“I didn’t know that he was coming, mother.”
Daisy helped take out the plates and glasses and placed them on the table, smiling sheepishly towards Alex as she did that. Alex watched them calmly, also looking around the house as he waited for them to prepare the meal.
Half an hour later, lunch was neatly served on the table. Alex gazed towards the modest meal that consisted of rice, a bowl of vegetable soup, fried chicken and gravy. This was not the kind of food that he had everyday. This was not even close to what the chefs back at home made for him during lunch. Mother spooned some soup into a smaller bowl and put a piece of tuna in his plate.
“I’m sorry this is all we have. It was really a coincident that I decided to cook this today. Usually we’d have fish and chips, or maybe porridge.” Mother said humbly. Lily fed herself quietly, watching very closely towards Alex as if he was a predator trying to attack his prey at any time. Alex picked up a spoon and started to spoon some soup into his mouth. He seemed quite hesitant, probably trying to imagine what the food might taste like, being cooked by the hands of common people. Never in his life had he eaten any food other than those from his favourite exclusive restaurants and those cooked at home.
“This soup is a secret recipe inherited generations to generations from my great-great grandmother. It’s very special in our family,” mother added. Alex slowly took a sip from the soup in his spoon. The warmth entered his mouth like a ray of light entering from the windows on a bright summer day. The soup didn’t taste like anything he imagined. It wasn’t as good as the ones he usually had at home, but it tasted okay. He felt warm inside, not really because of the fact that the soup had just been taken off from the stove, but a different kind of warm. It was a good one. Alex finished the rest of the soup, almost forgetting about the rice and fried chicken in his plate.
Alex hung around for the rest of the afternoon. Mother made Lily show him around the neighbourhood, despite the big frown she gave her and the nasty glare she gave him afterwards. Luckily she managed to force Daisy to come with her.
The sun shone brightly above their heads despite the cool weather. The three of them walked around, going pass rows of small shops and roadside-pushcarts. Lily learned that Alex had never tasted hotdog bought from a hotdog stand before. She thought that was lame. No one has never ever admitted not eating from a hotdog stand before.
Daisy was the only one showing Alex around, to be exact. She even felt it a privilege to be having the opportunity. Lily didn’t care less. She hated this feeling whenever Alex was around. Being stuck with him in unexpected situations was even worse.
So the rest of the afternoon was spent walking around the area, visiting little shops and pushcarts and introducing new things - that were actually just common to us normal people - to Alex. Each time Alex showed his bedazzled expression towards something, Lily felt like kicking his guts for being so ignorant. She rolled her eyes so many times, that if there was law against rolling your eyes, she would have absolutely been fined and sent to jail.
They returned to the doorstep of the apartment building at about 3 o’clock. Daisy purposely made up an excuse to leave them there and went upstairs just to let her sister have some private time with Alex, which was not what Lily had in mind. Nevertheless, she ended up all alone with Alex by the doorstep, feeling very awkward and annoyed. She only hoped that Alex would just leave soon.
“Thanks for showing me around, you were very thoughtful.” He uttered nonchalantly. Lily noticed the hint of mockery in his words. As a matter of fact she had concluded all the amazement he showed towards the simple little things as a hoax, a means of trying to win her sister’s heart.
“I’d be very glad if only it had helped teach you to become more thankful of what you already have.” She said.
“That does not concern you. But I must say, your mother’s soup was just nice, though not as good as those served at home.”
“And if I was given a choice between both, I’d still pick the one made with love and sincerity. I don’t care how beautiful it may seem, or how delicious it might taste if it has no significance at all.” She said. Alex decided not to give any response. He turned and was about to walk away when he suddenly remembered something.
“Don’t forget this evening, and be sure to be ready when I arrive. I don’t like waiting.” He uttered slowly and progressed down the steps. Lily watched him through the corner of her eyes as he walked to his car parked nearby. Just before he entered his car, Lily turned and entered through the door of the building.
*
To Be Continued...
No comments:
Post a Comment