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.

the meal,”

didn’t reply, only managing a stiff

kitchen, thinking Serana’s

comforting.

the sofa, perusing the stack of

mature, reserved charm that struck a chord

hand. Puzzled, he

with faint disgust. “I wanted you to smell it, not

nice,” he

washed dishes. So you like

beside him, his brow

Washing dishes?”

her lips together tighter, withdrawing her hand.

work.”

the drawer under the coffee

hand cream. He squeezed a generous amount onto

to

the air. Once her

kissed them

that

admiring

I won’t make it difficult

his head as he gently tugged at her ear. “Staying

tonight?”

look. “Not going

paused, hand still on her

hand away. “Of course. But until it’s done,

about are off

deepened at her

shoulder. “No

at the books on the coffee

cut him

“Five days from now.”

“No.”

“Three days.”

“No.”

frustration, Boyd swept the books off the

and headed for

tomorrow night, no

on the bed and leaned over her, Yasmine put her

still here. Have you no

her hand. “She’ll leave

squirmed out of his embrace. “Then we’ll

it under the watchful eyes of a

joking, Boyd sat up

bed.

shower, Yasmine found that Boyd wasn’t in

and stepped out, intending to get a

Boyd was speaking with a detached

have two years before graduation.

he said.

“I think my major

before conceding, “If you’ve really decided,

it’s up to you.”

a sigh of relief.

beginning of their conversation, but she had

about what it entailed.

emerged from the bedroom, Serana stood up from the

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

handed Yasmine a glass

temperature.”

accepted the glass, watching Serana pick up an orange peel

and toss it in the trash. She took a

Bryson’s wife, Aliza, would play the part of the

cook a

liked, tidy the house until it was spotless, and

she prepared the meal.

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