-51-favorite food and best friend call.
"The thought of her childhood sweetheart not loving her kept me shamefully happy." [Christian]
....
After hanging up, Riley forgot about her confused feelings for Mindy. Instead, she made a list of grocery items containing Stuart's favorite dishes items. After changing clothes, she left home for the supermarket. She needed to make sure of three things. For starters, she thought of preparing Gnocchi, with mildly sweet butternut squash, crunchy hazelnuts, maitake mushrooms, and pickled chilies. And bagels.
For the main course, she had decided upon a Shawarma platter with hot red sauce dressing. Since he was always a spicy food lover.
And Ropa Vieja and plantains, for which she needed to have beef, chilies, and peppers. It was a dish Stuart's late grandmother had loved and made her learn. She could still recall how she used to explain its meaning to her every time Riley went to their home to dine.
"Come here Riley, I will tell you what Ropa Vieja and plantains mean?"
"But Grandma, Stuart is calling me." 13-year-old Riley muttered glancing at the door which was ajar. Since he and Stuart had decided to go for a walk after dinner. But the old lady was not letting her leave.
"Don't worry, I will ask him to wait for a while till our conversation ends." Her grandma ordered in a gruff voice, coughing a little.
Which made Riley a little guilty to refuse. So she muttered a low
"Okay." And sat down near her on the bean bag looking at her blue wrinkled eyes. That twinkled with excitement. Stuart's grandma had Alzheimer's, yet contrary to her disease she never forgets about her favorite dish's history. But what she did forget was, she was teaching her the recipe for it for the last 5 years. And every time she recalled it, Riley could almost mimic her words. She was sure she would never be able to forget about it since Grandma had made sure to revise it again and again.
"My mother told me that Ropa Vieja and plantains are our national dish. Not all Americans though only Cuban Americans. You know the first time I met Stuart's grandfather, on lunch. I prepared this for him and he told me, later on, that it was only because of the dish he had said yes to me. It means Old clothes in our locality though that perhaps don't sound appetizing, but your taste buds will thank you for pairing the tender vinegary meat with the Caribbean-inspired black beans, yellow rice, and plantains."
Hearing the same words again and again, Riley rolled her eyes secretly which was seen by the grandma. She raised her hand and twisted her ear.
"Little Riley, Did you just rolled your eyes at me. I am an Elder and you should respect me."
Saying that she scolded her with a few more words. Which only stopped when Stuart came and she tried to get up only to sit back again as Grandma glared at her. She looked at Stuart and gave him a look that she thought was cute with puppy eyes. He giggled at her but decided to help her. Throwing a glass from the table, he winked at Riley and did an act of running with his hands. Which she understood. As Grandma turned around to see how the glass fell, they both took off running towards the door laughing as Grandma said a few cursing words while ordering to return to the room. 'Ah! Happy memories.'
For dessert, she had decided to order a cheesecake from the famous Shine restaurant.
Sighing she placed the items that were on her grocery list in the bag. Remembering she also needed to call her parents to inform them about Stuart. 'They will be so happy to know he is alive. I will make sure to call them at home.'
....
Christian in the office was restless, first because of an unknown man. Who possibly was responsible for saving him yet was his enemy too. Considering Riley's feelings for him might be more than of friends. He called Andy to change his mood. Who picked up the phone on the third ring.
"Hello, Bro."
"Where the hell were you?"
"Ah. Why are you screaming at me? I was busy in a meeting okay. And had just returned when my assistant informed me you were calling."
Hearing his answer, Christian calmed down a little bit. For he knew Andy's strange work ethic. For him, it was a rule to keep the phones out of the meeting room. So that they can only focus on one thing at a time.
"Oh."
"What's wrong Christian? Why do you sound so angry? Wait don't answer that! Let me think, hmm. I get it, it's related to Riley? Am I right?"
"How do you know?" A little surprised by his precise guess he questioned.
"Because I know, Nothing can trouble you, more than her. She is the one who determines your mood. She is your catalyst as well as poison. I bet I can even picture you in my head, you must clench your hands into a fist and glared at the view from your office."
Exhaling he clenched his fist a little. It seemed he had every clue of his emotions. Almost everyone knew how much he loved her except her. 'What an irony!'
The tips of his lips stretched in a smile. A cold smile.
"I knew you understand me, Andy. But honestly, I never knew you knew me so well that you can picture me in your head so easily. It must be because you are too bored. Huh? Or perhaps because you are too free? Possibly Would you like to have some extra work?"
He scoffed at the other end, for he knew when his best friend was threatening him.
"Okay, fine I was teasing you. Tian Tian. Now tell me what's wrong?"
"Her childhood sweetheart or should I say her first love is alive."
From the eleventh floor, the city felt like shining in the light of the sun. He looked at the small figures of automobiles silently waiting for Andy to digest his words.
"So? How does it change anything?"
Taking a long breath he answered him.
"She met him last night and they talked."
"Did she told you that herself? Or are you just assuming it?"
"I saw it with my own eyes when she described how much happy she is."
"Who is he? Name?"
"Stuart."
"Sir name?"
"I don't know."
"Why don't you know?"
"I was angry after she told me about their meeting. And I left."
"Okay, I don't know what you were thinking. But don't ever walk out on the person you love. She is someone you love with all your heart and I know how much she means to you. Don't let your anger control you Christian."
"I didn't want to do anything wrong with her. That's why I left."
"Okay, whatever it is you are thinking. Just take my one advice bro. Do not assume anything before she says that she loves him. And if you do feel she does love him. What if it's one-sided. What if only she likes him and he doesn't."
"How can you be so sure to say that?"
"You said her childhood sweetheart, don't you think if he did love her, they might have been married. Or at least they might have dated. You have investigated her love life and you know better than me, that she never had a boyfriend. There can be only one reason behind it, that's her love is unrequited."
Andy's explanation made so much sense to him that his lips tilted upward in a smile. A large one.
"I guess you are right."
"I am always right bro. But yeah I would still advise you to investigate Stuart. Never underestimate your enemies."
"I will make sure to do that brother. Thank you."
"Don't thank me Tian tian. Just don't give me extra work. I will be happy with that."
"Okay I won't"
"Great. How about we meet someday? It's been ages since I last saw you."
Listening to his exaggerated irritating voice, he scoffed.
"You saw me last month."
"But I miss you Tian Tian."
"Shut up. Andy. Don't mimic her voice. It irritates me."
"This is why I do mimic her voice Tian Tian. Because I love irritating you."
"Fuck you! You can't take compliments well."
"Let's meet next week."
"Fine." Huffing Christian hung up. But then smiled again. A bright one.