"The food is burnt," Raymond announced from the kitchen in a calm voice. "Not completely. Just… slightly burnt." He added as if trying not to make Kendrick angry.
Bernard grinned like he'd just won the lottery.
David looked down at, towel still draped over his shoulder. "Why do you look like someone just proposed to you?" He asked walking off with a basketful of clothes.
Bernard clasped his hands together. "Because history has been made today."
Kendrick's voice came from the kitchen. "It's not burnt. It's just uhmm… caramelized."
Raymond leaned against the counter, watching him turning the pancakes in a fit of agitation. "You're just lying to yourself. Can we really eat this?."
Bernard let out a laugh and flopped onto the floor beside Daphne, who was already kneeling in front of the stacked wooden blocks, carefully sliding one out. "Do you know what this means?" he asked her, still grinning.
She squinted at the game, her tongue poking out slightly as she focused. "That we're all going to get food poisoning or what?"
"No," Bernard said happily. "It means Kendrick messed up."
Daphne finally looked at him. "Why are you happy to eat burnt food?"
"Because Kendrick is an asshole," David answered, returning and dropping onto the sofa behind her, stretching his legs out. "And this is the first time he's screwed up his cooking."
Bernard nodded vigorously. "My ears would never know peace if I burnt food. Even if it was just one grain of rice. He'd remind me every single day, backing it with annoying advice."
Kendrick appeared at the doorway, pink apron still tied around his waist. "You're just exaggerating."
"You once reminded me for three months," Bernard shot back, "because I forgot to add salt."
Daphne laughed under her breath. "That's fair. I think I'd remember that too." She slid another block free and the stack wobbled.
Raymond crouched beside her, pointing to the block she is pushing." Don't touch that one it's a trap."
She ignored him and the mighty tower collapsed anyway. "Damn it," she muttered.
Bernard clapped, as if Daphne had won a gold medal "See?" He turned his head to Kendrick. " Life is about accepting defeat gracefully."
She shot him a look. "You literally celebrate each other's failures."
"Yes," he said proudly.
Only four plates were set on the dining table. Daphne noticed it immediately. "Oh, none for me?"
Bernard followed her gaze, then he went to the fridge. "Nope. You're not eating that." He tossed her a chocolate bar instead.
She caught it midair. "Why?"
"Because Kendrick's ego is poisonous today," David said. "We don't want you suffering for it."
"I heard that," Kendrick said, throwing a fork at him.
" Ouch! That's aggressive bro."
Daphne peeled the wrapper, smiling. "I don't actually mind."
They gathered at the table, all of them eating with exaggerated seriousness.
Raymond chewed thoughtfully, nodding his head as the corner of his mouth turn downwards. "It's edible."
"That's not a compliment," Bernard said, carefully separating the burnt part of the pancakes and eating the lesser burnt part.
Kendrick glared at them, his gaze staying a little longer on Beneard." You've said enough."
While they ate, Daphne curled up on the rug before the television, flipping through channels until she found something dramatic enough to keep her attention. She took small bites of chocolate, her feet tucked beneath her.
A few minutes later, Bernard reappeared, holding a stuffed round vase with stuffed flowers bursting out in bright colors of pink, green, yellow, orange, blue. He held it out to her like an offering.
Daphne's face softened immediately, taking a closer look "What is that?"
She took it from his hand, turning it around slowly. "It's… cute. I've never seen stuffed flowers before." She said, smiling as she poked at the petals
Bernard beamed. "Right? It's cute. They said I wasted money, these mean guys."
David snorted from the table. "Because you did, that's meant for the kindergarten class."
"Don't call me a child," Bernard defended, pointing a warning finger "It doesn't die. I saved money and saved you from stress of watering it."
Daphne laughed. "I like it."
"See?" Bernard knocked David down with a scornful look.
Kendrick walked in then with a towel in his hand. He stopped when he saw Daphne still sitting comfortably on the floor. Her forehead almost joining with Bernard's as they were both doting over whatever she was holding.
" Get up" he said, reaching for her arm.
"What-"
He pulled her up gently but firmly, grabbing her bag from the sofa.
Bernard leaned back, wearing a smug smile as he crossed his arms. "You owe me a thousand bucks."
Kendrick didn't even look at him. "For what?" He asked, watching Daphne put on her shoes.
" You burnt a meal remember?"
Daphne blinked. "You made a bet?"
Kendrick sighed as he dragged her toward the hallway. " Just ignore him."
"And whose fault is it that you burnt the food?" Kendrick muttered quietly, not meaning for her to hear.
She frowned. "Are you blaming me now?"
He stopped walking and turned to face her. "You distracted me, else I wouldn't have burnt the pancakes."
"Oh wow," she crossed her arms. "So my existence ruins your cooking?"
"Yes."
She stared at him, lips parted slightly in disbelief.
"…No," he corrected. "I mean…"
"Too late," she said. "You've said it." she stalked ahead.
Bernard's laughter followed them down the hall.
The wine cellar was cool and quiet. Daphne went to the small table and pulled her books out.
Kendrick followed shortly, rubbing his face. "Sit down."
She sat, and Kendrick sat after her. They started with physics, and it went downhill fast.
"No," Kendrick said for the third time. "That is gravity."
"That's what I said."
"You said velocity."
"They're cousins."
" Christ, this is not biology, they are not cousins."
Daphne scribbled something else. "Okay, then force of gravity equals-"
"Stop mixing formulas!" Kendrick snapped, and she flinched.
Her pen slipped from her fingers and rolled off the table. She didn't bother reaching for it. Instead, she leaned back in the chair, resting her chin on her palm. "We're not continuing if you're going to keep snapping at me."
He looked at her, looking fed up. "Pick up your pen."
"No."
" Do you realize how childish you are right now?."
"No. You're the one sulking."
His jaw tightened. " That because you keep **."
"And I am learning," she shot back. " You should correct me gently if I make mistakes. But you're acting like a child."
There was silence as both of them stared at each other. Then, without thinking, he muttered, "Then maybe hug me or something. Get me to calm down."
The words landed heavier than either of them expected. She stared at him, still processing what he said.
Kendrick realized what he'd said too late. "…Forget it," he said quickly.
But Daphne leaned forward. She lifted her hand slowly toward his head. Kendrick watched it like it might be a weapon. "What are you doing?"
She patted his head, looking away from him, her fingers slipping into his hair gently, rubbing once, twice. "What do you think? Calming you down."
His entire body had gone stiff under her touch, and his thoughts were short-circuited. Her touch was soft, and a little familiar in a way that his mother had done it before.
"I do that with my brother," she added casually. "It works, thought it might work for you too."
He swallowed hard "Don't treat me like a kid," he said quietly.
Daphne withdrew her hand immediately. "Sorry."
But the damage was done. His heart was racing, and his focus was barely holding up.