LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT - CHAPTER 30
Keira’s face reddened when she saw who were inside the Conference Room B. How she wanted to take back time at that moment and return to the times her mom asked her to watch and learn cooking stuff.
“Oh, dinner is here. It was prepared by our juniors and I’m sure it’s good. Come inside,” said Torin with a wide grin and gestured to Keira and May to serve the food.
Keira gave May a worn-out look because she suddenly felt nervous. She was well versed in the saying that a key to a man’s heart was through his stomach. That was why after the training she had already programmed herself to study cooking.
Just why the hell Torin did not even bother to mention who was the specific person they were about cooking for and yet she thought that it would be for soldiers receiving a punishment since Torin seemed to be anticipating it. That was the reason they say that they couldn’t cook without any problem.
Then they started to serve the food, she twitched her mouth as she tried to bow her head down, avoiding any eye contact with the people inside the room.
She couldn’t bear to look at anyone inside that room at all. It seemed to be an important meeting because Jeru was also present, together with General Lei and one more Lieutenant under his command.
‘I will ki|| this Torin!’ She cursed inwardly.
She wanted the ground to eat her wholly at that time when General Lei, her father’s closest friend, spoke, “Oh, I did not know that you can cook?”
Keira smiled lightly as she greeted Uncle Lei, who was smiling widely to her, more of a teasing smile because he knew well that Keira did not know anything about cooking and the moment he saw the dish he couldn’t help but chortle.
“I’m actually full and won’t eat tonight. Please enjoy the meal, I’m sure these two soldiers have put all their efforts into cooking this, gentlemen,” said Torin as he gestured May not to give him a serving.
Zach narrowed his eyes as he glared at Torin. He could already sense that Torin was up to something not good, so he said, “Soldier Kim, don’t skip Lieutenant Jang and give him his food!”
Torin twitched his mouth but chose not to say a word anymore.
Jeru looked at the dish and asked with a pleasant smile, “What’s this?”
Keira elbowed May to answer the question instead.
May got the signal and answered, “It’s a beef stew, Sir. Soldier Chan has personally prepared and cooked the dish, Sir! I did only the rice. Please, enjoy the meal.”
Keira wanted to choke May at that moment for being specific that she made the beef stew.
Zach arched a brow as he looked at Torin with questioning gaze.
Torin smiled and said, “They are being punished for bantering about food during the obstacle training.”
“And you instructed them to prepare a meal? Did you even ask them if they know how to cook? Anyway, does this food has poison, soldiers?” Asked General Lei in a jest.
“Of course not Uncl… Ahm General Lei. It’s totally clean,” Keira answered defensively.
“Alright, then let’s have a hearty meal, gentlemen, shall we?” Said General Lei as he looked at Zach and Jeru as if he was waiting for the two to eat it and try it first.
Torin was suppressing his laughter while he observed Zach.
‘Eat it, Bro!’ He cheered silently.
Zach looked at the beef stew, then looked at the others who seemed to be hesitating to eat it since the way the potato and carrots were chopped was an eyesore.
If there was one thing that could have been considered a flaw in Zach’s character, it was him being a picky eater. Maybe because his mother, Auntie Sheila, was a very good cook. She could turn a simple dish into a grand one.
Torin remembered how a simple cabbage turned into a very nice meal when Auntie Sheila cooked it, that alone made him feel contentment and full.
‘C’ mon Bro… Eat it!’ He persuaded inwardly as he grinned at Zach’s hesitant expression.
Keira, on the other hand, wanted to scream and ran because she did not even bother to taste it and just added salt and spice as much as she thought would be enough to give it a taste and to justify that it’s a beef stew.
Her face was becoming paler as she slightly raised her head and watched Zach scoop.
‘Oh dear Lord! Someone, please save me!’ She cried inwardly.
How she hoped that a miracle would happen like someone arriving at the scene and calling Zach away at that moment.
Her heart was racing hard as she followed Zach’s hand movements as it gently raised the spoon to his mouth.
Her shoulders dropped when Zach let the spoon out.
The word COOKING appeared before her eyes and it was marked a big, fat ‘X’.
She felt like she added another turn-off scenario on Zach’s checklist whether he would consider her or not as a partner…
* * * * * * * * * * * *
‘Oh crap!’ Keira panicked and pursed her lips when the Lieutenant sitting next to General Lei quickly drank water. But he did not comment, rather he excused himself, saying that he was going to go out to the restroom.
Torin was grinning inwardly as he observed Zach’s face.
‘I got you, Bro!’ He exclaimed silently, he felt like he had won the lottery when he saw Zach gulp in as his face crumpled. Now, all he needed to do was to scoot.
General Lei laughed and commented first, “It’s not that bad. Just a little bit salty and spicy I guess, but it’s tolerable.”
Keira tried to smile with General Lei’s comment. As expected, her Uncle was trying to say the words as nice as he could.
She saw Jeru smile at her and gave a thumb up gesture so Keira smiled back, feeling a little bit relieved, thinking the food was not that bad.
A cadet entered the room and interrupted the awkward atmosphere in the room.
He looked at General Lei and said, “Sir, Field Marshal Chan wanted to see you if you are already done with the meeting here.”
General Lei nodded as he excused himself, stood up and walked towards the door.
When he passed by Keira, he winked and the latter smiled back at him.
“Practice makes it perfect, dear. You should master the cooking next,” General Lei whispered at Keira’s ear before he left the room.
Keira bit her lip, feeling gutless for the first time in her life. She looked at Zach and his face was still blank.
Meanwhile, Torin stood up and said, “I forgot, I need to check on something so I will leave fir…” Torin said as he looked at Zach and Jeru but before he could finish the sentence, Zach’s voice boomed in the room.
“Sit down Lieutenant Jang! You will not leave this room until I say so!” Instructed Zach in his serious and commanding tone.
Then he shifted his gaze to Keira and May as he said, “You two go back to your unit, now!”
Jeru was quiet as he observed Zach intently. He did not meddle and even wanted to thank Zach at that moment for dismissing Keira.
As soon as Keira left the room, Jeru spit out the beef stew in his mouth and quickly drank a whole cup of water. That was why he never said a word because the food was still inside his mouth. He couldn’t explain the taste at all, but the only thing that came to his mind was plainly horrible tasting food.
Then he stood up and scoffed, “Enjoy the meal you two.”
Zach did not respond but let out a long, deep sigh as he stared at the beef stew.
“Bro, I really have to go,” Torin complained, but Zach’s face was still gloomy.
“No! Finish that food and eat with me! You will not leave until we finish it all!” Said Zach glaring straight at Torin.
‘Oh $h00t me! I’m gonna ki|| you for this, Cielo!’ Torin hissed silently because it was Cielo’s idea.
Torin even recalled Cielo’s laughter as she said, “I’m sure those two doesn’t know how to cook! Let Zach eat what Keira will prepare! That is definitely a good prank”
Good prank my @zz! He wore an ewww expression when Zach continued to eat the beef stew with rice.
“What are you waiting for, Torin? Eat it or I will assign you to monitor the male recruits training instead!” Zach said with an arched brow.
‘Darn!’ Torin cursed silently because Zach knew his weakness. He was always blackmailing him with being assigned to the male recruits, but it was very effective because he loved staring at beauties rather than hulks.
Torin ate the beef stew. It was edible, but the taste was so bad that Torin had to drink water after every spoonful he ate.
“You asked for this, Torin, so suffer the consequences!” Zach hissed when he noticed Torin’s disgusted expression.
“Geez, Bro, how can you eat it like it’s something tasty? Do you like Keira Chan that much?” Probed Torin as he threw a direct gaze at Zach, trying to push Zach to confess his true feelings.
“NO, Torin! This has nothing to do with Keira!” Said Zach irritably.
Then he sighed, “You know how I h@?? when food is wasted! Not all people can afford to eat, Torin! A lot of people are suffering from not having a meal to eat! So do you think this is all a joke, huh? Asking them to cook and waste ingredients, but then not eat it? Why would you give that kind of an absurd punishment to those society elites anyway? So eat it and don’t waste a single ingredient!” Zach added irritably.
Torin scratched his head. He forgot that Zach h@??d to waste food because he came from a very poor family where a single bowl of rice was so important.
Torin sighed and looked at the pot of rice that Keira and May had prepared. Fortunately, it’s not that much because he was sure that Zach would make him eat it all.
‘Darn,’ he cursed once more, he felt like Cielo had pranked them both instead.
That time one cadet entered, who was on duty to clean the Conference Room B and Torin quickly grabbed him to share the food.
“Help us finish this then I will exempt you on cleaning the rooms for a week,” said Torin.
The cadet stared at the pot of rice and answered, “Make it one month, Sir!”
Torin twitched his mouth and said, “Shoo you, stingy cadet! Out! You will clean this room forever!”
______
“Aren’t you going out tonight?” May asked Keira as they prepared to go to bed.
Keira shook her head and threw herself on her bunk bed. After a second, she covered her face with her pillow as she kicked her feet.
May laughed, Keira was so stressed-out with the incident at the Conference Room B.
“Don’t worry, who knows that dish might become a potion and Wolf will fall for you,” teased May followed by a burst of laughter. However, a pillow quickly landed on her face.
“What the heck!” She exclaimed and threw back the pillow at Keira’s face.
“You two, stop playing around and let us sleep!” Lana scolded.
Keira pouted her lips and looked directly at May.
“I’ll be on a week hiatus for going out before curfew May. I will let that incident subside…” she murmured.
“Week hiatus my @zz! You mean a day hiatus!” May burst out.
Keira ignored May and just stuck her tongue out then lay down on her bed as she closed her eyes. She couldn’t forget Zach’s crumpled face. The next time around she would make sure that it was Zach’s drooling face…
Meanwhile, Zach was having a very uncomfortable night as his stomach ached and grumbled several times.
He was definitely going to make Torin’s life miserable…