Nathalie and Morris walked into the kitchen, and Nathalie handed him a bunch of veggies and a peeler. "Hey Morris, can you handle peeling these?"


    Before Morris could get a word in, Nathalie continued, "You''ve probably never done chores before, right? How would you manage such simple tasks? Oh well, I''ll just do it myself."


    Morris couldn''t help butugh, handing her a perfectly peeled potato.


    Nathalie''s eyes widened in surprise. "Wow, that was fast!"


    Morris''s voice was soothing, like a gentle stream. "I actually took some cooking sses."


    Nathalie was caught off guard. "Why''d you decide to learn?"


    Morris gave a small, wistful smile. "I wanted to cook for the girl I love."


    Nathalie drifted into her thoughts.


    She suddenly remembered Nathan, who had once said the same thing to her. And he meant it, always trying out new recipes for her.


    But could someone as reserved as Morris really have a girl he loves?


    "Can I know who she is?" Nathalie teased with a yful grin. "If you''re so into her, maybe I can help you win her over."


    Morris''s face took on a more serious tone, with a hint of sadness. "She''s amazing, unlike boring old me. She probably wouldn''t be happy with me. I''d rather not bother her."


    An unfamiliar feeling flickered through Nathalie''s heart.


    She couldn''t quite figure out if it was sadness, happiness, or confusion. But something about Morris''s reasoning seemed off.


    "When you love someone, you should go for it," Nathalie encouraged.


    Morris was too stunned to reply.


    He shot back, "Who''s the lucky one making shy Nathalie brave enough to chase after them?"


    Nathalie felt her cheeks heat up, secretly thinking that she was trying her hardest to win over the person right in front of her.


    Seeing her blush, Morris realized there was someone special in her heart. But it wasn''t him. It wasn''t him.


    A wave of indescribable loss swept over him.


    "Nathalie, the kitchen''s a bit smoky. Maybe you should step out. I''ll take over the cooking," Morris suggested, feeling the thick tension in the air His mind was a mess, and he needed some alone time to sort things out.


    Nathalie looked up with a hint of hurt in her eyes.


    It was always like this. Every time she tried to open up, he''d find a way to send her off.


    "Morris, loving someone is beyond control, it just happens."


    "Would you hold it against me?"


    Her soft voice, tinged with mncholy, reached Morris''s ears.


    His heart, heavy moments ago, was suddenly filled with hope. Could Nathalie really like him?


    He looked at her in amazement, trying to understand how he''d missed her brave attempts to show her feelings.


    Nathalie''s eyes glistened with unshed tears.


    Morris''s heart ached, and he felt weak all over. He wanted nothing more than to rush over and hold" Nathalie, to tell her he didn''t mind her loving him, in fact, he was thrilled.


    But his feet felt like lead, and he couldn''t move.


    "Nathalie, do you really think I''d me you?" Morris couldn''t grasp how she could think he''d be upset with her when he had practically put his heart on a tter for her.


    But because of his fragile state, he had to keep his distance. Being too close


    might reveal his true feelings, and she''d catch on.


    With teary eyes, Nathalie turned and left, feeling defeated.


    She''d made her feelings so clear, yet Morris still hadn''t given her an answer.


    Morris stood there, staring at her lonely silhouette as she walked away. Unconsciously, he added a spoonful of sugar to the pot.