From the Beginning

Chapter 11: Smooth

"You haven't finished what's on your plate yet," Jensen notified.

Bowen looked down at his plate and panicked at the accuracy of Jensen's words. "I mean, I want something to drink." He got out of his seat and hurried off like a waddling penguin. "Does anyone else want water?" Bowen went to open the refrigerator and his jaw dropped. I almost forgot that Sion ge's fridge was like a minimart in the past. It was Jensen ge who stopped him from packing his fridge like this when they became an item.

Noticing that Bowen was taking a long time, Skye went over to see what was wrong. "The water is here." Skye grabbed a bottle for Bowen and a fruit juice for himself.

"Thank you." Bowen accepted the bottle. "His fridge is so fully equipped," Bowen pretended that he was seeing this for the first time.

"Yes. He likes stocking up on food. It's good that we're here now to help him eat some of them."

Bowen nodded and the two returned to their seats.

"Apparently, it takes two to get a drink from the fridge," Jensen mocked with a smile.

"Yes. Yes, it does," Bowen shot back. "You should try it with Sion ge."

"Sounds like a plan." Jensen glanced over at Sion and addressed. "Sion, you said you cook occasionally. What do you make?"

"I make simple stuff like scrambled eggs and sausages."

"That's better than Bowen," Jensen added. "This kid can't even make a cucumber side dish without having cucumber pieces flying everywhere. You should have seen his kitchen the last time he attempted it. It was like a battlefield with cucumber missiles."

"To be clear, it was a crushed cucumber side dish," Bowen corrected. "I had to cut the cucumbers into large pieces and then smash them before adding the sauce, which was made with a mix of vinegar and soy sauce. This way, the flavor would be absorbed into the cucumber pieces making them tastier."

"Okay." Jensen went along with Bowen's explanation.

"That sounds interesting," Skye uttered. "I would like to try it."

"I'll make it for you next time," Bowen promised.

"I hope you have a strong stomach." Jensen spoke in a calming tone and ate some spaghetti.

"It wasn't that bad," Bowen argued. "I just added too much vinegar with the sesame oil. It wasn't my fault that the cinnamon powder didn't blend well with the sauce."

"Cinnamon powder with vinegar...?" Skye recited.

"And that's why I cook for him," Jensen informed.

"I see." Skye chuckled understandingly.

"You two are mocking me, aren't you?" Bowen derived.

"No, Mr. Sensitive. We're giving ourselves reasons to cook for you."

Bowen narrowed his eyes at them, but smiled when he saw Skye smiling at him. "Jensen ge."

"Yes?"

"I'll go shopping with you tomorrow and help you carry the groceries."

"Fine." Jensen sighed in defeat. "I seriously must owe you in my last life."

Bowen batted his eyes adorably. "Jensen ge, Bowen di loves you."

"What am I going to do with you?"

"Feed me and love me forever," Bowen suggested. "No, wait. Just feed me and," Bowen glanced over at Sion and then back at Jensen, "save your love for the right person."

"Are you sure you don't want my love?"

"No. I'll be generous and let you give your love to a certain someone instead."

"Should I be sad that you only want food from me?" Jensen pretended.

"You should be glad that I only want food from you," Bowen countered.

"Oh? What else is there for you to want from me?"

"I want you to be happy."

"You didn't answer my question, but I'll accept this answer."

Bowen noticed that Skye was smiling sweetly while listening to their conversation. "Beautiful."

"Someone is infatuated," Jensen teased.

"It takes one to know one," Bowen shot back.

Sion looked up from his plate and swallowed what was in his mouth. "Did you guys finish setting up everything?"

"Pretty much," Bowen supplied. "Skye ge even showed me some of the character designs. They are stunning. They don't need much alteration. I'll start working the designs into the game tomorrow."

***

Feeling something bright pricking his eyes, Yulian opened an eye and immediately shut it. "So bright," he grumbled at the sunlight that was shining in through the window.

"You're finally awake," Bailey greeted.

Yulian realized that it was Bailey who was talking to him and cautiously opened his eyes once again. Both their eyes crossed slightly due to their close proximity. "Why are you on top of me?"

"That statement would have made me very happy, if circumstances were different."

"I don't understand."

Go figure. Bailey rolled his eyes. "Please release me."

"Release...?" Yulian's eyes darted to his own arms and promptly unwrapped them from Bailey. "Why do I have my arms around you?"

Bailey slowly got up and rubbed a hand on his sore back. "Because...I'm handsome and you're in love with me."

"Really?" Yulian blinked with wide eyes.

I should really stop teasing him. Bailey smirked. "I'm only kidding."

"Are you not in love with me?"

Damn it! Why does he have to look so much like the spokesperson for that restaurant? Come to think of it, why is he still so handsome after being drunk? I usually look like crap when I have a hangover. Life is so unfair.

"You think that I'm handsome?"

"You should really stop reading my mind. It's freaking me out."

"That is not possible. I'm innately born with this ability. I'll refrain from saying it out loud from now on. Is that more preferable?"

"Sure." Bailey tilted his head a little to the side and stared at Yulian. "Are you feeling okay, White?"

"Yes." Yulian nodded.

Thank goodness he's all right even though I couldn't keep him awake last night.

"I'm pretending not to hear you."

"Okay, maybe you shouldn't tell me that either," Bailey suggested.

"Understood," Yulian provided.

"I'm going to go take a shower."

"Shall I join you?"         

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ge or gege = older brother or older male

di or didi = younger brother or younger male