He quickly pushed his plate away and hurriedly placed it in the fridge. His mom, Caroline, called out from the living room, “Noah, why didn’t you finish your food?”
“I’ve got to do something important!” he shouted, already halfway up the stairs. “I’ll eat it later, I promise!”
Without waiting for her response, Noah rushed into his room, grabbed a towel, and jumped into the shower.
“How could I forget dinner with Sarah?” he thought, feeling a wave of guilt.
After a quick shower, he stepped out, threw on some casual but nice clothes—jeans and a fitted shirt—and applied cologne. His parents had already gone to their room, and his little sister was fast asleep.
He grabbed his phone, ordered a taxi, and within minutes, he was on his way to Sarah’s place.
As the taxi pulled up to her house, Noah felt a knot of guilt tighten in his stomach.
“She was probably waiting this whole time…”
He stepped out of the taxi and knocked on the door.
Shortly after, Sarah was already at the door opening it.
She was dressed and ready to go. She smiled warmly, clearly having waited for him.
Her expression was calm, with no signs of anger or disappointment. If anything, it made Noah feel worse for being late.
“Hey,” he greeted her sheepishly, scratching the back of his head. “Sorry, I’m late… How about I cook our dinner tonight? My way of making up for it.”
Sarah’s smile widened, her eyes twinkling. “You cook? That’s a first.”
Noah’s eyes lit up with a playful smile as he looked at Sarah. “It’ll be the most delicious meal you’ve ever tasted, I promise.” Without waiting for her response, he stepped inside, full of confidence.
Sarah raised an eyebrow, amused but intrigued. She followed him inside, closing the door behind her. As Noah made a beeline for the kitchen, she sat down at the counter, watching him with curiosity.
Noah immediately washed his hands and face, then grabbed an apron from the wall. Tying it behind his back, he glanced over his shoulder and winked at Sarah. “Prepare yourself for greatness.”
She chuckled, leaning her chin on her hand. “I didn’t realize you were so confident in your cooking.”
Noah shot her a grin before turning to the counter. He pulled out vegetables, chicken, and spices, his movements precise. Sarah’s eyes widened as she watched him. He was so focused, yet there was a calmness to his actions that made him look… different.
“Handsome,” she thought to herself, surprised by the way her heart skipped a beat.
“Should I help or—”
“Nope,” Noah said with a shake of his head. “Just sit back and enjoy the show.”
He picked up a knife and began slicing vegetables with a rhythm that was almost mesmerizing. The sound of the knife hitting the cutting board echoed in the kitchen as he diced everything with precision.
Sarah couldn’t help but stare, her eyes trailing from his focused expression down to his strong hands working swiftly.
“Where did you learn to cut like that?” she asked, half-joking but genuinely curious.
“Been watching a lot of cooking shows,” Noah replied with a smirk, not missing a beat. “Also helps to have a mom who taught me a thing or two.”
“Really? You never mentioned you could cook.”
Noah shrugged, stirring a pot of sauce that was already starting to fill the kitchen with a mouthwatering aroma. “I guess I like keeping some surprises up my sleeve.”
As he tossed the vegetables into a hot pan with a quick flick of his wrist, the sizzling sound made Sarah sit up straighter. The smell of garlic and herbs wafted through the air, instantly making her stomach growl. She blinked, almost in disbelief.
“Okay… I admit, I’m a little shocked. This smells incredible,” Sarah said, leaning forward with a grin.
Noah laughed softly, flipping the chicken in the pan with practised ease. “You haven’t even tasted it yet. Just wait.”
Sarah’s eyes followed his every movement, and she found herself captivated by the ease with which he handled the cooking. The way he focused on the food—serious yet relaxed—was… dare she say it? Sexy.
As Noah plated the dishes, steam rose, carrying the savoury fragrance that filled the entire room.
The chickens were perfectly golden, the vegetables vibrant and crisp, and the sauce drizzled elegantly over everything.
The presentation was something straight out of a five-star restaurant.
Sarah blinked, stunned. “Noah… this looks like something out of Food Wars,” she whispered in awe.
Noah smirked. “Well, it’s not going to explode in your mouth like the anime, but I promise it’ll come close.”
She laughed at that, her heart fluttering. He was good—really good. “I’m almost afraid to ask how you got so good at this. Are you secretly training to be a chef?”
Noah shrugged as he handed her the plate. “Nah, just like cooking for people I care about.”
The sincerity in his voice made Sarah’s heart skip again. She took the plate, her fingers brushing his for just a second. “Well, if it tastes as good as it smells, I might have to start requesting you cook all my meals,” she teased.
Noah chuckled, watching as she took her first bite. He waited, eyebrows raised, for her reaction.
The moment Sarah tasted the food, her eyes widened. The flavours exploded in her mouth, the perfect balance of savoury and rich, with a hint of something sweet in the sauce. She sat back, almost in disbelief, staring at Noah like he’d just performed a miracle.
“This is… Noah, this is amazing!”
He grinned, sitting down and ready to eat too. “Told you. Best meal of your life.”
She laughed, shaking her head. “Okay, I didn’t expect this. It’s indeed the best meal of my life.”
Noah shrugged, but there was a proud glint in his eye. “What can I say? I aim to impress my wife.”
After letting her enjoy the first bite, he joined her, picking up his fork and starting to eat.
Their conversation flowed easily but soon shifted to something that had been weighing on Sarah’s mind. “You know how I told you, work’s been a nightmare,” she said, sighing between bites. “We were in big trouble after losing that deal with Walls4Us. It’s been so stressful.”
Noah listened, nodding. He was well aware of the situation as she told him before. “So tell me, how did they offer you that contract?” he asked, feigning ignorance but still genuinely curious about her side of things.
Sarah shook her head, still looking a bit baffled. “It’s crazy. We thought everything was done. Then, out of nowhere, today, they called us back with a deal. And not just any deal, like… an unbelievable one.”
She looked at Noah, her eyes wide in amazement. “I don’t know what changed, but it’s been a complete turnaround. We went from panicking to… well, now it feels like we hit the jackpot. I just don’t get it.”
Noah, suppressing a grin, took a sip of water. “Sounds like you got pretty lucky,” he said casually, keeping his tone light.
Sarah nodded, clearly still reeling from the whole situation. “Yeah, I can’t believe it. We were preparing for the worst, and now… this.” She smiled, her relief evident on her face.
Noah flashed her a small smile, glad to see her less stressed. As they continued eating, the mood lightened, and they began to joke around about random topics, laughing together.
But as the meal came to a close, Noah leaned back slightly, a thought popping into his head. “Oh, I just remembered… I’ve got a mock exam tomorrow.”
Sarah’s eyes widened, and she looked at him in surprise. “Wait, you have an exam tomorrow? And you’re sitting here cooking dinner for me?” Her voice was laced with concern, and a tinge of guilt flashed in her expression.
Noah waved it off with a smile. “Yeah, it’s no big deal. I’m ready for it.”
Sarah’s brow furrowed. “I delayed you from studying and resting… I’m really sorry, Noah,” she said softly, her head dipping down, clearly feeling guilty.
Seeing her reaction, Noah reached out and gently flicked her chin up with his finger, making her look at him. “Hey,” he said in a soothing tone, his voice full of warmth, “don’t worry about my exam. You’re more important than any test could ever be. Plus,” he added with a cheeky grin, “I’m smarter than I look. Trust me, I’ve got this.”
Sarah’s heart fluttered at his words and his soft touch. She quickly backed away from his finger, her cheeks warming with a blush. Noah chuckled at her reaction, clearly amused. “You’re really something, you know that?” he teased as he got up from the table, gathering the plates.
She opened her mouth to offer help, but before she could get the words out, Noah gently placed a hand on her shoulder, pushing her back into her seat. “Nope,” he said with a grin. “It’s my fault for being late. You just sit back and relax.”
Sarah, her gaze lingering on Noah, couldn’t help but marvel at how effortlessly he moved around the kitchen. Her heart raced a little as she watched him clean up, still amazed at how handsome he looked when he was focused. “Who knew cooking and cleaning could be so attractive?”
The peaceful atmosphere was shattered by the creaking of a door, and Sarah’s heart skipped a beat. Her eyes darted to the top of the stairs, where Layla, her daughter—and unbeknownst to Sarah, Noah’s ex—appeared, rubbing her sleepy eyes.
“Mom… what’s that smell? It smells so good,” Layla mumbled groggily, descending the stairs with curiosity as the delicious aroma filled the room.
Your gift is the motivation for my creation. Give me more motivation!
Your gift is the motivation for my creation. Give me more motivation!
CHECK OUT ‘GLOBAL AWAKENING: STARTING WITH SSS SUMMON.’
