THE RESTAURANT WAS CROWDED WITH PEOPLE, it seemed more than usual because it was dinnertime.
“Welcome! For two guests?”
The lively staff asked us. Somehow, it gave off a familiar feeling. It had the atmosphere of any Korean restaurant that I was used to before transmigrating.
Of course, the aroma from the spicy food that stimulated my sense of smell was one I liked, too.
“Yes, for two please.”
He perhaps didn’t like the way I responded respectfully because he loosened his grip on my hand.
I raised myself on my toes and whispered in his ear.
“Commoners commonly speak with respect to each other when they meet for the first time. We didn’t come here as nobles.”
“…Okay.”
Although I felt he wanted to dispute, I feigned ignorance and went to the seat that the staff guided us to. I tried to let go of his hand, but Lucian wouldn’t budge.
“Brother, you have to let go of my hand so that I can sit down.”
When I glanced at him, his lips tensed, indicating he didn’t like it, nevertheless, he assisted me to sit, and only then did he sit across from me.
“May I take your order?”
“Yes, what’s the best seller here?”
“Is this your first time at our restaurant, Customer?”
“I have heard rumors, and so now I’m here.”
“Oh I see! Our best selling dish in our restaurant is definitely, by far, the spicy chicken dish!”
“Then, I’ll order that for two. What drinks do you have?”
“I recommend a fruit wine, it compliments the chicken. How about the strawberry wine that is in the season now?”
“That’s great. We’ll order that then please.”
I am brimming with high expectations. Chicken is delicious no matter what kind of dish, but it’s a spicy one at that.
What kind of dish would it be?
Eyes shining with excitement, I looked around inside the restaurant. It was small, with about ten tables but packed with customers.
Customers who came after us seemed to be either returning later or waiting outside.
Covering my mouth with my hand, I whispered to Lucian.
“Brother, this place must be really famous. But Brother, are you fine with spicy food?”
Now that I think about it, Lucian must have never tried eating spicy food…
Oh, what about during the banquet?
It was spicy but I didn’t shed a tear after eating it, so I wondered if we would be okay here?
I took notice too late.
“I’m alright, Ray.”
Lucian didn’t bother to look around, as if he wasn’t interested in the food and his chin was just resting on his hand.
He was only looking at me. Even covered with the robe so I couldn’t see him properly, his gaze toward me was so intent I had to notice.
I patted the back of his hand and played around. I could notice the corners of his mouth loosening as he played back with me, and my anticipation rose.
Our order came faster than I expected. I was surprised to see the food that was brought over to us.
Wow, isn’t this braised spicy chicken?
The spicy chicken dish, with sparsely cut chicken, potatoes and onion, was just like the braised spicy chicken of my past life.
“Wow…”
Saliva rushed in my mouth. My heart began to pound, it felt like I was possessed by this place and was eating authentic Korean food.
As we were enjoying the braised spicy chicken that was served in small bowls, an employee served the strawberry wine.
“Here is the strawberry wine you ordered.”
“Thank you.”
“Then, enjoy your meal!”
“Ah, for a moment.”
I rummaged a silver coin from the pocket of my robe and tipped the waiter. After receiving a tip and thanked me, the employee whispered so low only I could hear it.
“Next time I’ll introduce you to a secret menu of the restaurant. If you find me then…”
However, the employee stopped mid-way, as Lucian stretched out his long arms between us to separate me and the employee.
“Get out of here.”
“Ah, I’m so sorry!”
“Brother?”
“Then, enjoy your meal.”
The employee greeted us very loudly and disappeared in a hurry.
“What’s wrong?”
Clueless, I asked Lucian, but he didn’t answer.
It wasn’t my first time eating it, so I got immediately interested in trying the food.
“It looks very delicious. Ah, Brother. Let’s toast.”
As I spoke as I lifted the strawberry wine, Lucian’s lips loosened again.
After I cheered a toast with him, I took a sip.
“Wow…”
It was really sweet and refreshing. I thought it was a good decision to tip the employee because the wine was sweet enough to complement the dish.
Not losing any more time, I picked up the fork and the knife, transferred the chicken meat to my small plate and sliced it.
I put it in my mouth without delay.
“It’s delicious…”
My body shivered at the taste, not only was it similar in appearance, but the taste of the spicy braised chicken as well.
“It’s really good, Brother.”
I happily cut the meat and put it in my mouth. My head was down for a long time and then when I lifted my head, my eyes met his.
He didn’t touch the food at all and was only looking at me.
“Does it not suit your taste?”
“No.”
“You have not touched the food at all.” As I asked while looking at his bowl which had not reduced in quantity, he laughed.
“I just like seeing you eat.”
Ooh, our Lucian. You watched this Hyung eat. Why are you worried that it’s too spicy?
“It’s a little spicy, but it’s really good. Do you want me to cut it for you?”
At my suggestion, Lucian nodded subtly. I quickly sliced the meat and put it in his mouth.
He ate the meat as if he were waiting for it.
I looked at his mouth with curious eyes. In fact, it would be a lie to say it was a little spicy.
I actually liked it because the spiciness was enough to make my mouth burn even if I’m used to eating them, but Lucian, who doesn’t usually eat spicy food, may find it overly spicy.
No, was the finger food he ate at the banquet spicier?
As soon as I pondered about it, Lucian swallowed the food.
“Are you okay?”
He also seemed to have a good tolerance to spicy food.
It was correct that he seemed to be alright after the snack he ate at the banquet hall.
“Brother, do you like spicy food?”
I feel happy to come with him. If he ate well, I thought it would be nice to eat at this restaurant again with him next time.
At that time, Lucian tilted his head and asked.
“Is this what spicy is?”
“Yes? Why?”
He tilted his head as he muttered.
“The taste was refreshing, but… hmm…”
“Refreshing?”
It’s a delicious chicken dish, but does it have a refreshing taste? Isn’t the refreshing taste like bean sprout hangover soup?
Lucian licked his lips as he pondered the right word to say, and then spoke.
“It just feels clean in the mouth, but I don’t know the exact words to describe it.”
“Was it delicious?”
He kept his mouth shut at my question. As if he didn’t want to answer.
Now that I think about it, I have never heard the word delicious from Lucian’s mouth.
I always thought it was delicious because the plate was always empty, so it was delicious, wasn’t it?
But it’s so spicy that the tip of my tongue tingle, but I can’t agree that it has a refreshing taste. This strange sensation I’ve felt recently…
When I felt a strange sense of incompatibility, he reached out his hand on the table and held my hand.
Lucian grabbed my hand and turned it over. He repeatedly gathered together my fingers then spread them apart.
It may have seemed meaningless, but it tickled me and I couldn’t stand it.
“It tickles.”
Unable to bear it, I tried to pull my hand away, but he was a step faster.
“Okay, I’ll stop.”
As he spread apart my tickled fingers, he interlaced his own with mine again. He couldn’t pick up the knife because of his grip on my hand.
“Brother…”
Are you protesting that I brought you to a spicy restaurant? Are you really expressing yourself like this? Is this a noble expression?
Unable to understand his reason, I looked back at him, and he tucked the ends of his robe a little.
His exposed golden eyes were curved in a round shape.
If you smile at me like that, I can’t tell you to let go of my hand. Really. How are we supposed to eat like this?
I first grabbed the fork and poked the meat to eat. Then Lucian reached out with the knife and cut the chicken.
Oh, what a ground-breaking discovery!
He even cut the meat more neatly than I did, and his hand moved as if it was natural.
I put the meat stuck in the fork into my mouth without delay, and smiled at Lucian.
I just smiled. As I poked the chicken with a fork, I saw Lucian.
He cut the meat with a knife, as if he had been waiting.
Well, is practicing swordsmanship different from cutting food? How can he slice it so neatly?
Finding it interesting, I stabbed the chicken again with the fork while still chewing. Then, as if he was waiting for it, Lucian sliced the meat.
I diligently filled our mouths interchangeably. Lucian calmly ate what I gave him like a baby bird.
I remembered the first time I gave him food. At that time, he looked like he was seeing something really bizarre.
Thinking of the old days, I burst into a small laugh and Lucian glanced at me.
I am well aware of the meaning behind his expression.
“Nothing, it just reminds me of Brother.”
“When?”
“When, the day I first tried to put food in Brother’s mouth. Do you know how funny Brother’s expression was back then?”
Back then when Lucian was still in his teens, I was not usually able to figure out what he was thinking with his blank face, but whenever I tried to feed him, he reacted violently.
How cute that was. You have no idea.
“Ray.”
“Yes, Brother.”
Seeing him with a smile on his face, he pulled a piece of paper from his pocket and handed it to me.
He then said shyly.
“I was planning to give it to you when we return home, but I will just give it to you now.”
“What’s this?”
I put down my fork and picked up the paper. Neat handwriting caught my eye.
“You wrote this yourself Brother…”
I couldn’t continue what I was saying. It was because of what was written on the paper. Lucian smiled brightly, he then replied.
“Yes, it’s your schedule that I organized myself.”
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