Chương 31: Chapter 29: BRUNCH

" Try not to Chop off your fingers." Mum threw an apron in my face. Here I am, reduced to a worker. Technically, it shouldn't be called work if I volunteered to cut the vegetables.

" Haha, why would I?"

" I have heard, with the famous Jeremy Heath ANYTHING is possible." Katie chipped in, also wearing an apron over her sundress.

" So now, women team up against me. It's always Natasha and Lucy and now the two of you. This isn't fair." I complained, still paying close attention to the chopping board. I just might cut my fingers after all.

" Life isn't even fair, why should we be fair" They both shared a knowing look, laughing in tow. I couldn't help but grin at their antics. The two women get along really well. I don't know much about Katie or how she ended up living with my Mum but I can do without that knowledge for now.

" Why do we need this much food for brunch. This is enough to feed three different families." It's more like a neighborhood Thanksgiving party preparation than regular brunch. Even with Natasha and Lucy here it's still way too much.

" Cyril's family would be coming over too. As you know there's a large family with more than enough mouths to feed." Katie explained.

Brunch and family dinners were their tradition of some sort around here. That gave me an idea.

" Mum, can I invite someone over?"

" OK, no problem. As you said, there is more than enough."

" Thank you."

Two tables were set aside, one for the adults and the kiddies tables for Cyril's children and Lucy. Yes, Natasha chose to stay after all. This house was big enough for me to avoid her if wanted to, and I was doing just fine.

" Mike?"

" Mike !"

Mum and Cyril said at the same time.

" Mike, yup that's me" He waved awkwardly as everyone's eyes fell upon him. In my defense, I didn't expect it to be this awkward. Or even awkward at all.

" Thanks for coming." I held out my hand, in an attempt to diffuse the situation.

" No problem, it's not like I would ever miss a chance to taste your mum's awesome food." He managed to avert everyone's attention all by himself.

" Still a flatterer I see," Mum spoke, trying to hide her blush.

" Of course not, I'm sure it is still as good as I remembered"

" Why don't you find out. Have your seat" Katie offered him a seat at the table. Looks like she was the only person who remembered a thing called ' courtesy '.

" Did you just see a ghost? Your face is pale Cyril" Mike asked worriedly. Everyone else turned to look at Cyril to confirm.

" Sorry, it's just. You're alive?"

Some gaped at him, others like myself tried to stifle a laugh. Sadly, I failed miserably but shut up when My mother sent a death glare my way.

" Was I suppose to be dead?"

" No... It's.. Ummm... Ignore me."

On cue, I and Mike laughed out our guts on sync. Great minds think alike, very much alike.

" You sound like Cyril from high school. Here I was thinking you had changed a lot." I managed to say in between my laughter.

" it's not quite complete yet. Until his face becomes redder than a tomato. Then, will you have Cyril from high school?" Mike nudged me in my side.

" You two, stop teasing the poor boy." Mum reprimanded, with a wide grin plastered on my face.

" Was Cyril that shy in high school?" Cyril's wife, Sherin hopped on the conversation train.

" Oh dear, you have no idea. He made up with charisma and charm. The only problem with that is, when the spotlight is on him he turns into a stutterer."

" Once, he was to give a speech. At the school assembly. He practiced for weeks and weeks. It was fine, then the assembly went quiet to listen to what the Great Cyril had to say. Guess what it was? Nothing, absolutely nothing!"

" That wasn't my fault. So many heads, more than I had ever since at a go. Worse still, all your eyes were piercing into my skin. My poor little self couldn't handle all that heat." Cyril defended. Mike was right, his face was red. The real man was back.

" You couldn't handle any type of heat. Thankfully, your wife is wild-spirited and extremely jovial. You balance yourself out." Mum commended. Their contrast is indeed perfectly balanced.

" I understand what you were trying to say. I moved back about two years ago but laid low. Truthfully, I wasn't planning to make my appearance known just yet. Until Jeremy invited me for lunch" Mike answered the questions lingering in everyone's head. Everyone except me and Natasha since she didn't know him and hadn't heard about him before.

" How did Jeremy know?" Katie was the one to ask.

" I don't know. He showed up at my house yesterday." Mike shrugged, taking a bite of the meal. We have all spent so much time talking, forgetting the food sitting right in front of us. And to think I was almost starving a few minutes ago.

" Geez, can you guys stop with the synchronized movement? I mean, why would you stare at me all at the same time." I complained, wolfing down some bits and pieces.

" Clearly, we want answers," Natasha said for the first time since we began to eat.

The air of tension around us was the elephant in the room for me. She highlighted that by avoiding my eyes, even though she was speaking to me. When did her good suddenly become too interesting to spare a glance?

" Okay, I was upset. No, I was pissed with Natasha."

This time it was her turn to be in the spotlight. Her food was still really interesting because she didn't spare anybody a gaze.

" I wanted to take a stroll so I did. Walking past Mike's house I couldn't help but wonder whatever happened to him. Not a word after so many years. So I Inhaled my breath and knocked. To my utmost surprise, he answered. Lo and behold, Mike was standing right in front of me."

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