21 Blooming (1/2)

Kai drove his car home and then parked it in the parking lot. The parking lot was underground protected by multiple security guards. He locked his car's doors and then took the elevator up to the 20th floor. On the 20th floor, was a ladder that you could use to climb on to the ceiling of the building. On top was a huge red circle with an H in the middle. He wanted to see the view of the city from the top but Lexi was waiting for him. He had told her that he would be home 6:30 the latest and it was already 6:25. Traffic was unusually busy tonight, 'I wonder what's going on tonight.' but he brushed the thought off and then opened his house door. As he did a wave of spices and herbs rushed into his face.

”Oh good, you are here,” Lexi said while she took out a tray of lasagne from the oven and put it on the counter. It looked beautiful with the golden cheese melted on top. Then she rushed to the deep fryer and took out the fries. They shone with a golden brilliance as the oil dripped off of them. Then she carefully inserted it into the two plates. After that, she moved to the microwave to take out the steaks. The microwave was keeping the meat warm without cooking the meat so it retained all it's juices as if it was just made. Then she placed the salad into their plates. The salad looked like it was made by a seasoned chef. The slices were cut without hesitation and had minimal variation. Lastly, she took a spatula and cut the lasagna by the corner and placed one block into each of their plates. When she was done she wiped the sweat off her forehead and then smiled at Kai, ”Dinner is served.”

Looking at the spread on the plates, Kai's eyes bulged and his eyebrows raised. It looked fan-tastic! It had all the colours and all the food groups, 'This is a meal!' Kai excitedly took his plate and sat down on the couch. While waiting for Lexi to sit down, the smells of the food whirled in his nose. He took a deep breath from his nostrils as the smells of the food blended into one. He could now no longer hold his patience. He wanted to dig in as soon as possible. It had been months since he ate a proper meal. Luckily in the next moment, Lexi sat next to him. He then looked at her, she had her fork and knife in her hands. She returned the glance to Kai and grinned.

When Kai saw her grin, he thought, 'Say no more.' And started digging in. He first started with the salad. It required the least amount of skill. The degree in how bad it could taste was a lot less than the other foods. He didn't want to spoil his appet.i.te so early on. Just because the food looked great didn't mean it did... Kai took his fork and then poked into some lettuce, then he guided his fork to some nicely cut tomatoes and poked them too. He then placed it into his mouth. As he chewed on it, the juices gushed out. They were of a Superior standard and very fresh. Kai tasted hints of salt and pepper and there was salad dressing poured over that he couldn't distinguish. Nonetheless, it tasted a lot better than he expected. In fact, he was greatly pleased.

After the salad, Kai moved onto the fries. He poked his fork into a few of them. To his surprise, the fork slid right in. Then he put the fries into his mouth and chewed, 'Mmm, the outside is crispy but the inside is soft and light.” He nodded his head in satisfaction, 'It is also magnificently seasoned. The salt level is just right with a touch of parsley for added flavour.' Kai grinned and then ate a few more fries before moving onto the steak.

Kai cut took his knife and cut into the meat. It only required one swipe with the knife to cut the meat. It was soft and tender. Then he took the cut of steak and saw that it was a beautiful pink inside. This was a prime example of a medium-rare steak, 'It's medium to rare to see a steak so well done.' After fawning at the presentation, he placed the steak into his mouth and chewed. Immediately the meat broke apart in his mouth and the flavours burst forth. The spices, the marinate, the meat, everything came together as one, nothing worked staccato. While chewing, Kai closed his eyes savouring every moment he could. How he wished he could enter lightning hyperdrive. If he could, he would able to experience this bliss for longer. After the flavours had washed away, Kai swallowed the meat and unhesitantly took another bite. The result was the same. It was Heaven on Drars, 'This tastes far better than Jijitos. I a.s.sumed it would either be palatable or good. Not the best I've ever head!' Upon this realisation, Kai knew that there was no way Lexi could have cooked this. Despite her best efforts to hide that it was takeout. She made a mistake by ordering out from a high-end restaurant. This was like burying a body but putting a sign on top of it, 'Body down here.' Kai laughed inwardly at his joke and then moved onto the lasagne.

But just as he was cutting into the lasagne he felt two eyes staring at him. Kai furrowed his eyebrows and pouted his slips slightly. Then he looked at the stimulus only to find Lexi looking at him. She looked at him with her chin slightly raised and her eyebrows too. Her eyes were wide open causing her to blink more than normal. Seeing this face Kai thought, 'Is this that face!?'

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7 years ago at the Adler residence. Kai was having dinner with his mother, brother and father. Juliette Adler his older sister couldn't make it for work-related reasons. It was a cold winters evening and Brianna Adler had whipped up a mighty meal. There was fried chicken, fries, lasagne, steaks, salads, pigs in a blanket, all their favourite foods on the table. Excited the Adler residence dished themselves some food and dug right in.

Sebastien Adler was a statuesque man with jet black hair like his mother. His eyes were Bleu de France, deep set and narrow. He had a square-shaped face and sat upright exuding countenance and grace. He took the serving spoon and dished himself some lasagne and fried chicken. He then poked his fork in the lasagne and ate. Sebastien Adler rarely came home because he worked a demanding job. At this time he was still working at GQ corporation in s.h.i.+yca, as an engineer in a top firm, he was pushed to create results. War bred and required innovation.

After the Adler's had all eaten till they looked paunchy, Brianna looked at Zack. She didn't say a word she just stared. Zack sighed inwardly, ”Listen up boys. Listen to what I say very carefully. When a woman has made you food and she looks at you like this. She wants to know how the food tastes. Burn this sight into your memory.” Then he looked at his wife, ”It tastes great honey.”

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Lexi continued to stare at Kai just as Brianna did. Seeing the similarities in their expressions it was undeniable. Lexi wanted to hear what Kai thought of the food she had supposedly cooked. Kai sighed inwardly, 'How can I say it tastes good when she didn't even make it...?' Then he sighed again, ”The food tastes amazing. But it's supposed to since it's takeout, right?”

Lexi furrowed her eyebrows, ”It's not, I made it myself.”

Kai furrowed his brows, ”Nah, I don't believe it. Since we have been here I have never seen you cook. You always eat takeouts. Besides, why would you always order takeout if you can cook better food?”

When Lexi heard Kai's reply she narrowed her eyes as her eyebrows creased. She clenched her jaw and gripped her fork. Then she dropped the fork and sucked in her lips while smiling. After that, she picked up her fork and then she stood up with her plate of food in hand. From above, Lexi glared at Kai and then left the tv room and went to her room.

BAM!

The door slammed shut leaving a silent house in its wake. Kai just sat there on the couch wide-eyed and his eyes wide open, 'Oh d.a.m.n, I done did it now...' He sighed, 'But she should have admitted where she was wrong. Like you didn't make the food, no biggie, we move on...' Kai stopped thinking for a while and then sighed again, 'I guess, I shouldn't have openly revealed the truth to her. No less while we were still eating... She went out of her way to help me and then I did this. Should have just listened to my father and said the food was great... I'll apologize tomorrow.'

When Kai realised he was in the wrong, he walked to her bedroom door and knocked on the door while calling her name but she never replied. He knocked on the door again and still she never replied. He tried one last time but the only answer he got, was silence. However, the silence was answer enough, 'I'll try again tomorrow.'

After his failed attempt to apologize, Kai ate the rest of the food. It still tasted good but it had a phantom sour aftertaste. After eating, he put his dishes in the dishwasher and then went to his room. He then practised how he was going to apologize and went to sleep.

The next morning, Kai woke up and made two cups of coffee. He then practised his lines in his head while he waited for Lexi. However, she never came out of her room. Kai shook his head and then went to his room to go and dress, 'If she didn't want coffee she would definitely still run with me.' But contrary to his expectations she never came out of her room. So Kai had to go alone, he couldn't wait any longer. While running Kai realised how boring it was. He couldn't believe this was how it used to be. With Lexi, it was fun as they were always competing and laughing. By himself it was dull... Kai sighed and then jogged home. He then took a shower and went to his room to change into his work clothes. After that, he placed a bar of chocolate that he had bought from the convenience store on the kitchen counter. He also wrote a little note and placed it on top of it. Then he left for work. The entire morning Kai didn't see Lexi so he couldn't say sorry. He didn't expect the chocolate and note would make her forgive him. But he hoped it would at least grant him the opportunity to apologize.

Two hours after, Kai left the house, Lexi came out of her room and yawned while rubbing her eyes. She wasn't wearing light make-up as n.o.body was home to see her. She made herself a cup of coffee. When she did she saw the note and the chocolate then she showered. After showering she put on some light make-up and dressed into her casual clothes. Then she sat in front of the tv and watched The Royals until it was time to leave for practice. Before she left she did one last thing.

Lexi got to the Montreal Estate and then entered the training room. Her dad was already there and waiting for her. When she got into the ring they began training until her time was finished. After training, she sat down at the bar and ate some food.

When Lexi started eating, Kai walked into the training room. The first thing he did was look towards Lexi and waved at her. However, she ignored him. Then she took the box wrapper of the food that had her family's logo on top of it and placed it next to her food. Then she glared at Kai and returned to eating.

Kai sighed, 'Looks like she isn't over it. I guess I'll give her s.p.a.ce and focus on training for now.'

So Kai walked into the ring and then began his individual training with Jacques. They were practising the spear today. Kai was talented with the spear but exceptionally gifted with the bow. So he needed more time learning the spear. Currently, he was going over The Lightning G.o.d's spear art's first to the third form as that was all he could at this level. The rest could only be done when he was an Amateur and above. There were 12 forms in total, all powerful enough to be used alone. But when chained together the power increased tremendously for each chain successfully performed.

After training, Kai sat down at the bar. This time he didn't sit next to Lexi but 5 seats away. He figured he would give her s.p.a.ce, 'When she stops glaring at me I'll be able to approach her.' He then took out a water bottle from his bag and drank the contents. When he did his energy returned to him, 'So glad I thought of a contingency if she didn't want to talk to me.' After drinking he rested for an hour then Jacques called them up to the ring, so they went. When Kai got there he looked at Lexi with his eyes wide open and bulged, 'I'm sorry.' His lips moved but there was no sound.

Lexi's nostrils flared in anger and then she looked at her father ready for the okay to begin sparring. Kai took it that she wasn't ready yet. He sighed then looked at Jacques ready for the go sign.

Jacques observed the strange behaviour and recognised it immediately. There had been many times he was in the doghouse with his wife. In the end, he shook his head, 'Best not to get involved.' So he looked at the two and then gave the go ahead. Immediately they blasted off, however, Lexi darted off first and faster than usual. Then she began fighting Jacques Montreal. Kai came in after and began the fighting. However, when they fought together it was like they had never trained together before. They were b.u.mping into each other, getting into each other's ways. Almost injuring one another with their weapons. Jacques had to stop the fight over and over again until eventually, he couldn't handle it anymore, ”What is wrong with you two!? Are you even trying? There is no teamwork from you two whatsoever. I have more important things to do than to train the unwilling.”

After Jacques spoke, Kai looked at Lexi, ”I'm sorry. I've said it over and over. What else do you expect me to say?”

Lexi just looked at Kai, shook her head and then left the ring and exited the training room.

Kai sighed with his hand on his creased forehead and shook his head.

Observing the situation, Jacques asked, ”What happened? Why were you two so out of sync.”

Kai sighed, ”We were having dinner last night. The food tasted amazing. It was so amazing that I'm convinced Lexi didn't cook it. I confronted her about it. I meant it as a joke though. Anyway, long story short. She said she did cook it and was offended I thought she didn't. We haven't spoken since...”

While listening to Kai, Jacques expression changed, ”What!? Lexi cooked for you?”

”She claims she did...”

”What did she make!?”

Kai furrowed his eyebrows in confusion, ”She made some steak, fries, salad and lasagne. All my favourite foods. She at least did her research.”

Jacques shook his head, ”No that's my favourite meal... I have been trying to get Lexi to cook for me for years. She would always refuse. Ever since her mother pa.s.sed away...”

Kai's eyes opened wide as a yucky feeling welling up inside of him, he gulped, ”Mother pa.s.sed away?”

Jacques tilted his head to the left, ”You didn't know...” Then he sighed, ”My wife pa.s.sed away five years ago.” He said with a voice rife with pain and then pursed his lips, ”My wife loved to cook, it was her escape. She sustained damage to her nerves when we were fighting the Zolma. We were careful about it but one night she pa.s.sed away in her sleep...” He said taking a deep breath, ” As a young girl, Lexi admired her mother greatly. She admired her strength, her beauty, creativity, and mercy. I would often walk into the kitchen watching them immersed in cooking. Because my wife loved to cook so did Lexi. My wife taught her everything she knows, cooking was how they communicated, it connected them. However, when she pa.s.sed away, Lexi stopped cooking. It reminded her of her mother who she misses dearly... I've been trying to get her to cook for me for years. Now I'm hearing she decided to cook for you. And then you went and accused her of ordering takeout...” He sighed and took a moment, ”As I watch Lexi grow up, she becomes more and more like her mother. So I know she will be merciful to you, if you apologize sincerely.”

Kai closed his eyes and scrunched his face, ”I'm so sorry, I didn't know?”

Jacques shook his head, ”I'm not the one you should be apologizing to... Go! Don't waste any more time.”

”Yes, sir,” Kai said running out the training room in a mess.

Watching Kai run off all frantic and worried made him laugh inside, 'Don't worry Lara, I daughter will be okay.'

Running out the training room, Kai searched left and right, 'Where is she?' He darted down the halls of the mansion almost cras.h.i.+ng into furniture, 'Where did she go?' Kai kept running until he finally found a maid, ”Where is Lexi. Have you seen her?”

”The young miss. She left with a chauffeur a few minutes ago.”

Kai pursed his lips, ”Do you know where she went?”

”I'm afraid not.”

Tsk!