If Tae was able to pay it off, it wouldn’t be past due.
“Thank you. Appreciate the call.”
Tae dropped down on to the couch and raked his fingers through his hair. This was the last thing he wanted to be thinkingabout tonight. Here, surrounded by all the signs of Julia’s success.
It wasn’t a competition. But wasn’tsuccessthe arbitrary goal line that all Koreans held themselves and others up to? Why didn’t they ever talk about happiness? Did that not matter?
Maybe Tae was wrong thinking he’d figure it all out as long as he was happy. Because scraping by was not making Tae any happier than before. In fact, it made those days he didn’t even have the energy or desire to get up out of bed, those times where he felt consumed by darkness and despair, more frequent.
He let out a deep sigh. He wasn’t going to solve any of this here, tonight. But what he could do was make a nice, simple meal for Julia and try to have a good time.
With a prewarning text from Annette, which included heart, fire, peach, and eggplant emojis, telling Tae Julia was on her way, Tae leaned against the kitchen island as Julia beeped her way into her home.
Julia took one look at the kitchen and then one look at Tae. “What the fuck is going on here?” She immediately slapped her hand to her mouth.
Not quite the reaction Tae had hoped for.
“Sorry, shit, I get sailor-mouthy when I’m surprised.”
“I’m into it,” he teased.
Julia’s neck flushed.
“I personally find sailor-mouthy Julia pretty sexy.” He walked up to her and bent to give her a soft kiss on the lips. “Hi.”
“Hi,” she said back. He stared into her eyes for a moment longer. If he didn’t look away, all his hard work prepping dinner would be swept to the floor as he ate Julia on this kitchen island instead.
Something told him she wouldn’t appreciate the mess.
“What is all this?” she asked.
“I thought we’d make gimbap,” he answered.
“I love gimbap.”
“Yeah, I know.”
“But I’m a really bad cook.”
“Yeah, I know.” He smiled. “Isn’t that why you have a cooking coach? But luckily, all the prep work is done, and all we have to do is put it together and roll it up to eat.”
She nodded but looked skeptical.
Tae grabbed her bag and coat and placed them on the sofa. Julia stared at them. Tae went back and picked up her bag and coat from the sofa. “Um, where should I put these?”
“Oh, the coat closet would be an okay place to put the coat,” she said.
He smirked. “Smart-ass.” He walked past her and gave her a peck on the cheek as he headed to the coat closet.
Then the two of them washed their hands and got to work.
Tae showed Julia how to lay down the sheet of seaweed, spread the rice, and layer the vegetables for the inside.
“Okay, so tuck the end in and use the bamboo mat to roll.”
Julia struggled to get the roll to sit tight enough, and everything unraveled, falling apart.
“I suck at this,” she whined.
