When he had softly whispered her to come over to his place, Hwang Bo remembered feeling taken aback by the invitation. It was right after they wrapped up filming the studio recording for Couple's Farewell Vacation mission or What The Couple Want To Do Together mission as they renamed it. The production crews were making a lot of noises while packing. The studio guests were also making a lot of noises when they left. Hwang Bo thought she had heard him wrong. That was why when 'GulJo' had called her on the weekend after that, she was shocked.
"Hwang Bo Noona, annyong. It's me, Hyun Joong."
"Arh.. GulJo?" she had joked about it only to be greeted by a long silence from the other end. "Hyun Joong ah?"
"Noona, why aren't you here yet?" he had asked, sounding both disappointed and hurt.
"Where?"
"What do you mean where? Have you forgotten?"
Hyun Joong sounded like he was scolding her but she could hear his smile from her end. Yes, his smile. She heard it. After living together with him for We Got Married, she recognized his voice when he spoke with a smile or a sigh when she heard it. "Forgotten what?" Then she heard Hyun Joong's sigh when he reminded her of his invitation.
"It's today. Two hours ago."
She had apologized to him, explained to him why she was not there two hours earlier and rushed to change her clothes. About half an hour after that, here she was, sitting in Hyun Joong's living room, smiling at the fact that he did not forget his promise to talk to her casually. He was doing it with ease both on the phone and now.
This was the first time they interacted out of the filming and its location thus he should feel nervous about it. However, he did not. It surprised him. In fact he felt very comfortable being with Hwang Bo. Alone. No camera or crew watching them. "Noona, about the wedding you attended today.." Hyun Joong started only to have Hwang Bo cut short his sentence.
"Son Tae Young's wedding?" asked Hwang Bo, surprised. Up until this moment, she still did not know why Hyun Joong invited her to his place. If he did that just to talk about Son Tae Young and Kwon Sang Woo couple's wedding.. Really, this would drive her crazy. But he could not have decided to talk about the wedding since a week ago, right? She never told him she was attending the wedding. Hyun Joong really was driving her crazy.
Hyun Joong's reply was a short, "Hmm.." He tucked his hair behind his ears. He kept his gaze straight. He was not nervous but for a person with so little word like him, chatting could be a difficult task. More over what he was about to tell Hwang Bo might turned his life 360 degree. That made chatting even more difficult.
Frankly, she could be a bit annoyed now because she still could not guess where the conversation was heading. "What's with it?" she asked, sounding and looking as if she did not care.
"Your dress.." His sentence was cut short again. This time it was because Hwang Bo was throwing a fit of laughter.
"Why? It's not too revealing, right? Arh! Is it too short?" Even though Hyun Joong took his own sweet time to explain his intention of inviting her to his place, Hyun Joong's concern about her clothing outside filming was worth the laugh. It was hard to believe Hyun Joong's conservativeness was real and not just meant for the show. A 22 years old hot looking young idol just did not equal to conservativeness.
"Hmm.." Hyun Joong thought Hwang Bo's dress for the wedding was too short. It revealed too much of her legs.
She patted Hyun Joong's arms while telling him, "Shillang, I can't live like this.." in a teasing tone.
"No.. No.." Hyun Joong's hands were flying all over the place to deny Hwang Bo's accusation. He was not controlling the way Hwang Bo dressed. "No Noona, no.. Although I prefer the girl I like to cover up.." Realising he was revealing too much in that short sentence, Hyun Joong abruptly thought of something else to say before Hwang Bo noticed it. "I mean.."
Hwang Bo laughed when she saw Hyun Joong was in a panic, trying to explain himself to her. "I'm just joking. I really appreciate your concern," she sincerely told him, patting his arms again to assure him.
Hyun Joong pushed his hair aside. He lowered his head. He was relief Hwang Bo did not heard him. "I mean.. It shows you knees and all.." He left his sentence to trail again. "The scar."
Hwang Bo turned to a side to hide her smile. Now, it became clear to her why Hyun Joong brought up about the wedding and the short dress. "Orh.. You are still concern about the scar."
"Hmm.. Buin, I'm so sorry. I really want to win the marathon so that you can see my handsome side. I don't know I'm too rough on you." Hyun Joong did not realised he was comfortably exchanging between Noona and Buin as he talked with Hwang Bo. It came naturally to him. It was hard to separate between filming and real life because he felt the same about her in both situations.
"You already apologized. And I already accepted your band aid. It's nothing."
Hyun Joong grinned, happily. "Even after that, I still feel guilty. To make up for that.. I'll make Buin a Japanese dish. The one I said I'll learn while I'm in Japan."
Hwang Bo was lost for word. It never ceased to amaze Hwang Bo how Hyun Joong always remember all the tiny details others tend not to."Orh! That one. I thought you don't remember it."
"Buin, you just wait here, I'll go and prepare the dish. You can read my manhwa or play video game."
Hwang Bo's smile was wide and bright. "Shillang, is this why you invited me to your place? Is this you intention?"
He nodded. "Yes. I wanted to cook it for you during the show but since I changed my mind about letting you win the marathon, I can't do it," explained Hyun Joong.
"Arh!" Hwang Bo finally understood it. She laughed her heart out, clapping her hands as she did so. "You should have told me earlier so I'll no wonder. When a guy asked a girl to come to his place, she should be suspicious of his intention." Hwang Bo's hands were making gesture here and there as she explained this to Hyun Joong. She was very relieved. She heaved a sigh.
For a moment there, Hyun Joong thought she was panicking. Her hand movement, her facial expression and her tone seemed to tell him she was in a panic. "If that's so.. Why did you come anyway?" he teased her.
Hwang Bo hung her head low. "Do you want me to leave now?" she threatened him, getting ready to leave the sofa.
"No, Buin. Don't." Hyun Joong grabbed on Hwang Bo's wrist before she got up the sofa. He gestured her to stay where she was. Then he got up to head towards the kitchen. "But.. Next time, when a guy asks you to come over to his place, don't come over," he said with a warning tone as he disappeared into the kitchen.
Hwang Bo's jaw dropped when she heard that. First he had said, he preferred the girl he liked to cover up. Then he had warned her about accepting other guy's invitation. Was cooking Japanese dish to apologize for her scar Hyun Joong's genuine intention? Hwang Bo's heart skipped a few beats. She must be crazy to think he has other hidden intention. Hwang Bo sighed. She must stay sane and should not let her heart ruled her head.
Hyun Joong glanced behind him, trying to look at Hwang Bo's expression. This was something hard to do by his standard. It was even harder than showing her the cute expression at the farm. Or receiving the kiss on the cheek from her. He was about the reveal his feeling for her. He did not how to do it. Not with word because he did not know how to express himself. Not with action because he did not like cheesy thing. He wished he could use a middle person to tell her that he liked her although it would look like a school child doing.
Hwang Bo stretched her neck towards the kitchen. Hyun Joong was silently working alone in the kitchen for a full 15 minutes now. Was he doing OK? Hwang Bo wondered. "Hyun Joong ah.."
"Don't come here!"
The order was shouted sternly as an impromptu respond to Hwang Bo calling his name. Hyun Joong looked over his shoulder with caution. This Japanese dish was so hard to learn. He was the type of person who cooked simple dishes. Even his cooking style was simple. He would throw everything into the pan at the same time and stir until the dish was cooked. But miso soup came with specific cooking instruction. Hyun Joong could hear Hwang Bo's laughter. She was muttering something inaudible to him. He was glad she decided not to check on him.
Hwang Bo waited. She has no clue what he was preparing for her. The hype with anticipation drove her crazy. Just as she was about to check on Hyun Joong, he came out carrying a tray on his hands. Two bowls, two pair of chopsticks and two cup of yellowish orange drink. Hwang Bo clutched her hands excitedly as her eyes followed Hyun Joong's movement. "Is this it? Is this the Japanese dish you prepared for me?" She sounded giddy.
"Please have a taste, Noona," he said, gesturing at the dish he served. "This is miso soup," he said, pointing at the bowl. "This juice is.. Arh.. I don't know what juice is this."
"The color looks funny," Hwang Bo told him. Her forehead wrinkled. "Why don't you try it first?" she naughtily suggested with an equally naughty grin.
Hyun Joong sipped the drink. The moment he tasted it, his facial expression changed dramatically. He however gulped down the whole cup hurriedly until he almost chocked before putting the cup down on the table. He actually slammed down the cup. "Argh!" he groaned. Hyun Joong smacked the back of his head a few times as he grimaced, looking like he was in pain. "That is too bitter. What is it?" he asked, still making faces. The bitterness seemed to linger on his tongue.
Hwang Bo observed him with a loud laugh. She slapped the table a few times. He was too cute when he smacked himself. Her hearts skipped a few beats again.
He had bought the juice because the store owner told him it was a homemade juice. In his excitement, he forgot to ask what juice it was. "Don't drink this," he said, pushing his cup away to a far corner. Then he grabbed the cup in front of Hwang Bo and pushed it to the same corner. "Buin, please help yourself." Hyun Joong gestured at his miso soup, asking Hwang Bo to have a taste at it. The soup that he prepared to express his feeling for her. He anticipated her to be touch by his intention and action.
Hwang Bo looked at the dish suspiciously. After staring at the bowl for a very long minute, she looked up at Hyun Joong. "Is this.." she slightly paused. "..edible?" she asked, sincerely.
"Arh.. So it's like that." Hyun Joong finally understood why Hwang Bo took time to taste the dish he prepared. "Buin, you ate ramen I cook during the Jeju Island honeymoon. And the one we cooked together in Japan. I also made bibimbap when I lost pepper picking bet at the farm, remember?" Hyun Joong reminded Hwang Bo, counting the times he prepared food for her with his fingers. Three times. Three fingers stick out for Hwang Bo. "All of them tasted good, right?"
Hwang Bo bit her lower lip. She still looked doubtful of the dish.
"Let me taste it first," Hyun Joong offered. He immediately took a pair of chopstick and picked a piece of tofu between the chopsticks. "I'm eating it now," he said. "Look very delicious. Hhhmm.." He made sound to convince Hwang Bo, eyeing her at the same time. Then he sipped the soup from the bowl, making the same sound again.
Hwang Bo laughed. "Why do I feel like you are a mother trying to convince a child to eat her medicine?" she asked. "How is it?" Hwang Bo asked, curiously.
Hyun Joong's smile showed his satisfaction. "Arh.. I'm indeed a very good cook," he said with a wide smile. Hyun Joong picked another piece of tofu and shoved it towards Hwang Bo. He gestured her to take a bite.
Hwang Bo did. It indeed was delicious. She tilted her head as she spoke to him. "How do you know how to make miso soup?" Just like she expected, Hyun Joong answered, "I look up the recipe from the internet. I memorized it in my head. It's good, isn't it?" The internet again. She smiled. Hwang Bo bobbed her head slightly to agree with him while keeping her gaze lowered. He learned the dish for her. She would be made of brick and stone of she was not touch by his effort and sincerity.
"Do you know there's also instant miso soup? I didn't buy instant packet. I made this myself." Hyun Joong proudly announced to Hwang Bo. His facial expression was full of delight. "With all my strength. I only cook for someone I like." The last sentence was intentionally added as a hint to her.
Hwang Bo held on to the side of the table for support. She was wobbling on her seat as she was laughing too much. One hand was covering her mouth so that she would not spit out the tofu in her mouth. "Cooking isn't that hard that you need to use strength!" she finally managed to say it out after calming herself down.
Hyun Joong was quiet. It was as if he was thinking of a clever retort for Hwang Bo's word. Did Hwang Bo hear him? "It is hard when you put a lot of sincerity and feeling in it. Does this mean, Buin.. When you cook for me, you are not sincere? You don't put your feeling in it?"
That was such a smart retort that Hwang Bo could help but admire his cheekiness. She almost rolled her eyes at him. She glared instead when he dared to suggest just because cooking was easy for her, she was not sincere preparing it for him. "Then Shillang, you should practice cooking more." She threw her head backward. "I don't know whether I'm tearing up because you cook for me or because you don't know how I feel when I cook for you." She breathed in deeply, trying to reverse the flow of her tears. Then she ran her index fingers below her eyes. "Arh.. You really are something to be able to do this to me."
Without realizing it, Hyun Joong nodded his to agree with her. "Buin should put more feeling in your cooking too." That earned him a smack on his arms from the unhappy Hwang Bo. He smiled. He did not even block her hits. He just let her hit him. His expression turned serious in a sudden. "Buin can also depend on me for anything." Hyun Joong paused. "Not just for medicine." The last sentence was added with a firm tone to emphasize his sincerity. After their latest mission, Hyun Joong knew for sure how he felt and what he wanted from the fake marriage with Hwang Bo. He was stunned why he did not realize this before. There were times he felt something was happening but he never thought his feeling was this strong. He never thought he liked Hwang Bo so much until the farewell mission. The thought of not being able to live with her again, put him in daze.
She knew how Hyun Joong felt. He did put a lot of effort in preparing the miso soup for her. She could feel his sincerity and feeling in that effort. "And Shillang.." Hwang Bo's chuckle led to laughter. "Shillang.." She tried to get her sentence squeezed between her laughter. "Shillang can come to me whenever you need me to open bottle with spoon." Borrowing Hyun Joong's word during the high jump competition they had last week, she was blissfully happy Hyun Joong cooked for her. He did say he only cooked for someone he liked, right?
"Anytime?" asked Hyun Joong with a smile.
"Anytime."
It was a weird vow exchange but both Hyun Joong and Hwang Bo understood the deeper meaning of what they were telling each other even though it was not said directly. Even after they ceased working with We Got Married � which they eventually would � Hyun Joong had no doubt they could start something from what they shared in the last five months. "Buin, thank you for staying with me in the show," Hyun Joong mumbled his thank you shyly.
"Thank to you too," she replied, equally shy. They would see each other again in a couple of day for filming. Hwang Bo knew the feeling would be different. It started to feel different in the last few filming but the next filming would be different too because Hyun Joong affirmed his feeling towards her. She too indirectly had let him know her feeling for him that she had been keeping in her heart all this time.
Staring at Hwang Bo cheekily, Hyun Joong playfully waved his index finger at her. "And Buin, remember that you are married to me. When you attend any wedding in the future, you can't catch the bouquet, understand?"
- the end -
