Pastry Hearts /ereri/

Chap. 4 - Homeless boy

"What's cooking?" Eren's mother said, breathing in a delicious scent as she walked in the bakery. Setting her jacket down on the counter, she made her way towards her son, who was hunched over the oven in the back.

"Mom! Get out of here!" the frazzled boy exclaimed. "Go downstairs," he added, blushing. "I have surprise for you."

Smiling and swiftly making her way across the kitchen, Carla Jaeger opened the door that lead to the basement. "I'll wait at the table!" she told her son excitedly, closing the door behind her as she descended the wooden steps.

The steps creaked eerily, but she didn't seem to notice. She was too busy thinking about her considerate and kind son. She grinned to herself as she unlocked the door at the foot of the staircase with a golden key attached to a black string.

Opening the door, Carla lit a a couple lanterns and placed them on the table at the centre of the room. There was no electricity down there, so the mother and son had to resort to lanterns and candles instead. The light painted the white walls a faded yellow glow.

The room was fairly small and square in shape. The walls were nude and the floors were covered in mismatched carpets in a desperate attempt at covering the rough and dirty floors. It was cold down there, so Carla pulled on a grey sweater she knit herself and sat down at the table, hugging herself to keep warm.

The ceiling was low, so Eren had to lower his head as he entered. "Hey mom!" he said as he carried a plate with a chunk of meat in one hand and utensils in the other. His happiness warmed the room and brought a smile to his mother.

Carla's eyes glowed in awe. "That looks delicious, Eren!" she said as he lay the plates on the table. Cutting the meat evenly, Eren gleamed as he told her about going to Sasha's.

"I'm glad you found time to see her," Eren's mother said, taking a bite of her meal. "I was very happy when I saw that note."

Silence between the mother and son.

"She is a very sweet girl," she added as she broke the quietness, winking.

Eren's eyes grew wide. "What?! No!" he said, shaking his head and frowning. "I don't feel about her that way at all," he confirmed, stuffing his mouth with food, ending that conversation there.

Truth was, Eren didn't feel that way towards any girl. In fact, he never did. He was kind of confused, but he knew he'd find the right person when the time came.

"If you say so!" Carla replied teasingly. She looked down at her plate and placed a new piece of ham in her fork. "By the way, Eren... This is rather yummy! Where'd you learn to cook meals like this?"

"Bufore Migasa leff, she taugh me," he said.

"Don't talk with your mouth full, sweetie." Carla shot disapprovingly. Even though Eren was almost a legal adult, Carla alway felt the need to discipline him a little, as if he were a child.

"And I'm glad my children have been socializing," she said with a smirk.

"What!!" Eren exclaimed. "I actually called her right before you left, you know." he fired back, taking another mouthful of food.

Carla smile at her son.

Later, Eren picked up all the plates and cutlery and started scrubbing at them in the sink at the back of the bakery, upstairs from the basement. Mumbling worriedly to himself, he thought of his mother.

"Hope she's alright," he said to himself in whisper, as the sound of the rushing water cooled his thoughts. Carla went straight to bed after the meal, telling him she was having stomach problems. "Hope it wasn't what I had made us!" Eren said out loud. He didn't think so, though; his tummy was far from sick and Eren actually felt grateful to himself for his great cooking skills, for once.