Title of the Experiment: The Taste of a Kiss

Purpose: To prove whether the kisses really have a taste or not.

Hypothesis: Kiss can’t possibly be sweet.

Take 1 – New Year Party: Failed! It tasted like nothing.

Reason for failure: It’s said, I didn’t conduct the experiment properly. In other words, it was not considered a proper kiss!

Take 2 – Parking lot: It tasted bitter. But that can be because of the coffee.

Currently, Raelle was sitting in her bed with her laptop on her lap as she typed continuously. Sometimes, she really took somethings too seriously. For instance, the matter of this kiss. Actually, she took everything too seriously when it involved human emotions and feelings. Because it was something she couldn’t comprehend.

She had a particular locked file in her laptop where she kept notes regarding her new experiences. It was a habit her psychologist got her into. According to the psychologist, to understand somethings, she needed to note down small things. No matter how small or insignificant, if she found anything peculiar, she needed to write it down.

And that’s exactly what she did. It was how she managed to actually read people’s expressions because she noted down everything. And learned from her own experience along the way.

Conclusion for today: Kiss doesn’t have a taste of its own. External factors play a role.

*Knock*

“Come in,” called out Raelle as she heard the knock at her door.

Mu Chenyan stepped inside her room with a plate of fruits. Seeing who it was, Raelle saved the file and closed the lid of her laptop, and even put it aside.

“Were you working again?” asked Mu Chenyan with a disgruntled look.

“No, I wasn’t,” replied Raelle truthfully.

“Then what were you doing, Elle?”

Raelle took the plate of fruits from her hands and took a bit of the apple before replying, “I was taking notes.”

“Notes? About what?” Mu Chenyan sounded perplexed.

“Taste testing,” was Raelle’s answer that confused her even more.

“Taste-testing?” she repeated uncertainly and Raelle nodded. She stared at Raelle’s face for a while before sighing, “I can’t understand your peculiar ways of life. Maybe it’s the generation gap. I’m getting too old.”

Raelle looked her up and down, “I also agree. You are getting old.”

Mu Chenyan gaped at her before poking her head lightly, “Yes, I’m getting old so stop giving me worries.”

Raelle looked displeased, “Yanyan, what worry did I give you now? In the morning, you forbid me from doing any work and told me to go out and enjoy myself. I did exactly as you said!”

“So, did my Missy actually enjoyed herself today?” asked Mu Chenyan sounding pleasantly surprised.

Raelle admitted, “I enjoyed myself.”

Mu Chenyan tucked her hair behind her ear lovingly and asked, “I’m curious now. What did my Missy do for enjoyment?”

“I went to watch a movie, did some shopping, even taught someone a life lesson, had a coffee with a familiar stranger, and did some taste testing to finish off today’s adventure.”

Mu Chenyan patted her head as if encouraging a little kid, “Oh my! Our Elle really had a lot of fun today.”

Raelle smiled at her and continued to eat her apple with a ‘crunch crunch’ sound. Mu Chenyan continued to watch her eat with an affectionate look in her eyes.

“Yanyan,” Raelle suddenly called out.

“Hmmm…” Mu Chenyan hummed in response.

“Have you ever been in love with someone?” Mu Chenyan was taken aback by that question. Raelle had never questioned her about something like this before. “So, have you?” Mu Chenyan’s eyes softened as she nodded her head. “Oh, really? Who is that person?”

Mu Chenyan pointed at Raelle’s face who looked lost. “It’s you, Elle.”

“Me?”

“Yes, you,” she continued. “When I first held you in my arms, I instantly fell in love. It was love at first sight.”

“Huh?” Raelle didn’t get it as always.

Mu Chenyan didn’t mind elaborating patiently, “My dear Elle, every relationship is different, right?” Raelle nodded her head. “That means, the feelings involved are also different?” This Raelle couldn’t answer so she shrugged her shoulders. “Let’s say it this way, you said each bond is formed because of the reaction that happens between our brain chemicals?”

“That’s true!”

“Then look at it this way, in each relationship different chemicals tend to mix together and create their own reactions. We call those chemicals, feelings. And when they blend together, they create their own flavor.”

“Oh…”

“So, love also has different flavors. Because each chemical reaction can’t possibly the same. So, each person’s love is also different with their own unique flavor.” She looked into Raelle’s eyes and said, “You just need to create your own flavor of love. Or the chemical reaction.”

Raelle didn’t know what reaction would be appropriate in response so she stayed silent before trying to change the topic. “So, how is grandfather these days? He seems very happy to me.”

Mu Chenyan agreed, “That’s because Elder Xiang is indeed very happy these days.”

“Why?” questioned Raelle.

“Because his biggest dream is coming true… Our Young Miss is getting married. How can he be not happy about that?”

Listening to this reason, Raelle deadpanned, “Is that something to be happy about? Or is he that happy to get rid of me?”

Mu Chenyan shook her head at her, “Elle, he is not happy to get rid of you. He is happy to see you opening up to possibilities and change. Since you’re willing to explore what life has to offer, he is very delighted.” She sounded a little sad as she added, “Seeing you like this for years, he always felt guilty. As if he was incompetent and he didn’t do a good enough job in raising you.”

“Seeing me like this?” repeated Raelle. “How come I don’t see anything wrong with how I am but everyone else does?”

Mu Chenyan placed her palm against her cheek as she said, “There is nothing wrong with my Elle. She is just special. Very special!” She took a pause briefly and went on, “And if no one can see it, they should look at my Elle through my eyes.”

She didn’t stay with Raelle for long and soon left the room telling her ‘good night.’

When she left, Raelle turned on her laptop and added a special note…

‘Different chemicals create different reactions. Each element creates its own bond. Depending on their procedures. So, each love has its own flavor. Does that mean each love has its own recipe?’