"It doesn't mean what we're both thinking."
🤔

Roshan exits his bathroom, with a blue fluffy towel wrapped around his midriff. His hair all damp and messy from being vigorously towel dried. He wasn't planning on doing too much this Saturday evening, maybe he would read some more of that book Clark had loaned to him. 

Clark...Roshan had thought about the man on and off all week. The way they had gotten to know eachother in such a whirlwind state. Roshan hadn't felt excitement like that since having the epiphany at 9 years that he wanted to cook for a living when watching some cuisine programme with his grandmother. The desire to want to make delicious food was now in equal measures with the desire to explore his deepest thoughts about this man who had literally stumbled into his life. But he felt that guilt of how they had left things. His logic telling him to keep Clark at arms length for the sake of his job, but his emotional self impatiently wanted the man. Clark never called for coffee and Roshan was too scared to make the first move. They were left at a stalemate.

He almost jumps out of his skin when he hears his phone ringing as it rested on the bedside table. He looks at the screen to see the incoming call from Clark. Was he psychic?

"Hey."

"Hey Roshan?"

The tone in Clark's voice seemed a little apprehensive, making Roshan instantly want to sit on the edge of the bed as he clung onto the phone a little tighter.  "What's up?" He questions.

The line is silent for what felt like an age, but in reality was probably only a few seconds.

"Can I come over?"

Roshan instantly stands up and subconsciously pats himself down as if to remind himself that he was wearing just a towel.  "Where are you?" He says, his own voice now a little panicked.

Clark momentarily looks around his settings. "I'm at this orange tent food place thingy."

This makes Roshan laugh. "Sounds like youre at Ms Jojo's and if she ever heard you refer to her eatery like that, she would probably thow you out."

Clark again looks up at the lady whom he assumed was Jojo, who looked like she was too busy to have noticed. "I've not been here before." He adds.

"What are you having?" Roshan asks as he now wishes he had stopped by there instead of settling for something from his own kitchen.

"To be honest, I'm not sure. She says it's a favourite so I guess it will be good." Clark shrugs before asking that question again. "I wouldn't usually be so bold as to ask, but about coming over. It would only be for a few hours."

Roshan knew without a shadow of a doubt he would love Clark to come over, but still felt he had to ask. "Is something wrong?"

"Let's just say I've had to leave the shop for a bit. I can tell you the full story in person. It would only be for a few hours, I promise."

"Ok, but it doesn't mean what we're both thinking." Roshan tries to sound serious but it makes Clark laugh.

"I'm gonna leave room for dessert just in case." Clark speaks a little closer to the phone as his voice dips low.

"Your food."

Clark jumps at the lady again present at his table. "See you soon, my foods here." He ends the call.

Roshan doesn't get a chance to say a proper farewell before it actually hits him that Clark is coming over. He needed to find more than just a towel to wear.

***

"May I ask what this is?" Clark says, looking at the hot food in the bowl being placed before him.

"Kimchi fried rice. It's chef's favourite!" Jojo beams.

"Chef?" Clark questions, momentarily looking up from his meal.

"Chef Heath, you were on the phone to him." Jojo then looks at Clark a little more sternly. "Orange tent thingy indeed!"

"You heard that?" Clark says,  not knowing whether to be impressed by her super hearing or to be annoyed of the invasion of privacy.

"People think you don't exist half the time in these places. They think all I'm good for is cooking, but little do they know that unbeknown to many, I am the keeper of their secrets." She now walks away, leaving Clark a little speechless. He decides to keep his head down and just eat up. 

Kimchi fried rice. Chef's favourite meal huh... "Excuse me Miss..." Clark finds himself calling out. "Is this easy to make?"