CHAPTER 21
1698 Words
“By the way, Kaye,” Jenny stopped in her tracks before leaving her doorstep. “We are almost out of the Choco Cream Pudding and Chocolate Overload. So I expect you’ll be at the shop tomorrow. Right?”
Kaye chuckled and gave her a salute.
“Yes ma’am!”
“I ain’t being bossy, you know.” Jenny dropped her jaws in disbelief. “Who else do you think can make those? Not me for sure.”
Kaye giggled. “I know. I didn’t say anything wrong.”
She opened the door to see her off. She was on a break at the moment. Still, she would be working at home.
“Don’t worry I’ll be there tomorrow first thing,” she massaged her shoulders while bidding her bye.
“Are you sure you’re properly eating and resting?” Jenny took a turn looking back at Kaye. They couldn’t afford to have her sick.
“I sure am,” Kaye bragged lifting her chin arrogantly.
Jenny shook her head gently with a smile. In her eyes, Kaye was like a pre-schooler who managed to complete the given chores.
She didn’t stay long as she was needed at the cafe. She just swung by to check up on Kaye. It could at least give her peace of mind.
Kaye watched Jenny close the door behind her. She locked it immediately and was excited to return to her work. She was burning with so much passion right now.
She was still by the door when Miko ran to her side wagging his tail. He must have expected they would be going somewhere.
“Aww, sorry boy. I have work do and we’ll be heading out early tomorrow,” she took his paws and rubbed her face against his.
“Lemme just open the back for you. I’ll let you play around there. Alright?”
Miko barked and twirled around. He seemed excited as he rushed the moment she opened the back door.
“Well, you enjoy there Miko. I’ll just go through on these reports and drown myself with work.”
She sat in her study checking some documents Jenny had brought. Sales increased in the past few months. Hail the internet and social media!
For the past days, she was talking to Missy. She needed advice regarding teas since she was planning to add them to the menu. Not just any tea but those that would compliment the cakes they have on the menu.
“Hmmm. I’m all set on the winter menu.” Kaye mumbled. She does tend to converse with herself when she’s this deep on her job. “Summer’s usually the peak season for us so I guess I need to think ahead, too.”
She was skimming through the web when Miko came running to the front door.
It almost scared her how Miko just dashed past her office door. She peeked outside her study to check. “Is someone coming Miko?”
She walked towards him by the front door, growl-talking at her. He kept wagging his tail in delight.
Sure enough, someone knocked on her door. She wasn’t expecting anyone at this moment aside from Jenny. She didn’t want to be disturbed after all.
“Oh, what’s up?” Kaye greeted with a puzzled look on her face. Aside from his sudden arrival, it was baffling how he was still in his uniform. Did he just go straight to her house after work?
“Not the welcome I was expecting.” Mykel raised his brows. “You make it sound like I’m an unwanted guest.”
“Whatever. Just come in.” Kaye snorted and widened her door to let him in.
“Aww, at least someone’s happy to see me,” Mykel played with Miko on the entryway.
The little dog seemed to be delighted as he kept jumping on Mykel with anticipation.
“I’m working here. So do whatever you have to do,” Kaye walked back to her study. She wasn’t free anytime soon so she didn’t want to waste it quibbling with Mykel.
Mykel’s hearty laugh echoed her house. She can hear his heavy footsteps inside the house.
“Someone got inspired when they saw me.”
“If you say so,” she rolled her eyes.
“Come on now. Don’t be lazy with your retorts.”
Mykel stayed in the living area and played with Miko for a while. The squeaky noise from the toys said so. She could even hear Mykel’s childish talk with her dog. Hopefully, Miko wouldn’t be influenced by his hyper-activeness. After all, she was working hard to discipline Miko.
Once the noise stopped, she had no idea what he was doing. But hopefully not something devious.
Unannounced, Mykel walked into her study and dropped his head on top of hers.
“You are aware that you’re heavy, right? And that includes your head.”
“What are you studying?” He ignored her snappy comeback like he hasn’t heard anything.
“Well, I’m thinking of starting seasonal items on the menu. I’ll start this winter, so I’ll be using the fruits I got from Geraldine days ago.”
He pouted his lips. “That sounds good actually. You can pair it with the tea you are working on with Missy.”
“You think? The fruits we have here are sweet enough to be a dessert alone.”
He left out a yawn. Even his eyes were dopey. “Yeah. Teas can be a good equalizer to complement the sweetness of the desserts.”
“Isn’t it too early to be sleepy?” She pinched his arms hanging on her shoulders.
“Hey! I’ve been working on the night shift for a long time. I even just got out of work.”
“Then go straight home,” she scolded raised her voice in the process.
Jeez, are you a kid? She thought to herself. Goodness, this man just didn’t know when to rest. And she was supposed to be the careless one. His house was literally a few steps away.
“Your house is the closest so just let me stay here. I can barely take another step home. And cook me food when I wake up.”
She turned to him with deeply furrowed brows. She stood then started tapping his face hoping he’d regain his sanity.
“Do I look like your mom to you?”
He continued yawning as if nothing came through his ears.
Seeing him exhausted, Kaye surrendered. She wasn’t that heartless.
She let out a sigh and dragged him out of the study to her living room. All the while he was smiling at her looking so concerned. But he knew she would rather die than admit it.
“Just sleep here on the sofa. A bear like you won’t even fit on my bed anyway. I’ll just grab some pillows and blankets for you. So stay here,” Kaye said firmly.
She went to her room upstairs for the extra pillows and blanket. Some fresh ones would be best since she hasn’t changed her bed covers for a while since she was focused on her work.
She ran downstairs to fix his makeshift bed. The sooner he sleeps, the better.
Meanwhile, Mykel kept his eyes on Kaye’s every movement. She may be awkward in expressing her feelings but the way she’s now was screaming so much adoration.
Of course, he wouldn’t expect to hear that from her. Aside from her clumsy ways, she lacked self-confidence and trust in others.
Outside of her passion at least. Mostly, it was the human emotions that gave her a hard time dealing with.
Kaye was almost done with the preparation when she noticed Mykel’s intense stare. His eyes were filled with fondness.
“What?” She snapped so as to hide her embarrassment. She realized she doting on him too much. She got ahead of herself. Again!
It felt so natural for her that she got carried away.
“Oh, nothing. Just thinking how sweet you are sometimes that it's creeping me out,” Mykel smirked at her. The smile on his face reached from ear to ear.
He sure was enjoying the treatment.
“The heck!”
She threw the blanket on his bursting annoying face. She dashed to her office and sat in front of her computer.
She pressed her cheeks with so much pressure to wake herself up.
She smacked her head on the table. Her eyes closed as she recalled her actions. She jolted on her seat and tried to focus on her computer. The paper works and research were all waving to her.
But it proved to be a feat. The embarrassment kept coming back periodically even when she faced her pending job.
Man. This guy really enjoyed teasing me. I should have thrown him out when I had the chance.
But they have been like that ever since. Annoying each other.
Only he annoyed her much that she began being sarcastic most of the time. It was her lame way of getting back at him since she could barely score during their petty arguments.
Although neither of them took everything seriously. She enjoyed the frequent squabbles herself. It was kind of refreshing. Especially when she felt down and depressed.
What made it more difficult to concentrate was Mykel’s deep laughing noise.
On the other hand, Mykel couldn't stifle his amusement. He didn't want to aggravate Kaye but she was so adorable with her frantic expression.
Something about her actions gave him hope.
“Well, I know you love me, though.”
- Writer
