This is the next chapter for Living with them! Thank you for those who have reviewed me! I do hope I get more reviews soon, but the people enjoying my story right now already makes my day! ^w^
Disclaimer: I own nothing except for this story. All Harvest Moon characters belong to their rightful owners from Natsume productions.
Enjoy the story~
Chapter 3: Knowledge
Akari's pov-
I quickly changed out of my work clothes to my school uniform. I had to wake up at six sharp to water my plants on the farm, and Gill did say that these clothes are unsuitable for learning. I got on my school uniform, and tied the knot for the red ribbon around the neck line. I checked over myself.
My uniform was a simple blue uniform with your average mini skirts and sailor-like shirt. The dark blue collar with a white stripe perfectly fitted around my neck. The red ribbon was tied in a neat knot right under the collar. I quickly fixed my blue cuffs to a perfect fold, and smoothed out my skirt in case of any wrinkles. I then slipped on my school shoes, simple, tan, easy slip-ons. I was surprised. My High School uniform still fits me. I looked at my small wall clock.
7:56 am
AHH! I'll be late! The teaching starts at 8! I dashed out of my room and fast-walked down the stairs as fast I could. I looked over the railing of the long stairs and saw Gill sitting in the living room, a pile of books on the table in front of him. I broke in a cold sweat in thinking that we'll have to go over all of this, I mean, I was a pretty successful student at school, but having to go over all of this is a bit unnerving…
Gill looked up from the books to me. He examined over my uniform, seeing if it was a suitable outfit. Gill gave a small sigh and beckoned me to sit on the couch near him.
"You almost didn't make it." Gill stated. I took a quick glance at the grandfather clock we had, but before I turned my head, a large gong went off in the clock, announcing that it was 8. Gill looked over to me. "Nevertheless, you're here now, so let's get started now, shall we?" Gill gave another blank statement.
I gave a small nod and took my place beside him on the couch. "Right, well today we'll do a little algebra. Try answering this problem: what is the answer to X * 13= ? if 15 * X= 90?" I was fidgeting in my seat, still giving off a cold sweat. I was kinda scared on what will happen if I get it wrong.
Gill saw me fidgeting nervously; he raised his hand up to my shoulder and gave a light pat, and a reassuring smile. "Calm down. It's okay if you get it wrong, we can go to an easier question if we need to." Gill said in a calming voice. A hint of a blush was on my cheeks, as I stared back into his eyes and gave a smile. After a few seconds, Gill realized what he had just said and gained a blush of his own.
"I can answer this question. Let me think…" I said in a shy voice, the blush still faint on my face. "The answer is… 6, right?" I asked. Gill gave a nod, signaling that I was right, and now controlled his face, again giving a business-like aura, but it was toned down a bit.
Ever since we stared with that question, we've been answering many questions, a few laughs we're shared, but smiles were always shown. Gill is a very kind person once you get under the cold exterior, because this learning lesson was actually something very fun with him. In fact, before we knew it, it was already time for lunch after all the problems we did.
Chase called out to everyone that lunch was ready. Everyone gathered at the table, and came again the loud show that Luke was going to continue ever since last night. I decided that I was in no mood to get my ears blasted off by him, so I block off all noises and concentrated on only eating, finishing, and going back to work.
After lunch, I finally returned into the blissful world of silence, studying with Gill. After a few more minutes of studying, Gill ended the lesson with a praise that I did well. I smiled from his complement and gave a 'thank you' in return.
"Right, well that concludes our lesson today. Your next one will be in a few weeks, because you schedule will be very tight in having to take care of the farm and such." Gill explained. I gave a nod and stayed in the living room while Gill walked up the stairs to do some reading. I was left with nothing to do.
I then heard a few clanks from the kitchen. I fast-walked my way to the door of the kitchen and cracked open the door. There was Chase, starting to cook dinner I was guessing. Chase took out some ingredients, and exotic spices on to the cooking counter. Chase looked like he was in a rush, and I casually entered the kitchen.
At the sound of my footsteps on the marble floor, Chase stopped his wild process of looking and preparing, and looked up at me. I gave a small giggle the way he stopped, a whisk in hand and a bowl stacked on a box of eggs, and he was still in mid-step.
"You look like you need help" I giggled, his face still confused from my out-of-the-blue offer. Chase then looked at himself, and the ingredients on the counter, and after a few seconds of realizing what I meant, he gave a light blush of embarrassment.
"Y-Yeah. I'd like some help." Chase stammered. I gave another small giggle, and walked over to him. I took the bowl and eggs in his left hand and made my way to the counter full of cooking wares and spices.
"Making dinner for a lot of people all at the same time gets a bit tiring after a while." Chase sighed. "Well, back to the matter at hand. I was going to vegetable curry for them, but I can't seem to find the right spices." Again Chase gave a sigh. "You see, this place has a lot of spices, so the ones I've been looking for was cumin seed, fenugreek, corian-"
"Coriander seed, fennel seed, black mustered seed, cinnamon, ground cloves, ground cardamom, and cayenne pepper, right?" I cut him off, reciting the spices in my head. Chase looked rather surprised that I knew such rare and exotic spices. I gave a smile.
"I heard of those before, and I heard that those were the best spices for vegetable curry." I explained to the flabbergasted Chase. Chase shook his head to rid of his weird face, and gave a nod that I was right. I gave another giggle at how funny Chase really was.
"Y-Yeah, that's right, and since you know them, you know where they are, right?" said an eagerly Chase. I gave a nod and walked to the cabinets where extra spices were held. I opened them and took out the labeled spices. I gave a small sniff of each, making sure that those are the correct ones, in case of possible mislabeling. I gave a satisfied nod, and handed the spices to Chase. Chase returned the nod, and walked to the counter to start cooking.
Chase started to pour the mild curry powder inside of the large tin bowl, and put in coconut milk. He started to mix the two carefully, and waved his hand at me to help him put in the spices. On signal I placed in the spices in one by one, and soon the spices were mixed completely together.
This was very familiar. Like back then.
I walked to the already chopped vegetables and mixed them together on the pan to sauté them. Chase poured the spiced curry into a large pot, and I poured the sautéed vegetables with them. Now for the finishing touches, Chase handed me the fried onion and garlic to mix them with the curry. I sprinkled the onion and garlic on top of the curry, and started mixing with the large ladle inside the pot. After a few minutes of mixing, I poured some of the curry inside of two small tasting plates, and handed one to Chase.
I tasted the curry at the same time Chase did, and the taste was no short from amazing. The flavors complemented each other, and the heavenly taste spreads around your mouth. The spices created the correct touches, and the vegetable's flavor came around the curry. I looked at Chase, and he returned the look, we both gave nods at each other, agreeing that it tastes great.
Both Chase and I walked into the dining hall to serve the food. I took my own seat once everyone was served. Dinner went on as loudly as ever, I wonder when Luke ever shuts up. I was sitting by Wizard this time, and jumped in surprise when he spoke to me.
"Tomorrow… Astrology…" Wizard plainly stated. I gave a surprised nod, and returned to the food.
I returned to my room, satisfied from the delicious food, and slipped into bed. I took out my locket and examined the beauty of it. I became lost in the past again.
~Flashback~
"Hey Akari! Look at the different spices here!" Said the familiar, yet unfamiliar boy.
"Ehhhhh…" I sighed in awe. The boy gave a smile, and recited the same spices here for a vegetable curry he like making. I wrote down the same spices, wanting to learn how to make it some day. I wrote many recipes from him, wanting to make something that I know he will like. I wanted him to know that I can be a good cook too, but that recipe was the last one before he left.
~End of Flashback~
I wanted to do so much, yet he left before I got to make him anything he would like. I hardly remembered him, all I knew was that he was five years older than me, he was a great cook, and he always had the strong fragrance of oranges… I gave a shrug and closed my eyes for sleep, looking not so very forward for the next day.
I hope you like the story so far! I hope you stay for the next Chapter, and also sorry that I wasn't making much update for those who read and reviewed it. I promise to make more chapters! ^w^