♡︎~Chapter 7~♡︎ CORA

Cora was able to get a nice sleep that night. Her sole purpose of leaving work early had been because of her promise to Josh, her boyfriend. She'd promised him a date to an exquisite five star restaurant in Plainsboro. Sadly, after the accident, she'd wobbled up to her room to teleport herself into a deep sleeping-beauty sleep.

Yes, she felt bad. The wave of guilt flooded her mind as she laid under the dim light, judging herself with all the things she'd done to poor Josh. She never really had his time—at least not on purpose though. Work was the main thing that drained her and robbed her of her time. But no one was willing to hear that part. Sure she knew Josh too was a successful business man, and he still tried to make time for them. But maybe he could multi-task, because she couldn't. It was either work, or love. And presently, she was choosing work.

No time to get distracted.

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The next morning, it was precisely 10am. Cora knew because she checked the time. Sure she'd been up two hours ago, it still didn't hurt to stay up in your room and wait till breakfast is served.

Unfortunately for her that morning, Lily had walked in to announce that she and their mother had to be somewhere before ten, and so they'd be leaving once it was nine. It meant no general breakfast—eat whatever you saw. On the bright side, her 8am coffee had still been served. Laura, Cora's mom, made sure to prepare it and sent Lily to serve it to her.

"You'll be having just coffee today. Ha!" Lily had mocked before exiting.

Before nine, they'd both left the house, leaving just Cora to prepare her breakfast. And that wasn't going to be a problem. Cora loved cooking.

The problem was that, she was a terrible cook, and she knew it. Yet, it doesn't stop her from creating a mess in the kitchen every time her hands touched a food ingredient, then disposing of the after-product just to arrange for an already processed meal.

That morning, she would be making Tomato Pie and some Pork Rolls. Easy peasy.

The kitchen, for some reason always drew her attention and possessed her every time with the barbaric whispers of the lovely ingredients chattering in her ears. "Cook me!" "Make me!" "Squeeze me and wash me!"

Oh Cora loved cooking.

Maybe it was the sweet smell of the freshly brewed coffee Laura had made her that still scented the air, or maybe because her love for kitchens had somehow filled her nose with enthralling fragrances.

Or perhaps it was the quiet and calm soothing feeling that filled the environment, as attracting modern design graced the eyes with instant captivity. It was a white neat average sized room with black and white tiled floor. Two doors—one guarding the entrance, the other one leading outside. This kitchen was with custom-made wood cabinetry, and that added to its mysterious beauty.

Their home was a big enough apartment with three rooms, and a moderate exquisite interior design with a spacious backyard. But Cora's favorite place after her office at work, was the kitchen.

Just as Louis Parrish had said; "If you can organize your kitchen, you can organize your life." Although, Cora Flames never organized the kitchen.

She had made her way downstairs to begin arranging her ingredients when her phone rang—in the tone of the boisterous laughter of a psychotic character from a movie Cora and her sister had watched. "Stupid ring tone," she muttered, checking to see the name on the screen. Lily had changed her ring tone when she was sleeping two days ago, and caused quite some embarrassing moments for Cora each time her phone rang in public.

'Tori(Work)', appeared on its screen as Cora brought it close to her face. She grunted. "What do you want, Tori," then, picked up the phone and brought on her face an obviously faked smile, "Hey Tori," the voice said nothing on the other end. "Tori? Hey?" Someone was talking, that was for sure. Not just to her. Cora was about to hang up when a tiny voice yelled out; "Oh hey, Cora!"

"Hi, happy weekend." Cora said, still smiling. She had to be presentable at all time, and thus, always came the faked smile.

"Hi, thanks. Uh, we were wondering if you'd like to hang out today? Like now?" She said in a rushed tone that gave Cora no time to reply.

"Oh uh, I'm not sure. Maybe some other time."

"Aww, why?" The voice drawled out.

"I'm busy, Tori. Sorry." She replied, not feeling apologetic at all.

"Okay then. But you'll be missing out..."Tori said in a singing tone.

Cora couldn't care less. "I'm afraid you'll have to feed me on till Monday."

"Okay. But we know your secret!" She spilled out, giggling like a Disney mice from Cinderella. Gus Gus.

Cora's brows furrowed. "Secret?... What secret?" She scoffed.

"That you and Kendall are in a relationship! Oh you silly thing. How long do you think you could keep it from us? Very funny--"

And the rest of her words played into a space entirely devoid of complete nothingness. Cora lost her.

Wait, she wasn't dating Kendall. Why the silence?

She cleared her throat instantly, cutting Tori off her statement." Tori, calm down. I'm not dating Kendall?" She asked, but she'd been truly throwing the question to herself.

"We have proof. It's very original and--"

"When are you girls meeting up again?"

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