It was nice having something other than bacon and toast for breakfast. 

Skillfully cracking a couple of eggs into a bowl with one hand, then adding mozzarella cheese, diced mushrooms, and salt and pepper, Luka whisked the beaten eggs until they were light and fluffy. He poured half of the mixture into the frypan, then threw two slices of white bread into the toaster. Once the hot food was all done, he quickly sliced a handful of cherry tomatoes and threw everything together on a plate, before topping the golden-yellow omelette with a drizzle of tomato sauce. 

“Perfect!” he declared while admiring his culinary skills. 

“Mmmm, something smells good,” a feminine voice complimented. 

A tall woman with damp black hair and pale skin entered the kitchen, smelling of Luka's shampoo and wearing the same clothes she had on the night before—a pink halter top and khaki coloured cargo pants. The only addition to her outfit was the blue towel wrapped around her hair that belonged to Luka. 

“It tastes as good as it smells,” Luka said, sliding the plate over to his friend, Uyen, before pouring the rest of the egg mixture into the frypan. 

“You always make the best omelettes,” Uyen complimented, running her slender fingers along Luka's bare shoulders before planting a kiss on his cheek. Aside from a grey apron and dark blue underwear, Luka stood practically naked in the kitchen. He enjoyed this freedom.  

The young woman opened a couple of drawers in the kitchen before finding the cutlery and taking two spoons out—one for herself and the other for Luka. She waited for Luka to finish making his own breakfast before moving to the couch. Luka followed after removing his apron, now wearing nothing but a pair of undies. 

“Mmmmm.” Taking the first bite, Uyen closed her eyes and savoured the delicious homemade meal. “Tastes so good.” 

“You know what else tastes good?” Luka smirked. 

He shuffled closer to her and gently brushed the back of his fingers along her bare arm, her soft skin still warm from the recent shower. Or perhaps heat was radiating off her for a different reason. 

“Pray tell,” she whispered back with eagerness, swallowing her food.

Trailing his fingers up along her shoulder, her neck, her chin, Luka's thumb eventually reached its destination on her lower lip. Soft, plump, and delicious. He felt the air rush past him as she inhaled, inviting him, drawing him closer. 

Replacing his thumb with his lips, Luka let Uyen know exactly what tasted good. 

A soft moan of pleasure escaped her. Uyen smiled into the kiss, letting Luka know that she enjoyed this as much as he did. When Luka eventually pulled back, his lips were curled into a big smile. 

“I'm gonna miss this,” he whispered. 

“Me too,” she replied. With a sense of hope filling her next words, Uyen asked, “Will you visit me in America?” 

Luka had met Uyen when she was still working as an accountant. Back then, she was having a tough time at work with a demanding boss who treated her more like a slave than a human being. She sought comfort from the abuse in the form of physical embrace. Enter Luka. 

On their first night together, Uyen broke down in tears from all the stress that had built up from work. And instead of having sex, Luka ordered ice cream and pizza to his apartment, and the two watched the first season of Avatar: The Last Airbender in bed. 

Luka had fun, and evidently so did Uyen. She found his company relaxing—something she desperately needed at the time. And soon after, she would regularly contact him to meet up. Sometimes they had sex, and sometimes they didn't. Sometimes they just talked. And Luka, being Luka, would offer her advice that she ended up taking to heart. Less than six months after meeting, Uyen took the plunge and left her toxic workplace, returned to studying, and was now pursuing her dream job of working in film and animation.

Next month, she would be moving to California to start an internship. 

“If I'm ever in Cali, I'll give you a call,” Luka said. 

“You better.”

Planting another kiss on her lips, Luka made a conscious effort to be aware of the time. As much as he wanted to fool around all morning, he didn't want his roommate—who claimed to no longer be in love with him—to walk in on them and see something he might not like. 

By eleven, the two had finished their breakfast, and Luka reluctantly got dressed, putting on a cream-coloured short-sleeve shirt and dark blue slacks. Being the gentleman that he was, Luka offered to walk Uyen down to the lobby before seeing her off. As they waited for the elevator, the two held hands. 

“You know, Luka, I don't think I ever properly thanked you,” Uyen said as the elevator dinged and the doors opened. 

“Thank me? For what, exactly?” Luka asked, allowing Uyen to step onto the elevator first. 

“For encouraging me,” she started. “The night we met, when we were supposed to hook up for the first time—like how all Tindr dates are meant to go—I had a big meltdown. But instead of being an ass about it, you said something that really stayed with me.”

“Did I?” Luka tried to recall, but aside from pizza and cartoons, he couldn't remember any specifics from that night. “What did I say?”

“You said I shouldn't be pressured into doing anything I don't want to do, and although you were probably talking about sex at the time, it felt like you were talking about my life in general.”

Small, slender fingers squeezed Luka's larger, tanned ones. A tiny gesture of gratitude. 

“I finally had enough of being a doormat at work and quit. It was scary, but it was the best decision I ever made. My parents still aren't supportive of me leaving such a ‘safe’ job, but it sure as hell wasn't safe for my mental health.”

Uyen glanced up at Luka, her plump pink lips curling into an easy and relaxed smile, one she wore more often in recent days. 

“Now look at me,” Uyen continued. “I'm going to freaking America to pursue my dream job!” 

There was a twinkle in her jet black eyes, like the Southern Cross in the night sky. 

“So, thank you.” 

Luka wanted to give her a great big hug. “I honestly didn't do anything, Uyen. You're the one that's being brave and taking the steps needed to achieve your dreams.” 

“Still. I'm glad I met you.” Her voice sounded so small, as though she was afraid to make her true feelings known. 

Tugging ever so slightly on his arm, Luka took Uyen’s gesture as an invitation to kiss her. And he wasn't going to turn down such a kind invitation. 

Snaking his arm around her waist, Luka rested the palm of his hand against the small of her back. Lowering his head slightly, the smell of his shampoo on her filled his lungs before he pressed his lips against hers. Soft. Warm.   

When the elevator slowed to a stop, Luka and Uyen paid no attention to the doors opening. Still enjoying the peppery taste of breakfast on each other's lips. 

But perhaps Luka should have been more mindful of his surroundings, because Xander had come home earlier than expected.