277 JEmily - Promised Korean BBQ

"How long had you been standing there?" Jae asked, referring to the archway.

He sat on the other side of a long table. An enticing aroma rose from a built-in stove. Strips of meat sizzled on their own fat. The long exhaust cleaned the air from excess smoke. Lettuce and smaller dishes surrounded the cooking grill.

Emily took over the job. Every time Jae offered to help, she'd aim the metal tongs at him. She liked her food a certain way. It also kept her busy. She sometimes found it awkward when her hands would stay still.

They always itched to do something.

"Long enough I think," she replied as she turned the meat over. Grated cheese melted inside small and deep aluminum containers. They bubbled as the heat rose up to their surface. Their color also began to darken. 

"How long enough is enough? I mean, how long is enough? Wait, no. That also sounds wrong. How is long enough enough?" Jae stabbed his chopstick on his empty plate. "Why is English weird?"

Emily chuckled. "Beats me."

She grabbed a strip of cooked meat and the kitchen shears. She cut it into equal sizes. The sharp blades easily snipped through. Each new piece fit into the mouth perfectly. The flat shape also gave extra room for sidings. 

Scooping them up with her metal tongs, Emily placed the first batch on Jae's plate. "I'm telling you. Once you have a taste, you'd never try to take over the cooking agan."

His eyes widened at the gesture. He picked up a piece with his chopsticks, inspecting the meat. It was seared in a beautiful brown. 

Then, his eyes flickered towards her. "Well, you're being awfully nice."

Emily returned the suspicious gaze with a shrug. "Well, you're paying so… being nice is the least I could do."

Jae took his first bite. The juice of the meat oozed out. His taste buds danced at the abundant flavors. He ate a slice of radish from a spicy salad.

"Did you have a good time with Luna?"

It was as if a bolt of lightning struck Emily. Her entire demeanor changed into an energetic one. Her aura glowed golden, shining like the sun. She gritted her teeth and squealed for a few seconds. Giddiness crawled over her skin, giving her goosebumps.

The excitement over the experience probably wouldn't wear off for a while. 

"Lots! I learned so much. The dream to be a fashion design now seems within my reach. I can't thank you enough for contacting her…" she sighed. Her face softened into tenderness and her lips curled into a gentle smile. "So eat to your heart's content. I'll cook as many as you like."

Jae choked. The food got stuck in his throat. He reached for a glass of water and washed it down. His fist bumped his chest, hoping that it would help.

What was that? Where was the snarky attitude that he knew? 

He cleared his throat as he set his drink on the table. "It's nothing really. As long as you agree that I can contact you too when I meet a budding fashion designer someday after you become famous." 

"That's all?"

He clicked his tongue and glanced at the ceiling. A new idea sparked inside his head. "If you insist on something else, I'd also take you admitting that this is a date."

A smirk stretched on his face. That statement was bound to get a reaction from her. 

Emily tucked her chin over her shoulder, tilting her head in the process. She squinted at him. "We'll see about that."

The response was less than he expected but he didn't mind it. The smirk on his face bloomed into a full grin. "Can't wait."

They ate in silence.

Emily dipped her meat in the small bowl of melted cheese. The latter stretched as she raised her chopsticks. Then, she twisted her wrist and wrapped the cheese around the meat. The cheese seemed endless. It did not stop stretching no matter how many times she tried to pull it apart.

Jae grabbed the shears and cut the string. He chuckled as he chewed onto his food. "Although that was entertaining, the meat on the grill might burn if you took any longer."

Blowing on her chopsticks, Emily spared him a glare. "You're not really helping your case."

"And so are you. I thought you said that being nice is the least thing you could do?"

"That's—" Emily's words died in her throat. He had her there. She forced a smile and ate her barbecue slowly. "Of course, piece of cake. I'm always nice anyway."

Jae held back a snort. He could see the struggle on her face. This might turn out to be more fun than he thought. He picked up a piece of lettuce from the kimchi and stretched his arm across the table. "Here comes the train~ Say 'aahh~'"

Pure horror painted Emily's face. "What are you doing? I'm not a toddler!"

"Are you sure?" He teased. "Your height says otherwise."

"Why you—you're really testing my patience, aren't you? Is my kind attitude a joke to you?"

"No, not in the slightest," Jae denied. He waved his chopsticks in a circular motion, enticing her nose to the smell. "I appreciate it but I also like your sarcasm, temper and occasional violent reactions."

And he meant it. It was a nice change of pace but it wasn't as fun. 

Emily ate the lettuce.

"There we go! That wasn't so bad, was it? Just like a real baby."

A foot hit him under the table. Jae shook his head, tenderness softening his gaze. "Baby, don't be like that. Violence isn't always the answer."

"You just said that you liked my violent reactions."

"And I got another one just now."

"Why you—"

"Okay, okay. I'll stop. Let's eat!"

Fuming, Emily snatched a piece of meat from his plate. She ate it before he could protest and smiled cheekily as she chewed. His surprised face delighted her. She acted too fast for him to stop her. 

It was petty. She knew that well. 

But, it was a small victory.

For a while, they settled into a routine. Emily continued the cooking while Jae tried the side dishes. If she needed anything from the staff, he'd be the one to call them over and ask. 

They ate to their heart's content. 

"How do you think Logan and Alex are doing? Where did he take her anyway?" Emily opened up. She initially planned to grill Alex later but who knew how much her cousin would tell? Alex wasn't exactly the best storyteller. 

Maybe she could get some details so her cousin wouldn't omit anything important.

"An escape room," Jae informed her without hesitation. "Then, a picnic at a local park which he plans to last until night time. How? I have no idea."

Emily frowned. "What's an escape room?" 

"It's a place where you're put in a scenario that has a series of puzzles," he explained, placing two pieces of meat on his lettuce, "Of course, the goal is to find the key that would open the door. Logan thinks Alex would like it because it involves intellect."

"Like doing homework but fun," Jae concluded with a chuckle. 

"If you put it that way then, yes. She would enjoy it." Emily sighed. It really did sound like something Alex would enjoy. "Why does he want the picnic to last until night time? Is there fireworks?"

"Close. The park has twinkle lights."

"Oohh, that sounds amazing. Perfect spot for a proposal…" She drawled out. She tried to picture it in her head. It looked so romantic according tk her imagination. 

Then, the twinkle lights found themselves inside her eyes. "Wait! Is he going to—"

"No, he's not going to ask her to be his girlfriend," Jae shot down. He laughed when she pouted. He almost had the same reaction when Logan protested against asking Alex. 

They were long-distance!

It seemed like the perfect time. 

"Dang it!" Emily cursed, slamming her hand on the table. She blew on her fringes and propped her cheek on the base of her palm. "How are they not a couple? They practically act like one! They've already kissed for heaven's sake!"

"I don't know…" Jae shrugged. A smirk formed on his lips. Oh, this was going to be good. "How are we not a couple?"

Emily snapped out of her daze and glared at him. "How are we a couple?"

"We've kissed."

"In a wedding booth!"

"You're right. We're already married," Jae corrected, applying fuel to the fire. She'd rebut for sure. So, he said, "Besides, we also kissed after the game. If you want to stick with that argument, we should be counted as a couple."

Emily closed her mouth. That did happen now that he mentioned it. She tapped her chopsticks together, thinking of another way to protest.

"We don't even act like one though."

"We don't? Texting everyday, having dates, taking photos together…," Jae enumerated. His voice was casual and detached, infuriating her further. "Those are only the things on the top of my head."

"Can't the two people of the opposite sex be friends?" Emily tried to reason. Her eyes fidgeted from the constant denial. She began to tremble as if she knew that she'd lose.

"So we're friends?" 

That was it. 

No matter what she'd say, he'd have a retort. A grimace appeared on her lips. She didn't want to play anymore. "I'm done having this argument."

"Hey, now," Jae coaxed. He dropped his teasing tone. He placed two meat slices on her plate from his own. "Joking aside, my feelings for you are real. I'd greatly appreciate it if you acknowledge it as such."