When Universe Conspires

45 - Cayenne

(Jennie)

"Good morning mom, dad!" I greeted my parents who were staring at me like I'm a crazy person. "What?" I followed since they didn't say a word.

After a few more seconds of silence, my mom broke it and said, "Honey, you..cooked?"

"Yeah. Breakfast anyone?" I asked smiling.

My parents took a sit at our dining table and I served them hot steaming coffee. I got myself a glass of iced green tea with mint leaves. Then my brother showed up with a sleepy face.

"Wow, what's the occasion? Why is there a breakfast feast in here?" he said rubbing his eyes off of sleep. He grabbed a piece of bacon from the plate and munched it.

"Brent, sit down and have a proper meal. Get yourself a plate, come on! Your sister cooked breakfast!" my dad scolded.

My brother stopped his hand that's about to grab another bacon, "Jen cooked these?! All of these?!"

I rolled my eyes at them for being extra about the cooking thingy. I said, "What's with all of you making a big deal out of this? It's just breakfast. And for your information, I still don't know how to cook proper dishes like mom cooks. I'm still working on it" I said and sat down on my seat next to dad.

"Sweetie, we're just surprised. Pleasantly surprised that you can already cook. These are all perfect. Unlike the last time, you almost burned the kitchen down with your char-coaled eggs" dad said chuckling.

My mom slapped his shoulder, "That's not helping" she told him then she turned her attention to me, "Honey, this is actually nice. When did you start learning how to cook? I can see you have the patience now"

"Well, I tried to cook and still burned a few but I was able to get the hang of it. Li...someone taught me how to cook these.." I said not realizing I almost said Lisa's name.

"I want to meet that someone soon honey. That person is a very good influence to you if you already learned how to have patience when it comes to cooking. We all know how you get annoyed when you start to burn something and easily give up and just dial a number for food delivery" mom pointed out.

"We'll see. But for now, can we just eat? I woke up an hour before you guys do so I'm starving" I answered.

"Good job sis! You got the perfect way to make the bacon crispy, unlike Dad's", my brother said.

"We're not going to get bacon on our next grocery shopping then. If my cooking bothers you" my dad countered.

"I hate to break it to you dad, but the groceries are on me next, right mom? So I still have a say on what to buy or not" Brent said proudly.

"Yes, Brent offered to buy groceries for next week, it's his first paycheck" mom said smiling.

"Look at you! You're growing up fast kid! I'm proud of you too, but can I get the groceries for this month? Just save your first paycheck for yourself okay? Maybe that's a start for your Camaro?" I said ruffling his hair.

"Really Jen? Mom is that okay?" Brent asked.

"Of course honey, that's fine. We don't oblige any of you two to buy groceries or pay the bills. It's our duty as your parents" mom said.

"Your mom is right. We don't require you to pay for anything here, especially you Brent, you're still studying. You're fully responsible for what you earn. You can keep all your paychecks for your savings" dad said.

"You're all the best! I promise I will not buy unnecessary things. I will be responsible" Brent told all of us.

"That's good to hear kid. Don't let mom and dad down okay? And you'll come with me later to buy groceries, you can get all the bacon you want" I said.