บท 349: I’m the lucky one

Carmen stood in the kitchen, her sleeves rolled up, revealing the toned muscles of her forearms.

She looked focused, her movements fluid and confident, as though she was conducting a symphony. I perched on one of the stools at the counter, watching her with equal parts admiration and curiosity. 

"What's on the menu tonight, Chef Carmen?" I asked, resting my chin on my hand. 

She shot me a quick smirk. "You'll see. But first, no distractions. This requires precision." 

I chuckled, leaning back. "Oh, I wouldn't dare distract you." 

The counter in front of her was organized with an almost surgical precision: an array of fresh vegetables, aromatic herbs, and a selection of spices that I couldn't even name.

Carmen reached for a bulb of garlic, her fingers expertly separating the cloves before crushing them with the flat side of her knife. The sharp, fragrant scent wafted through the air, making my mouth water.