and threw a big dollop that landed on his nose and mouth. He stuck his tongue out and licked it off. He took some of the dissolved bread dripping in coffee, dipped it on the cream from his face, and ate it.

"Gross!" Elle exclaimed. Truth was, she was enjoying seeing her boyfriend's rare goofy side.

"Mmmm. Who said I can't follow recipes? This tastes so good. Please tell your dad. Do tell Papa Elijah his tiramisu is the best."

"I will tell him. He's gonna kill you for calling him Papa!"

"Ah... So you're threatening me now? Boy, you're in trouble. Come here." He then came closer to the camera, so close that she could see the brown of his eyes. She too left the kitchen table and inched closer to her webcam. It's amazing how he could still make her heart flutter when they were continents apart.