In the morning, I finally unpack my duffle bag. Gong Yoo watches me disapprovingly. All my clothes are wrinkled. At the bottom of the bag is a new sketch book. Usually, starting a new sketch book is thrilling…not this time. This time there is a sketch book back home that I have not touched since Jason left. He was a willing model, always. The peace we shared while I drew and he stared into space thinking about I don’t know what. I never asked, I wish now I had. I study the sketchbook in my hand. It looks like all the others on the outside, but it will never be the same. The image of Jason will not cover a single page. There is no real clean break in a break up. It is always messy by degrees. I shove the duffle bag and the sketchbook into the wardrobe.

From the kitchen comes the aroma of mushroom pancakes. Since I got my own place, I only eat Korean food when I go to my folks house. I have forgotten how fragrant a Korean breakfast can be. Gong Yoo heads for the kitchen and I follow.

A small low table is covered with various kinds of kimchi and noodles. I sit down on a blue cushion. Auntie Ji An places two plates of steaming pancakes on the table and sits across from me. I take a bite of mine. They are as good as I remember. I make an emphatic mmm sound. Gong Yoo whimpers. Auntie tells him to hush. I take another bite, I am surprised that my scarce appetite actually wants this food.

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

We are just about finished when Auntie’s phone rings. She says, “Hello.” I can hear a voice on the other end. The voice is female speaking Korean. Auntie responds in Korean, “Sure, he can,” she pauses and looks at me, then she says, “but Yi-Seul needs to go to the fish market. Its on the way. Could he drop her off and pick her up on his way back.”

Suspicion fills me. He? He who? I’ve not said a word about going to the fish market. A cold nose touches my hand. Gong Yoo looks up at me with pleading eyes. I sneak him a bit of pancake. He wags his tail. This is a first. Auntie Ji An finishes the conversation by saying, “Yes, around eleven will be fine.” She hangs up.

In English I ask, “Why am I going to the fish market?”

She responds in Korean, “Because, I need some squid and prawns for dinner.”

“Who am I riding with?”

With a soft chuckle Auntie says, “Guess.”

I don’t need to. In this moment I am embarrassed, excited and a little scared at the same time. Firmly I say, “Please don’t do that again.”

She smiles and says, “I won’t have to.”