Torn Between Shadows and Light
That night…
Amelia sat at the edge of her bed, the dim bedside lamp casting a pool of golden light across her journal, though the page remained blank.
Her fingers trembled slightly as she held the pen, but words didn't come, not easily.
She wasn't sure what shook her more: Harrison's hands around her waist and the years that melted in his eyes… or Eli's voice, cutting through the moment like a wave crashing into something fragile.
Why did my heart skip for both?
She closed her journal.
She didn't want to hurt either of them, yet somehow, her silence might've done just that.
A part of her still remembered how Harrison used to make her laugh when days were hard.
"He used to scribble poems in her notebook margins.
But Eli… Eli had been her present. He'd stayed.
He was there through long exams, late nights, shared music playlists, and stolen glances when no one was looking.
"Her heart didn't know how to separate the past from the now.
And for the first time in a long time, she felt like the girl stuck between who she was and who she might still be.
She sighed and crawled under the covers, sleeping uneasily as memories pulled at her from both sides.
The Next Morning…
The scent of pancakes and sizzling bacon filled the house.
Everyone was gathered at the dining table, plates full, but conversations were half-hearted.
Laughter felt a bit too rehearsed.
The usual chaos of forks clattering and jokes flying felt slower, like everyone was aware of something unspoken.
Kai tried to lighten the mood.
"So, my breakfast didn't kill you all after all, huh?"
Eli smiled faintly. "Still waiting for the aftershock."
The group chuckled, but the spark was flickering, not burning.
Lena glanced between Eli and Amelia, then Harrison, then Amelia again.
Her brow furrowed slightly. She could read tension like a book.
Kai sipped his juice, eyeing Harrison carefully. "Slept well, man?"
Harrison smirked. "Like a baby."
Eli didn't look up from his plate.
Amelia sat across the table, quiet, toying with her scrambled eggs.
Her eyes met Harrison's briefly, just a flicker, and she looked away almost instantly.
Nora tried to change the subject. "So... should we plan the scavenger hunt today or wait till after lunch?"
"Scavenger hunt?" Harrison asked.
"Yeah," Lena said, leaning back. "Friendship tradition. Clues, teams, a whole mess of chaos. It's a big deal."
"Sounds fun," Harrison replied, though his gaze slid once more toward Amelia.
Eli noticed.
And for a moment, the silence that followed felt louder than anything else.
Amelia finally spoke, soft but clear. "Let's… go ahead with it after lunch. Might help clear our heads."
Everyone nodded in agreement, though what needed clearing wasn't going to be solved with just a scavenger hunt.
Stirring the Pot
They were still clearing breakfast dishes when Kai clapped his hands together, mischief in his eyes.
"Alright, sorry for the very late announcement," he said, grinning. "But Amelia, you're on lunch duty today."
Amelia, mid-sip of her tea, nearly choked. "Wait, what?"
Everyone turned to her.
"Oh yes," Nora chimed in, smirking. "It's official. You haven't cooked yet, and fairness is the law of this house."
Amelia groaned. "You're all betrayers. I fed you during our school days."
"You made popcorn and instant noodles," Kai countered.
"Gourmet noodles!" she said defensively.
Lena laughed. "C'mon, Mel. We believe in you. Besides, you're not alone; you can pick one assistant."
Everyone went silent.
Her eyes flicked instinctively to Eli. Then to Harrison.
Harrison raised a brow in quiet amusement.
Eli cleared his throat, not looking directly at her.
"…I'll go solo," Amelia said, a little too fast. "Don't want to poison anyone else in the process."
"Your choice," Nora shrugged, exchanging a glance with Lena, who looked very interested in this sudden solo move.
"Alright, chef," Kai said. "You've got two hours.
And just so you know, if the food's good, you get immunity from dish duty for dinner. If not…"
"You're all doing the dishes for a month," Amelia declared.
They all burst into laughter, and even Eli cracked a smile.
As Amelia stood and headed toward the kitchen, Harrison called out teasingly, "Don't forget the salt this time."
"I'll add extra, just for you," she shot back, flipping him off with a wink that masked how fast her heart was racing.
But in the kitchen, with only the sounds of her stirring ingredients and her tangled thoughts, Amelia realized something:
Cooking for this group felt like cooking for pieces of her heart…
...and it wasn't getting any easier to figure out which one was hers to keep.
Flavors of the Heart
The kitchen smelled of garlic, ginger, and every kind of warmth Amelia could summon from her memory.
She stood by the stove, apron tied clumsily around her waist, sleeves rolled up.
Around her were scraps of vegetables, spices, and an ambitious mix of everyone's favorite dishes, Lena's coconut rice,
Kai's spicy jollof with smoked meat, Nora's grilled plantains, Eli's lemon herb chicken, and even Harrison's guilty pleasure: creamy mushroom pasta.
She stirred one pot, then reached for another, brow furrowed in concentration.
"I can't just cook Eli's favorite… or Harrison's. That's asking for a war."
She sighed, tasting the sauce on the wooden spoon, then gave an approving nod.
She was so deep into her rhythm that she didn't hear footsteps behind her until a familiar hand slid a knife beside her.
"Onion emergency?" Eli said, his voice low and calm.
She startled, then relaxed when she saw him. "What are you doing here? I thought I was on solo chef duty."
"I couldn't just watch you from afar. You looked like you were going to burn yourself or cry… or both."
Amelia gave a soft laugh. "I'm fine. Just overthinking."
Eli started peeling onions, handing her slices neatly.
"Let me guess, you didn't want to cause another scene by picking either me or Harrison to help."
She froze.
"…I didn't say that."
"You didn't have to." He gave her a small smile and bumped her shoulder.
"But for what it's worth, I don't think food should have to carry all this emotional weight."
"You're saying that because you're not the one being stared at across the table like you're a dessert."
She raised a brow, then grinned.
He chuckled, handing her a bowl of chopped peppers.
"Let them stare. They'll be too full to fight after they eat this."
As she took the bowl, their hands brushed, lingering just a moment too long. Their eyes met.
Time paused.
He was close, too close, standing behind her now, his hands guiding hers gently as she added seasoning.
The air felt warmer. A pulse passed between them, soft but sure.
"Eli…"
But before the moment could breathe, Kai's voice cut through like a trumpet blast.
"CHEF AMELIAAA! PLEASE SAVE MY LIFE WITH FOOD BEFORE I COLLAPSE!"
Amelia jumped. Eli laughed, backing away.
"I guess romance is dead," she muttered, blushing as she stirred again.
"Nope," he said over his shoulder as he walked out. "Just interrupted."
Lunch Time Chaos: Served Hot
The dining table was crowded with plates, one for each person's favorite dish.
Amelia walked in last, wiping her hands on her apron, heart still slightly racing.
"Feast your eyes, hungry villagers," she announced.
Gasps, cheers, and mock applause followed.
"You did not make all of this," Lena said, wide-eyed.
"Oh, she did," Eli said, already reaching for a spoon. "With style."
Nora sniffed the air. "Plantains! I could cry!"
As everyone dug in, tasting their favorites, the energy soared, with laughter, teasing, and a few playful shoves over second servings.
Kai shoved a bite of jollof into his mouth and groaned.
"Amelia. I love you. I mean it. I want to marry your hands."
"I knew your stomach was your first love," Lena teased.
Then came Harrison. He had been mostly quiet, observing.
He took a bite of the creamy pasta, then paused. His fork stilled.
"You okay?" Amelia asked, her tone softer.
He looked at her, eyes warm. "I've missed your cooking. Glad to finally have a taste again."
Silence followed for half a second.
Eli's jaw clenched slightly, but he said nothing, just reached for a drink.
Amelia cleared her throat. "I, um… figured I'd make a little bit of everything. Keep the peace."
"You did more than that," Nora said, leaning back, full and happy. "You brought us home."
"Yeah," Lena added. "You made this house feel like us again."
Amelia smiled, touched by their words, but her eyes still flickered once to Harrison… and then to Eli.
And neither of them missed it.