☾︎✿︎☽︎
“Ah-ah, not like that,” one of Caleb’s aunts said, gently correcting Zoey’s grip on the knife. “You’ll bruise the tomatoes.”
Zoey laughed lightheartedly. “I promise I’m not usually this useless.”
“Please, you’re more useful than our muroora, who’s seated at the corner on her phone,” muttered another, nodding towards Gigi, who sat across the room, perched on the barstool, wine in one hand and her phone in the other.
“Varungu,” the other aunt shook her head as she went back to peeling the potatoes.
Zoey couldn’t help but frown at the negative comments. She turned toward Gigi’s direction. “Gigi! Come join us. We could use an extra pair of hands,” she called, her voice bright.
“Most of the work is done,” Gigi replied without looking up. “What more could I possibly do?”
“You could chop the vegetables. Or peel potatoes. It’d be a good bonding time with the future in-laws.”
Gigi finally glanced over, a flicker of sarcasm in her tone. “You seem to be bonding with my future in-laws just fine.”
Zoey bristled. “They’re not just your in-laws, Gigi. They’re Caleb’s family.”
“Don’t be pedantic. It doesn’t suit you.”
Don’t react. Don’t react.
Zoey sighed, lowering the knife. “I’m not being pedantic. I’m just trying to help. And last I checked, it’s hella disrespectful to be sitting while everyone else is doing something at a family gathering.”
“Whatever,” Gigi waved a dismissive hand.
Tati was about to say something until one of the aunts put a hand on her shoulder and shook her head. “Musiye.” Tati let out a resigned sigh and fell silent. (Let her be.)
Just then, Caleb and Abby walked into the kitchen.
“Hello, ladies,” Abby flashed a smile at Tati and the women around her, then gave a curt nod toward Gigi. “Gigi.”
Without another word, he moved straight to Zoey, a big grin lighting up his face. “There’s my girl.”
Before she could respond, he leaned in and kissed her—a quick, soft peck that left her frozen for a moment, warmth blooming up her neck before she could stop it, then swatted his arm playfully.
“What are you doing?”
Abby feigned indignation. “What? I can’t kiss my girlfriend?”
Zoey scoffed, rolling her eyes. “Not in front of the whole family, you doofus. At least give me a warning.”
He blinked innocently. “Wow. God forbid I do my boyfriend duties, and my own girlfriend expects a warning for affection? How cruel, geobug-i.”
“No one wants to watch PDA at a family gathering, abs for brains.”
Abby gasped dramatically, clutching his imaginary pearls, turning to Caleb. “You see what I have to deal with?”
Caleb shook his head, laughing, and raised his hands. “I’m not getting in the middle of this.”
“Coward,” Abby snorted.
"Self-preservation," Caleb corrected, with a smug smirk.
“What are you two doing here?” Zoey asked.
“We need more meat for the braai,” Caleb explained.
“And I needed an excuse to see my dear little geobug-i,” Abby added, pursing his lips as he leaned in again.
“Get away from me,” Zoey warned, dodging him.
“Fine, fine, I’ll behave since you’re being a party pooper.”
“I highly doubt that.”
Tati watched them with a knowing smile. “So,” she said, crossing her arms lightly. “How did you two meet?”
Abby straightened with a grin plastered across his face, as if he’d been waiting for this moment. “Well,” he began solemnly, “it was a warm autumn afternoon in a cornfield—”
“Oh my God, you’re full of shit,” Zoey cut in, sparking laughter around the kitchen.
Abby clutched his chest. “God forbid I tell our love story.”
“You were about to say we locked eyes across a tractor.”
“And it would’ve been romantic. Come on!”
Tati chuckled. “So, what’s the real story?”
“We met in uni,” Zoey said quickly. “I was a freshman, he was a sophomore. We became friends and eventually started dating. The end.”
“Hey!” Abby pouted.
“Go cry about it to your eomma, Lee Woojin.”
“That’s it? No funny anecdotes or endearing memories?” Tati asked, feigning disappointment.
“Trust me. There are stories for days. Zoey just doesn’t want to admit how in love with me she was.” Abby replied.
“No. I don’t want you rewriting history and selling a Wattpad fanfic ass story.”
“Hater.”
“Eat a dick, Abby.”
Gigi chose that moment to chime in, her voice cool. “And how long have you been dating?”
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