Jukyung approached closely and scanned the scattered items with narrowed eyes. Naturally he would have seen the job search site displayed on the computer monitor and related matters written on the memo paper, but he didn’t say anything about that.
“Who said anything?”
Jukyung said indifferently and went into the room. In the meantime, I cleanly tidied up my scattered things and washed the used water cup to return it to its place. Then I looked inside what Jukyung bought and tilted my head.
Inside the bag, instead of finished products like before, it was full of groceries like he’d gone shopping somewhere. Two packs of pre-cut vegetables for salad, one fruit pack, several bags of mixed nuts, and two packs of beef. Everything looked fresh and had large organic labels attached.
Didn’t Kwon Jukyung say he doesn’t cook at home? What was it, I think he said he hates garbage being created. Recalling the kitchen with no signs of use and the completely empty refrigerator, I thought.
Since there were no separate instructions on what to do, I laid out the food items on the island table and sat spacing out for a moment. Anyway, if I tried to bustle about doing something on my own, I’d just get scolded for making double the work for Kwon Jukyung. There was already a precedent where I bustled about saying I’d clean every day out of guilt, then just got glares over the results.
As I sat spacing out like that, Jukyung came out from showering faster than expected. The disheveled hair and face flushed from the shower gave a boyish feeling. As expected, a face I like. Though he’s a bit unlucky.
While spacing out, I was blankly staring at Jukyung’s face approaching closely without much thought. Even when our eyes met, I just kept staring silently, so Jukyung frowned. His face reddened more, displeased about something. His ears were red again.
“What are you looking at?”
“Huh? No, just.”
Only then coming to my senses, I got up from my seat and pointed at the salad.
“Is this tonight’s dinner? Are you trying to diet?”
Two packs of beef and two packs of grass seemed utterly insufficient as meal portions for two adult men. Honestly, I don’t know about Kwon Jukyung, but I definitely wasn’t enough. After experiencing a few days of starving all day, my meal portions had increased compared to before.
“What diet? How am I supposed to handle the beggar in your stomach wailing?”
Jukyung snorted as he passed by me. Then he rummaged through the cupboard and refrigerator and took out spaghetti noodles, olive oil, garlic, peperoncino and such. Looking at the ingredients, he seemed to be making pasta.
“You’re making pasta? You said you don’t cook at home?”
I followed behind Jukyung and asked while looking at the cooking ingredients. Jukyung glanced at me with an annoyed expression.
“When did I say I don’t cook?”
“No, didn’t you say you hate food waste being created or smells permeating?”
“I hate it. So I try not to do it as much as possible, but I can’t not do it at all. I can’t always eat out. It costs money and restaurant food gets tiring.”
Jukyung replied indifferently and put on an apron he’d taken out from somewhere. A long, black apron that properly covered from the chest. It was cleanly laundered and even crisply ironed. Seeing him like that, he looked like a handsome café employee from some drama.
I kept stealing glances at that sight, finding it fascinating. It was a bit funny too. I’d never seen a man living alone properly wear an apron on his own when he’s not even a food service worker. Sure enough, it suited him to an unlucky degree, and I wanted to take a photo and draw it later.
While the pasta water boiled, Jukyung rinsed the already perfectly prepared vegetables again with purified water and drained them. It seemed clean enough without doing that, but I clicked my tongue inwardly at the fussiness. When I kindly offered to at least grill the meat on the side while Jukyung made pasta, he chased me out of the kitchen entirely, saying did I plan to ruin expensive ingredients?
Before long, when an appetizing food smell wafted, my stomach began screaming like crazy. Fortunately, preparing the meal didn’t take very long.
Jukyung beautifully plated pasta in large dishes with concave centers and sprinkled plenty of cheese powder. Then he neatly placed grilled beef revealing pink flesh beside it and set it on the table. He piled the drained salad vegetables generously in a glass bowl and made a simple tangy French dressing to pour over it. Taking out two glasses and adding wine, the meal preparation was completely finished.
Pasta with grilled beef, and salad. Such a simple menu. Anyone could at least do the basics making that much, I thought, so honestly I didn’t have expectations. Looking at Kwon Jukyung’s personality, it didn’t seem like he’d made it that often either. Of course, I also only know how to eat, never having made it. But my eyes widened as soon as I took a bite.
“Wow.”
Of course, since I watched from the side, I knew the ingredients were different from trivial things including extra virgin olive oil and truffle salt, but everything from how cooked the noodles were to the garlic fragrance was appropriate.
After exclaiming in admiration without realizing it, seeing a smug expression float on Kwon Jukyung’s face, I immediately regretted it. I unnecessarily boosted his spirits. But that was only momentary—when the appropriately cooked beef chewed softly while leaving a savory flavor, I ended up spitting out another “wow” exclamation.
It was really a simple, nothing-special dish, but it was much more delicious than what I’d eaten at most professional restaurants. Even trying to disparage it thinking the ingredients are basically too good, anyone who made it with those ingredients couldn’t help but make it delicious, objectively it was seriously delicious. Honestly, if it went through my hands, even the best ingredients would likely turn into food waste in an instant.
Kwon Jukyung seemed like he wouldn’t have to worry about making a living even if he got fired from his company or got kicked out penniless like me. He wouldn’t need to agonize about what work to do while clutching a computer like me. He could be a model, entertainer, or chef.
Damn it. Why is the world so unfair like this? Why does God pour talent into one guy like this? Was it too bothersome to carefully distribute it? I was newly envious of him and my stomach started to hurt.
No, that’s not right. Maybe that’s why his personality got twisted like that instead. To the point where you can’t even tell if it’s a good or bad personality.
Well, anyway, later when I left Jukyung’s house and lived separately, I didn’t know about other things but I thought I’d remember at least this sometimes. If we stay friendly, couldn’t I occasionally get invited to his house and get treated to a meal?
“……”
But this cleanliness patient didn’t seem like he’d invite outsiders claiming to be friends into his space unless it was unavoidable. Glancing repeatedly at Jukyung eating cleanly without making a sound, I suddenly discovered a possibility that I might be invited. That was the tableware.
I hadn’t thought about it and didn’t know until now, but Jukyung’s kitchen cabinet had two sets of each type of tableware. What’s so special about that, you ask? Looking at Jukyung’s lifestyle I’d confirmed so far, that was definitely something special. Didn’t he say it himself with his own mouth? He absolutely doesn’t bring unnecessary things into his home.
You can understand if you recall Jukyung’s firm resolution that he’d rather share one blanket in one bed with a man than buy an unnecessary blanket. Unless he’s thinking of somehow seducing a stupid romantic partner, what man would do such a pathetic and unpleasant thing?
The tableware Jukyung had was exactly for 2 people, no more, no less. Cups, wine glasses, pasta bowls, rice bowls, soup bowls, even utensil sets.
