17 Spaghetti Bolognese

Sam sat inside the toilet cubicle and grabbed his head in frustration. 14 years! He had known Delilah for 14 years...but he had never been brave enough to tell her the truth.

The truth...that he wasn't actually interested in men...

The misunderstandings started 10 years ago on a school camping trip to Lantau Island.

At that time, Delilah had a major crush on the basketball team captain and wanted to use the camping trip to get closer to him. Since Sam was also a part of the basketball team, she asked him to help her.

"Sam, can you ask Zac what his favorite food is? We have a cooking activity on the first night and I want to cook him what he likes?" Delilah pleaded cutely on the day before they left for Lantau Island.

Sam had been best friends with Delilah since the fifth grade, so he didn't know how to reject her. Thus, during basketball training that afternoon, he ignored the awkwardness, walked straight up to Zac, and asked, "Hey Zac, what's your favorite food?"

Zac was a little surprised. Although they were on the same basketball team, they weren't really friends outside of training and never really had a proper conversation. But since they were still teammates, he answered politely, "I like spaghetti bolognese. I had it once in Italy, but it's hard to find a good one here in Hong Kong."

Sam smiled and continued asking, "What in particular do you like about the spaghetti bolognese in Italy?"

Without hesitation, Zac replied, "The fresh tomatoes and herbs. They always use premade sauces here and the flavor is a little sweet. It's completely different."

As soon as Sam heard his response, he smiled with understanding and began to walk away. After all, his motive had been achieved. "Well, that was a nice conversation. I hope you get the chance to taste something like that again."

However, Zac looked at the boy with confusion as he casually returned to the basketball court. How was that a proper conversation? He was randomly asked a few questions and he simply answered. If anything, it was more like an interrogation. But he shrugged his shoulders and ignored it.

The next day, after receiving intel from Sam, Delilah arrived for the camping trip with the ingredients needed for making spaghetti bolognese, including fresh tomatoes and herbs.

"Team A, you will be preparing dinner tonight. What will you be making?" the teacher asked after they boarded the bus.

Team A consisted of 10 students including Delilah, Sam, and Tiffany.

As the predetermined team captain, Delilah stepped forward and said, "We have 3 mains and 1 dessert."

"For our mains, we are making grilled chicken wings, meat skewers, and spaghetti bolognese. For dessert, we are making chocolate fudge brownies."

When everyone heard this, they immediately cheered with excitement, especially Zac who had heard that his favorite spaghetti bolognese was being served.

But he subconsciously glanced at the seat where Delilah and Sam were sitting and smiled. Was this the reason for Sam's strange question the previous day?

Delilah turned around and looked around the bus to see everyone's reaction. For a moment, her eyes met with Zac's and she blushed a little. He seemed pleased with their menu as well.

That night, inside the kitchen, Delilah split the workload evenly and specifically put herself and Sam in charge of making the spaghetti bolognese. As it was her first time, she had to follow a recipe carefully and Sam helped her.

"We need to dice up the tomatoes," she said as she grabbed a tomato and a knife.

But...due to her inexperience, her knife slipped when she tried to chop the tomato and she almost cut herself! "F*ck!" she swore in surprise.

Sam immediately ran to her side and grabbed her hand. "Are you OK?" he asked with concern. He looked her up and down and turned her around frantically.

Delilah looked at her best friend as he panicked. Apart from her sister, who she could no longer see, no one cared about her this much; not even her parents who didn't know what she was doing half the time.

When he saw that she was OK, Sam wiped her hands clean, told her to stand to the side, and took over. He was just as inexperienced as Delilah, but he didn't want her to get hurt.

The teacher walked over to check that everything was OK and Delilah assured him that everything was under control. But he watched them for a little to make sure.

Sam held the knife nervously and started chopping down on one of the tomatoes. But just as the knife sliced through the slippery red skin, some of the juices squirted all over his white shirt. "Oh, you forgot to wear an apron!" Delilah exclaimed. Before Sam could react, the young girl returned with an apron, popped it over his head, and helped him tie it around his waist.

After she was done, the teacher stepped forward and showed Sam how to chop the tomatoes properly and he quickly learned, but his cheeks were a little red. Delilah saw this and lifted an eyebrow in confusion. Why did it look like Sam was blushing?

After the teacher left, she suddenly asked, "Sam, you've been watching out for me since the fifth grade like an older brother and you've helped me pursue so many boys. Why haven't I ever heard you mention that you like a girl? If you like someone, you should tell me. I want to help you too."

Sam cleared his throat and blushed a little. He did have someone in mind but he couldn't tell her, so he replied, "I do have someone in mind...but I don't think it will work out between us."

"What do you mean? Why? What's stopping you? Tell me who it is and I will do everything I can to help!" Delilah declared.

However, Sam smiled and simply shook his head. "Forget about it... I'm happy the way things are..."

Delilah looked at her friend with suspicion and sighed. Was he hiding a secret from her? She was sure he was blushing earlier. Why was he blushing?

Soon, dinner was completed and ready to serve.

As the group carried out the food they prepared, everyone quickly grabbed their utensils and lined up.

Of course, Delilah took particular notice of Zac and saw him happily grabbing an entire bowl of spaghetti bolognese and eating it with satisfaction.

[The best way to a man's heart is through his stomach. He will definitely fall in love with me after this.]

Seeing his reaction, Delilah decided to confess to him after dinner.

But...when she snuck out to look for him at his cabin that night, she peeked in through the window and saw a shocking sight...

All the boys were asleep except for two - Zac and Sam - and they were both sitting on one of the beds...

...kissing...

Sam noticed a shadow in the window and spotted Delilah. In shock, he quickly pushed Zac away and ran out of the cabin. "Delilah, listen to me. I can explain," he said.

Delilah looked at her best friend and a smile suddenly appeared on her face. Before Sam could react, she grabbed his hand and dragged him into the woods. "We need to chat!" she said.