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𝑻𝒐 𝒂 𝒈𝒊𝒓𝒍 𝑰 𝒎𝒊𝒔𝒔 —
𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒕𝒂𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒎𝒆 𝒉𝒐𝒘 𝒕𝒐 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒎𝒂𝒄 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒆𝒔𝒆, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒕𝒂𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒎𝒆 𝒉𝒐𝒘 𝒕𝒐 𝒉𝒂𝒕𝒆.
“I honestly do not get why you’re so worked up on this. What’s so wrong about dating someone who does not like macaroni and cheese?” asked Sukuna, raising a brow as he popped a potato chip into his mouth.
“It’s not that. I just—I want to have a successful relationship with someone who likes mac and cheese as much as I do. Conflict of interests, I guess, but is that really so ridiculous?”
“Conflict of interests is more reasonable, now that you put it that way, but over macaroni and cheese? Seriously?”
Sukuna wasn’t wrong, you couldn’t deny that. It’s, without a doubt, a conclusion beyond silly. But, after so many hardships, you’ve finally come to realize that you’ll probably never be able to date a guy who likes macaroni and cheese. Every relationship you’ve had has always been with someone that either hated macaroni and cheese, or was lactose intolerant; no in between.
At first, it was just a mere coincidence. But after so many instances, you end up thinking you’re cursed, and find yourself consulting with your childhood best friend, Sukuna Ryomen.
You frowned, lowering your gaze. “My parents taught me how to make homemade macaroni and cheese, you should already know that. We always made it together at least once a year, and it’s one of my favorite memories. But, after moving out, I don’t have time to visit them anymore. I remember seeing how happy both my mom and dad were whenever they cooked together. So, my dream has always been to make macaroni and cheese with someone I love, as well. It’s all I’ve ever wanted in life.”
You fully expected Sukuna to laugh in your face, but he didn’t. When you looked up, you could even see a faint smile on his lips, before he turned his head to the side, avoiding your gaze.
“That’s kinda deep coming from you.”
“Is that really all you have to say? I just dumped out a part of my life that I’ve never told anyone else and you decide to—”
“Then again, you do realize Yuuji likes macaroni and cheese, right? Why don’t you just date him? I mean, we all grew up together, and you two are pretty close in age.” Sukuna shrugged, picking up his glass of water to take a sip.
You snorted, waving a hand to dismiss the impossible idea. “He’s like a brother to me. But . . . now that you mention it. . . What do you think about macaroni and cheese?”
Sukuna—understanding the second meaning of your question—spit out his drink, and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand before turning to you. You didn’t miss the faint blush on his cheeks. “I didn’t hear that last part,” he cleared his throat, “what did you say?”
“Do you like macaroni and cheese?” You repeated yourself.
“It’s okay—” said Sukuna, but you didn’t hear it.
“‘Cause if you did, I think I know a way to get rid of my curse! We can start dating, and after having a pretty successful relationship, we can go back to what we are now, and then, boom!—my curse is lifted, and I can finally date other people who like macaroni and cheese.”
With every sentence that you spoke, Sukuna’s jaw seemed to drop lower and lower. “How did you even think of that?”
“COVID-19, of course!” you said, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. “Natural immunity or something like that. Your immune system produces antibodies to fight off a germ, and if you’re exposed to that germ again in the future, your body’s defenses will be able to recognize it and fight it off with antibodies, making you less likely to get infected again.”
“And this correlates to your situation because?”
You paused, before looking back at Sukuna. “Not important, but anyway, do you like macaroni and cheese? Yes or no?”
Sukuna blinked, before looking as if he was considering the pros and cons of replying. As if he had anything to lose, you thought.
“Yeah. I love macaroni and cheese, actually. I used to have it all the time back then.”
Your eyes widened, and your smile grew. “That’s—that’s great! So, uhm,” you paused, “do you want to do this?”
“Do I want to date—I mean, get into a fake relationship with you? Let me think.” Sukuna put a pointer finger and thumb on his chin, pretending to weigh his options. “What’s in it for me?”
Now this is what had you stumped. You hadn’t thought of that yet; throughout your whole thought process, you were only thinking of yourself. And, there really was nothing about this arrangement that could benefit Sukuna. The relationship was for your sake, not his. But maybe. . .
“You’ll have a girlfriend?” you proposed. “I can, like, cheer for you at your basketball games, and stuff.”
“We go to the same school; you already do that.”
“Right. . . Oh! I can make you mac and cheese whenever you want?”
“Pass.”
You chewed your lip trying to come up with a good enough reason. “. . .I always have the best hors d’oeuvres?”
“Not important.”
“Err, you can just do this for me out of the kindness of your heart?”
“Kindness of my heart? I wouldn’t put it that way, but go on.”
“I mean, we’re friends and all, right? You can think of this as a mere favor; and I’ll repay you by inviting you to my wedding when I finally marry someone who loves macaroni and cheese.”
Sukuna furrowed his brows, looking conflicted at hearing that last part, before finally agreeing to your proposition. “Okay, this is just a favor. Sure, I’ll do it.”
It took you a second to fully register what Sukuna said, but when you did, you set your iced tea down on the table beside you, and, nearly jumping out of your seat, threw your arms around Sukuna, trapping him in the tightest hug you had ever given to anyone. “Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you! You’re the best!”
His voice came soon after, muffled, but you could still tell Sukuna said something along the lines of “you’re welcome” and “you’re crushing me, brat”. But you completely dismissed that last part.
You laughed at Sukuna as he continued to grumble unintelligible complaints about how he heard his bones crack under your embrace. “So grumpy. This is totally a time to celebrate.”
“It’s really not.”
“Don’t be silly. I mean, I’m gonna be able to finally date someone who likes macaroni and cheese. We should totally go out for drinks tonight!”
Sukuna shrugged, giving in. “Only if you’re paying.”
“I would agree, but is that really something a good boyfriend would say to his girlfriend? Making her pay?”
You could practically hear Sukuna’s eye roll from behind you as you turned around to grab your phone from your bag.
“What’re you doing now? Shouldn’t you be getting ready for our date?” Sukuna said the word with unfamiliarity. Yeah, you had a long way to go before you would get used to the fact that you were in a relationship with the man currently sitting in your apartment.
“In a sec. I’m just making sure I don’t lose my Duolingo streak.”
“Right now? Fuckin’ weirdo,” said Sukuna, as he sat up from his spot on the sofa. “Tell me when you’re ready; I’m gonna take a shit.”
Nodding, you said, “Roger that.”
“. . .Do not ever say that cringey shit to me ever again, or I’ll break up with you.”
You laughed at that last part. The threat seemed more humorous than it should’ve; perhaps it was the unconventional spirit of your relationship.
When you two were kids, you and Sukuna would frequently hang out at each other’s houses and play-fight until the sun would go down, and his grandpa would scold you both for making a mess of the house. It was a bright and colorful time of Sukuna’s life. And, after having known you since childhood, Sukuna grew pretty familiar with your outgoing personality and general craziness.
But, with that being said, Sukuna was beyond taken aback when you brought up the idea of being cursed. You? Cursed? In this decade? This was real life, not some dystopian book. Sukuna thought you were bordering the line between sane and insane when you further explained your current predicament to him.
So, just because you couldn’t find a suitable lover who liked macaroni and cheese, you thought you were doomed for life? Sukuna almost laughed out loud when you expressed how serious you were.
“It’s not funny!” you told him, but he couldn’t have thought you were being more ridiculous.
And when you brought up your idea on how to get rid of your “curse”, Sukuna was planning on telling you how silly you were being, but all thought of that immediately died down in his throat when you mentioned a possible relationship with him.
What do you mean Sukuna had an opportunity to get into a relationship with you? As in, he could be your boyfriend? It was like the gates of Heaven had opened up right before him, and were offering eternal paradise to him.
Then again, it was only an act. A fake relationship. But, nevertheless, Sukuna would take all that was given to him; he always did.
“You know, Sukuna, I’m really grateful for you for doing this. I mean, it might be a little weird to act like we’re dating and all, but it can’t be that bad, right? We’re already friends; dating couldn’t possibly be so different?” you suggested.
Sukuna took a sip of his drink, “Dunno. I’m not usually friends with my girlfriends.”
“Really?” you leaned in closer to the conversation. “So you mean you don’t, like. . . Never mind. How do you even get girlfriends, then? I usually meet people through a mutual friend, and then we get to know each other, become friends ourselves, and—”
Sukuna cut you off, “I don’t think you really get what I’m saying here. Besides, I’m not here for advice on how to meet potential girlfriends. I think I’m pretty experienced in that department.”
You laughed, “But, really, thanks for doing this for me.”
Smiling, you placed a hand over Sukuna’s, which was resting on the table. He looked a bit tense at the action, but he didn’t push you away.
“It’s what friends do, right?
You hummed, averting your gaze elsewhere. “Anyways, I’m pretty sure this counts as our first date.”
“Huh,” Sukuna agreed. “Kind of boring, I gotta say. I mean, going out for drinks at a bar? Not a very romantic scenario.”
“Still, isn’t this exciting either way—?”
“I think I know a way to make this evening more exciting,” a cool voice cut you off midway. “Mind if we join you?”
You knew that voice. When you turned around, you were met with the face of. . .