I held tightly to my cell phone and ran out into the night. I caught a taxi, and hurriedly arrived at JiKyung’s house. I rushed into the living room and saw Lee JiHan on the sofa with his arms crossed and a sour look on his face as he glared at me.

"What were you doing at this hour that you come now?"

"Oh, I, I was at home. My home. I was going to sleep there, and come back in the morning."

I had come so quickly at his beckoning that I had forgotten about my embarrassing situation. Lee JiHan answered back in a tone that clearly indicated his disapproval of me.

"Two months, every day. 24 hours a day. I told you that I am going to live here with you for that time frame. I mentioned this a couple hours ago, didn’t I?."

"Oh…yes, you did."

"You wanted to annoy me so you went home on purpose, didn’t you?"

"What?"

"My brother told you to use this house, but like last time you’re going to pretend like I kicked you out. Isn’t that why you went back to your house?"

"Oh, no it’s not!" I shook my two hands frantically in refusal. "It’s not that, it’s just…I just thought that a man and woman sleeping in the same house…although we are using separate rooms, but…you never know what could happen between a man and a woman. It’s a bit…"

"Are you assuming that I, a man, will do something to you, a woman?" Lee JiHan’s eyes glared at me in disbelief.

"Well, no, I’m not saying that. It’s just that he world is a scary place. I’m just saying I should be careful about these things."

"So in other words, you think I am some sort of criminal?"

At the sharp accusation, I swallowed hard. Thinking it best not to test his patience, I folded my hands gracefully together and asked,

"Which room should I be using?"

Lee JiHan looked me up and down in disapproval, whipped around and threw me an answer.

"Find whichever one you want. Do you have to ask me about every little thing? Can’t you think for yourself?"

"Okay…." I forced a smile and let his nagging words through one ear and out the other.

Lee JiHan didn’t even spare a glance at me as he got up from the sofa and walked to his bedroom.

That room should have been mine…It’s supposed to be…

I looked forlornly toward the bedroom.

Well, even if I’m not able to get the bedroom, there are a lot of rooms available. All the rooms here are good, right? With this positive thought, I moved to find my room.

The house had a library and closet, guest room, and two empty rooms. Excluding the bathroom, I visited the 5 rooms and sat my butt down on the bed in the guest room. It was spacious, clean, and had everything that I needed. It was decorated like a luxurious hotel room and it lifted my spirits. I fell onto the comfy bed.

Ah…! Nice, nice!

I rolled around to and fro in delight. But…

"Hey!"

The unexpected shout made me jump up. I didn’t even know he was there, but there Lee JiHan stood in front of the door.

"Yes?"

"I called you several times! Why are you not coming? You should be ready and waiting for the moment I call, but instead you act like you don’t even hear me, are you patronizing me?"

"You called? When? I didn’t hear anything."

"I called you a hundred times from my bedroom."

"Bedroom? Eh, if you called from the bedroom, of course I couldn’t have heard you. There’s quite a distance between there and here."

"So who told you to be here?"

"But…you told me to use any room."

"Whichever room you decide to use is not my concern. But if and when I call you, you better haul your butt over in a hurry.."

"I would of course run to your service. Next time, please call me loudly so I can hear from my room."

Hearing my words, Lee JiHan pulled out a whistle from his pocket and held it to his lips. He blew it in short bursts. The whistle sounded like a weak hum and was practically inaudible.

"I am going to call you with this."

"…I don’t think that sound will carry all the way here," I said.

"If you put in the effort to hear it, there will be nothing you can’t hear." Lee JiHan said seriously.

I wanted to ask him if he had any intention of ever listening to me, but I changed my mind and instead smiled widely before speaking.

"I understand. I will always be near you, and my ear will be at constant attention. I will always be listening intently. Because I am your future sister-in-law."

Yea…Let’s go to the living room.

I chose the place I had to be at and brought over the pillow and blankets from the bed.

***

Because I didn’t know when Lee JiHan would blow his whistle, I couldn’t get a wink of sleep and just lay there with my eyes open. I was not able to reap any fruit from my labor, as the whistle did not sound once.

"I should have just slept," I sighed to myself as I stared at the morning sun outside the window. I rubbed my eyes which were foggy from lack of sleep and stood up.

It’s a new day anyways. I should try to gain some points by making breakfast.

I stepped sadly into the package filled kitchen. Whatever kitchen stuff I had not bought with my own hands, Lee JiHan had bought it last night and ordered me to organize them all. Of course, Lee JiHan handed me the receipts to all of them and asked that I pay him back in cash. "All the things that you should have bought, I bought for you so it’s right that you pay," he’d said.

I sighed in desperation thinking about the cost written on the receipts. If I need to change everything in every corner of this house, I will end up owing more for my dowry than the contract money I received from JiKyung.

No, it’ll be fine, fine. It can’t be that much, it can’t be.

I persuaded myself of this fact, stood in front of the cooktop and took out my phone. I then searched for an online recipe for the beef bourguignon that I was supposed to have made yesterday. I found a recipe on a famous blog and wrapped an apron on as I got ready to start.

JiKyung’s words suddenly flashed in my brain.

[You don’t know? You’re no good at cooking.]

[If JiHan ate your cooking, all hell would have broken loose. He would rant about how this wedding cannot happen and will refuse your very existence.]

As a consequence, I became a bit nervous and examined the recipe thoroughly.

"An easy recipe for beginners…." I read the directions on the recipe out loud. I also read the comments attached it.

"If you follow the recipe, it will be a great success." All the comments on the blog were complimenting the author.

Yea, I just have to follow it word by word. I’m making it exactly the same as the others so what would be different?

And plus, how much does Lee JiKyung know anyway? He only ate the food I made him a few times. Cookies twice, Kimbap once, that’s it! He’s judging me by that small sample? That’s not right. Not right.

I shook my head, opened the refrigerator, and took out the ingredients I had prepared yesterday.

***

Sautée the prepped beef, stir in the tomatoes and vegetables, then put them in the sauce. Then, put in the wine and cook it long and slow on low heat. Add salt and pepper to taste….

I now only have to put in the mushrooms and bring it to a boil. At the moment I was about to put in the mushrooms, I heard the door open from the bedroom. I put down the empty plate and hurriedly went to greet Lee JiHan.

"Did you sleep well? Good morning!" As I gave my morning greeting with a huge smile, Lee JiHan frowned and opened his mouth.

"What is this gross smell? Did you let in a hobo?"

"Smell? Ah, I made beef bourguignon. Does it smell okay? Is it weird?"

Lee JiHan went toward the pot, closed his eyes, and with a serious look smelled the dish. A few moments later, he opened his eyes and glared at me with discontent.

"You didn’t get rid of the meat smell."

"Meat smell?"

I put my head close to the pot and sniffed it.

"Isn’t this just the smell of meat when you boil it? It’s supposed to be like this when you cook it."

"Isn’t it the basic cooking rule to get rid of the meat smell when cooking? Supposed to be like this? Are you a caveman? If the smell is like this, well, I don’t even have to bother tasting it."

"Mister. You never ate meat with a smell did you?"

"Of course I haven’t."

"Then you shouldn’t judge it based on its smell, if you try it, it’ll taste good. I always ate it when it smelled like this, and it was always good! This will definitely taste good."

With certainty, I dipped a spoon in the soup and tasted it.

"Mm, it’s tasty!" After tasting it, I was so surprised that I shouted out. "Wow, I never knew this sort of taste could come from my hands!"

I was so overwhelmed with joy and looked down into the pot.

"This is good?" Lee JiHan looked as if that possibly couldn’t be true. He grabbed a new spoon and dipped it into the pot.

"It’s good, good!" Content with the result, I nodded my head and gazed hopefully up at Lee JiHan.

He scooped up one spoonful and put it in his mouth. I waited anxiously filled with hope for his response. *Gulp* As I watched his adam’s apple move, I too swallowed in anxiousness. It’s tasty right? You have to give me credit for this?

Lee JiHan turned his head away from my anxiously waiting self. He had on a look of disbelief. With eyes wide, he looked at me and said the same words he said before but in a completely different tone.

"This is good?!"

Wondering why he was acting that way I blinked in confusion. "Why? Isn’t it good?"

"This is good?! This?" Lee JiHan pointed at the pot with his spoon , his eyes still wide. I had no idea what was going on and I looked at him.

"Wow, look at those acting skills, that look of innocence." Lee JiHan clucked his tongue and clapped. "Acting like this is actually good tasting. It’s really amazing. But why bother even acting? As soon as I tasted it, I was able to figure it out anyways!"

"What are you talking about? This isn’t acting! Isn’t it really good?" I was so disappointed by his reaction that I strongly expressed my opinion. I actually scooped up another spoonful and drank it. "It really is good! I mean, maybe you just want to scold me and are doing this on purpose? This really doesn’t make any sense."

I was staring back with fire in my eyes. At that, Lee JiHan looked at me incredulously and instead of speaking, he let out a deep sigh. Then he asked a question.

"Beef bourguignon, you’ve never eaten it before have you. If you are going to make it correctly, you have to know what it’s supposed to taste like. Let’s experience it once and talk again."

Lee JiHan stalked right up to me and with his arms wide, put his hands around my waist.

"Oh my God! What, what are you doing?" The sudden attempt at a hug surprised me so much I stepped back.

Lee JiHan didn’t even flinch, and came close to me again and pushed his chest towards me. My face burned red, but Lee JiHan slipped his hands behind my back and untied my apron.

"Huh?"

I had thought he was trying to hug me, but instead Lee JiHan merely took off my apron and stepped back. Without a second glance, he tied the apron around his waist.

"There’s more ingredients left in the fridge right?"

"Huh? Uh, yes….."

Lee JiHan opened the fridge door and took out the ingredients. Oh. He was just going for the apron. I was a bit flustered so I closed my mouth and fanned at my reddened cheeks. Lee JiHan stood at the counter and put the ingredients on it.

"Now watch what I am doing. Same ingredients, same tools, same recipe and I will make it completely different." Lee JiHan acted as if there was nothing easier than that and gracefully lifted the knife and sliced the beef in cubes.

***

Lee JiHan’s finished beef bourguignon was placed on the table and we both sat down. Due to the prolonged period of waiting, I was starving. My hand grabbed the spoon and flew at the bowl. I scooped a heap of thick soup and beef pieces onto my spoon and put it in my mouth. Lee JiHan watched me from the opposite side.

"Oh my!" The moment my mouth was emptied, I couldn’t help but exclaim in surprise.

"Oh my, you studied abroad in America right? Did you major in cooking?"I asked Lee JiHan with my eyes wide. Before he could even reply, I put another spoonful in my mouth."Wow, really! How could it taste like this?"

My mouth emptied fast and I stared at the dish as if I was going to fall into it. I shoveled the beef bourguignon into my mouth, with my face practically buried in the bowl. At that moment, I had completely forgotten about Lee JiHan’s existence.

I scraped the last remnants from the bottom of my bowl and peered at the pot. Lee JiHan must have moved it at some point because the pot was sitting in the middle of the table. I finally registered Lee JiHan and looked over at him.

"Could I get one more bowl?" I was so blinded by my gluttony that I wasn’t even afraid of getting in trouble. Amazingly, he scooped up a bowlful and gave it to me and I inhaled the food at once.

"Ah, seriously the best! This is not something just anyone can do! Mister, did you really not study cooking in America? I heard you were studying business management, did I make a mistake?"

My overreacting words made Lee JiHan frown and ask.

"Are you acting again?"

"Huh?"

Lee JiHan looked at me suspiciously. But with a little time, his eyes softened.

"Well, it does look like you are speaking the truth and not acting." Lee JiHan looked smug and took the spoon to his bowl. He had been watching my reaction so intently that he had not taken one bite as of yet.

"In actuality, this sort of recipe is the basic of the basics." I can cook so many more amazing things than this. I can’t believe you’re making such a fuss over this."

"If this is basic…wow, it’s really amazing! Really, are you a cooking major?"

"No I am not."

"What in the world! Then you learned to cook this well all by yourself? Isn’t this sort of the standard of a genius? I thought a person like Dae Jang Geum only came out in dramas. I can’t believe that someone like this actually exists! It’s so fascinating!"

My overreaction made Lee JiHan’s lips quiver into a slight smile. Then, he suddenly covered his mouth with one hand, shot up and ran to the bathroom.

Why is he acting like that? Was he rushed to use the bathroom?

I shrugged off the confusion, and quickly poured myself another bowl.