Isaac groggily opened his eyes, waking up from his nap. His eyes remained still for a moment, observing the light drizzling rain outside — which always seemed to be present in the suitcase — before shifting to the lobby room.
Regulus was no longer able to be seen, but Mr. APPLe was still there. Albeit, it seemed that, like Isaac, he was also asleep, from the mere fact that he was not levitating anymore and was remaining still on a cushion.
He then gazed at the time to see how much he had been out. 'Half an hour... No wonder I feel so groggy...'
He yawned briefly before slowly standing up. Afterwards, he remained still for a moment before doing a light stretch.
Not intending to stay any longer, Isaac soon made up a decision to go back to his cabin to organize his thoughts for what he'd do next. Or maybe sleep more.
However, just as he was about to leave the lobby, a figure suddenly appeared that stopped him in his tracks.
"Ah, Ms. Druvis... Good day." Seeing who it was, Isaac casually greeted her.
"Good day to you too, Mr. Isaac." She nodded in response. Her eyes then shifted to his rustled clothes, unkempt hair, and tranquil expression before continuing. "It seems that your nap made this day better for you."
Catching on what she meant, he gave a quiet scoff. "A good rest with the rain as the background always gives the best refreshing naps, you know? I highly recommend it."
"...I've actually been having the same naps lately." Hearing him mention this topic, she soon crossed her arms. "The rest I've had in the cabin has been really helpful. Most of the worries that had been clouding my mind have been eased."
At the mention of his cabin, Isaac's eyes lit up as his smile beamed with optimism. "Really? That's great! What did I tell you, Ms. Druvis? A good bit of alone time is almost always a good remedy for the stressed mind. I'm glad it worked for you."
He meant his words genuinely from the bottom of his heart. To Isaac, there was no better joy than seeing people realize the greatness of serenity and peace — mostly because he knew what it meant to attain them during hard times.
Back in the past, when his mind was clouded, and his vision was darkened with negativity, the journey and outcome of finding peace not only within himself but with the world felt much greater than anything he could ever put into words.
After that enlightenment, he sought to see others heal the same way — or any way, really — so long as they heal or achieve peacefulness.
He then shifted his gait, attempting to continue his stride. "Well, I guess it's my turn now. I've barely been in the cabin myself, so now's a good time to go there."
"I..." Druvis was just about to say something when she stopped herself, shaking her head as she stopped her sentence. "Nevermind."
"Hm? What is it?" Halting, Isaac turned to her, a curious look present on his face.
"It's nothing, it's just that..." Her usual stoic expression began to fade away, albeit slowly. She paused briefly before continuing with a much subdued tone. "Your... dish..."
Although she didn't manage to finish her words, Isaac instantly knew what she meant.
"...oh!" Isaac looked at her for a moment before breaking out into an amused scoff. "Aha, I see. You want another dish made from yours truly? Have I just perhaps become Ms. Druvis' best chef?"
"I... I'm willing to properly compensate this time." She sighed softly as she tried her best to maintain eye contact with him, all the while having the same reticent expression. But of course, with Isaac's attempts at teasing, it was slowly but surely fading. "Last time, I accepted your dish as compensation, but this time, I want to pay for your services."
Indeed, the taste of Isaac's dish still lingers at the back of her mind. It wasn't just her either — everyone who had the chance to taste the dishes he cooked, albeit rarely, could agree that they were quite inclining.
A proud subdued smirk played on his lips. "Well, there's no need for that. I'll be more than happy to help in cooking if that's what you want. If it's too much for you, then it can be dinner for the others."
"Would that be okay? You said you wanted to have a rest at your cabin." Feeling a bit culpable, Druvis asked. "I wouldn't want to disturb you on trivial matters like this."
"It's fine, really." He shrugged lightly. "Moreover, it's a better use of my time than just lounging around, and I'm sure the others would want to have the same too."
With that said, he gestured to the kitchen. "Come, let's cook it together."
Druvis paused briefly, contemplating whether to further dissuade him, but seeing how willing he was at granting her request without any compensation, she thought that it would be rude to turn it down.
As such, she decided to tag along.
"Alright." She nodded, following right behind him.
Once they reached the kitchen, Isaac immediately rolled up his sleeves with a sense of determination, like a man about to compose a symphony — except with food.
"Beef, Check. Tomatoes, check. Potatoes, check. Soy sauce... A bit low but it could still work." He mumbled to himself while inspecting the ingredients they'd need.
After making sure everything was present, he gave a silent nod before clapping his hands once. "Alright. Today, we're making a beef stew."
Druvis paused and blinked. "Beef stew… what kind?"
"The good one — tangy, savory, and rich. Kind of like if a hug had a flavor." Isaac's eyes lit up as he started sorting through the ingredients on the counter, pulling out the beef cuts, potatoes, carrots, garlic, and tomatoes while talking. "It's a dish from where I'm from. Comfort food, really."
Druvis stood nearby, hands clasped in front of her. "I see. And… what should I do?"
Isaac looked at her and grinned. "Ah, you're my sous-chef today. No pressure, but everything depends on you."
She tilted her head slightly. "...Isn't that a bit contradictory?"
"Exactly." He amusingly smiled, already dicing onions with expertise. "Now, grab those carrots and peel them. We'll finish this before the sky turns dark."
She hesitated for a moment, then silently picked up a peeler and started working. Her movements were stiff at first, like someone familiar with the tools yet not entirely familiar with them. Even so, she did it quite well and swiftly.
Isaac noticed but didn't comment — instead, he started humming a soft tune under his breath as he seared the beef in a hot pan, the kitchen quickly filling with the savory scent of browning meat and garlic.
"You hum when you cook." Druvis observed quietly while slicing a potato.
"A habit." He replied with a smirk. "Keeps the kitchen alive and the people aware. Oh — and don't cut those too small. Yeah, just the right size."
"Okay." She nodded.
A few minutes passed like that — with Isaac giving occasional instructions, and Druvis following them with more confidence each time at his lead.
At one point, however, she accidentally dropped a piece of potato, prompting Isaac to let out an exaggerated gasp.
"Oh, the tragedy! A fallen soldier..."
"..." Druvis subtly glanced at him, unsure if he was serious, only to find the exaggerated grief on his face. She rolled her eyes subtly but couldn't hide the faint twitch of her lips.
"Fret not." He said, scooping it up. "We'll give you a proper burial... in the stew."
With that said, he sliced it cleanly before dropping it in the pot. "Requiescat en pace."
"...You're silly." She commented while glancing at him from the sides, finding his act amusing.
"A tad bit, maybe?" He hummed.
The two of them continued working, side by side, the rhythm between them slowly syncing. The clatter of utensils, the bubbling of the pot, and the occasional playful antics from Isaac formed a cozy atmosphere of tranquil warmth.
As the stew simmered, the air in the kitchen grew warm. Druvis glanced at him again, this time for a little longer.
"You enjoy this." She said. It wasn't a question. "Not just cooking... But this."
She was referring to the warmth and peace that the act of cooking brought — something he had somehow rustled up.
Isaac stirred the pot gently, steam rising around his face like a veil. Then, he spoke. "I do. Cooking is simple. Honest. You give effort, and you get warmth in return. It's not like everything else — that's why I like it as a form of bonding between friends."
He then paused before continuing. "There was a time when I used to cook around a bonfire too, building camaraderie with others. I will never forget those days and how much simple acts like these bring people together."
She lowered her eyes, comprehending what he meant. "…I think I understand."
There was a pause, but it wasn't uncomfortable. It was a moment of silence born from understanding between the two that required no words.
A few more minutes passed, and soon, Isaac gave the stew one last stir before ladling a small spoonful and offering it to her.
"Taste test?"
She hesitated for a bit, then leaned in and sipped carefully, tucking her hair behind her ear as she did so.
She didn't say anything immediately, but her eyes widened — just a little — upon eating it.
The rich, tangy taste coupled with the hot tender meat that almost seemed like it melted in her mouth surprised her a bit.
"Good?" He asked, raising an eyebrow.
She thought for a moment, thinking of a proper word to describe the taste that the dish gave. A few moments later, she knew the answer.
"…It tastes nostalgic." She admitted softly. "Even though I've never had it before, it feels like it's something I've eaten at home."
Isaac smiled, satisfied with her answer. "That's the best kind, I'm glad you liked it. Alright, let's prepare for dinner now. I'm sure the others would love it too."
"Okay." She gave a succint reply, still enjoying the taste.
Soon, the two of them began moving around the kitchen once more. This time, much closer than they had been earlier.
And it was all thanks to a simple dish.
But of course... The best simple dishes are always those that taste like home.
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A/N:
It was Beef Mechado.