07. Cooking drama
"Are you all right Sir?" asked Mr. Park worried for Hyungtae.
Hyungtae just arrived from work and immediately rested his buttocks on the soft object that bounces off when he sits on, which is usually called a sofa. He then roughly unfastened the three buttons of his shirt and then forcibly pulled the tie that had been hanging from his collar all day. His legs are spread apart to feel more relaxed as he leaned his broad shoulders on the sofa. His tousled hair makes his whole appearance perfect and seduces faith when girls see it. Looks shabby but handsome at the same time, and takes all the criteria for the ideal man of today's girls.
Hyungtae ignored Mr. Park's question. "Where is Aera? Is she still here?" like Aera is the figure he's been looking for the most lately, maybe Aera will also start to become an influential person in Hyungtae's life after this. Because, Hyungtae is always worried about the cute girl when she wants to keep going from his house and take the opportunity to leave when the host is not around.
"Miss Aera is in the kitchen, Sir. She said she wants to cook," replied Mr. Park.
Aera is getting tired of being unemployed and doing nothing here, even though there is a flower garden, but if you just spend time there every day, you will get bored too.
Aera often cooks her own food at home. Because, she has a lot of part-time work experience so, she has the skills to cook. Although not as good as a professional chef but, the taste is also not bad for everyday eating. Aera once worked in a luxury restaurant to become a cashier at a mini-market. She has done almost all part-time jobs, so it provides more or less experience to survive, such as cooking.
"Really? Is she can cook food? What if she doesn't? What if she gets hurt? Why do you allow her without reporting to me?" The grumpy Hyungtae is back. Sometimes he can be as soft as silk but also as sharp as thorns.
Hyungtae is only worried if Aera gets hurt. Last night, while making Aera ramyeon, his hand accidentally touched a hot pot. Fortunately, Aera did not see what happened. Hyungtae is very bad at cooking, even if possible, he should be kept as far from the kitchen as possible if he doesn't want something bad to happen.
The last time Hyungtae cooked was about a year ago, and even he also cooked ramyeon as he cooked for Aera. It is rare for Hyungtae to enter the kitchen, if not while fetching water and other light things. But we don't know what prompted Hyungtae to be determined to cook Aera last night, don't say he wants to look cool so that Aera will admit that he is handsome.
Hyungtae does not hesitate to walk straight to the kitchen. He takes big steps to get there. He thinks about what if Aera is injured but, no one is watching, then he had to come as soon as possible to be the first to help Aera. When he reached the kitchen, he is surprised to see Aera squatting downstairs holding a knife, his heart beating twice as fast as when he is angry because of what happened at the office.
"Aera are you okay? Why are you being so careless? Who allowed you to cook, you idiot." shouted Hyungtae sarcastically, because of felting worry mixed with panic. He ran as fast as he could to Aera's place, his hands quickly helping Aera to stand up with a puzzled look.
"OH MY GOD! you surprised me... What are you doing, Kim? Can you not come suddenly like that? Why are you shouting so loudly? you think this is a field??" Aera shouted in annoyance, her heart almost fell out.
Why would Hyungtae run crazy if not because he was worried about him? "Y-are you okay? no one hurt?" Hyungtae wonders how someone who is injured can be so excited to shout at him. "I'm cooking, how can I get hurt. You are the one who almost got hurt, look at me holding a knife. Quickly let me go, my hand hurts."
Hyungtae is finally relieved that Aera does not hurt. "Then why are you squatting holding a knife and looking so pitiful like that?" Hyungtae once again wanted to confirm Aera's condition.
"I am picking up fruit that fell on the floor, earlier I accidentally bumped the fruit basket while peeling an apple," Aera explained, she was surprised why Hyungtae's face looked so panicked, even though she does not hurt at all.
"Are you sure?" asked Hyungtae once again.
"Yeah, now let me go quickly."
Then Hyungtae released his grip on Aera's shoulders. You can imagine how strong a muscular man looks when he's panicking.
"What are you cooking? Let me see." Hyungtae finally smelled the aroma of Aera's cooking that Aera had finished preparing before peeling the fruit. "Get out of the way, don't bother me just yet. Go to your seat. I'll take you there." Aera doesn't like Hyungtae in the kitchen because he feels that it fills his eyes. His big body blocks Aera when she wants to change places. The right choice does drive him away gently.
"You cook for me, huh? Why are you suddenly nice to me? I'm not used to it." Hyungtae's lips failed to hide the curve at every corner. "Well then, I'll wait at the table now." he continued.
Hyungtae walked towards the dining table while humming like ahjussi-ahjussi thought Aera. Just because Aera Hyungtae's cooking suddenly forgot the problems he faced at the office earlier. Director Jung is the cause of the big trouble Hyungtae has to deal with. Just entering his second year as a Director of the company. He has just changed the work system that has been set by Hyungtae for years. Director Jung replaced some of their corporate sponsors with other parties, provided that they do not get permission from any party.
In the end, everything collided and became chaotic. The companies that had signed contracts with BV companies protested. Because of an unexpected problem. How can BV have an irresponsible Director like Director Jung. This is tantamount to suicide after killing his subordinates.
••
Aera finished preparing all the dishes. Now in front of Hyungtae there is food that has been, stealing his sense of smell. Chicken steak with enoki sauce. That's the name of the food that will soon enter Hyungtae's stomach.
"It smells great, but you don't poison my food, do you?" Hyungtae asked a little suspiciously. Even though Aera hates Hyungtae, he doesn't think Aera will go that far. Even if it's properly done, isn't it really easy for him to be dragged into prison? It's not that easy to kill an influential person like Hyungtae, thought Aera.
"You don't have to think about anything Kim. It's good that I fed you. Ah, no, these ingredients come from your house. I mean it's good for me to cook, right." Aera excited herself when she answered Hyungtae's question. "I'm eating now." Take two mouthfuls of Hyungtae, trying to carefully taste the first dish that Aera made for him.
On the other hand, Aera is also eating the food in front of him. Because Aera also prepared two portions of food for them to eat. Really like husband and wife thought Hyungtae.
"It's delicious Aera-yaa... Why are you so good at cooking. Have you ever taken cooking lessons?" praises Hyungtae. He does not expect Aera to serve him such luxurious food? Even though for Aera it is normal. This rich man is very strange. "So far, what have you bought for your money, Kim? I suspect that you never feed your stomach properly, do you?" asked Aera surprised.
"What do you mean, who do you think the ice cream and snack you ate yesterday belongs to?" Hyungtae answered, what a self-conscious girl.
"Yes, I know, but how can you think of my cooking as luxurious food. I also learned it not from courses, but because I had a part-time job at a chicken restaurant." Aera explained at length.
"Well, let's just say I'm praising you ra-ya... It must be really nice when I get home from work to be greeted with food from you. Just imagining it makes me very happy." Hyungtae spoke while munching on the chicken dish he was enjoying. He really seemed to be enjoying his meal, thank goodness Aera thought.
"That's fine. Besides being your tail for having to follow you everywhere, now I also have to be your servant?" almost a spoon of rice floated in Hyungtae's head again.