She's My Sleeping Pill

Stefan was cutting the meat while Cayenne was washing the veggies. They only cooked one cup of rice since there will be many dishes. Less carb is healthy.

Stefan was thinking of having Steak and Scallop dish but there were no scallops in the fridge so he changed his mind. Cayenne loved shrimps so, he thought of cooking spicy buttered and garlic shrimps for her. He still continued with the steak but without the scallops.

"I'm done washing the vegetables. What else can I do to help?"

Stefan looked around the kitchen to find something that she can get busy with. He didn't want her to cut anything, least she'd cut herself and get wounds. Her hand was covered with small scars already, he can't bare to see any more wounds on her.

"How about you arrange the dining table?"

"That's fine with me." Cayenne untied her apron and placed it on the rack before going out of the kitchen.

"Where are you going?" Stefan asked when he saw her going out of the house.

"There's a better place where we can dine. Just stay here and do your thing. Trust me."

"Alright."

Stefan didn't ask any questions after that. He just continued working in the question while trying to listen to the sound of her footfalls.

While he was busy, Cayenne was busy upstairs, too – specifically at the huge space of verandah attached to the master's bedroom. She cleaned it first and arranged the flower pots to make sure that they'd look good and not messy. There chairs, round table and a flower vase placed in the verandah so she didn't have to look around to get these things.

Since she was so exhausted and tired last night and even though she was awake, she didn't enjoy herself because she kept crying. When she thought about it, she felt terrible and thought how silly she looked last night. It wasn't until this morning, after taking a bath, did shed find this beautiful spot in the room.

Now, she'd make use of it to show to him that she was also serious in this relationship that they had.

She went downstairs and walked directly to the garden in front of the house. She picked some flowers of different colors and went upstairs with it once again. She placed them inside the vase and poured a good amount of water. She went back to the kitchen and found him cooking the steak on another pan while also cooking the vegetables on another pan.

"Do you need help?" she asked him. The smell of the food made her salivate but she kept her mouth shut and swallowed her gluttony.

Stefan was shaking his head while turning the steak on the pad. "Just do what you planned to do. Don't mind me. I'll be done soon."

"O-okay." She didn't insist on helping him anymore and just opened the cupboards. After two minutes of rummaging, she found the scented candle at the bottom drawer, placed in a corner which was hidden behind other stuff. When she was sitting on the floor last night, she caught a scent of something relaxing but she couldn't just relax with her messy mind and heart.

This time, she finally found a use of this candle.

In fact, even though Cayenne wasn't rich, whenever she got some extra money, she'd buy a scented candle because it comforts her.

She went upstairs once again and placed four candles in four corners of the veranda. She lit them up already to make sure that the scent would waft in the air.

She went out once again and checked on him since she's got nothing else to do. "Would you like me to help you? I'm done with everything that I was supposed to do."

"Alright. Can you check on put the dishes inside the plates?"

"Sure. Sure."

"Be careful. It's hot." Stefan reminded her and handed her the mittens to make sure that she won't get hurt. He tied the apron around her once again to avoid her getting dirty.

"Thank you." Cayenne mumbled her thanks.

The two of them worked nearly an hour before they finally finished setting up their dishes on a tray and brought it upstairs.

"I didn't know there's this good spot here in this room." Stefan commented when he saw the arrangement of the veranda. "And it smelled great. The sound of the waves is relaxing, too." He put down the tray that they used to place the dishes and their drinks. "Why didn't we know of this spot?"

"Well, we're physically and emotionally exhausted."

"I agree." Stefan stated but he didn't say anything more than that, worried that he'd ruin her mood. "Let's just take a shower in the afternoon. We've been doing a lot and it's not good to take a shower when your heart is pumping so much."

"I think I won't be able to take a bath until tonight."

"Why not?"

"Because my blood will beat abnormally when you're around me."

Stefan chuckled when he got Cayenne's response. He didn't expect that he'd be saying such thing to him.

"Don't flirt with me. Or I will eat you instead of the food."

"Oopsie. That's a big no." Cayenne smiled while waving her index finger in front of him. "I look tasty, I know that. Too bad, you can't eat me until we're officially together and in the premise of marriage as well."

"Yes, ma'am. I'll keep that in mind." Stefan kissed her right cheek instead. "I'll just kiss your face to make up with the loss."

"No kissing on the lips, too."

"Alright."

Stefan walked around her and pulled the chair for her. "Please, milady."

"Thanks." Cayenne sat on the chair while Stefan fixed the table napkin and arranged all the dishes on the table.

"Something's missing." Stefan mumbled. "Wait for me here." He placed the empty tray on the vacant bench and ran downstairs. He didn't have any flowers for her! He looked around the garden to pick a flower for her. He picked a red rose for her and removed the thorns before going upstairs.

"For you." He handed the rose to Cayenne with an embarrassed expression. "I forgot to buy flowers for you."

"It's fine. You didn't buy but you still give me one. Besides, you brought me to a garden with beautiful flowers earlier. That's more than enough."