Secrets in the Hallway
1008 Words
After Maku accepted the invitation for dinner, she went into her own place while Rim unlocked his heavy timber door. Now, both of them were in their respective flats, quickly freshening up and getting ready for the dinner. Rim washed his hands, changed into a comfortable shirt, and unpacked his fresh groceries on the granite kitchen counter.
While Rim was actively cutting vegetables for the dinner on a wooden chopping board, his doorbell suddenly rang through the grand hall. He paused, wiped his hands on a kitchen towel, and went to open the door. When he opened the door, he saw Maku standing there, already changed into a fresh, casual outfit.
Rim blinked in surprise, looking at his watch. "Umm, didn't you came too much early?" Rim said. "I haven't even started to cook the dinner."
Maku shook her head and stepped past the threshold. "No, no, I am here to go help you for the dinner," Maku said helpfully.
"As well, you don't have to," Rim said, gesturing toward the spacious living room. "You're my guest."
"Oh, then OK," Maku said, accepting his hospitality without a fight.
Afterwards, Rim told Maku to sit down and make herself comfortable on the plush sofa in the living hall. Once she settled in, he turned around and went back into the independent modular kitchen to prepare the food.
Maku looked around the expansive apartment, her eyes tracking the elegant layout before she noticed a stack of magazines on the glass coffee table. She called out toward the kitchen, her voice easily carrying across the grand space: "Hey! Rim, don't you have some things to read?"
"Go check out my room, you'll find some," Rim said from the kitchen, his voice easily carrying over the hum of the exhaust fan. He kept his focus on the cutting board, where his knife rhythmically chopped fresh onions and bell peppers for the curry.
Maku stood up from the plush sofa, smoothing down her casual clothes. "Umm, okay," she said, her voice carrying a hint of curious hesitation. She walked down the short hallway of the grand apartment, her soft footsteps muffled by the polished flooring.
She pushed open the door to Rim’s bedroom and stepped inside, immediately struck by how organized the space looked. A large bed occupied the center of the room, flanked by neat nightstands. Maku walked over to a dark wooden shelf and started searching for something to read. However, as she scanned the top shelf, her eyes suddenly fell on a silver photo frame resting near the corner.
She picked it up gently. The photograph showed Rim’s parents smiling warmly, standing alongside a younger Rim during a family holiday. As Maku stared at the faces in the picture, a strange sense of familiarity washed over her. A quiet warmth settled in her chest, accompanied by a puzzling thought. She felt that she had seen them somewhere before, though she couldn't quite pin down the memory. She lingered on the image for another moment, trying to connect the dots, but the thought remained just out of reach.
Shaking her head to clear her mind, she ignored the photo frame, placed it back on the shelf, and started searching for some fictional books to read. She opened a small cabinet and scanned the spines, but Rim’s collection didn't offer much in the way of light entertainment. His room was full of financial and self-improvement books. Thick volumes on market economics, leadership strategies, and personal discipline lined the shelves. After searching for almost fifteen minutes, her fingers finally brushed against a single fictional book buried behind a stack of journals.
She pulled it out, but when she read the title, a soft sigh escaped her lips. It was the "Your Name" manga—a volume which she had already read five to six times before.
Feeling a sudden sense of disappointment, she placed the book back where she found it. She left Rim’s room and went straight into the kitchen, where Rim was actively cooking the meal.
"Rim! Don't you have something fictional to read?" Maku asked sadly, leaning against the doorframe with her arms crossed.
Rim looked up from the sizzling pan, offering a sheepish grin. "Oh! You wanna read some fictional books?" he asked, stirring the vegetables. "Well, I have read some fictional books online. I don't have them in physical form. You can watch Netflix if you want," Rim added, gesturing toward the large smart television in the living hall.
Maku pouted slightly, shook her head, and took a step closer to the counter. "No, I'll help you here in the kitchen," Maku said in disappointment, still wishing she had found a good book to dive into.
Rim paused, observing her expression. "Well, you're feeling okay?" he asked, wanting to make sure she wasn't forcing herself. After seeing Maku’s persistent gaze and her clear desire to stay occupied, Rim accepted her proposal. Then, they both started cooking together, dividing the tasks neatly between them.
While cooking, Maku and Rim chatted about their day, the ambient sounds of chopping and sizzling filling the warm kitchen air. Maku picked up a wooden spoon to stir the sauce, her mind drifting back to their walk home from the grocery store.
"Hey! Why did you invited me for dinner today?" Maku asked, looking over at him with genuine curiosity.
Rim smiled, adjusting the flame under the rice pot. "You gave me dinner when I was hungry. That's why," Rim said simply.
Maku stopped stirring for a fraction of a second, looking at him in a confused state. "Just for that?" she asked.
"Well, I don't keep debts. I'd like to make things equal," Rim said, presenting his straightforward logic with a calm shrug.
Maku couldn't help but chuckle at his earnestness. "Oh! What a great philosopher," Maku said in an admiring tone, her voice laced with playful tone.
- Writer
