See You Again

CHAPTER 8. First Step

-Madison-

I know I asked Liam earlier what he likes for lunch but I'm too anxious waiting for him. I'm not even sure if he's going to take my idea and come downstairs to help cook. So I took the privilege and decided to make Chicken Grilled Salad with Barbeque Dressing. I saw this online and I already wanted to eat it so I have a great feeling about this. Besides it's healthy, we've been eating pasta the past days so this should be good.

I'm done with the hard part and already grilled the chicken so we can focus on the cutting vegetables later. Minutes pass and I was checking the ingredients in the kitchen when I heard light footsteps coming down from the stairs. He's here! I thought with a big smile on my face.

Liam finally enter the kitchen wearing his usual clothes and his usual blank look, or maybe a bored look it's either of the two. "Hey Liam! Sorry but do you mind if we have a Chicken Salad today? I promise it'll be good." I said, please say yes I inwardly thought. "I don't." He replied shortly. I froze for a second and later felt ecstatic when I realize He responded to me. This is sure a progress, first He came downstairs to help in the kitchen and two He talked to me. I am not just happy but I felt proud for him when He took this into consideration, it's a good sign.

"Okay, come here then. This should be for the two of us. I already grilled the chicken, so we only need to cut the vegetables and then put the dressing." I said and watch him come closer into the kitchen counter. When I felt our arms touched Liam move away quickly making a distance between us. "So, Infront of you are tomatoes, cucumber, mixed greens, mayonnaise and eggs that needed to boil and barbecue sauce, that's it let's wash our hands first." I said and turn to the faucet Liam also following.

Now facing the counter, "Can I come closer, I'm going to need to touch you so I can guide you is that okay?." I calmly ask for his permission, not wanting to invade his privacy suddenly. It was quiet for a second and heard him say a soft yes afterwards. As I scoot closer to him and move infront of him, his front chest now touching my back. I blushed a little realizing how close we are but I kept still and move forward.

I was holding the knife and carefully let Liam hold it my hand at the top of his. I reach for the cucumber and take Liam's left hand to hold it, correctly positioning his hands. "You need to curl your fingers a little so you won't accidentally cut it okay, and also don't grip the knife tightly." I reminded him to which He nods. When we already chopped a few I decided to speak up "Do you think you can do this on your own? I'm going to boil the egg now." I said. "Okay." He said and move out of his embrace.

The whole kitchen went silent as we focus on the task at hand. Ten minutes have pass and Liam is now almost done cutting the tomatoes. He's really doing well which impresses me. He's cutting may not be perfect but He did pretty well despite the lack of sight. It's pretty moving which encourage me to help him further.

"You did good Liam, these are nice cuts of cucumber and tomatoes." I compliment his work and receive and nod in response. We then mix the mayonnaise and barbeque sauce, toss the mix greens into the bowl, arrange greens on plate then top with tomatoes, cucumber, egg and chicken. Voila! "We did it!" I said enthusiastically. "Let's put this on table and then we can eat." I said and make my way on the dining table as Liam follows.

As we settle down I let Liam take the first bite. "How was it?" I ask while looking at him waiting for his answer. "It's good." he finally said after swallowing the food. I then take my first bite and was really happy of the outcome. "How was your experience cooking?" I ask timidly but sincere. "It's not actually cooking when I just cut a few vegetables. But it was nice and a bit hard at first." He said, "Did you like what we did?" I ask again hoping for good answer. It went silent after that and I became worried a little. "We can do it again tomorrow, do you like that?" I ask trying my luck. My face fell when I heard him say no.

I stop talking when Liam started refusing to talk again. So we only ate the rest of our food silence filling the air. I was thinking what went wrong or if he didn't like the food and only said it's good to appease me. But that can't be, if He didn't like it He would tell me right? I heard the chair scraping loudly and saw Liam standing up done eating.

I was about to speak but can only hang my mouth open when no words comes out. I was rendered speechless and just watch him walk away and made his way into his room I guess. I kept on thinking what did I do or say to put him off. I didn't want to think that we are back to square one when he just started talking just a while ago.

Maybe He was just overwhelmed or just chose to stay quiet. Maybe I was asking too many questions and annoyed him once again just when I thought we're doing good conversing. Whatever that is that made him react like that, I'm not giving up on him. I just need to be understanding and patience with him. Who knows what awaits for us and what the future has plan for him. It may not be pleasant today, tomorrow or the next day but it will not be everyday. In the right time good things will come no doubt about that.