In the dark

52

Hobi was the first to walk into the hotel room. He placed the bags down on the table. Peri followed up behind him. When Hobi turned around, he was met by the warm press of Peri's lips. Her free hand wrapped around his shoulders. Her fingers rested on his chest as she pulled him flush to her body. 

Hobi glided his hand down Peri's arm, coming to a stop where her fingers held onto the pastry bag. He placed the bag in his fingers and took the pastries from her hand. Keeping his eyes closed and his lips on hers, Hobi blindly moved the boxes on the table to join the other packages. He felt the weight settle against the hard surface and let the bag go. His hand moved back to where Peri's was and laced his fingers in hers. 

"Thank you," she told him when she pulled her mouth away with a pop of their lips.

"Come with me," he told her. Hobi led her to the couch and sat down, keeping his body open for her to join him. Peri took the cue and settled her body next to him. She held her head against his chest to listen to his heart's calming beat. "What happened at the perfumery?" he asked softly. 

"I don't know how to explain it exactly, but I will try." She waited for a second before she continued, making sure he understood. "You guys have always asked about my family. I always told you I don't remember her. That's true. I don't. Well, I didn't until today. When I smelled the honeysuckle, it just hit me. I remembered my mom. I closed my eyes, and I could see her. Bits of her, anyway. I remembered her hair, her smile, and her hands. Most importantly, I remembered her scent. My brain went into overdrive trying to find all of the components of her."

"Memories are associated with scents. Did you know that?" he asked her with kindness in his voice. 

"I had read that somewhere, but I thought it was hogwash. How possibly can a single scent cause a memory? How can one sense imprint into the brain, but the others cannot? I guess I was wrong in my assumption."

"I don't think you are entirely wrong. I think it depends on the value of the scent. Like whenever I smell Doenjang Jjigae. I think of my mother's cooking. Whereas if I never smell that Juliet Rose ever again, I will live through it."

"It was awful. I guess not every rose smells as sweet!" Both of them laughed at Peri's joke this time. "Hey, I kinda blank in the perfumery. Did you find what you were looking for?"

"I did."

"Who was the gift for?"

"You."

Peri popped her head off Hobi's chest and looked at him with surprise. "What?!"

"You. I bought it for you."

"Why?"

"I didn't think I needed a reason to buy my girlfriend a gift!" Peri raised her brows, asking for another answer. "I took you to the perfumery because I wanted to know what you like. I wanted to have them make you something that was entirely your own. Something that said, "This is Peri." I didn't know it would have a double meaning because of its ties with your mom."

Peri felt her eyes filling up with tears. "I think I might cry," she warned.

"I will be right here to hold you if you do."

Peri was getting all choked up. She strained her voice as she tried to speak again. "You are the most amazing man," she croaked. 

"You are the most amazing woman, and now you get to carry your mother around wherever you go." Peri kissed his lips sweetly and rested her head back onto his chest, letting the tears fall freely without any fight. The best people in the world surrounded her. 

Peri let out a big yawn when her tears stopped. "Ready for a nap?" she asked him.

"Actually, I was going to work a little before we head out. But I think Joonie is in his room reading a book if you wanna go hang out with him," he suggested.