—Alliana and Allister cook and eat lunch together.

Alliana’s POV

What a mess.

Since it’s the weekend, naisip ni Arki na kami na lang daw ang magluto ng lunch namin para maiba. She suggested that we cook chicken katsu and make it from scratch since we have the ingredients available.

I don’t know what got into me that I agreed to it because as far as the whole thing is going, I’m the only one doing the cooking and she’s the one making a mess.

Like literally, I don’t know how a person manages to make a mess out of this when we’re only cooking for ourselves and we had like five ingredients.

“Iani, ganito ba? Ay manok-”

Arki was holding a boneless chicken covered in flour, trying to show me if it’s well covered. But then her clumsiness got the best of her and dropped the chicken in the tupperware of flour, making a mini explosion of dust in our work area.

May ilang harina ang napunta sa counter at sa braso niya, pati na rin sa akin. I heaved a soft sigh, then pursed my lips.

“Yeah, just make sure you cover the whole thing evenly then put bread crumbs after.”

“Okayyy.”

Sabi ko sa kanya ako na lang bahala dun sa iba while she busied herself with her task. Wala na siyang sinabi kasi abala na siya sumayaw sa patugtog niyang music.

I’m not entirely sure what these songs are but she’s clearly enjoying herself. I’m pretty sure these are the same songs she plays whenever she does an all-nighter.

Hindi na ako nagreklamo kasi it keeps her distracted from what I’m doing. At least, di niya ako ginugulo while I make the sauce. Malapit na mag lunch, hindi pa rin kami tapos.

“Di kita pababayaan…” I heard Arki speak, “I will stay with you...hanggang makain kita.”

With confusion drawn all over my face, napalingon ako sa kanya at nakita ko siyang nakangiti sa plate ng dredged chicken, tapping the last piece she did. Tumingin siya sa akin with a grin, “Tapos na!”

Napataas ang mga kilay ko. “I’m almost done na rin prepping. Can you set up our table na? Mabilis lang ‘to maluto.”

She gave me a thumbs up and proceeded to wash her hands and set the table. I can hear her singing along to the song playing.

I