Bittersweet (English)

CHAPTER 5

“Ugh! So much for a nice meal with a hot chef,” Kaye complained as she sat on the couch.

Mykel sneered at her, biting his lower lip. She responded with a smug look. 

“Well, if he didn’t brag much he wouldn’t be losing face right now,” Missy, Mykel’s little sister, giggled adding fuel to the fire.

Despite the bright atmosphere, Kaye was exhausted. She could barely sense her legs. They were throbbing so hard she no longer wished to leave the couch. 

“Luca and Ruko got too excited earlier. They scared me,” Kaye let out a huge breath. 

Miko managed to get along with Luca and Ruko. He got scared earlier but he's comfortable now. She even saw Miko looming around Lily the cat who was just lazing in the corner. Not giving a d*mn about her surroundings. 

“Looks like he settled in,” Missy replied referring to Miko. She then turned to the person behind her. “I’m looking forward to our dinner though. Right, mom?”

“Of course!” Emily smiled. She then her attention to Kaye. “Rest up for now and leave everything to Mykel.” 

Kaye nodded with a smile. It was sundown when they reached his home. They had too many stops along the way. After all the bragging, Mykel wasn’t prepared for his menu. So they went shopping for ingredients. 

On a brighter note, she remembered getting food for Miko. She got overwhelmed by Mykel's presence that she almost forgot why she was out.

They met quite a few familiar faces along the road and shared some exchanges, including Mykel’s friends from the police force patrolling the area.

So you were in a rush for a date, eh.

Bastard. Shouldn’t you dedicate your life to serve the public? 

And here I thought you were a bachelor, too. Traitor.

Well, that was embarrassing. She even felt her cheeks burn remembering. They didn’t mind teasing Mykel in front of her. Seem like Mykel left not a minute late after his shift. He was gung ho on leaving that he didn’t think of changing his clothes. 

Thinking back, it seemed like they almost knew everyone in town. Was the population so less all this time? She never realized that.

“Would you like tea?” Emily offered.

“Definitely. Thank you, Emily.” 

The soothing smell of chamomile tea. 

Mykel and his family had always been tea-lovers. Emily's family had a long history of specializing in tea. And Missy was her successor. She was a good tea maker like her mother.

They have a conservatory exclusive for their tea recipes. She remembered getting overwhelmed by the aroma whenever she entered the small garden. 

“I’ve been wondering about you, Kaye,” Emily stated as she sipped her tea.

This again. Kaye grunted in her mind. It was one after the other. She didn’t want to be asked over and over since she felt great already after talking to Martin. She even lost count on how many people asked her today while she was out.

Kaye felt bad. Emily was worried. She was aware of that. After all, she has been another mother figure to her like Macy. But reliving the moments when you started to move on?

“Mom,” Missy called tilting her head to the side.

Emily sighed. She stood up and got snacks from the cupboard. “Sorry I asked. Anyway, I can see that you are doing great. I feel better.”

Now, Kaye felt awkward. They were exerting great effort not to be overly sensitive towards her. 

She waved her hand and laughed. “Nah, don’t worry much about me. All the walk I went through because of Mykel made me realize I can push through from any hardships.” 

“Pft!” Missy snickered. “Seriously though. I can’t imagine what you had to go through.”

The room was filled with boisterous noises when Mykel walked in. 

“Oh yeah? Then there’s no tempura for you, Missy,” Mykel said with pouting lips.

“Are you a kid?” Missy gawked. 

Missy stood up and set the table. Mykel was already bringing in the food as they continue to squabble.

Emily and Kaye were only there as spectators. Looking at the sibling's fight was amusing. 

“You know, Kaye. Having Mykel and Missy was the greatest joy in my life up to this day. And until the day I die.” Emily turned to her. “And I know it was the same for Macy when you came.”

Kaye smiled biting her lips. Her eyes were getting misty all of a sudden. “Well, I sure do hope so.” She laughed trying to joke about it.

“Oh, believe me. I know.” Emily raised her head and stared at the plain white ceiling. “From the day you were born, she had been overprotective. She was emitting so much love that it's hard to tell who your mother was." 

Kaye giggled in delight. “I hope I'm making her happy.”

“Macy is proud of you. And she always will.” Emily patted her shoulders and invited her to the dinner table.

The steaming shrimp tempura and noodle soup were all in place. The family’s traditional tea set was the centerpiece. She could smell the same chamomile tea she had earlier. 

“This one is yours,” Mykel fixed her a plate. It was a mixture of shrimp tempura and some vegetables coated with the same batter. 

She stared at him with wonder as he sat beside her. As if noticing, he glanced back at her, winking in the process.

“Eww. Stop being so aggressive. Women don’t like that,” Missy disgruntled as she watched her brother shamelessly flirting in front of his family.

“That’s rich coming from a lady who can’t reject her annoying co-worker,” Mykel responded with sarcasm.

“Oh, shut up,” Missy rolled her eyes.

“At least someone grew some balls to ask you out. I always thought you were going to be an old cat lady.”

“Hey, your sister is a lovely lady,” Emily intercepted.

“I agree,” Kaye joined in the discord. 

Cheerful noises echoed. Her heart grew fonder. It was the same feeling she had with Macy. Comfort and satisfaction. 

Never did she have the same memories with her parents. Not that they were insignificant in her life. She just barely has any recollection of them. She has pictures of them but the feeling doesn't sit right. 

Before she knew it, it was already ten in the evening. Kaye enjoyed it too much that she forgot the time. 

She thanked Emily and Missy as they walked her off the door. They even gave her a bag of a dried tea mix that she could brew whenever she wanted.  

The dogs whined as they left. They likely enjoyed each other's company. 

“Jeez. It was embarrassing when mom brought up about middle school and my stomach ache,” Mykel walked her home with Miko on the leash. 

On his other hand, was the old bed he promised to give her. He said he would just drop off the dog house tomorrow.

Kaye flashed him a grin. “Well, it was amusing. I almost forgot about but thankfully, Emily reminded me.”

“Right. So you’ll have more things to harass me.”

“What?! No,” her eyes widened in awe. Acting like she never considered the idea.

“We know that’s an act, right?” Mykel raised a brow, looking with mild disapproval.

They were still making fun of each other when they arrived at her front door. Miko ran straight inside when the door opened. Mykel came inside bringing in her things.

She walked him to the entryway when he was about to leave.

“But really, Kaye. Thank you for staying with us.” Mykel gave her a sincere smile. “You know you can always count on us, right?”

She nodded softly in agreement. “I know. This is my second time hearing that, you know.”

Mykel blew out a huge breath. Like he was finally relieved. 

“Alright then. See you.”

Before words came out of her mouth, Mykel moved closer and brushed his lips against her cheeks.

She was stunned. Her heart almost stopped. And as if he realized what he had done, Mykel froze from where he stood. 

He smacked his forehead on the wall. 

“Ah, no. I --,” he stammered, trying to justify his actions. 

Kaye was still speechless when she noticed Mykel staring back at her with a serious expression.

“It was my instinct doing that. Though I’m not sorry for what happened,” this time, his smile looked heartbroken.

Mykel already left her home but she was still standing by the front door astounded. The look on his face clenched her heart in pain.

Her knees buckled in weariness. She leaned over the wall for support.

“Really, now,” she mumbled.

She returned to her senses when she heard Miko yelp. He ran to her excitedly. 

Unlike her, he was still full of energy. He sat in front of her tilting his head a little. He looked confused.

She rubbed his fur and sighed. “I never expected he’d be doing that again.”

Just like before, she never hated those gestures. His sweet gestures. But she chose to leave it all behind. It had been decided long ago. And Mykel never opposed her actions. The moment they reunited, it was like a silent agreement between them. No words involved. They just lived like it never happened.

“But why now?”