Chapter eight: a homely matter
961 Words
They sneaked through fire stairs as if they hid from attention. If only Anna knew it wasn’t only about her reputation at that point.
> You look like an off-duty celebrity today. - she told when he took off the hat and the jacket.
His eyes filled with fear that she didn’t notice.
> Feel comfortable after you crashed into my house. And please don’t kill me. I am not a perfect cook and am still learning Korean stuff but I still have some bulgogi. Want some?
He couldn’t believe his ears. This woman acted so naturally as if they knew each other for ages.
He really wanted the bulgogi but the last conscious part made him stop.
> I already ate, thanks.
He didn’t. But that was part of his life he didn’t need her in.
The loud growl left his stomach the moment he said it.
> Well, I won’t take it personally. You are alone in a stranger’s house. But really I wouldn’t poison you. Or sedate you and take advantage of you. I don’t need such tricks while being that sexy.
She winked pointing to her socks.
He didn’t know what to say. It was both embarrassing to the point when he wanted to run away but the same time, he felt so comfortable that he wanted to stay in this strange place forever.
> You are as silent as you were when we first met. No need to feel uncomfortable, really. After all, you just crashed into a strange woman's house when she was just enjoying her solitude with wine.
> It’s not that. I just….- he hung up mid-word. He didn’t know why he actually wrote to her and why he was there. It’s just he felt like doing it.
> No need to explain anything. Just relax and feel comfortable. I may be strange but I see when somebody needs a place to escape. Feel like it’s yours. I won’t ask questions.
He again didn’t know what to say. This was the strangest feeling. He wanted to lay on her lap but put himself together.
> I’d love to try your bulgogi. - he said all of a sudden.
> Good choice. - she replied and headed to the kitchen. - but be prepared that I know very little about your side dishes yet so it won’t be a full home cooking experience for you.
He barely remembered home cooking from his childhood days. At that point, he treated food like sin and lost appetite long ago.
Soon the savoury-sweet smell covered the whole living room. While Anna warmed up the dishes, he had a moment to look around the flat. And just as he thought, it was a very expensive one. And really spotless as if no one lived here. Just a bottle of wine and a half drank a glass.
> Can I ask you a personal question? - he said when she entered the room with a tray full of food.
> Eat first, ask later.
> Ok, mom.
> Ok, that made me feel weird. And super self-conscious.
> I didn’t mean….- he stopped mid-word again.
> No need, but I prefer noona to mon.
> You are a really good looking noona. - he blurted before thinking about it.
She looked him in the eyes with terror.
The tension filled the room.
> How do you know how to cook Korean food? He asked to break the silence.
> This is one of the few things I actually enjoy here. I really love the approach you have towards food. How passionate Koreans are about their cuisine. I admire that and want a bit of it for myself. So I started collecting ideas and trying them on by myself. As you see I live alone so there is no one but me to poison so I had a whole lot of trial and error. And here we are: I can make like 4-5 decent Korean dishes after a few months here. Not that bad I suppose.
He took a few first bites and couldn’t believe that the food he was eating was made by this strangely exotic woman. How can she imitate the Korean home cooking after just a few months here?
> It’s delicious. Really.
> I’m happy to hear that. You don’t look like you have many opportunities to enjoy food so please do it for me and eat up today.
He blushed. He said nothing about himself and yet she seemed to know everything.
> So when you chew I’ll try to answer your personal question. Go ahead.
He swallowed a bit an urge to step back from any questions to keep the sweet limbo between them. But he decided to ask.
> Why does a woman like you live so lonely in a place so unfamiliar to her, spending time with a boy she knows nothing about?
> I also asked myself that question.
She looked outside the window.
> You see, I’m not necessarily a friendly type. I don’t get along with people other than on a professional level. That would answer the first part of your question. I’m here because as much as a bad party I am, I’m pretty good at making things work so my company called me here to do some work with the local team. And that leads me to the last part of the question. And the answer would be because you are a stranger who says nothing about himself and doesn’t expect anything from me. We can be comfortably nothing and nothing would happen. And you look like you need a stranger to escape from those familiar to you. And I need a stranger to feel familiar with.
- Writer
