Chapter: "Kitchen War at 9AM"
Jay's POV
The rain stopped.
The peace did not.
I walked into the kitchen the next morning expecting silence.
Instead, I found Aries standing in the middle of the kitchen like a confused caveman holding a frying pan.
"Why are you staring at it like it insulted you?" I asked.
He turned dramatically. "You're awake. Good. Cook."
I blinked. "Excuse me?"
"Breakfast," he said like it was obvious. "I'm hungry."
"So?"
"So cook."
I slowly put my bag down on the counter. "And why exactly should I cook?"
"Because you're better at it."
"That's not a reason."
"That is literally the best reason."
I crossed my arms. "You also have hands."
"Yes. For eating."
I stared at him in disbelief. "Aries."
"Jay."
"You live here too."
"You just moved in."
"That does not make me the house chef!"
He dramatically placed the pan down. "Fine. Let's be fair."
"Good."
"You cook today. I cook tomorrow."
"No."
"Why not?"
"Because if I cook today, tomorrow you'll mysteriously forget."
He gasped. "I am not irresponsible."
"You once forgot your own birthday cake at the bakery."
"That was ONE TIME."
I grabbed a tomato from the counter and pointed it at him. "And who had to go get it?"
"You love me."
"That's not the point!"
Before the argument could escalate further, a calm voice entered the battlefield.
"Why does it sound like World War Three in here?"
Keifer.
Of course.
He walked in casually, hair slightly messy, sleeves rolled up, looking way too calm for someone walking into chaos.
"Tell her to cook," Aries demanded.
"Tell him to cook," I countered.
Keifer leaned against the counter and looked between us like a judge.
"What's the issue?"
"He's lazy."
"She's dramatic."
"I am not dramatic!"
"You threw a spoon at me last week!"
"Because you deserved it!"
Keifer's lips twitched.
He walked closer to the stove, inspecting the empty pan.
"Neither of you has started," he observed.
"That's because SHE won't cooperate."
"That's because HE won't move."
Keifer looked at Aries. "Can you cook?"
Aries hesitated.
"…Yes."
I snorted.
Keifer looked at me. "Can you cook?"
"Yes."
"Better than him?"
"Yes."
"Prove it."
Aries gasped. "Ohhh."
I narrowed my eyes. "What?"
Keifer's expression remained calm. "Cook. Compete."
"Compete?" Aries repeated excitedly.
"Yes," Keifer said smoothly. "Whoever makes the better breakfast doesn't cook for a week."
I froze.
Aries' eyes lit up like a child. "DEAL!"
"Wait," I said. "Who decides?"
Keifer shrugged lightly. "I will."
I blinked. "You're biased."
"Against who?"
"…Both."
He smirked faintly. "Scared?"
That word again.
I hate that word.
"Fine," I snapped. "Move."
Aries immediately tied a towel around his waist like an apron. "Prepare to lose."
"You're going down."
And just like that—
The kitchen turned into a battlefield.
Aries started aggressively cracking eggs like they owed him money.
I focused on precision.
If I'm going to win, I'm winning properly.
Keifer stood between us, arms crossed, watching quietly.
"That's too much salt," he commented calmly toward Aries.
"Stop helping her!"
"I'm helping you."
"No you're not!"
I smirked.
Aries pointed a spatula at me. "Don't look confident."
"You're burning it."
"I am not—"
Smoke rose.
Keifer calmly turned off the flame. "You are."
I burst out laughing.
Aries glared at me. "Focus on your own!"
"I am."
I chopped vegetables carefully, keeping movements controlled even though Aries kept bumping into me on purpose.
"Personal space!" I snapped.
"It's a small kitchen!"
"You're doing it on purpose!"
"Am not!"
Keifer stepped slightly between us. "Relax."
"We are relaxed!" we both said at the same time.
He sighed softly.
Ten chaotic minutes later—
Two plates were ready.
Aries' slightly overcooked omelet.
My neatly prepared one.
Keifer sat down at the table like a king about to judge peasants.
"This is stressful," Aries muttered.
"You should be stressed," I replied sweetly.
Keifer tasted Aries' first.
Neutral expression.
Then mine.
Silence.
Why is he not reacting?!
Aries leaned forward. "Well?"
Keifer calmly drank water.
"Verdict," he said.
I leaned in slightly.
Aries looked like he was about to pass out.
"Jay wins."
I shot up instantly. "YES!"
Aries collapsed dramatically into his chair. "This is corruption."
"You burned yours," Keifer replied calmly.
"It was artistic!"
"It was black."
I laughed loudly.
Aries pointed at Keifer. "You're biased!"
"Prove it."
Aries opened his mouth—
Then closed it.
Because he couldn't.
I crossed my arms proudly. "So no cooking for me this week."
Aries groaned. "I hate both of you."
Keifer stood up, picking up my plate casually. "You didn't just win."
"What?"
"You proved something."
I raised an eyebrow. "What exactly?"
"That you don't avoid responsibility."
Aries made a dramatic gagging sound. "Why is this turning emotional?"
I ignored him.
Keifer looked at me for a second longer than necessary.
"You complain," he continued calmly. "But you show up."
I swallowed.
"That's normal," I muttered.
"Not for everyone."
The air shifted slightly again.
Aries clapped loudly to break the moment. "Okay! Enough eye contact! I'm uncomfortable!"
I threw a napkin at him.
But as I turned away to clean the counter, I could still feel Keifer's gaze.
And somehow—
Winning the cooking fight didn't feel like the biggest victory in that kitchen.
Because the way he looked at me?
That felt like something else entirely.