New Life : A Second Chance

Satisfied that nothing showed, she rushed to the door again as she vigorously rubbed her hair to mess it up. She patted it down and pinched her nose until it became red, then she rubbed her eyes. Taking a peek of herself in the mirror, she was satisfied.

With her \'bed\' hair, and dopey looking face, she looked like she was sick. Taking a deep breath, she opened the door.

Kyle was just about to press the doorbell again when it swung open.

"Student Council President," Sayuri said, her voice a bit raspy, "What are you doing here?"

Kyle put down his hand and looked at her in concern, "You hadn\'t come to class for some time, so I thought I\'d check up on you."

Sayuri sniffed, wiping her nose on her sleeve and she replied, "I\'m fine. Just a little cold. Sorry I didn\'t call to inform."

"Not a problem," Kyle said, putting his hand on the door and pushing it open.

Sayuri staggered a bit at that and her eyes went wide as he walked in, uninhibited.

"Your father isn\'t home?" Kyle asked casually.

In the school records, it indicated that Sayuri was a one-parent family. Her mother had passed away while she stayed with her father. As her father got work here, they transferred.

"No, he went to work," Sayuri explained, closing the door behind her.

Kyle\'s eyes swept the apartment once. From the doorway, he could see living room in front and the kitchen at the side. At his feet, there were some adult shoes as well.

Kyle\'s face didn\'t betray how impressed he was at the set-up.

Despite the fact that she wasn\'t expecting him, she still had prepared for the possibility that guests could come. There were little signs here and there to indicate that Sayuri wasn\'t living in the apartment alone, though Kyle knew very well that she was.

"Do you mind?" he asked politely as he indicated the slippers to be worn in the house.

Sayuri\'s mind raced.

This was a good opportunity for her to get to know Kyle better, right? Why waste the chance that dropped on her lap? Even though it was inappropriate for a girl to be alone with a guy in the apartment, Sayuri decided to take that chance.

After all, Kyle was the one that came alone, and he\'s supposed to be an exemplary student, right?

"Go ahead," Sayuri answered, shuffling in, "But why are you here, Student -"

"Please, just call me Kyle," Kyle interrupted, "That\'s such a mouthful to say each time. Why would you call a person by their title or designation anyway?"

Kyle walked in and headed straight to the kitchen, opening the fridge door.

"Stud- I mean, K-Kyle," Sayuri stammered, not being used to saying his name, "What are you doing?"

"Have you had anything to eat yet today?" Kyle asked.

"Er .." Sayuri couldn\'t answer that. She ate only when she was hungry and she hadn\'t really been feeling hungry since she was so caught up in her thoughts and work.

She heard Kyle tsked and watched him take out some raw chicken.

"Is chicken congee okay?" he asked politely, while taking out a knife and proceeded to debone the chicken.

"Ah? Er?" Sayuri stammered again, her mind going blank. Why was she so stupid at that moment? She was just so shocked that she couldn\'t comprehend what she was seeing.

In her kitchen, was the Smith Heir, Student Council President, and Sage Class Leader, expertly cutting chicken and going around in her kitchen like it was his own. All three identities did not seem to gel with this man who knew his way around the kitchen.

"Sit," Kyle commanded, "You\'re sick so you should always have proper food and nutrition."

Kyle knew she wasn\'t really sick, but he could also tell that she hadn\'t been eating properly. There were no washed plates in the dish rack, the counter was clean and the sink was dry. It all indicated that the kitchen hadn\'t been used yet that day or even last night.

Since she hadn\'t eaten properly, congee was the best to ease an empty stomach. He washed the rice, placed it into a pot with the bones of the chicken and sprinkled salt. The chicken meat had been sliced and marinated slightly before he pan fried it.

He also minced some garlic and sliced some shallots. These were fried, then placed on a paper towel to drain the excess oil. Once done, he placed it in an airtight container and put it next to the plate of chicken that he made earlier.

Sayuri was mesmerized. The way Kyle cooked was like poetry in motion.

There was no superfluous motions. The way the knife flew by in a blur of motion ... the way he tossed the chicken as he fried it ... the way he plated everything. Sayuri could cook as well but next to him? She was like a student while he was the Masterchef.

"The congee will take a bit of time to be ready," Kyle said, "There\'s enough to last you for a day or two. Make sure you eat, okay?"

"Th-thank you," Sayuri stammered again and she could have kicked herself.

Why was it, in front of him, she was a blabbering idiot??! Luckily he didn\'t know she was that ranting lunatic at the airport, though she didn\'t know which is worse. A stammering fool or an angry monkey.

Kyle smiled, then leaned back as he said, "Well ... don\'t thank me yet, since I do have an ulterior motive."

"Huh??"