Academic lovers

46 | Deja vû

Aiden's laughter filled the room, and I couldn't help but join in, my chuckles blending with his. But as his laughter continued, a frown crept onto my face.

"If you keep laughing like that, that hyena laugh or yours, I swear I'm out of here," I grumbled, crossing my arms defiantly.

His laughter gradually stopped, and then he surprised me by wrapping his arms around me from behind. "I'm sorry, sweetheart. Please don't leave," he pleaded, his voice filled with sadness, but I could tell he was trying to suppress a laugh.

I shifted slightly, not wanting to catch his cold, but the warmth of his embrace was too enticing to resist. We stood there, wrapped in each other's arms.

"Okay, that's enough," I remarked, pinching his hands as he started planting light kisses along my neck. "I'm not trying to get sick again," I added, dropping a hint about when I got sick not long ago.

Aiden looked at me with a grin and said, "It would be good if you did get sick again, so I can take care of you once more."

"No thanks; anyway, what do we do with this mess?" I groaned looking at the thing I just created; something must have gone wrong while I was cooking. Yes, I always knew my skills weren't the best, but I never knew it was this bad.

"Don't worry," Aiden whispered, his hands reaching for the utensils on the stove. "I'll make something."

"No, you're sick. I can't let a sick person cook," I protested, concern etching my face.

He gestured for me to sit on the chair, his touch gentle as he guided me onto it. "I'm feeling better now, thanks to your presence, and you've already done more than enough; just sit back and relax, okay?"

I reluctantly nodded, but honestly, I was more worried about myself than him. I mean, he's the one who's sick, and I couldn't help but think, What if he accidentally contaminates the food?

But I trusted him and plopped down in the chair. It was in times like these that I loved how caring he was, making me feel all warm and cozy even when things were not the best.

As Aiden stood in the kitchen, a relaxed air surrounded him. His sleeves were rolled up, revealing his forearms, and a smile played on his lips. The aroma of herbs and spices filled the air as he chopped vegetables on the cutting board, his movements precise and effortless.

With every sizzle and sputter, the ingredients danced in the pan, the smell contaminating the kitchen. Aiden moved with grace, effortlessly flipping the food with a flick of his wrist.

I couldn't help but admire the way he seemed completely at home in the kitchen. Of course, he knew how to cook like this.

"Why is it now that I find out that you can cook?"

Aiden chuckled and shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly. "I don't tell people this," he confessed. I rolled my eyes. What does he tell people, then?

He then approached me with a spoon in hand, filled with steaming soup. The aroma alone made my mouth water. "Try this," he said, his voice filled with anticipation.

I eagerly took a spoonful of the soup, savouring the flavours on my taste buds. It was a perfect blend of spices. The warmth of the soup enveloped me, satisfying me with every sip.