214 Setting up Camp (2/2)
Mura had chosen me for this task because she knows she could get away with having me do stuff. It's just part of our relationship. She knows she is above me in the hierarchy and that no matter what, I will always end up doing her bidding, as long as it's reasonable. It's the authority she has over me as my teacher and someone who actually worries and tries to help me out. This respect that I have for her allows her to command me.
With a sigh, I walked over to the closed trunk of the automobile and reached for the handle. The door then automatically opened as Mura pressed the button on the car remote, slowly revealing to me the contents of the trunk. After having taken out the tent and the other camping equipment like the foldable table and such, the trunk was way cleaner than the mess I had seen it in earlier. I reached my hand toward the small portable refrigerator in the trunk of the vehicle, opening it, and peering in.
”What do we need?” I called out.
”Potatoes, carrots, onions, and all the other stuff needed to make curry,” Mura answered.
”Curry...” I muttered to myself. I don't have much of an opinion on curry, except that it's pretty good. So, I didn't think much as I followed the orders that I am given.
I looked through the refrigerator and grabbed the amount of each vegetable and seasoning spices that I believe will be needed for the dish and placed them in a large bowl. I also grabbed a separate bowl to place the vegetables that I've finished washing into as well as two peelers that will be used to strip away the skin from the potatoes and carrots. After grabbing everything, I backed away from the car and almost bumped into Irina if not for her stepping to the side.
”You need help carrying that?” Irina asked.
I looked at her, and without saying anything, I handed her the empty bowl that I had grabbed, keeping the large container containing the vegetables in my own hands. Then, I started walking over to the pavilion to where the faucets were located. As I started walking, Irina immediately started walking as well, slowing her pace to match mine once she caught up with me and was walking next to me.
I stepped foot into the shade cast by the pavilion, escaping the sun's warm rays and enjoying the cool wind in the shade. However, I didn't spend much time admiring this cooler temperature and went directly over to the water faucets. I squatted down and placed the bowl containing the unwashed vegetables directly underneath the faucet before turning on the faucet and allowing the water to flow.
From the corner of my eye, I saw the girl that was originally standing next to me also squat down, so I looked over at her. I took in her profile, and in all honesty, I felt rather attracted by it. She is a celebrity after all, so it is only reasonable for her to have a stunning appearance. Her eyes were focused on the container, possibly the water line. It would appear that she is somewhat mesmerized by the sound of flowing water that I am also somewhat affected by. Slowly, I turned my gaze and watched as the water flowed out, waiting for the waterline to rise and submerge the vegetables before I shut the water flow off. When that is done, I started cleaning the vegetables.
”Hold this for me,” I said as I handed her the two peelers and she accepted them from my hands without saying anything.
With both of my hands truly free, I reached down and grabbed the side of the container, preparing myself to raise this heavy bowl that is filled with plenty of water as well as the vegetables. I lifted the bowl with both hands and felt the muscles in my forearms and arms tense. Careful so as to not allow any of the water to splash out, I carried the container over to a counter in the pavilion and set the container down.
I then reached out a hand towards Irina, asking for a peeler back, Without a need for communication, she understood my intent and handed me one of the two peelers that I handed her earlier. With the handy peeler in hand, I began working. I decided to tackle the carrots first as they won't go bad as easily. After that, I'll take care of the potatoes. When the others are ready, I'll start peeling the onions. Those are easy to peel so they can wait for now.
”Wow,” Irina marveled as she watched me move the peeler up and down the length of the carrot, stripping it of the coarse, outer skin. ”You're skilled at this.”
”I cook at home,” I explained, speaking in an apathetic voice, yawning from boredom as I allowed muscle memory to take care of the job for me. However, I still maintained enough focus to make sure that I won't accidentally injure myself.
”You do?!” Irina exclaimed. ”That's so cool. I didn't know that.”
”You never asked,” I yawned once again, feeling some tears being squeezed out from my eyes.
”You're right,” Irina laughed. ”But that's so cool,” she repeated. ”I always wanted to learn but never got the chance with my schedule.”
”You are pretty busy,” I nodded as I placed the peeled carrot in the other container that I had brought along that is now containing several peeled carrots. Then, I picked up another unpeeled carrot.
”I would like to prepare myself for that one day that I just so happen be invited to go on a cooking show,” Irina said. ”But also...” she blushed somewhat and smiled in an nervous but joyful way. ”I want to cook for people that I value the most.”
I looked over at her and understood what she was implying. She's probably hinting at wanting to cook for the person she has feelings for, and if I'm not mistaken, she still holds those false feelings of attraction towards me. I know those emotions are false, because why would anyone ever be truly attracted by someone like me? There're way better choices out there than me.
”I think your father would be happy if you cooked him anything,” I said, steering the topic to her father and successfully sealing any possibility of the conversation developing into anything about romance.
”Huh?”
Irina appeared caught off guard by my comment and stopped what she was doing. Her right hand still held onto the peeler, and her left on a potato, but she wasn't moving. She seemed rather surprised and somewhat disappointed about what I had just said, but since none of what I had said was technically wrong, she had no choice but to go along with it.
”R-right,” she said with a forced smile and an awkward laugh. ”Right...”
I glanced over at her and saw that her countenance was rather gloomy. Now, this is a gloomy emotion that will not disappear quickly. It'll continue nagging on her mind and bother her. I'm sorry to ruin her mood and possibly her entire day, but I believe a ruined day is better than a ruined future. Being attracted to me will not lead to her happiness in the future. I'm not someone that one could expect happiness from. What surrounds and awaits me, is nothing but a dark abyss that no one will be able to conquer.