Godt's POV

The rest of the day was uneventful but by evening it was clear to me that P'Tae and Tee were having relationship problems. Not that they were in a relationship. They just seemed to be having a lovers' quarrel. Shit, Godt, watch your choice of words, I told myself.

Maybe Bas would know what had happened between Tee and P'Tae. Somehow Bas was always in the know about matters like this.

I went looking for Bas. I couldn't find him. I searched the whole cottage. He was nowhere to be found. Nobody had seen him leaving the cottage. I blamed myself for his disappearance. I should have paid closer attention to him.

I started walking in the direction of P'Kul's house. It was a long walk. I was starting to sweat as I neared P'kul's house.

"It was no bother at all," I heard Kong's voice. 

From a distance I  saw him give Bas a hug. Then I saw Bas hug him back.

I quickly ran and hid behind the wide trunk of a tall tree. I peeked from behind it. How long was the hug going to last? Why was I feeling a spasm in my chest?

Was it gonna be Bas and me who were going to have a lover's quarrel instead of P'Tae and Tee?

Wait what??? My thoughts had started to go haywire.

Bas' POV

I totally felt embarrassed and inadequate earlier when P'Godt had asked me to cook some rice and I realized that I did not have the slightest notion how to do it.

I did not want to ask the others to teach me in front of P'Godt and so I had an idea. When nobody was looking I stepped out of the cottage and made my way to P'Kul's house. I was going to ask him or his wife to teach me.

Surprisingly it was Kong who offered to teach me. Kong was a month younger than me but he was taller than me by several inches. He was almost as tall as P'Kim.

Not only did he show me how to cook rice using a rice cooker but using a regular pot over a flame. 

Kong in my observation was a kind hearted person. I studied his face for the first time. He wasn't bad looking at all. In fact he was very good looking. He was also well built. The muscles in his arms and chest must have come from helping his father with all the heavy labor that entailed taking care of my uncle's property.

I stole a glance at his face again. My heart skipped a bit. He really was very good looking.

Suddenly I heard the hissing of the flames being doused by the overflowing water from the boiling rice. I quickly moved to remove the lid of the pot and forgot that it was very hot. I cried out from the pain.

Kong rushed to me and brought me to the kitchen sink. He held my hand under the cold running water. We stayed that way for a few minutes and I forgot all about my pain as I felt Kong's disturbing nearness.

"If it continues to hurt, apply some of the juices from the aloe vera plant that's growing in the backyard of the cottage," he said.

"Okay, Kong," I said, "thanks for teaching me how to cook rice. I'm sorry for the bother."

"It was no bother at all," he said, and gave me a hug.

My heart skipped a beat. I hugged him back, not wanting to let go but the sun was starting to go down and I had a long walk ahead of me.

"Do you want me to walk you to the cottage?" he asked.

"There's no need," P'Godt came out of nowhere behind me.

What the fuck, P'Godt! How could you spoil a perfect opportunity for me???