Chapter 2

"Come on, if I really had something going on with her, why would I be with you?" Eugene shot back.

I tried to calm him down. "Relax, I'm not mad. I honestly believe you two are just like brother and sister."

"You..." Eugene took a deep breath, his chest heaving before he finally said, "I'm hungry."

"Sorry, I already ate before I got home. Why don't you order some takeout or just grab something from the fridge?" I replied.

All I got in return was the sound of the door slamming.

I was just about to fall asleep when Eugene came back.

He walked in and just stared at me. "It's raining outside."

"Huh? Why don't you dry your hair or just take a shower?" I said.

He was definitely soaked, but I couldn't figure out why he was telling me that.

Eugene stared at me, totally shocked. "I didn't have an umbrella, and I was out for five hours! It was pouring! Did you even care?

"You never used to be like this. Back when we fought, you'd call me, or even reach out to my friends to check on me.

"At the very least, you'd leave the light on in the living room, waiting for me to come back.

"But today, I was gone for five hours and not a single call from you!"

I tried to sound gentle. "I didn't reach out because you're an adult. You know how to handle yourself when you go out. Plus, I didn't want to make you feel awkward by checking up on you through your friends."

Eugene's expression froze.

Guess he remembered what he told me back then.

He once said, "Are you done yet? I'm an adult, I know what I'm doing. Do you have to keep hounding me like that?

"And why do you keep bugging my friends with calls? Do you have any idea how much they tease me because of it?"

Back then, I'd spent hours frantically trying to track him down, and when I finally found out where he was, instead of being grateful, he just gave me attitude.

He lashed out at me, furious, not even giving me a chance to catch my breath.

But I really didn't want to rehash old arguments. I'd been swamped with work lately, getting ready for my overseas assignment, and honestly, I was just too tired.

"Alright, go take a shower before you catch a cold," I said.

I turned and went into the master bedroom, but with all the handover work weighing on my mind, it took me a while to drift off.

In a sleepy haze, I felt someone brush my face, heard a quiet sigh, and then the mattress sank as someone settled in beside me.

Eugene was genuinely upset. He started leaving early and coming home late every day, making sure to avoid me and not even sending a single text.

Honestly, I was enjoying the peace and quiet. I definitely wasn't about to stir up trouble for myself by reaching out first.

But after five days of giving each other the cold shoulder, Eugene actually reached out to me first.

He said: [I'm making dinner tonight. Come home and eat.]

Honestly, I was genuinely taken aback when I got his message.

I was always the one cooking. I'd even playfully complained to him before, saying it was exhausting and asking him to take a turn.

He just hugged me and said, "I'm basically hopeless in the kitchen. I'd probably poison you by accident. Honestly, I just want to eat your cooking every day."

Back then, I was so blinded by love that I never questioned how his words didn't quite add up. I'd come home from work and spend hours trying out recipes just to please him, racking up more cuts and burns than I care to admit.

It wasn't until Emily told me Eugene was actually a great cook that the bubble finally burst for me. I was still basking in the idea that my boyfriend got to enjoy my cooking all the time.

That time, I had a huge fight with Eugene, but he just stayed cool as ever.

He said, "Emily can't cook, and she's super picky about food. I can't just have her always ordering takeout, can I?

"She's not like you, who can eat whatever. She's my little sister, I'm just looking out for her, that's all.

"You're grown up, stop expecting people to cook for you all the time.

"If you think making food for me is such a pain, then don't bother. It's not like I can't live without your cooking."

After that, I still forgave him, even though his apology was barely sincere.

What was that saying again?

Crying over love just meant I had lost my mind for a bit.

Guess that was true.

But I still texted him back: [Sure.]

It was pretty much over between us anyway, so if possible, I just wanted us to part ways peacefully.

As soon as I opened the door, I heard Eugene calling out from the kitchen, "Gracie, go wash your hands and have a seat. Dinner will be ready in a minute."

I sat down at the table, a rush of mixed feelings washing over me.

Honestly, I never thought I'd see the day Eugene would step into the kitchen on his own.

If he'd done this on any day before now, I would've been absolutely thrilled.

Eugene set out a spread of four dishes and a soup.

Everything was on the lighter side, but after just one bite, I gotta hand it to him, the guy could really cook.

"Gracie," he called out, sounding a little hurt. "Why have you been ignoring me for so many days?"