5:30 P.M.
"Hey, Sherryl. Thanks for helping me with the shopping." I smiled, glad I got to catch the twilight sky and pick up some plants - a succulent, an herb for freshness, and a spider plant.
"Yep-no problem. But, uh... why the herbs? Planning to open a pharmacy in your room?" she teased, curiosity in her voice.
"Oh-well, if the room gets trashy or smelly, I'll just rip off a leaf and stick it in my nose." I acted it out.
She laughed, then narrowed her eyes. "Wait... do you do drugs?"
"Why would you even think that?" I frowned.
"Nothing. Just thought you might." She smiled awkwardly.
"No, madame. I don't have the experience-or even the thought-of doing drugs." I said firmly, trying to ease her.
"Ha! Good thing the mall's just around the corner. At least we can walk." She laughed, changing the subject.
"Yeah." I nodded, glancing back at the twilight sky.
"Harvey!" A voice called. I turned.
Theo. And behind him-someone his height.
I squinted. Oh, it was him. The most random person I'd ever met... the one I'd chosen to ignore.
"What brings you here?" I asked flatly.
"Why? Can't I just go out? You sound like my mom." He grinned.
I sighed. "Why did I even bother talking to you? Well, if you're both here, then why?"
"Oh, we were going to buy some ingredients to cook," Theo said, expression blank.
"And what exactly are you cooking?" I handed him my bag of plants.
"Why is this so heavy?" he muttered.
I just nodded.
"You guys seem like you know each other?" Sherryl asked, curious. Theo looked between us too.
"Can we walk to the mall while we buy ingredients?" Theo suggested. We all agreed.
"I don't know him. But he knows me... somehow." I raised an eyebrow.
"Oh-right, you don't know me. I'm Eli. And I know you because your family owns a pâtisserie." He smiled.
"Are you a regular there?" I asked as we walked toward the mall entrance.
"Yeah. I'm a regular. And I know you bake bread." He looked at me knowingly.
"Well, I guess so. You can see us baking at the back-even if it's covered." I chuckled.
"And I've seen you eat like a regular there too. Especially your own garlic bread." Eli grinned.
"I like garlic bread. The most wonderful taste I know." I said happily.
"Do you wanna grab some garlic bread on the way?" Eli asked, curious.
"Now I'm craving it because of you." I pinched his arm.
"Sorry!" He laughed.
"I guess I could bake some garlic bread..." I wondered aloud. "If there's an oven in college."
"You can do that?!" Theo and Sherryl asked in unison.
"Didn't he just say I can bake?" I pointed at Eli.
"I'm gonna buy ingredients anyway. I can do the pan version too. Oh, right-does college even have an oven?" I asked, suddenly excited.
"I asked a janitor about it," Eli said.
"Really?!" I grinned.
"Yep. Everyone can use it, but there's a limit on how many people can stay in the room." He tried to hide his smile.
"What do I need for garlic bread again?" I muttered. Mozzarella would smash the taste buds.
Then Sherryl said the most horrific thing I'd ever heard.
"Isn't that just garlic?"
My jaw dropped. No-my entire soul dropped to the floor.
"Just garlic?! No-no, madame! Garlic bread has ingredients. Not one, not two... but seven!" Her words replayed in my head, stabbing my heart again and again. Garlic bread... just garlic? Unforgivable.
"Looks like Sherryl just broke a man's heart," Theo giggled.
Eli's voice came out weak. "Can we just buy the ingredients already? I'm getting tired."
"Oh-right." We continued walking.
I turned to Eli. "Stick close to me. Don't let me lose my precious plants."
I muttered the ingredients under my breath, rehearsing like a prayer.
"Harvey, do you like plants?" Eli asked while lifting the bag.
"I like them. They make me feel at ease." I answered, scanning the store shelves.
"Do you need mozzarella for garlic bread?" Eli asked.
"I guess... but I just can't reach it." I said, defeated, staring at the unreachable shelf.
"You could've asked for help." Eli said reaching for the mozzarella, I thought i was getting devoured by his height.
"I am so jealous that you could reach that." I said, angry, staring at him.
"Why are you so... damn. cute.." Eli muttered but i can hear it so my face got this hot face.
"S-shut-up!" I said looking away at him but i think he can see my face is red with my pale skin.
Then i saw Theo and Sherryl walking close? I look closer and Boom Holding Hands?!?
I looked back at Eli tomato color so i snap my finger to pull him into reality and pointed at the two.
Eli's jaw dropped by the discovery.
I look back at him but i just cant if he is standing infront of me after saying that.
"uh-Eli can we go there now because i got most of the ingredients." I said, poking him.
"Oh-right yeah lets go now." Then Eli acted nothing happened, but i am very close to passing out.
"Hey! Hey! Moving very fast man!" Eli said while walking.
7:00 p.m
We finally finished the shopping. My bag of plants was safe, the garlic bread ingredients stacked neatly, and my pride only mildly wounded by Eli's ridiculous height advantage.
By the time we returned to campus, the air was sharper-winter biting at my skin. The dorm lights glowed faintly, windows fogged with warmth.
"Here it is," Eli said, pushing open a door marked Communal Kitchen.
The room smelled faintly of detergent and yesterday's soup. Long counters stretched along the walls, with battered but functional ovens. A few pans clattered in the sink.
"Not bad," I muttered, inspecting the space like it was my personal battlefield.
Theo whistled. "Feels like a cooking show in here."
"Yeah, with our chef over there," Sherryl teased, nudging me.
"Don't distract me." I set the ingredients down like sacred offerings: bread, butter, garlic, parsley, mozzarella. "This... is art."
Eli leaned against the counter, arms crossed, watching me with a stupid grin. "You're way too serious about garlic bread."
"Garlic bread deserves reverence," I said, mincing garlic like my life depended on it.
Sherryl leaned over. "So, step one is... garlic?"
I froze mid-slice and glared. "Do not desecrate the ritual."
Theo chuckled. "He's not cooking, he's summoning."
The oven hummed to life, heat filling the room. I mixed softened butter with the garlic and herbs, spreading it across the bread in smooth, practiced motions. Cheese followed, a generous snowfall of mozzarella.
"Whoa..." Eli muttered. "You look like you've done this a thousand times."
"I have." My voice was soft, almost proud. "It's in my blood."
The bread slid into the oven. We waited. The smell rose slowly, golden and irresistible, garlic and butter wrapping the entire kitchen in warmth. Even Theo shut up for once.
When the timer dinged, I pulled it out-crust crackling, cheese bubbling, scent divine.
Sherryl's eyes widened. "That smells... illegal."
Theo grabbed a piece, blew on it, then bit down. He froze. "...Okay. This isn't garlic bread. This is life-changing."
Sherryl snatched hers next. "Oh my god... why am I crying?"
I smiled faintly. "Justice has been served."
Eli took his last. He chewed, then gave me that look again-the one that made my ears burn. "Best garlic bread I've ever had... but I think it's the chef that makes it better."
I nearly dropped the tray. "S-shut up!"
Theo, with his mouth full, pointed between us. "You two-suspicious."
Sherryl laughed. "Forget them, I'm marrying this garlic bread."
The kitchen filled with laughter, crumbs, and warmth. For a moment, winter couldn't touch us.
"Yo theo can i talk to you for a second outside?" Theo agreed, then i saw them both walk out the door but i was enjoying the garlic bread so i didn't bother.
---Eli pov---
"Hey theo is it possible if we could swap place like you go with my roommate which is Sherryl and i go with Harvey." Please accept! please accept! i repeated those words until i couldn't remember how many times i have said.
"Yeah sure i dont mind." Yes! He agreed.
"What time are we swapping place?" Is he for real?
"We need permission first with dorm staff." I hope they agree as well.
"Just send an email thats all and they will accept." Is Theo serious they need to think about it before accepting.
"Well lets try, Lets head back there are some garlic bread waiting." I wanna cuddle with Harvey!
"Yep im hungry as well." Theo said.
---End of pov---
Oh its Theo and Eli.
"What were you two about to cook anyways?" I questioned.
"Creamy garlic pasta." Thats normal for me.
"Okay, do you guys know how to cook it?" I asked.
"Eli does." Oh he cooks thats.. never mind.
"Im tired you cook." I said laying my arms in the counter while resting my head.
"You can cook it?" Eli asked.
"Yeah but im tired you cook." I said, tired.
"Well the chef baked alot of garlic bread." Sherryl laughed.
8:36 p.m.
The garlic bread was gone, the creamy pasta wiped clean from the pan. Laughter still lingered in the corners of the kitchen, but my body was heavy.
"Harvey! You gonna sleep here?" Sherryl's voice floated somewhere behind me.
There was a pillow on the bench beside me. Without thinking, I pulled it into my arms, hugging it close. It was warm. Comforting.
I mumbled something I didn't mean to say out loud - Eli's name, and a soft muffled whisper i love you.
Sleep took me before I could even hear anyone's reaction.