She moaned a couple of times before slowly opening her eyes, moving under the bed sheet and touching the pillow on the other side of the bed with the arm stretched. She raised her head slightly from the pillow, the eyes still puffy from sleep, finding out why she couldn't feel her partner's body but only the empty mattress and the bed sheet moved: Shuichi wasn't there with her. The thing didn't surprise her that much, she had already become accustomed to the fact that he didn't sleep much, even when he happened to stay up late. More than getting long sleeps, Shuichi took naps. After a night spent to make love like that, she felt the need to sleep at least ten hours, while he woke up early in the morning as if he went to bed at nine p.m.
Covering her breasts and naked body with the bed sheet, she lifted her torso to look out of the French door that led onto the balcony, trying to make put his silhouette behind the blush pink curtains: she knew that her partner loved to enjoy the fresh air of the morning smoking a cigarette. Yet, she didn't see him there neither. Perhaps he had already smoked the cigarette and he had gone to take a shower. In that case she would be really sorry about it, since he knew how much she liked to take a bath or a shower together with him. She skimmed the bedroom's floor with her eyes, looking for something to wear among their clothes still scattered from the previous night. She spotted beside her her underwear, and after having put it on she got out of the bed to recover from the opposite side of the bedroom the white T-shirt that Shuichi used when he went to sleep. It was very large for her, so she could consider herself sufficiently covered. She ran a hand through her hair, trying to fix them up a little to not appear before her boyfriend with a messy appearance as well as sleepy eyes, and then heading to the bathroom.
She was about to reach it when a noise coming from the kitchen caught her attention, making her jump. A metallic sound, similar to that of the pots or the kitchenware when they collide with each other or fall to the ground. She slowly approached the entrance to the kitchen, curious to know what had been. They didn't have cats or other domestic animals, that jumped from side to side dropping objects, and it was definitely an unusual hour so that a thief had entered the apartment. Logically, the only one that could have caused the noise was Shuichi. So, the question was: what was he doing in the kitchen with the pots at nine am on their day off? When she reached the entrance door frame, what she saw surprised her not a little. Her boyfriend, wearing only pants and shirtless, was juggling among pots, stoves and kitchenware, focused on preparing a breakfast worthy of the name. On the table not far from him, there were a tray with a glass of orange juice and an empty plate waiting to be filled. She could not help but loosen up to a bright smile: she knew well that Shuichi never ate anything for breakfast, he restricted himself to drink one of his many blacks hot coffee of the day; so what he was cooking was surely for her.
She leaned her back against the wall, continuing to admire the man she loved with all her being. He was beautiful handsome with those unruly hair but finally free from that wool cap he always wore, not to mention that his athletic body put on display by the absence of a sweater had a certain effect on her. Though, what was really leaving her enraptured in that moment, was the fact that her partner got up to prepare breakfast for her, although he could take the opportunity to stay a little more in bed to rest. Shuichi wasn't the type of man who dispensed affectionate gestures or love's demonstrations, so when he did it for her it was as if he was giving everything he could, all himself.
She remained watching him until, turning to finally put in the plate what he had prepared, he noticed her. He stopped with the pan in one hand and a cake slice in the other, staring at her surprised.
- Are you already awake?- he asked, knowing how much she loved to stay in bed until late when she could.
- I didn't find you next to me so I thought that you had gone to take a shower, but as I was reaching the bathroom I heard noises in the kitchen and I came to see- she smiled, standing still to look at him as just a woman in love can do.
- I wanted to bring you breakfast in bedroom, but unfortunately the pan slipped away from my hand and apparently I attracted attention too much ruining the surprise...Oh well, it will mean that next time I'll be more careful-
She loved this side of him so peaceful, that allowed him to smile at his little mistakes. She in his place would be disappointed if her surprise was ruined, while he was smiling at that fallen pan. He even seemed amused by the situation, and for her seeing him happy was the most important thing.
- You haven't ruined anything- she reassured him, approaching him - I couldn't believe my eyes when I came here!-
- Just as well then-
With the help of the cake slice he finally moved from the pan to the plate what he had prepared for her: a fluffy and apparently delicious pancake.
- Shu…but did you really do this?!- she asked incredulous, even if the answer was quiet obvious.
- Do you see anyone else here?- he laughed at it, going to lay down the pan and the cake slice and taking a bowl that he had left out on the kitchen counter.
- And what is that?- she craned her neck in an attempt to peek, curious.
Shuichi didn't answer, he just restricted himself to take with a spoon the contents of the bowl, a red sauce similar to a glaze, and to put it evenly on the pancake's surface.
- Soft fruit sauce- he finally said, when he had finished his work.
She allowed herself a few seconds to see what her boyfriend had done for her so carefully, a sign of how important it was for him that gesture. It was difficult for him to say in words "I love you", so he used gestures like that to make her understand it.
She felt the eyes itching and moist: she wanted to cry with joy but she refrained herself from doing it, not wanting to spoil the mood and goetting a rebuke from him. So, to express that explosion of emotion she felt inside, she ran to him and hugged him tightly, kissing him on the lips passionately. She had certainly taken him unawares, since it took him a few seconds to return both the embrace and the kiss.
When she felt the need for air she separated her lips from his, but she kept her arms around his neck, couldn't help but physical contact. She stared at him intensely, trying to use her blue eyes to let him know how much she loved and wanted him.
- Thank you- she spoke almost in a whisper.
- Wait to taste it before you thank me, I don't guarantee that it is as good as beautiful to look at- he smiled.
- I'm sure it will be delicious- she blew on his lips, kissing him again.
- You seem more willing to do other things than to eat pancakes- he laughed at it, but at the same time going along with her wishes and slowly running a hand along her thigh, lifting her shirt and showing off her panties - Last night hasn't been enough for you?-
- Mmmh…- she pretended to think about it - Indeed you're right- she nodded, moving his hand away from her - I'm a bit tired of you, I think I'll eat the pancake!-
She took her place at the table, sitting in front of the tray and giving him a mischievous look, smiling sly. She liked to take revenge of his teasing, sometimes.
For his part, Shuichi seemed to appreciate, returning the smile.
- Will you join me?- she invited him to sit in front of her.
Without another word, her partner poured himself a cup of black coffee still hot that he had prepared earlier, taking a seat at the table.
She proceeded to cut the first bite of that wonderful pancake, and then tasting it carefully. Perhaps the expression on her face was already saying all, but she felt compelled to tell her boyfriend what she thought of his culinary skills.
- It's delicious Shu!- she exclaimed enthusiastically - You really outdo yourself!-
- If I get tired of doing the FBI agent I could start to do the cook, what do you say?- he joked about it.
- My personal cook!- she winked at him - So you make me pancakes every time I want!-
She saw him taking that expression that he always did when he was thinking about something. She hoped he was not seriously thinking of leaving the FBI to start cooking, but if she knew him well she could say with certainty that he would never give to his role as agent. He loved his job too much. He probably just wanted to joke as she had done before, pretending to think seriously about something he already knew the answer. In the end even he liked to make fun of her, perhaps even more than she liked it.
- I don't think it's possible- he shook his head, but was unable to suppress a wry smile - I'm a bit tired of you, so I think I'll cook for someone else-
She chuckled amused, then coming back to enjoy her breakfast. It would have been a perfect day, definitely.
