Corn Dogs

Aalto finally put me down as we entered into the room. I sat on the chair as my legs were feeling like jelly. Water is dripping from the tips of my hair. I feel kinda cold since my clothes are completely drenched. Aalto retuned with a towel and handed it to me.

" Thanks." I said with a chuckle. As soon our eyes met he lowered his head with a swoosh. Even though he was facing down looking fixedly at the floor, I can sense that he is feeling embarrassed.

Hey! Hey! Hey! Why are you acting so bashful all of a sudden?

" What's wrong?" Having no idea of his unknown hazard, I decided to ask him straight away.

" ... H-Hyeon you should change your clothes." I quickly scanned my body which made me realise that my bra was literally visible. The wet T-shirt had caused such disaster. Shit!

" ... Uh... I'll go take a shower then. Bye." I hurriedly went to the bathroom and locked myself up.

Ugh! What a stressful day it was. I was face palming myself in the shower. He must have felt awkward after seeing me in that state. After all Aalto is such a sweet innocent guy.

That night I couldn't fall asleep. So many things were going on my head. I was just turning around all over my bed. Today wasn't a good day for sure. We couldn't get any information from those useless fishes. God damn it! I wish I can find a way to make sure that Aalto can return to his home.

Next morning I opened up the cafe on the usual time. Aalto seemed normal. I was worried that he might act differently after yesterday. But he was perfectly fine. To lighten up his mood, I decided to make corn dogs.

First I need to make the batter. I took a loaf pan since it's easy to mix the ingredients inside it and coat the sausage properly in the batter. I added 1 cup of all purpose flour, 2 Tsp of baking powder, 2 Tbsp of sugar, and a pinch of salt. Mix all the dry stuff together.

Now goes in 1 of cup milk with an egg. Whisk all the ingredients together until it's smooth. The batter should be very thick and sticky. Or else we can't coat the sausage with a runny batter. My batter is ready. I put it inside the refrigerate to get it cold.

" Guess what I'm cooking now?" I tapped on Aalto's shoulders to get his attention. He was focused on cleaning the dishes.

" Cake." With a broad grin Aalto replied.

" No. Think something else beside that." I frowned at him. It's not like I'm always making cakes for him. He likes sweets but there are others stuffs beside that.

" Are you making a new dish?"

" New for you, old for me."

" I don't know. I can't really think of anything."

" We are making corn dogs. You wanted to eat them right? So, help me out." Finally I had tell him the truth. There's no way he could have guess it.

" Wow Hyeon! You know how to make them? You're so knowledgable." Aalto's face beamed with happiness like a morning sun.

" Jeez! It's just a simple dish. Anyone can make them."

I poked the mozzarella cheese and sausage on the stick. I made other 4 like the same way. Rest of the sticks were only made of sausages. I took out the batter from the fridge. The oil is heated up and ready to fry the corn dogs in it.

" Watch me carefully. You'll have to repeat the same." Aalto fixed his eyes on me to carefully follow my instructions.

I took a stick then dipped it into the sticky batter. The cheese and sausage needs to be coated properly although the coating shouldn't be too thick. Next I rolled it with panko breadcrumbs, applying it evenly for a nice outer layer. The stick gets inside the oil bath to fry till crisp. When it turns light brown the corn dog is ready.

" Do the rest like I did." I gave him rest of the sticks to coat them in the batter.

" Okay." Aalto became energetic to help me out. He handed me the corn dogs after coating it with batter and breadcrumbs. Meanwhile I kept on frying them. All of the corn dogs are ready.

Now for the final touch, I dipped them in sugar. But that's not the end. We gotta decorate them with ketchup. I poured the ketchup in zik Zak motion. Same with the mustard sauce and mayonnaise. Ah! They look lovely. We took our first bite. I may be quite shameless for feeling proud of my own dish but this does taste great.

" They taste great, Hyeon." Yes yes, after all I made them. I rubbed my nose with the index finger after getting praised by him. It does feel great to be honest.

" Next time I'll buy them for you when we go out."

" I like yours more." He complimented me with a sweet smile. It's past evening so theres no one at the cafe besides us. We can just enjoy our time, eating these corn dogs.

" You shouldn't decline such offer." I gave him a smug look. His innocence is too much for me.

" I'm just happy that you are with me. Or else I would feel alone." His rueful words made my heart flutter.

" Don't get so emotional. I'm not leaving you alone until you safely return home. Here have another one." I handed him another corn dog since he already finished his.

The bell outside my cafe rang up. Looks like we got a customer.

" You stay here, I'll go check." I left the kitchen to check whoever came to disturb our sweet time. Normally we don't get that many customers around this time.

The moment I saw the person standing at the entrance I knew my mind is about to blow up. The hell? Why is Dae Jung here?

" Hyeon, it's been a while." His words were awfully sugar coated.

" Yeah. How come you're here?" I replied flatly, compressing my agitation.

" I was just passing by." Dae Jung looks surprised after getting an unsatisfying answer.

" Great. So what would you like to order?"

" That can wait. Shouldn't we have a chat? I just met you after so many years." Pulling his left eyebrow upward, Dae Jung gave me smirk.

" No thanks. I'm not interested." In a grumpish tone I declined his stupid offer. I have no intention with getting my time wasted on a guy like him.

Haha, like you have missed me all those years after cheating on me. Don't you dare to pull that stunt on me bitch.

" Wow! that hurts. You have gotten grumpy. Maybe that's why you couldn't find a boyfriend." Suddenly my irritation lever grew up. What the hell is he trying to do here?

" Excuse me, but who told you that? And why are you prying into my life?" I was scowling in rage.

" Hey! Calm down. I was only joking with ya. By the way I heard it from Sunwoo and I didn't had any bad intentions. We were just casually talking." He quickly changed his dirty grin into a fake apologetic smile. Dae-Jung you shameless pig!

Sunwoo is a common friend of ours. He went to our school. I still have contact with him. He sometimes visits my cafe. Ugh! I can't blame Sunwoo. He's definitely innocent here. Dae Jung probably forced him or made him drunk to get informations.

In the mean time Aalto came out from the kitchen. I don't know what the hell was going on my head but I went ahead and grabbed Aalto's arm, pulling him closer to mine.

" This is my boyfriend."

~ to be continued

Corn dogs are famous street food in South Korea. Have you ate it ? If no then try this recipe. :)