PJ (Hyunjin) short story collection

The assistant cook's reward

Warm evening sunlight streams through the living room windows, casting bright light with no shadows over the open-plan space. I sit flat on the wooden laminate floor, fully focused on a small ceramic bowl filled with warm chicken and new puree, unseasoned wet food mixed together. Right in front of me, Hyunjin is seated on the floor in a lotus position, his broad frame leaning against the sofa. He’s wearing a soft oversized flannel shirt with the sleeves rolled up, watching my feverish focus on meal prep with dark eyes full of pure mischief and curiosity.

“At this point, don’t we need to put a little chef hat on our tiny cook?” he teases in a deep, melodic voice with a playful nasal twang, and I burst out laughing at once.

I set the spoon down with a clack. “Don’t joke, Hyunjin. If the little guy doesn’t like this smell, he’ll wrinkle his nose again and go hungry for two whole days.”

As if waiting for a signal, my thin little mixed-breed rescue pup trots out of the kitchen. He stops a few inches from the bowl, staring with wide black eyes full of suspicion. Then, as if trying to avoid dinner altogether, he sticks out his little tongue and tilts his head. When Hyunjin breaks into breathless laughter under the softening evening light, a bright smile spreading across his face, deep dimples appear in his cheeks.

“Just look at that expression.” He leans forward with his elbows on his knees so he can get down to the pup’s eye level, whispering gently. He mimics eating with smooth, graceful sign-language gestures, while his voice stays clear and firm. “Come here, baby. Your sister worked really hard to make this perfect blend. Let’s just try one bite.”
Our picky little pup pauses to sniff around the rim of the bowl, then quickly flicks his tiny pink tongue out again and takes a neat, obedient bite.

“He’s eating!” I whisper-shout, a huge smile of relief on my face.

Hyunjin lifts his head from the bowl and looks straight into my eyes with perfect, unwavering sincerity that suddenly makes my heart beat unevenly. With a smooth, confident motion, he shifts his weight off the sofa and slides forward along the floor until the distance between us disappears completely. He comes into my space in one stride, reaching out his large hand over mine on the floor and firmly layering his warm fingers over it.

“See? I told you my encouragement would work.” he mutters playfully. His voice drops into that precious tone that belongs only to us, sending a sudden warmth down my spine. He leans in closer, staying just a breath away from my face, and his eyes smile at the corners while his warm breath brushes my cheek. “So, in that case, I think I deserve a little reward too for doing such a great job as your assistant cook, babe.”

I let out a tearful laugh, full of pure feeling, and gently rest my forehead on his shoulder to hide my flushed cheeks. Here, in our own secret little bubble, held in Hyunjin’s perfect sense of safety, the noise of the world drifts farther and farther away.