As a budding chef who often dated women who weren’t exactly culinary experts, Rey had come to the conclusion that women didn’t need to know how to cook. He was more than happy to cook anything his girlfriend desired as a gesture of love. Sure, he’d be thrilled if she asked him to teach her how to cook, but Rey wasn’t the type to impose his will on anyone.
Everyone could learn to cook—it was a skill that anyone willing to try could master. Ellie had once told Rey that she was an impatient girl who easily lost her temper, which is why she didn’t think she was suited for the kitchen, even though she did envy Rey a bit.
Ellie had tried her hand at cooking a few times, following instructions from videos or recipe books, but the results were always disappointing. She even went so far as to buy measuring cups and a vegetable scale. Unfortunately, cooking was something she just couldn’t get the hang of, and every attempt ended in failure. Eventually, she gave up, admiring how calm and composed Rey was in the kitchen, effortlessly preparing complex dishes. It was a testament to his incredible patience.
Rey started by letting down his hair, retying it into a neat ponytail. He washed his hands thoroughly at the sink, a smile spreading across his face.
“Not bad,” Rey praised Ez for managing to get all the ingredients on his list.
“Alright, let’s make some magic—rawon, made in Japan,” Rey said, psyching himself up.
Soon after, the hum of a vacuum cleaner came from the living room as Rey began putting on his gloves. Ez must have been cleaning up before Rey could get upset about serving food in a messy place.
He chuckled at the sight of a set of knives of various sizes. “Looks like Ez really is missing Indonesian food,” Rey muttered as he caught a glimpse of his reflection in one of the new blades.
“Cook something delicious, Rey! I’m sick of ramen! Rawon Surabaya is way better!” Ez shouted.
Rey admired his new knife set, carefully slicing the beef brisket and flank into small cubes. He then placed them in a pot along with three kaffir lime leaves. It would take time to achieve the perfect tender texture.
“Alright, hang in there for 15 minutes, guys,” Rey said, as if he were talking to a group of kids after covering the pot.
It was time to prepare the spice mix, a task that would take all day. Rey could easily sleep in the kitchen just to make Ez’s favorite dish. Finding rawon ingredients in Japan wasn’t easy, but Rey wasn’t about to let Ez down. Secretly, he was grateful that his friend had given him a way to relieve some stress after being slapped by Ellie’s aunt.
Rey checked the condition of the keluak by shaking it near his ear. He smiled with satisfaction when he heard a sound inside, indicating it was ready to be processed. He began cracking the keluak, removing the shell. It seemed simple, but it required a certain skill. The next step was to soak the keluak in warm water until it was completely dissolved.
“Rey-sama!” Ez called out from the doorway, teasing him.
Rey, who cringed at being called ‘Rey-sama,’ momentarily diverted his gaze from the shallots and garlic on the counter. It seemed Ez wanted to show off and be praised for successfully cleaning up.
“Now... go get me some ice cream and snacks. I could be here all day, and I need something sweet,” Rey ordered.
“Oh, right away! Rey-sama’s orders will be promptly carried out!” Ez responded with exaggerated obedience.
Rey smirked. “By the way, did my mom call you?”
“Yeah, she did! She thinks you should just stay here so she won’t worry. She said she’s been looking for you, and since your semester break has started but you haven’t gone back to Jakarta, she’s concerned. You’re an only child, Rey. Don’t make your mom feel like she doesn’t have a son.”
“We’ll talk about that later; I have my reasons,” Rey replied, trying to change the subject. “How about that ice cream?” He made a shooing motion, trying to get rid of the increasingly chatty Ez.
“Okay, Chef!” Ez raised his hands in surrender and disappeared from the kitchen.
Fifteen minutes had passed since the beef had been boiling, so Rey drained the meat, discarding the first batch of water to get rid of any unpleasant odor. He refilled the pot with fresh water and added a bit of vinegar. This second round would make the meat more tender and less chewy.
“Hang tight there, little ones. You’re going to be beautiful soon,” Rey said, talking to the beef as if it were a baby.
Rey checked his phone to see if there were any new messages. He was still holding out hope that Ellie would send him an email or something, just to let him know where she was. Suddenly, remembering Ez’s earlier words, Rey knew he had to contact his mom to ease her worries. He began typing a message to her during his break, letting her know that he was fine and currently at Ez’s place, cooking rawon.
“She hasn’t read it yet. She’s probably busy at the restaurant,” Rey murmured.
He brewed himself a cup of coffee, patiently waiting for the second batch of meat to finish boiling. As he sat there, his thoughts drifted back to Ellie, who still hadn’t reached out to him. If he had done something wrong, he genuinely wanted to make it right. He just couldn’t understand why his girlfriend was acting this way when things had always been fine between them.
Time flew by as Rey placed his coffee cup back on the table. He turned off the stove, drained the beef, and got ready to work his magic. Cooking, for Rey, was like performing witchcraft—he could mix certain ingredients and create something entirely new. It remained a mystery why different hands resulted in different flavors. In this case, his dad’s cooking was his favorite.
Rey filtered the second batch of broth until it was clear, then brought it to a boil again, adding sliced scallions. He started sautéing the spices over low heat. They needed to be fully cooked and oily to avoid any raw taste when mixed into the broth.
“Wow! It smells amazing, Chef!” Ez exclaimed as he returned with a bag of ice cream and snacks.
Rey glanced over his shoulder, grinning at the sight of Ez looking hopeful. Ez stood not far from the kitchen counter, watching Rey intently. “You’re crazy, Rey, making rawon in Japan.”
Rey mixed the sautéed spices into the second broth to create the base for the soup. He just needed to wait for it to boil before adding the beef. He bent down slightly to adjust the flame.