A m a y r a

It had been an hour since lunch and I already gave a day off to Andrea. That absolutely meant I would have to try my hands at making dinner.

Even though I can't certify myself to be a straight A cook, I can cook to survive.

Scrolling through my phone for another couple of hours, I went and checked the refrigerator for ideas on what to cook for dinner. That's when another idea struck my brain.

I tiptoed to Alexander's room and knocked on his door. I furrowed my eyebrows when no one answered. Trying to turn the door knob, I found it to be locked. I heard ruffling of sheets behind the door but no one ever opened the damn door. That's when I realised, Alexander is ignoring the knocks.

Very well then.

I set my speakers again and this time infront of Alexander's door. I blasted the condo with some horrible operas untill I saw a fuming Alexander emerging out of the room.

"What do you fucking want woman?!" He gritted through his teeth.

"Your opinion on what should I cook for dinner." I said swinging the speaker plugs in my hand.

"Why on the earth would you cook? Don't I pay Andrea to do these things?" He cocked his eyebrow.

"I gave her a day off. Now tell me what should I make for the dinner, considering the fact we are having it together." I said checking the plug pins.

"Neither am I eating with you. Nor am I eating anything made by you. Who knows about your plan of poisoning me." He muttered the last part under his breath.

"So you do realise your actions are worth giving you poison. But don't worry. Being the bigger person I am, I'll accept your unsaid apology and cook a poison free dinner for you. Now give me a dish's name. Quick." I said with a fake smile.

He rolled his eyes at me. "Make whatever the fuck you want."

"How about brocolli tarts?" I asked very well knowing he's allergic to them.

"I am allergic to them." He said.

"Peanut butter sandwiches then?" I asked.

"I am allergic to peanuts too." He said.

"How about banana cakes?" I asked.

"Bananas too." He said pressing his lips. He looked ashamed now. Deciding not to play with him anymore, I gave him a real choice this time.

"Grilled steaks with veggies would do?" I asked.

"Sure." He shrugged and went turned back.

"But I am still not eating with you." He said before going.

I got up and padded towards the kitchen like a penguine. That's when I heard a deep manly chuckle. Realising that Alexander witnessed my lazy ass walking like a penguine, I ran into the kitchen with red cheeks. Talk about embarassing myself.

Spending an hour in the kitchen, I put my entire concentration in making sure the steaks were perfectly cooked. Settling for chocolate cupcakes for desert, I gave them a dramatic touch.

I set up the dining table and went on with yet again connecting my speakers and blasting some music.

"Can't you behave normal for once?" Alexander stormed out of his room.

"Nope. You only listen to me when my speakers call you out you know. Start answering my knocks and I'll stop playing music." I shrugged my shoulders.

"What did you want?" He asked.

"Dinner is ready. Join me." I said leaning on the nearby wall.

"I suppose I informed about me not eating with you?" He folded his arms.

"I never heard. Come on now. I prepared tye dinner, that's the least you can do for me. I don't like eating alone. I won't be eating if you don't join me on the table. And if I don't eat, I'll die out of hunger tonight. And my dad would sue you for killing his favourite daughter." I rambled.

"And I promise to not disturb you after this." I added.

He rolled his eyes but agreed nonetheless.

Upon entering the dinning area, I saw his lips curve into a slight twitch. It took me a few seconds to believe that I actually saw a hint of smile on his face. Before I could blink twice, it vanished.

He took a cupcake and raised an eyebrow at me. "Made of peanut, brocolli and banana." I shrugged and took my seat too. Glaring at the cupcake for a few minutes, he decided to not trust my words and took a bite out of it.

"So how's it?" I asked expecting a positive reply atleast once in my life.

"Had better ones." He replied and continued diving into his steak.

I rolled my eyes with a smal smile. Atleast he didn't reject it straight away. Good progress.

The dinner continued with silence. No words were exchanged. But it wasn't awkward.

"I'll be going to the hospital early tomorrow and return back late. Do wait for me. I'd like to have my dinner with you yet again." I said slicing my steak.

"As if I would." He muttered.

"Oh trust me Xander. You will." I said.

"Who is Xander?" He asked confused. He looked cute. Shut up.

"You." I pointed my fork at him.

"And don't try to have your dinner without me. I'll seriously poison your food the next day." I threatened him.

He rolled his eyes, yet again.

After having the dinner, he got up and started doing the dishes.

"What are you doing?" I asked him.

"Get your eyes checked when you go to the hospital tomorrow." He said.

I rolled my eyes and reframed my question. "Why are you doing the dishes Xander?" I asked.

" Cause you made the dinner. It is only fair if I do the dishes. And don't call me Xander." He said.

"Okay, Xander." I chuckled when I heard him groan.

"Why are you going to the hospital again? Are you ill or something? Did I commute you?" He asked the last part in a hushed voice.

"Oh I am an intern doctor at the Manchester City Hospital." I answered.

"And what do you mean by commuting me?" I asked.

He didn't answer me. I walked near him and observed his actions deeply. He had a few scars near his eyebrows. It didn't look like accidental scars. Neither were they sign of abuse.

"I am lonely, you know." I don't know what I am saying. But I went with the flow, when I saw his motion slowing down.

"Back at home, Sarah used to be preety violent with words and mostly manipulated me. I shared my problems with Ava, who in return shared them secretly with my dad. We couldn't let Sarah know that dad knew what she does to us." I continued.

"I was 7 when my biological mother passed away. She was everything an ideal mother is supposed to be. She was sweet with words, showed love with actions, used to sing me songs while baking, read me stories before bed, ask me about my day at evening, kiss dad good bye everyday. We were a perfect little family." I shared. Alexander didn't turn towards me but his hands stopped doing the dished. His attention was on me.

"A few months to my 8th birthday, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. It felt like the world crumbled down on me and dad. Her days were numbered, and she made sure to make them memorable. A month before my birthday, she passed away." I said blinking away my tears.

"She shared how she wanted to become a pediatrician when in her sophomore year. But certain problems lead to her having temporary dyslexia and her grades fell. She wanted me to fulfill her dream." Alexander's eyes now scanned my eyes completely.

"After she passed away, I became aloof. I had no friends and a quite typical nerd in the class. A few years later, my dad's company under went financial loses. One dreadful day, a financer approached my dad. He promised to provide the company financial aid in return of dad marrying her widowed daughter. Sarah Malik." I said.

"Dad thought I might get a motherly figure I was craving for. Even though he loved my mom with all his soul, he decided to get married for my sake. But Sarah wasn't a motherly figure anybody would want. Heck she didn't even treat Ava right. Let alone me." I continued.

"So when we shared about Sarah's behaviour, my dad announced at the dining table of me and Ava shifting to Manchester for studies. Sarah tried protesting but my dad's statement was final. I and Ava came to Manchester. I could make no friends because of my introvert personality while Ava was a social butterfly." I said.

"So I am practically alone inspite of having so many relations. When we got married, I thought I could earn a friend, if not a husband." I looked deep into Alexander's eyes now.

"So Alexander Simon Smith, would you be the cure to my loneliness? Will you be my friend?" I asked expectedly.

There was a long pause between us, before Alexander wiped his hand on his sweatpants, rolled his sleeves down to his palms and forwarded it shyly. "Okay." He replied.

I displayed a huge smile before shaking hands with him, making sure I don't make him uncomfortable by touching him.

"But you'll not be touching me. You'll not be blasting anymore musics. You'll not try to poison me. Never try to get into my room. And don't annoy me." He added.

"I can't promise. But I'll try." I said.
~~~

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