Chapter 113: 113.The chaotic dinner-5
The dining table was finally set.
Steaming bowls of rice, spicy curries, and roasted vegetables filled the small space with an incredible, mouth-watering aroma.
Mylo pulled out a chair for Chloe, then took his own seat at the head of the table. Aaina happily scrambled into the chair beside him.
But Meha remained standing by the kitchen counter, wiping her hands on her apron.
“Alright,” Mylo said, grabbing a serving spoon. “Come sit down, Meha.”
Meha gasped, clutching her apron. “Oh, I couldn’t possibly! I am the housekeeper, Mr. Mylo. It is highly improper for me to dine with the master of the house and his… esteemed guest.”
“Meha,” Mylo said, his voice dropping into that calm, unshakeable tone that left no room for argument. “There are four chairs and enough food to feed an army. Sit down.”
“But my professional boundaries—”
“I am not asking, Meha. Sit.”
Meha sniffled, a dramatic, touched tear welling in the corner of her eye. “You are too kind to this humble servant!”
She quickly hurried over and took the last empty seat next to Chloe.
The meal began with a comfortable, bustling energy. The food was incredible, but Meha was absolutely determined to treat Chloe like royalty.
“Please, Miss Twenty-Eight,” Meha said, eagerly pushing a bowl of curry toward Chloe. “Take the finest cuts of chicken! You must maintain your mature figure!”
Chloe buried her face in her hands, her ears turning pink. “Meha, please. Just call me Chloe. And stop mentioning my age.”
“I am only showing respect to the woman of the house!” Meha insisted proudly.
“I am not the woman of the house!” Chloe squeaked.
Mylo chuckled, leaning back in his chair. He scooped a large spoonful of roasted carrots and dropped it directly onto Aaina’s plate.
“Eat your carrots, brat,” Mylo said.
Aaina scrunched her nose in disgust. “I’m not a rabbit! I want the chicken!”
“Carrots make you taller,” Mylo teased smoothly. “And considering you look like a grumpy garden gnome, you need all the help you can get.”
“I am still growing, you giant jerk!” Aaina grumbled, swatting at his arm.
Mylo just laughed, reaching over to ruffle her hair playfully. His hand lingered, giving the back of her head a gentle, warm pat, his thumb lightly stroking her hair.
Aaina froze. Her complaints died in her throat. A soft, happy blush dusted her cheeks, and she entirely stopped fighting him, quietly stabbing a carrot with her fork.
She chewed for a second, then narrowed her eyes, pointing her fork at Mylo.
“You’re only giving me the vegetables so you can give all the good meat to her,” Aaina accused, pointing at Chloe.
Chloe choked on her water.
“I am just making sure Miss Chloe gets the best,” Mylo replied effortlessly, locking his dark eyes onto Chloe’s flustered face. “She works incredibly hard. She needs the energy.”
“Y-You don’t need to give me special treatment, Mylo,” Chloe stammered, wiping her mouth with a napkin as her heart did a frantic flip.
“I want to,” Mylo smiled, sliding the plate of prime cuts closer to her.
Aaina rolled her eyes, kicking Mylo’s shin under the table. “Gross. You guys are acting like you’re on a date.”
“Aaina!” Chloe gasped, thoroughly scandalized.
“The child speaks the truth!” Meha nodded sagely while chewing on a piece of naan. “The romantic tension in this room is thicker than my gravy.”
Chloe looked like she wanted to spontaneously combust.
Mylo just laughed, the sound warm and genuine. The domestic, chaotic warmth of the apartment was completely disarming all of them.
“So, Aaina,” Chloe asked gently, desperate to change the subject. “Do your parents mind you eating dinner in another apartment this late?”
The clinking of silverware suddenly stopped.
Aaina froze, her fork hovering over her plate. The bratty spark in her eyes dimmed instantly.
Before the heavy silence could stretch, Mylo smoothly stepped in.
“It’s just Aaina and her grandpa,” Mylo said softly, his dark eyes meeting Chloe’s. “Uncle Joe. He’s the caretaker of this building.”
Chloe’s eyes widened in sudden, horrifying realization.
“Oh,” Chloe breathed out, her hand flying to her mouth. “Aaina, I am so incredibly sorry. I shouldn’t have pried.”
“It’s fine,” Aaina muttered quickly.
She stared down at her plate, poking a piece of rice with her fork. The tough, tsundere mask was still there, but her shoulders slumped, and a heavy, quiet sadness pooled in her eyes.
Mylo didn’t say a word. He just reached out, resting his large, warm hand on the back of Aaina’s neck, giving her a firm, reassuring squeeze.
Meha immediately grabbed the absolute largest piece of roasted chicken from the serving bowl and dropped it directly onto Aaina’s plate.
“You need your protein to grow big and strong!” Meha declared loudly.
“And if you ever need help with your schoolwork,” Chloe added softly, her voice full of genuine, maternal warmth, “you can always come to my office. I’d love to help you.”
“And if anyone at school actually bothers you, you let me know,” Mylo added, his tone half-joking, half-deadly serious. “I’ll go have a polite word with them.”
Aaina looked up at the three of them.
She saw Chloe’s gentle concern, Meha’s dramatic care, and felt the absolute, steady anchor of Mylo’s hand on her neck.
Aaina sniffled, wiping her nose with the back of her sleeve.
“Stop looking at me like that!” Aaina complained, her voice cracking slightly as a small, watery smile fought its way onto her face. “I’m already cheered up! Just let me eat my chicken!”
Chloe let out a soft laugh, the heavy tension in her chest completely vanishing. “Eat up, Aaina.”
The gloomy cloud dissolved as quickly as it had arrived.
The conversation picked right back up, filled with Meha’s wild, illogical stories, Aaina’s sarcastic quips, and Mylo’s smooth, effortless teasing that kept Chloe blushing every five minutes.
For the first time since moving in, Mylo’s apartment actually felt like a home.
They were just finishing their dessert, laughing at one of Aaina’s jokes, when a loud, vibrating buzz cut through the noise.
Mylo’s phone lit up on the dining table.
Every eye turned to the bright screen.
[INCOMING VIDEO CALL – MOM]
The blood instantly drained from Meha’s face.
Chloe froze, her spoon halfway to her mouth.
Mylo stared at the screen, a sudden chill running down his spine.
Mylo stared at the ringing phone, his heart skipping a beat.
Calm down, he told himself, taking a slow breath. It’s just Mom. There’s nothing to hide. We are literally just eating dinner.
He tapped the green icon and held the phone up, pasting on a perfectly innocent smile.
“Hey, Mom,” Mylo said smoothly.
“Mylo,” his mother’s sharp, commanding voice rang out from the speaker. Her face appeared on the screen, her eyes narrowing with maternal suspicion. “You look tired. Are you eating properly? Tell me you haven’t been living on instant noodles.”
“I’m eating perfectly fine, Mom,” Mylo chuckled, leaning back in his chair. “A full course meal, actually.”
“Good. I knew hiring help was the right call,” she nodded, her strict expression softening just a fraction. “How is Meha? Is she doing a good job? She hasn’t burned the kitchen down, has she?”
“She’s doing a great job,” Mylo replied. “The food is amazing.”
“Let me see her,” his mother demanded. “I need to make sure she’s actually earning her paycheck.”