Tainted Me

Chapter 5: Talk (present)

PRESENT

I was throwing myself a fucking pity party.

Sorry, Arisa. Gonna have to break that promise.

I keyed in the lock and turned it, before twisting the knob. I opened the door using my shoulder as I grabbed my luggages and dragged them inside.

Wait, what was that smell?

I sighed, knowing Byron was here cooking in the kitchen. I guessed his trip was cut short. Whatever, he could fucking get drunk with me.

I headed to my room upstairs and dropped my bags at the foot of my bed. I let out a breath and looked around.

One side of my bedroom was brick-walled, while the rest of the walls were painted charcoal gray. My sheets, pillows, and armchair were black, as were my lamp and electronics. The rest of my furniture – bed frame, side tables, drawers, desk, and bookshelf (yeah, I have a goddamn bookshelf) – were rustic wood.

I eyed my desk filled with books, knowing full well that I needed to do some advanced readings soon enough.

Home sweet fucking home.

Walking downstairs, I planned to convince Byron to drink with me. I entered the kitchen and stopped. It wasn't Byron who was cooking.

What the fuck?

"Arisa?"

She jumped, my voice obviously startling the shit out of her. With a spatula raised in one hand, her other one clutched her chest as she breathed hard.

What the hell was she doing here, in her fucking tank top and boxer shorts? Both Harvard and MIT didn't officially start until almost two months from now, and football practice didn't start until next week.

"'Tangina, Alfie," she muttered, saying that phrase again. "Stop doing that."

I stared at her. "Is this a wet dream?" I asked, mostly to myself.

She laughed through her nose, turning off the stove before facing me again. "Good to know you're having wet dreams about me."

"Please, as if you don't already know," I said nonchalantly, walking over to where she was to check out what she was cooking. "What's this?"

It looked like a chicken noodle soup.

"Pancit Canton," she simply said, like that explained everything.

Curious, I watched her get the strainer out and pour the noodles until there was no water left. She dumped it on a bowl, opened a couple of packets of powder and sauces, sprinkled those on the noodles, and mixed them all together.

It started to smell kinda limey.

"You wanna try it?" she asked, sounding amused.

I looked at her, and she was trying not to smile. I probably looked like a kid, all curious and shit because I had no idea what kind of noodles this was but also pouty because I badly wanted to fucking try it.

"Fuck yeah, I wanna try it."

She was grinning now as she handed me a fork. I almost moaned at the first taste. Daaaaamn, it was like sour and cream flavored noodles.

I think I have a new favorite food.

The clanking of pans made me raise my head, and I noticed Arisa started making another one.

"Shit, sorry," I said, pushing the bowl back to her. "Here you go."

She chuckled, shaking her head and waving a dismissive hand. "It's okay, I can make another one."