A bright morning greeted Adi and Maya in their tiny kitchen. Sunlight streamed through the small window, bouncing off the wooden table and illuminating the modest utensils they had arranged just the day before. Maya's face glowed with cheerfulness, her ponytail swaying as she opened the cupboard to grab some plates.
"So, what's on the menu today, Chef Maya?" Adi asked, rolling up his sleeves and leaning casually against the table, clearly excited.
Maya let out a small laugh and picked up a wooden spoon hanging on the wall. "According to the recipe I saw last night, we're going to make a vegetable-stuffed omelet, complete with homemade tomato sambal."
Adi tilted his head, pretending to ponder seriously. "Hmm… sounds kind of complicated. But if you're leading, I'm ready to be your loyal assistant."
Maya smiled and gave his arm a playful tap. "Alright then, Assistant Adi, your first mission: get four eggs from the basket."
With a confident swagger, Adi walked toward the table where the egg basket sat. But just as he reached out, his foot slipped on a piece of plastic they hadn't thrown away the night before. He lost his balance and thud! He hit the floor and two eggs rolled out of the basket and cracked on the tiles.
"Oh no!" Maya exclaimed, rushing over to check on him. She helped him up, brushing off bits of eggshell from his shirt. "Are you okay?"
"Just my dignity got bruised." Adi replied, wiping egg off his hands. "I guess we're gonna need more eggs."
Maya chuckled as she retrieved two backup eggs from their small fridge. "This time, let me handle it."
Once the eggs were safely in a large mixing bowl, Maya began preparing the vegetables. She chopped red onions, bright red bell peppers, and fresh spinach, adding them to the bowl one by one. The colors blended beautifully, creating a dish that already looked delicious. Adi was handed the task of mixing the eggs and vegetables. He grabbed the wooden spoon and began stirring with enthusiasm too much enthusiasm.
Snap!
"Oops! I broke it!" Adi said, staring at the wooden spoon now split in two.
Maya sighed, then burst out laughing. "That was my favorite spoon, you know!"
"I promise I'll find a replacement stronger and more elegant," Adi said in a mock-serious tone that made Maya laugh even harder.
With a backup spatula in hand, they managed to finish mixing the ingredients. Maya lit the stove and poured a small amount of oil into the pan. The sound of sizzling filled the kitchen as the oil heated. Maya handed the bowl to Adi.
"Alright, it's your turn to pour."
Carefully, Adi poured the mixture into the pan. A bit of it spilled over the edge, sizzling loudly and making him jump.
"It's hot!" he yelped, stepping back. Maya giggled at his nervous reaction.
"That's why you shouldn't stand so close And next time, we're definitely buying aprons."
As the omelet began to cook, Adi attempted to flip it with the spatula. The shape didn't turn out great, some parts tore, and the edges were slightly burnt.
"Well, it's not Instagram-worthy." Maya said, smiling, "but the smell is amazing."
While waiting for the omelet to cook fully, Maya started making the tomato sambal. She chopped fresh tomatoes, garlic, and chilies. Adi's eyes lit up when he saw the ingredients.
"Can I add a few extra chilies? Just to spice it up a bit."
Maya raised an eyebrow. "Just a few. Not like the time you made spicy noodles, I almost burst into flames from the inside."
Adi laughed but still sneakily added two more chilies into the stone mortar. As they ground the ingredients together, the spicy aroma hit them, making them both sneeze.
"Now this is real sambal!" Adi declared proudly.
When the omelet was ready and the sambal finished, they plated the food with care. The golden-brown omelet was placed neatly on a dish, with the bright red sambal in a small bowl on the side. They sat together at their tiny dining table, surrounded by cluttered kitchen tools and ingredients.
"Want a bite?" Maya offered, holding out a piece of omelet to Adi's mouth.
Adi chewed thoughtfully, then nodded with an impressed expression. "Mmm… delicious! The spice really hits, feels like I just ran a marathon."
Maya laughed and tried the sambal herself. Her eyes widened. "Wow! The color is deceiving, it's really spicy."
They ate while laughing and chatting, discussing what recipe to try next, whether they should get a better spatula, and the idea of hanging a spice rack on the wall. Even though the kitchen was small and a bit chaotic, the warmth of the moment wrapped around them like a cozy blanket.
After the meal, Maya stood up to wash the dishes. But Adi gently stopped her.
"Let me help." he said, turning on the warm water. Steam rose from the faucet, fogging up the window.
Maya rolled up her sleeves and joined him by the sink. She scrubbed the plates with a sponge while Adi rinsed and arranged them on the drying rack.
"You see?" Adi said softly. "Even with a little mess, I really like moments like this."
Maya turned to him, brushing damp hair from her face. "Me too. We might not be master chefs yet, but we're learning together. That's what matters most."
Adi nodded. "A marriage is like cooking: sometimes the shape isn't perfect, sometimes the taste doesn't turn out right, but if you do it together, it always ends up with a special flavor."
Maya patted his shoulder. "Deal. Tomorrow, let's try fried noodles?"
Adi raised an eyebrow. "Only if you promise not to use ten chilies, Chef Maya."
They burst into laughter again and continued washing dishes, humming songs from their college days. The plates slowly piled up clean and shiny, but what felt the cleanest was their hearts, because through the small chaos of the kitchen, they had discovered a warmth that made their little home feel complete.