Gluten-Free

Amanda and Piero had celebrated the housewarming of their new apartment last night with friends and family. It had been an evening filled with laughter, toasts, and memories they would carry with them into this new chapter of their lives. The music filled the spaces as their guests enjoyed chatting and dancing. The apartment, with its white walls and minimalist decor, was alive with color and vibrancy, reflecting the joy of the moment.

Now, as the sun began to rise and rays of light filtered through the curtains, Piero found himself in the kitchen preparing a special breakfast for Amanda, who was still sound asleep in bed. “Love, did we end up getting fresh fruit?” Piero asked, receiving no response from his sleepyhead. “Well, I can’t find any,” he thought to himself, feeling frustrated but determined to make a lovely breakfast.

With all the new utensils and a state-of-the-art stovetop, Piero felt like a true chef, the spiritual heir to Gordon Ramsay. As he whisked the eggs and mixed the batter, he imagined preparing a Michelin-star dinner for an enthusiastic audience. The pancakes sizzled in the pan, releasing a delicious aroma that filled the air, making him proud of his culinary skills and eager to impress Amanda with his cooking. Piero plated everything and snapped a photo to post on Instagram with the hashtag #formylittleteddybear, thinking about how happy Amanda would be when she woke up.

“Breakfast is readdyyy,” he announced cheerfully, trying to catch her attention while flipping the pancakes.

“I’m coming,” Amanda finally responded, rubbing her eyes. She got up from the bed and made her way to the kitchen, still groggy but curious. When she saw the steaming plate in front of her, a smile spread across her face. The vibrant colors of the fresh fruit, combined with the soft pancakes, made her feel loved and pampered.

“What do you think?” Piero asked, watching her reaction with curiosity and a bit of anxiety.

“Did you use gluten-free flour?” Amanda asked, already sensing a potential problem.

“Unfortunately, I forgot,” Piero admitted, feeling a little guilty. He knew how important it was for her and felt remorseful.

“And we don’t even have any fruit…” Piero replied, realizing that breakfast wouldn’t be as perfect as he hoped.

“Then I can’t eat them,” Amanda countered, her expression shifting, visibly disappointed. Piero noticed the sadness in her eyes and felt even more guilty.

“Come on, do it for me!” the boy replied, trying to convince her. “You don’t want to ruin this lovely breakfast, do you? They’re my special pancakes!”

“No, I can’t! You know it inflames my intestines,” Amanda replied, crossing her arms and shaking her head in determination.

At that moment, her phone emitted a *blink*, interrupting their conversation.

“Who is it?” Amanda asked, intrigued. Piero, with a quick motion, grabbed the phone in his hand.

“A notification from Instagram,” he replied, as frustration began to seep into his tone.

“Okay, but what is it?” she asked, trying to understand.

“A like,” Piero said, scrolling through his feed.

“From whom? For what?” Amanda continued, growing more interested.

“I posted a picture of the pancakes. I don’t know who it is,” Piero said, showing the phone to Amanda.

“Let me see,” Amanda asked, leaning in with curiosity.

“Who is @Leaila0409?” she inquired, reading the name on the screen.

“I told you I don’t know who it is,” Piero shot back, a little irritated by her insistence.

“Fuck you! I already hate this house, and you don’t even remember that I’m gluten intolerant! I’m going back to bed!” Amanda snapped, turning on her heel and heading toward the bedroom, slamming the door behind her. Piero stood in the kitchen, frustrated and confused, trying to figure out how he had ruined a morning that should have been perfect.

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**An Hour Later...**

Piero found himself reflecting on how impulsive he had been and how much he cared for Amanda. “I need to make her understand that it wasn’t my intention,” he thought, but he knew he also needed to give her some time. “Little teddy beaaaaar,” he called, hoping that his sweet tone might coax her out of her retreat.

“What is it?” Amanda responded, her voice a mix of irritation and sleepiness.

“Come to the kitchen,” Piero insisted, trying to reconcile the situation.

“No, I’m tired, and it’s still 7:00 AM,” Amanda replied, yawning. Piero knew it was a tough battle, but he didn’t want to give up.

“COME OOOON,” Piero exclaimed in a tone that mixed playfulness and pleading.

“I’m coming, but know that we are going to argue,” Amanda warned, but something in Piero’s tone made her change her mind.

“Okay,” she finally replied, reluctantly getting up and heading toward the kitchen.

“What is it?” Amanda asked as she entered the kitchen and saw the steaming plate. “I can’t believe you made pancakes.”

“Look, these are gluten-free pancakes with fresh kiwi and strawberries on top,” Piero said with a proud smile, trying to mend the situation.

“Where did you get them?” Amanda asked, surprised and a bit taken aback by his effort.

“I found a minimarket nearby,” Piero replied, happy to have surprised her and hoping to earn some points.

In a moment of joy, Amanda jumped on him and started shouting, “Forget the pancakes, YOU ARE MY PANCAKE!”

“SHHH, we don’t even know the neighbors yet,” Piero admonished her, laughing, but he couldn’t help feeling happy to see her smile.

“WHO CARES, I HAVE MY LITTLE CHEF HERE,” Amanda continued to shout, hugging him enthusiastically before kissing him. They looked into each other’s eyes, and for a moment, the world around them faded away.

“Where’s the flour?” Amanda asked, suddenly curious.

“I think it’s…” Piero started, but was interrupted by Amanda’s exclamation.

“NEVER MIND, I FOUND IT!” she exclaimed, grabbing the flour from the pantry and throwing it into the air, covering them both in white powder.

“THIS IS HOW I LIKE IT MORE,” Piero exclaimed, laughing and embracing her. They exchanged a knowing glance as if they had just solved the biggest conflict. 

So, both naked and covered in flour, they hugged passionately. The rays of the sun began to filter through the windows, creating a warm light that enveloped the scene. Piero and Amanda looked at each other, and at that moment, they realized that every little argument was worth it if it meant sharing life together.

As the flour settled on the floor and on their bodies, Amanda burst into laughter. “We need to be more careful next time,” she said, amused by the situation.

“Oh, but it was fun!” Piero replied, happy to see her so carefree. “And besides, we can always clean up together.”

Amanda moved closer to Piero and kissed him again, happy to be with him in that moment. “Yes, but first we have to enjoy these pancakes!”

Piero nodded, satisfied to have put a smile on Amanda’s face. They sat at the table together, laughing and eating pancakes, with flour continuing to fall around them like sweet rain.

As they enjoyed breakfast, Amanda noticed Piero’s phone on the table. “Hey, aren’t you going to check who @Leaila0409 is?” she asked, raising an eyebrow.

With a sly smile, Piero replied, “Well, if she’s a fan of my pancakes, I’ll definitely need to respond!”

Amanda burst out laughing. “Maybe she’s just a girl looking for a good brunch!”

“You know you’re my one and only pancake,” Piero said, taking her hand and squeezing it gently.

“And you’re my little chef,” Amanda replied, as the sun continued to rise and their new beginning shone brightly before them. In that moment, they understood that, despite the little fights and challenges, their love was stronger than any obstacle, and together they could face anything.

Just as they were enjoying breakfast, both received a call from their parents. “Amanda! How’s it going? How was the party?” her mother asked, her voice full of excitement.

“Hi, Mom! It went really well! We invited a lot of friends, and we had a great time,” Amanda replied, while Piero made silly faces at her.

“It’s true! Although we had a little mishap with the flour,” Piero added, trying to laugh along.

“You all need to be careful! You don’t want to make a mess, do you?” Amanda’s mom responded, laughing.

“Come on, it was fun! And now we’re preparing breakfast,” Amanda said, feeling her mother’s warmth even through the phone.

Meanwhile, Piero received a call from his mother. “Piero! How’s it going? How are things in the new house?” she asked.

“Great, Mom! We’re making pancakes right now,” Piero replied, happy to share the moment.

“But you didn’t forget to buy gluten-free flour, did you?” his mother asked, concerned.

“Uh, actually…,” Piero started, but Amanda gestured for him to say nothing.

“Don’t worry, everything’s fine! It was just a little adventure,” Amanda said, laughing.

“Alright, but remember to take care of yourself and Amanda,” Piero’s mother exclaimed.

“Yes, yes, we take care of each other,” Piero replied, squeezing Amanda’s hand.

After the calls, Amanda and Piero exchanged a knowing glance. “Let’s hope the neighbors

 are more tolerant!” Amanda said as Piero handed her a pancake.

“No matter what happens, we’re here to face it together,” Piero replied, holding up the pancake like a trophy.

And at that moment, they understood that life’s little mishaps would always add a pinch of flavor to their love story.