I've been cooking since I was six years old. And I've never been bad at it, you can just say that I excel in culinary. But then how is it that I suck at baking?

From the past hour, I've remade this whole cookie batter twice and yet it still managed to be a disaster. The cookies were tasting like cardboard and I definitely couldn't eat them. I sighed for the umpteenth time, looking at the third batch of cookies in the oven. The worst thing I did was I even called Nolan over for a surprise for Valentine's day. Serves me right for being overconfident. What will I feed him if these don't turn out good? Though I have a little faith in their taste.

He looked so excited sitting on the couch, waiting for the cookies to be done. Oh how good it would have been if only I'd accepted Amy's help. She offered me her help before leaving this morning– She was a god in baking and made desserts that tasted like heaven.

The oven tinged, indicating the disaster was made. I'd already given up on their appearance but I'd be thankful if they just tasted good. Not even good, if they would just be edible then it's fine enough. Nolan ran from the couch to the kitchen counter, once he heard the oven sound.

He looked all excited like a small kid to try the cookies. He wasn't fond of desserts much but when he heard that I was making them, he got surprisingly interested. I took out the tray from the oven and just as I expected, the cookies looked horrible. More precisely, they looked like shit.

“I'm sure they taste good,” Nolan said, trying to loosen up the atmosphere. But I knew he was doing it to make me feel better. Because no way in hell someone would want to eat these. “I can't even tell if they're edible,” I sighed.

Nolan broke a cookie in half, after it cooled down a bit. Was he really going to eat that crap? Yes, he was and he did it. He ate the freaking cookie. I scanned his face for any reaction but it was as blank as a paper. “Mm-mm.”

He moaned with pleasure and looked like he was enjoying it. It made my hopes up. I looked at him with anticipation. “This tastes like…” he chewed further. “What does it taste like?” My hopes were getting higher with each second.

“Just the way it looks. You seriously have no skill for baking.” He finished eating and just the way he ate the cookies, he ate my hopes too. I knew I expected them to taste bad but at least he could've said something nice. He really was horrible. “You could've acted like they tasted good, just like they do in the movies. Like, you could've pretended they were the best ones you ever had. But you had to be just…honest.”

I lowered my head in disappointment. I was truly offended when I should'nt even be. What was I offended about? That I failed to bake or that he was brutally honest. Maybe both, anyway I was offended and that's what was important.

My eyes widened and I looked at him in bewilderment, when he lifted my chin with his index finger and planted a kiss on my lips. I knew I was blushing furiously, as I felt the tips of my ears tingling. He bent his knees and leaned closer to my face and a grin broke out on his face. I was sure he could notice the blush on my face and was mocking me.

I tried to push his shoulder but he didn't even budge, so I had no other choice but to turn away. He should know that I was mad and sulking. He always got his way out with his affectionate behavior and smooth talk but not this time.

“You don't have to bake, Kay. Leave it to me, I'll bake all kinds of delicious desserts for you, whenever you want.” He smiled. And that's what I was talking about getting his way out with smooth talk. Asshole. I couldn't even stay mad at him. “Just say the word and I'll serve you whatever you want. I'm good at baking, you know.”

I didn't know about baking but he was surely good at sweet talk. I was worried I might get too used to his affection. In fact, I feared it was already too late. I got attached to him, his silly jokes, his surprises and his love.

I watched him patiently as he made a new cookie dough and put the cookies to bake in the oven. He wasn't lying when he said he was good at baking. The cookie dough was tasty as it was, I wonder how good it'll taste once it's nicely baked.

“What should we do while we wait?” Nolan cleaned his hands and walked towards me. “What do you mean? It only takes ten minutes, we can just sit and wait.” I laughed as he pondered hard as to what we should do. I mean ten minutes was a short time, why did he have to think so hard about it? I chuckled looking at him.

“Let's dance.” He suggested and I froze. “You want me to do your silly dance?” I asked him. No way I was doing the dance he always does. He had this weirdly funny dance, like he sways his hips left and right along with his hands in the air, followed by three twerks. This dance was his friends’, mostly Asher’s and his favorite, they did it sometimes when we were all gathered.

“No, silly. Let's do a couple dance, an intimate one,” he said. He looked a little hurt that I called his dance silly but he also called me silly. But a couple dance? It was a little unexpected. “I mean we don't have proms so I figured where we'd get to slow dance if not at home,” he clarified. Well, a couple dance didn't sound too bad, though I didn't know how to do it. I nodded and agreed to the dance.

He quickly grabbed his phone and clicked on it a few times before keeping it down on the couch. A song started playing from his phone as he extended his hand towards me and bowed a little. “May I have this dance, love?” He was going all in and acting dramatic to ask me for a dance. I laughed at his action and placed my hand in his. “Yes.”

Nolan grinned from ear to ear, after he kissed my knuckles and butterflies emerged in my stomach. He pulled me close to him, our bodies pressed together. My hands were on his shoulders and his were on my waist. His hold was firm and protective, guiding me along the rhythm of the music.

We both smiled as we swayed our bodies lightly with the music and gazed at each other with nothing but affection. ‘Can’t help falling in love’ played as we continued to slow dance. The moment was so precious and good I wanted it to last forever. Nolan pulled me closer to him and I could feel his breath on my neck.

“Imagine you and me, dancing like this, holding each other, forever,” he whispered in my ear, sweetly. But all I felt was a bitter taste of my own fate. One thing that I've learnt so far was that life is unpredictable and nothing goes as planned.

There was no forever for us. No matter how much it hurted me, it was the truth. Forever is a myth. But as long as I can I want to stay his.

I chuckled and he pulled away from me with a confused look. He must think, why did I laugh when he said something so serious. I'm sure, I hurt his feelings a lot of times, but he never shows. “Do you want to keep dancing forever, Nolan? My legs won't even last a day like that.” I laughed again.

He sighed and in a beat, he swept me off my feet and carried me in his arms. I gasped as my legs dangled in air and I wrapped my arms around his neck. “Then I'll hold you just like this.” He smiled. Why does he have a solution to every problem? How does he manage to make my heart swell every time? This man was crazy. Forget about my legs, if he continues to behave this way, my heart won't last long.

The oven tinged again. “The cookies are ready,” I said and got down from his arms. I ran into the kitchen as Nolan followed me. I waited like a kid, while he wore the glove and pulled out the tray from the oven. The delicious smell of cookies filled the kitchen and I couldn't help but drool.

“These look delicious. You really are a good baker,” I said as soon as I saw the cookies. They looked perfect– the size, color, texture, everything about them was not less than perfect. “Go ahead. Try them.”  He blew at one cookie to cool it and gave it to me.

The moment I put the cookie in my mouth, I felt it melting on my tongue. It tasted sweet and rich, and was so soft, I felt like I was eating a cloud. Maybe I should ask him to make me some more. “These are perfection. Make me some more, I want to store them,” I said as I gobbled up the whole cookie in one go. Nolan nodded and laughed as he pushed the tray forward.

“Won't you eat?” I asked as he just stared at me intently with a small smile. “Only if you feed me.” He grinned cheekily and I shoved a cookie in his mouth. I definitely must've stroked his pride after praising him so much. He coughed a little, “That was harsh, Kay. Do it gently, my face can't bear it.” He behaved like a delicate flower, as if one hard touch and he'll wilt. Now I remembered why I hated him at first. He was a narcissistic jerk, who was full of himself and couldn't stop bragging about his beauty.

It'd been so long since he said something like that. “But that's how I do it. My hands aren't gentle.” I used my doe eyes to play him. I said that in the same tone as his and instead of getting pissed, he came forward and opened his mouth. Does he want me to feed him nonetheless?

I laughed when he didn't close his mouth until I fed him another one. Will he really eat it in pain as long as I'm the one feeding him? Will he really accept every pain and discomfort as long as I'm the one giving it, as long as he could be with me?

Don't be like that Nolan. Please, I beg you.

Nolan

“I have something for you,” I told Kayra, who was sitting beside me on the couch. She had rested her head on my shoulder and looked up at me with raised brows. I grabbed the bag from the table and carefully took out her gift.

She gasped and was in awe when she took the gift from my hands. “Pots? Did you make them?” She asked, and I nodded in response. “Thank you!”

She squealed in happiness and looked at the cute round plant pots. I made these pots for her, as she loved plants and trees. The pots had cute little hands, legs and eyes, and the most important detail was that these pots could be hanged and they looked like the plants in them were swinging.

I wanted to give her something that reminded her of the things she loves. And seeing the joy on her face after receiving these was priceless. I'd gladly spend a whole day and work until my arms ached again and again, if I could see her smile.

“I also planned to give you a plant with those pots but…the plant died.” I scratched the back of my head. I tried my best to nurture it but it eventually died. I guess I can't really do gardening. “I tried my best to grow one.”

Her eyes softened and she looked at me with a warm gaze. “It's the thought that counts and besides I have plenty of plants to re-pot. I'll fill these in no time.” She smiled. I had no doubt that she'd fill them in no time. She had an abundant supply of plants and it was obvious by the look in her yard.

“Oh and I made this for you too.” I pulled out the bowl from the bag and gave it to her. It was a black soup bowl, with a tiny black cat on the edge. The cat had its paw upwards, and it looked like she was ready to claw at anyone who came in front of her.

“The black cat reminds me of you.” I smiled. I also wanted to give her something that reminded her of herself. She was just like this black cat who always had her claws ready and her guard up. Ready to tear anyone in front of them in pieces. “A black cat?”

“Yup. You were such a menace back then.” I laughed and just as no man knows what wrong he has done, I also didn't realize what I just said. I stopped as I realized she was frowning at me with deadshot glare.

“But you still are.” She shoved the bowl on me and got up to leave. I stopped her by her wrist because the situation escalated so quickly I couldn't process anything. “Wait, Kay! Did I offend you?”

Her glaring eyes met my flustered ones. She was angry, I was sure. “No. I offended myself with my choice.” She yanked my hand and grabbed her gifts including the bowl and left.

Wait, did she mean me? Kayra is offended because she chose me as her boyfriend. Oh, god! I'm truly in some deep shit. I ran after her while calling out her name but she wouldn't stop. I finally caught up with her and stood in front of her. She scoffed and turned to look the other way. She was truly mad. “I'm sorry, Kay. I didn't mean to say-”

She cut me off. “What? The truth? It's true that we hated each other to our cores back then and were literal asses to each other. So what if you call me a menace?” She still didn't look at me. “I was a bitch to you and you were a jerk to me. I guess that makes us… even.”

She met my eyes and I saw her anger subside a little. I pulled her in a hug, though she still sulked to give in. “You're right but now things are different. We saw each other being our worst selves and still here we are. That just makes us closer than if we had started out as strangers.”

She wrapped her hands around my waist and I snuggled my nose in her hair, taking in her smell. She was worried because we didn't start on good terms and even our relationship began a little not normally and I wouldn't blame her for her worries. “And about you resembling a cat, it's because you're adorable. You remind me of how cute and loving someone with claws can be. Even if she is wary of everyone, she still opens up to me and trusts me.” Her grip tightened on my shirt.

“I'd gladly let you claw at me all you want, Kayra.” She pressed her head more in my chest. Was she embarrassed? I peeked at her face and the tips of her cheeks were really red. She was blushing. But I didn't say this as bluff, I'd really let her hurt and use me all she wants. She could rip my heart in shreds and I would present her with my other organs next.

“You fucking smooth-talker.” She looked up at me. I chuckled seeing her bright red cheeks. “You really know your way with words.” She smiled. I was still holding her close to me and our bodies were pressed together gently.

“Thank you, Nolan.” Her smile dropped and she gazed at me with glossy eyes. “Thank you for the gifts and…for liking me. Thank you for being the best first and last boyfriend I have and will ever have. You make me happy, Nolan.” I didn't waste any time before smashing my lips on hers. My hand gripped the small of her nape, pulling her closer and the other hand caressed her cheek.

Her hand still gripped my shirt and the other simply caressed my back. My lips fit hers so well that I almost drowned in them. She was my addiction. She was my salvation. She was both my ache and cure. I closed my eyes feeling the spark between us, I wanted to etch these moments with her in my mind so that I'd never forget them. She was, is and always will be special to me.

“You too.” I looked at her with heavy breaths. Her own breaths were deep and controlled. Staring into her dark brown eyes, with my heart beating out of my chest. “You make me happy too.” I rested my forehead on hers and we both stayed there like that until our breathing was back to normal.