บท 28: The Hotpot

Feeling frustrated, Mia slammed the phone down in disappointment.

She couldn't help but feel hurt that Letty seemed to have forgotten about her after Mia had been so concerned for Letty's well-being.

Observing Mia's frustration, Mike tried to comfort her. "It's alright, Letty will get better. Maybe it's because Letty is so independent that you unintentionally overlooked her. After all, she's a strong and capable person. You've always been the one taken care of, so it's understandable. Dom also asked me to look after you. Letty was only mentioned today because all of you assumed she would take care of herself. Just remember to show her more care in the future."

Sighing, Mia realized, "Maybe I am too immature. That's why Dom entrusted me to you."

Throughout the afternoon, Mike offered solace to Mia, reassuring her that she wasn't solely to blame.

As the time approached, Mike went to the supermarket early to gather ingredients for their planned hot pot dinner.

They decided to buy the necessary items from Chinatown and Mike intended to make the hot pot base himself.

It wasn't a difficult task; he needed to purchase high-quality beef oil and various spices from the Asian Supermarkets.

"What happened to you lot!?" Mike inquired knowingly.

Raj, wiping paint off his face, responded enthusiastically, "We just finished an epic paintball game! It was intense!"

Leonard, with a paint-splattered shirt, chimed in, "Yeah, it was like a real-life video game. We were dodging bullets and strategizing our moves."

Sheldon, meticulously wiping his glasses, added, "The precision and teamwork required were extraordinary. It was a true test of our cognitive abilities."

Howard, with a paintball gun slung over his shoulder, exclaimed, "And the adrenaline rush was incredible! We felt like action heroes!"

Just then, Penny arrived, noticing their colorful outfits. She couldn't contain her excitement as she asked, "WOW, you guys are stunning with all these colors, is it pride month or something?"

The group laughed, and Howard replied, "No, Penny, it's not pride month. We just had an epic paintball battle. We're a mess, but it was totally worth it!"

Leonard enthusiastically explained the game to Penny as the group slowly went up the stairs, describing the intense battles and the exhilarating chase through the paintball arena.

Penny listened attentively, getting more excited with each detail.

Penny's eyes lit up as she mentioned an upcoming Halloween party on Saturday.

With a playful smile, she invited everyone, including Mia, to attend.

Leonard and Mia gladly accepted the invitation, expressing their excitement about the party.

Thinking he hadn't received an invitation, Mike was surprised when Penny said, "You can come too." She added, "I'm not as stingy as you may think," before leaving, leaving Mike confused. He chose not to inquire further, realizing that speaking up wouldn't benefit the situation.

Observing the conversation, Sheldon, known for his candidness, spoke up, "Ah, I see what's going on here. Penny's change in behavior is directly correlated to your private conversation during the drag racing incident, Mike. It seems she's developed a newfound interest in your social dynamics. Fascinating!"

Curious, the others turned their gazes toward Mike. "Did you race with Sheldon?" they asked.

Mike admitted it, prompting Rajesh to invite him to try racing sometimes. Hesitant, Mike decided not to reveal that he had already raced with Mia.

Realizing the need to steer the conversation away, Sheldon interjected, "Shouldn't our topic be what Mike and Penny discussed?"

Leonard, curious as ever, asked Mike, "So, what did you tell Penny?"

Uncomfortable revealing the details, Mike decided to change the subject. "It's not something I can discuss. Let's focus on enjoying the hot pot tonight," he said, gesturing toward the bags of ingredients displayed in front of them.

Noticing the confused expressions of his friends, Mike realized there might be an issue. "Oh, I forgot to mention, hot pot is a popular Asian dish where we cook various ingredients in a shared pot of simmering broth. It's a fun and interactive dining experience!"

Determined to resolve any confusion, Mike took charge and started preparing the hot pot in Sheldon and Leonard's apartment. He set up the portable induction cooker, filled the pot with flavorful broth, and placed it on the stove.

As everyone gathered around the table, Penny already seated, Mike declared, "Let's eat!"

Several people looked at Mike, unfamiliar with the concept of hot pot and unsure how to proceed.

Mike glanced around and decided to lead by example.

He had already prepared a wide variety of ingredients and scooped a portion into his bowl.

Gradually, the others caught on and began to emulate him, using the provided colanders to collect their desired ingredients.

Rajesh, the first to try, savored a bite and his eyes lit up. "This would be perfect with a bowl of rice," he exclaimed.

Mike looked apologetic. "I didn't cook any rice, I'm afraid," he admitted.

"Ah, what a shame," Rajesh replied disappointedly, although it didn't stop him from continuing to enjoy the hot pot.

However, Mike soon realized that the others were struggling with the spiciness of the hot pot.

Determined to address the issue, he fetched a few plates from the kitchen, transferring the food onto them to cool down and reduce the heat.

Though the eating pace slowed, everyone expressed their appreciation for the delicious taste. Words were unnecessary; their satisfied expressions said it all.

After the meal, empty plates remained on the table, and the group sat back in their chairs, unable to move.

Grinning, Mike addressed them, "That's hot pot for you!"

Mia smiled and commented, "I used to think it was a complex dish, but it's surprisingly simple. There's also the option of shabu-shabu, a Japanese variation."

Sheldon chimed in, "Ah, yes, the tolerant and inclusive artistic concept, where you can cook anything!"

Mia rolled her eyes playfully at Mike, recognizing his defense against Sheldon's statement.

Rajesh chuckled, "The taste is incredible. It's a shame we didn't have any rice. It would have been perfect."

Mike looked apologetic once again. "I didn't anticipate the rice. Next time, I'll make sure to prepare it."

Rajesh and almost all people from Asia are known for their love of rice.

Rajesh nodded in agreement, already looking forward to the next hot pot gathering.

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Just got home from jiujitsu training, I fucking got a leg cramp whilst giving my opponent a triangle choke or somthing, what an intense day, I've also finished push day at the gym earlier this morning, this might be the last chap today guys, finna explore the dream land in a bit.

THANKS FOR THE SUPPORT

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