A Cup of Coffee

c h a p t e r 0 7

Elizabeth

"Katie, can you drop by the store to pick up some drinks?" I shouted from our small kitchen to the bathroom, Katie was applying her makeup.

"Sure thing! Nathan's almost done with his shift so I'll text him instead," Nathan finally grew a pair of balls to talk to Katie about his soulmate and they were back to normal. They talked things through and they decided to stay together until they stopped loving each other.

"Thanks babe!" I already finished simmering the sauce for the spaghetti and the chicken fingers were done and so were the lumpia. Basically they were spring rolls, Ellie taught me tons of Filipino delicacies after marrying Carlos. She even planned on setting up an eatery in the near future. But sadly it never happened. I still had all of the recipes she knows in an old notebook she gave me when I turned 18. Our differences in cooking was, she likes precision - if she adds a pinch of salt she will write it down, but I like to eyeball the ingredients until I find the taste I'm looking for.

I also attempted to make oreo cheesecake for the fourth time this week, hoping that I will finally get the right texture and taste. I gave the first three batches away to my fellow dorm mates, they loved it apparently. Now I was just preparing the roasted chicken and potatoes. I wrapped the potatoes I cut in half into aluminium foils and popped it in the oven with the chicken. I wanted to make lasagna but since it was a birthday party, I wanted to stick to the tradition Ellie and I had.

After cleaning up after myself and wiping down all the surfaces, I decided to clean up the dorm a little bit. I made our beds and tidied up the drawers and clothes. I took a pair of underwear and a black lace dress with me and brought it to the bathroom. I needed to shower or I'll smell funky the entire night. I washed my hair and scrubbed my body with my cherry blossom scrub. When I felt that I wasted enough water - kidding - I hopped out and got dressed. I lathered my body with my cherry blossom lotion and dusted a little bit of make up on my face. Deciding on a red lip stick, I smeared it on my lips. I dabbed a little bit of powder on my lips to make it matte and put on some mascara to finish it up. It was already six in the evening by the time I finished putting on my earrings. Hurriedly, I grabbed our extra foldable table in our closet and unfolded it next to our dining table. I laid all the food on the table and took out my phone to text Carlos. Dad said he couldn't make it because of his business trip for the weekend and Carlos was currently in Asia visiting his relatives.

L: carlos, i made lumpia just for you!

C: just eat for me lizzy, tita (aunt) ana's birthday is today too so there are TONS of lumpia here

L: say happy b day for me! :D

C: happy birthday to you too lizzy, ur the best sis in law I can ask for

L: im always gonna be here

C: :'( i still miss her lot

L: i know, i miss her too :( gonna get ready now ha, CALL ME ANYTIME please... take care

C: take care lizzy... will keep tht mind

Carlos was like a brother to me even when he was just friends with Ellie in the beginning. He was always staying with us at out house when our parents weren't around and I honestly never saw Ellie as genuinely happy until they were together. He was like her rock and she was his. So when Ellie passed, Carlos did too. And not just a part of him did. But he's getting back on his feet now, spending more time with his family and relatives.