From the Beginning

Chapter 25: Overprotective

The sound of metal and plastic colliding onto the tiled floor woke Skye from his slumber.  Opening his eyes, he glanced around and recalled where he was.  I'm in my room.  Skye rubbed his tired eyes and gradually sat up, causing the moist towel that was on his forehead to slip off and land on the comforter.  He got up on his feet and slowly made his way to the kitchen where all the commotion was coming from.  His jaw dropped when he saw the tornado-like mess in front of him.  There were soiled plates scattered on the countertop with unknown substances of red, white and brown spilled amidst the chaos.  The floor was covered with similar things accompanied by a weird gooey matter that Skye was unclear of what it was.

            Feeling a pair of doe eyes gawking at him in fright, Bowen averted his attention to the figure standing by the doorway.  Quickly plastering on a goofy grin in hopes of receiving forgiveness for the catastrophe he had caused, he quickly explained.  "I decided to make you something to eat, because you shouldn't take meds on an empty stomach."  A sheepish chuckle followed his explanation.

            "Are you baking me a cake?" Skye derived when he noticed a smear of white powder on a side of Bowen's face.

            "Um...not exactly."  Bowen fidgeted slightly in his stance and proceeded to explain.  "I made you porridge.  If you want cake instead, I'll go buy it for you right away."

            "It's okay.  Porridge is fine."  Skye was about to walk in, but Bowen stopped him from doing so.

            "Don't come in."  Bowen gestured with his hand.  "I accidentally knocked the plate of crushed chocolates off the counter.  It's all over the floor."

            "C-Chocolate?" Skye lifted a brow in question.

            "Yes.  I found a couple bars in the refrigerator and thought it would be a good idea to put them in the porridge."

            "You were going to put crushed chocolates into the porridge?" Skye coughed.

            "Yes," Bowen replied matter-of-factly.  "I wanted to cheer you up, because it sucked to be sick.  Sweets always made people happy, so I thought it was a good idea.  I didn't expect to create such a big mess.  I promise I'll clean everything up when the porridge is done."

            Skye nodded to indicate that he understood what Bowen was conveying.  "May I ask how you managed to crush the chocolates?"

            "With a meat tenderizing hammer," Bowen answered proudly.  "Smart, huh?"

            "Sure."  Skye pressed his lips into a thin line to refrain from freaking out over their currently dirty kitchen.  "What is that white substance on your face?"

            "There's something on my face?" Bowen used the back of his hands to wipe it off.  Looking at the residue on his hand, he enlightened.  "Garlic powder."

            "Garlic powder is yellowish; not white."

            Bowen's eyes rounded and he went silent momentarily in thought.  "Really?"

            "Yes."

            "It was next to the pepper, so I thought it was seasoning."

            Since Skye had a set way of organizing his ingredients and stuck with it, he knew exactly what Bowen was referring to.  "The container beside the pepper is corn starch."

            "Oh."  Bowen blinked confusedly.  "That explains why the porridge thickened so fast."  Stirring the pot of porridge, he announced.  "It's ready!  Go sit down at the dining table.  I'll be right out with your porridge."