After dinner, Yasmine and Serana tidied up the dining area.

“Cleaning up” was a generous term, considering Serana was doing most of the

work.

Yasmine, who had grown up in an orphanage, may not have had the easiest

childhood, but she was never required to do chores like cooking, laundering, or

chopping wood. Once she left the orphanage, such tasks were even further from

her reality. Her hands were soft and beautiful, with slender, pale fingers.

Standing beside Serana at the sink, the most Yasmine would do was to wipe

down the already clean dishes. And she had this air about her, as if she had

done some monumental task that deserved high praise.

Enter title…

Serana wasn’t much of a talker. It seemed ever since Yasmine started dating

Boyd, Serana had become even quieter. The time they spent washing dishes

was particularly tough for her. The moment the last plate was dried, she let out a

sigh of relief and quickly said, “There’s nothing left to do now, Yasmine. You

should get on with your evening.”

Yasmine rinsed her hands under the faucet and watched Serana put away the

dishes. “I’ve always meant to say, you have a real knack for cooking and

cleaning,” she said.d2

Serana paused for a moment, then smiled at her. “I’m just curious about these

things, so I tend to pay more attention. Boyd isn’t too keen on eating out. If you

have the time, I could teach you a few of his favorite dishes.”

Yasmine chuckled and shook her head. “No time for that.”

After putting away the utensils, Serana turned and gave her a strained smile.

“They say the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. I’m sure Boyd would

be delighted if you cooked for him.”

“The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach?” Yasmine smirked, looking at

her. “Is that what you thought back then?”

Serana’s smile froze instantly. Her eyes locked with Yasmine’s for a few

seconds before she forced herself to look away, her grip tightening on the edge

of the countertop. “It seems like you’ve misunderstood something about us,”

Serana said softly.

Yasmine observed her for a moment, then suddenly burst into laughter. “Why so

tense? Who did I misunderstand you with?” she teased.

Serana bit her lip, replying quietly, “Nothing…”

Noticing Serana’s trembling hand on the counter, Yasmine’s eyes sharpened.

you for the

reply, only

Serana’s smile was

comforting.

lounging on the sofa, perusing the stack of books she’d

mature, reserved charm that struck a chord with her.

her hand. Puzzled, he took her hand and kissed it

looked at him with faint disgust. “I wanted you to smell

nice,” he

just washed dishes. So you

beside him, his brow furrowing with

Washing dishes?”

tighter, withdrawing her hand.

work.”

reached into the drawer under

squeezed a

began to massage it

scent of flowers filled the air. Once her

kissed them again,

do that again,” he

admiring

nicely, I won’t make it

as he gently tugged at her ear. “Staying

tonight?”

him a languid look. “Not going back

paused, hand still on her

hand away. “Of course. But

you’re thinking about are

deepened at

patted his shoulder.

at the books on the coffee

cut him off

“Five days from now.”

“No.”

“Three days.”

“No.”

off the table, scooped

and headed

night,

bed and leaned over her, Yasmine put her hand

mouth. “Serana’s still here. Have you no

hand.

embrace. “Then

the watchful eyes of

wasn’t joking, Boyd sat

got out of bed. “I’m going to

Boyd wasn’t in the bedroom. She

stepped out, intending to get a

yet, and Boyd was speaking with a detached

two years before graduation. You’re thinking about this too

he said.

anxious. “I think my major is totally

before conceding, “If you’ve really

it’s up to you.”

breathed a sigh of relief.

beginning of their conversation,

about what it entailed.

emerged from the bedroom, Serana stood

on her for a moment. “I’ve got homework. I should

a glass

temperature.”

accepted the glass, watching Serana pick up an orange

it in the trash. She

reminded her of the way Bryson’s wife, Aliza, would play the

at home. She would cook a table of dishes

the house until it was spotless, and always

she prepared the meal.

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