Plates were being cleared in record time, and not a single crumb was left behind.
Even Zim, still half-asleep with messy hair, was quietly licking syrup off her fork like it was a treasure.
Thea leaned back in her chair, patting her stomach with a dramatic sigh.
"I've decided. From this day on… Jace is officially our chef."
Nova raised her fork like it was a sword. "Seconded."
Leo smirked, tapping his glass of juice as if calling for a toast.
"All in favor of forcing Jace into eternal kitchen duty, say aye."
A chorus of voices—"Ayeee!"—echoed around the table, even Jessi joining in between laughs.
Jace froze mid-sip of water, his brows shooting up. "Excuse me? Eternal kitchen duty? I'm not your servant—"
But Thea cut him off, eyes glittering mischievously.
"You are now. Congratulations, Head Chef."
Kael tried to hold back a laugh but failed, choking a little on his toast. "Guess you're trapped, brother."
Jace slammed his palm lightly on the table, leaning forward with mock intensity. "This is tyranny. Pure tyranny!"
Leo leaned in closer, his grin wicked. "No, Jace… this is the Kitchen Mafia. And you're the boss now."
The table erupted in laughter, everyone teasing and throwing titles around—Chef King, Master of Syrup, Breakfast Lord.
And despite all his protests, Jace's lips curved into a reluctant smile.
"Fine. But next time, don't expect pancakes this good. I'm cutting down the luxury."
Thea shot him a wink. "Too late. We've tasted heaven. Now you can't go back."
Kael watched them all with a quiet, amused pride—half thankful that Jace was there to take the spotlight, half worried what kind of ridiculous
"kitchen mafia" schemes were about to start.
After breakfast, everyone drifted into the living room like lazy cats, sprawling across couches and beanbags.
Plates were abandoned on the dining table, syrup still dripping from forks, and the smell of pancakes lingered in the air.
Nova grabbed the remote, her eyes sparkling. "Okay, what should we watch? Horror? Comedy? Or maybe—"
Before she could finish, fwip—fwip! Two aprons landed smack in the middle of the couch like weapons thrown into a battlefield.
Everyone froze.
Standing there with folded arms, Jace looked like a mafia boss who'd just laid down the law.
"No one is touching that remote until someone washes the dishes. Kitchen rule."
A heavy silence fell. All eyes slowly slid toward the aprons like they were cursed objects.
Thea groaned first, throwing her head back dramatically. "I just had a near-death experience with your syrup overdose, and now you want me to work?"
Leo smirked, stretching his arms. "Not my job. I'm more of a food critic, not a dishwasher."
Zim, still hugging her pillow, mumbled half-asleep, "Not it…" and immediately buried her face again, pretending to snore.
Jessi laughed nervously and tried to sneak toward the corner. "Actually… I suddenly remembered I have important—uh—homework."
Kael's lips twitched into the smallest smirk. He didn't say anything, but his eyes screamed, I'm not moving either.
Nova, still holding the remote like it was Excalibur, sighed. "So… no TV until dishes are done?"
Jace's grin widened. "Exactly."
The room exploded. Everyone started pointing fingers—
"Thea should do it, she eats the most!"
"No way! Leo, you stole three pancakes from my plate!"
"Zim's been sleeping this whole time, make her work!"
"Kael's the quiet one, he owes us!"
It turned into full-blown chaos: cushions flying, accusations louder than the TV itself, Nova yelling "DEMOCRACY! WE NEED VOTES!"
while Leo shouted, "DICTATORSHIP, I DECLARE NO DISHES EVER AGAIN!"
The fight was about to turn into a pillow World War III when suddenly—
"SHUT UP!"
Aven's voice cut through the chaos like thunder. Everyone froze mid-yell, cushions halfway in the air, Nova still pointing the remote like a gun, and Leo mid-eye roll.
Aven, looking like he just lost all patience, jabbed a finger toward two unsuspecting souls.
"You two. Jessi. Zim. Dishes. Now."
The living room went dead silent for a beat. Then—
"WHAT?!" Zim shot up from her pillow fort, eyes wide. "No way! Why me?! I didn't even—"
Before she could finish, Jessi, like the responsible angel she always pretends to be, sighed, stood up, and wordlessly picked up an apron.
Without a single complaint, she tied it around her waist and started walking toward the kitchen.
The room collectively gasped like they were witnessing an epic sacrifice.
But then, mid-step, Jessi turned her head back. Her expression softened for just a second… before her eyes narrowed directly at Zim in a sharp death glare.
Zim froze.
Everyone else broke into muffled laughter.
Zim gulped, then dragged her feet dramatically toward the second apron like she was walking to her own funeral. She snatched it up, muttering under her breath, "Unfair… betrayal… pure evil…"
Thea burst out laughing so hard she almost fell off the couch. Nova cackled and clapped her hands.
"Zim, your wife is angry. You better go before she divorces you!"
The whole room roared with laughter.
Zim groaned, throwing her head back as she tied the apron with exaggerated slowness.
"Yeah, yeah, fine. Happy now? My life is ruined anyway…"
Leo smirked, leaning against the armrest. "You two look like a newlywed couple being punished. Cute."
Kael, for once, couldn't stop his small grin from slipping through.
Jace just chuckled smugly, arms crossed. "Kitchen Mafia strikes again. Justice served."
As Jessi and Zim disappeared into the kitchen, bickering like an old married couple,
the rest of the group exploded into laughter again, teasing Zim's "tragic fate" while the sound of dishes clanking started echoing from the kitchen.
The house was filled with playful chaos, like a messed-up family sitcom.
Thea plopped down right beside Aven, hugging her knees with a sulky pout.
"I want clothes to change," she muttered, tired voice laced with drama.
Aven turned to her, raising a brow. "Didn't you bring any clothes?"
Thea shook her head with a little sigh. "No… I thought it was just dinner. Who knew you guys spend time like this?"
Just then, Jace suddenly looked up from where he was leaning against the counter, crossing his arms like a teacher about to scold his students.
His voice came sharp and clear:
"So… who doesn't have luggage?"
The room went silent for two seconds.
From the kitchen, Jessi called out while rinsing dishes, "Me!"
Thea raised her hand like a guilty child in class. "Me too."
Leo smirked and lazily raised his hand as well. "Yeah, same here."
Thea glanced at Leo, their eyes meeting for a beat—then they both laughed at how dumb the situation was.
Leo teased with a shrug, "Guess we're the irresponsible ones."
Thea rolled her eyes but giggled. "At least I'm not alone."
Jace pressed his lips together, looking dangerously close to facepalming. "Unbelievable…"
Leo leaned back, still smirking. "Wait—when did you all even pack?"
Kael finally spoke, arms folded. "It was the first priority. We already planned this."
Leo's eyes widened. "Planned what?"
Kael looked him dead in the eye. "A trip. Tomorrow morning."
Leo nearly fell off the couch. "HUH?!"
From the kitchen, Jessi shouted, "WHAT?! A trip?! You could have told me earlier, Kael! I need time to pack!"
Nova, who was sprawled on the rug, pointed toward the kitchen door with a sly grin. "Don't worry, your wife will help you."
Zim instantly peeked out of the kitchen, nodding proudly like a soldier taking orders. "Yes. I'll handle it."
Everyone cracked up. Thea leaned on Aven's shoulder, laughing so hard she wheezed. "Zim, you're killing me—look at that serious face!"
Leo groaned dramatically. "Great. First kicked off a bed, now dragged on a mystery trip with lunatics."
Kael muttered with a sigh, though a ghost of a smile tugged at his lips. "Just… deal with it, Leo."
And the house filled again with chaotic laughter, louder than ever.