The seconds dragged on endlessly. Finally, he picked up his fork and brought it to his lips. My heart skipped a beat as the first bite disappeared into his mouth. I wondered, What if he doesn't like it? What if I used too many or too few spices? Is the steak cooked enough, or should I have waited longer? My thoughts raced in every direction until he spoke in a cold tone:
"Serve yourself."
I stared at him, confused. "Excuse me?" I asked, certain I had misheard him.
Chak lifted his gaze and repeated, "Serve yourself."
I wasn't sure if he was serious or just toying with me. Either way, I obeyed. I opened the drawer, took a plate, and served myself rice, then sauce, and finally meat. The entire time, I felt his gaze on me, as if he were evaluating my every move. Once finished, I grabbed a fork and knife from the drawer and sat beside him.
Carefully, I cut into the meat, speared a piece with my fork, and brought it to my mouth. I chewed slowly. Not bad,I thought. It could use more seasoning, but the taste is decent.
We ate in silence. Every second was weighted by Chak's presence. When I finished, he finally broke the silence:
"What do you think? Did you cook well?"
I considered for a moment before replying: "The meat and sauce could be more seasoned, but the rice and vegetables are fine."
Chak tilted his head slightly. "Exactly," he said coldly before continuing, "Use spices when you cook. And don't be nervous."
"I won't be," I replied. But deep down, I knew it was a lie. If he kept watching me and gave me an even more complicated dish to prepare, I'd still be nervous.
I stood up, gathered the plates, and took them to the sink. Meanwhile, Chak wordlessly left for the living room. I opened the dishwasher, placed the dishes inside, then cleaned the counter and stove. I knew he wouldn't appreciate a messy kitchen. Once I was done, I approached him.
He was holding his phone, typing something. I wasn't sure if I should interrupt, but I spoke quietly: "Sir… I'm done."
Chak glanced at the time, then stood up without a word. "Let's get back to work," he said.
I followed him toward the car. As I turned, I saw Lon, Sun, and Leo playing together. If only Chak and I could get along like that…I thought.
The drive back to the company was silent, yet I felt his presence the entire time. When we arrived, he stopped the car and turned to me.
"Go in first. I'll follow in ten minutes so no one suspects we went anywhere together."
"Understood," I answered quietly and reached for the door handle.
But then Chak spoke again: "Dinner must be on the table at 7:30."
Surprised, I turned to him. "What's for dinner?"
"I'll text you when it's time,"he said coldly.
I nodded. "Understood."
Without another word, I stepped out of the car and headed to my office.
There was plenty of work to do, but my thoughts were elsewhere. Chak had forced me to cook, and now he expected dinner to be perfect. What if I choose the wrong dish? What if I mess up again?
With a sigh, I picked up my pen and tried to focus on my work.