EASILY

38

Magic Hands

May 31st

"I'll get us some more tea," Moonbyul says with a smile as she kisses me on the cheek and stands up.

"Don't take too long," I reply with a big smile before turning it into a fake pout. "It's cold out, and I need your arms to warm me up," I add while dramatically rubbing my hands up and down my arms.

Moonbyul laughs. "I'll be super quick," she smiles before disappearing into the penthouse.

Byul and I both had the night off, well if you don't count the 60 cookies I had to bake and deliver, so we decided to stay up late and watch the sunrise. Moonbyul seems wide awake but I am slowly crashing, which Byul could tell, so she made us blackberry tea and we've been snacking on frozen grapes, our new favorite snack. Ever since her mom showed up, and her aunt Jessi, Moonbyul has had a huge smile plastered on her face. It's like she's on cloud nine and I absolutely love it.

I didn't think it was possible for any human being to be more adorable than Byul, but her mom is even more adorable than she is. One of the nights she was in town, Byul had to work at the diner late at night so, the two of us stayed up late talking, and watching movies. She told me the cutest stories about Moonbyul from her childhood, like how she used to run around naked around their house, and her first word was what. She had a mini heart attack when she lost her first tooth because she didn't know what the tooth fairy did with the teeth, the stories go on and on, and each one, even the smallest stories made me fall deeper in love with Moonbyul. Her mom talked about her with so much pride, it's amazing and heartwarming. She showed me a ton of pictures of her younger brothers, who I just want to cuddle with too, they are so freaking adorable. I hate that Moonbyul is missing out on so much of their lives because her dad is a jackass, but my promise to myself is to get her brothers to Seoul for a weekend. So, they can hang out, bond, catch up, whatever they need to do. I didn't have siblings growing up, it was just my cousins, so I want Moonbyul to make the most of her gift of being a big sister.

Another memory I will hold on to forever with Moonbyul's mom was the following night I had to bartend Happy Hour and my normal night shift, so her mom brought me dinner to the bar and not just a burger from McDonald's, she made spaghetti with the works, meatballs, mushrooms, green peppers, everything, and she baked garlic bread. She wrapped everything up and sat at the bar with me while I snuck bites in between helping customers. We talked more just about life, and current events before she went to pick up Moonbyul from work at the diner around 9. That night when I got home, I saw that she waxed the floors, and the kitchen was spotless. I also noticed Chef's toy selection had almost tripled, and he was asleep on her feet as she watched TV, so safe to say he finally accepted her.

It's been a few weeks since her mom left, but it's like I can still feel her presence in the penthouse, and Moonbyul agrees. It could be the potpourri she bought us, or the digital picture with pictures we took from the day we all went shopping, or just the feeling that our penthouse is finally a home since both of our families have eaten, slept, showered, laughed, and existed in our space. I can feel my parents with Mrs. Yi every time I walk through the door, and I love it.

"Here, baby," Moonbyul states while setting the two mugs of tea on the table in front of us, and sitting back down cuddling close to me again.

She instantly wraps her arm around my shoulders, allowing me to lean into her embrace, she then takes her other arm and slides it across my waist, and begins to rub my side while resting her head on top of mine.