Hex POV
I was holding a spatula like it personally offended me.
Aunty Gemma stood beside me.
The maid was washing vegetables.
And Aries?
Aries was filming.
"Welcome back, viewers," he announced dramatically. "Today on 'Grounded and Confused,' we have Hex attempting fried rice and sausage."
"Turn that off," I muttered.
"No. This is historical."
I glared at him.
Gemma handed me chopped carrots and peas.
"Add them slowly."
I dumped them in.
Too fast.
Oil popped.
I jumped back.
Aries zoomed in. "Look at the fear in his eyes."
"I am not scared."
"You flinched."
"I adjusted."
Gemma handed me the rice.
"Now stir gently."
I stirred.
Too aggressively.
Rice flew.
Aries gasped dramatically. "Rice abuse!"
"Say one more word and I'm seasoning you."
The maid giggled.
I focused.
Fried rice.
Sausage on the side.
How hard could it be?
Apparently very.
"Not too much soy sauce!" Gemma warned.
I paused mid-pour.
"…Is this too much?"
"Yes."
I sighed.
Aries circled me like a sports commentator.
"And he's sweating. The pressure is real, ladies and gentlemen."
"I hate you."
"I know."
Just then—
Jay and Keifer walked in.
Jay leaned on the counter.
"Well?"
I pointed the spatula at her. "You did this."
She smiled sweetly. "How's it going?"
"My son is fighting vegetables," Aries answered.
"I'm not your son," I snapped automatically.
The kitchen went quiet for half a second.
I cleared my throat and turned back to the pan.
Keifer stepped closer. "Smells… edible."
"High praise," I muttered.
He leaned near my shoulder. "Don't burn it."
"Don't breathe on it."
I nudged him lightly with my elbow.
"Go home before your mom calls again."
He smirked. "Bossy."
"Grounded people have authority in kitchens now."
Jay's voice came from behind us.
"Don't get too confident."
Aries laughed.
I flipped the sausage.
Perfect.
Actually perfect.
I blinked.
"…I did that."
Aries zoomed dramatically. "Character growth!"
Gemma tasted the rice.
Paused.
Everyone froze.
She nodded slowly.
"It's good."
I stared at her.
"Good?" I repeated.
"Good," she confirmed.
Jay took a bite.
She raised an eyebrow.
"Not bad, Chef Hex."
I exhaled slowly.
Aries lowered the phone. "I'm both proud and disappointed."
We plated the food.
Sat at the table.
Angelo came to join.
Keifer took the first big bite.
He chewed slowly.
I watched him like a judge awaiting verdict.
He swallowed.
"…I'm coming over every week."
Jay laughed.
I leaned back in my chair.
"I still don't like cooking."
"But you did it," Jay said softly.
I shrugged.
Maybe I didn't hate it.
Maybe it wasn't punishment.
Maybe it was just… something new.
Aries lifted his phone again. "End of episode. Chef survived. Kitchen survived. Emotional damage minimal."
I threw a napkin at him.
He ducked.
Everyone laughed.