Chaebol in Paradise

5.

"Lingomso!" I heard a thick accent call.

I turned around to find Leola, a short and lively woman screaming her lungs out and rushing towards me joyfully. I hugged her as she jumped into my arms.

"It's been ages!"

"Centuries! I told you I'd come back!" I said.

"And you came back with a hottie!" she said gesturing to Minjun. I shook my head.

"No no no. This man is terrible. Stole my suite and forced me to live with him," I said.

"Sounds like a romance blossoming," she replied. Minjun rolled his eyes.

"She's dramatic," he said.

"Men who roll their eyes tend to be dramatic too," Leola replied.

I laughed. I loved her.

"He tried to steal my donut too"

"Donut stealer! Come cone. There's a fiesta. I'll find you a man who'll feed you donuts to last you a lifetime. Leave him," she said.

"Kufi?"

"No no no. Island boy has about 10 baby mamas. Don't join the club. But I've got a hunk for you. He's sweet."

"Does he like Jesus?"

"He likes everyone! He'll be nice to your kidnapper too"

The sun dipped below the horizon, splashing streaks of amber and violet across the sky as music filled the air. The smell of grilled meat and spicy sauces lingered, mingling with laughter and chatter.

It was a perfect evening for the fiesta Leola had been raving about—a lively event that felt more like a family reunion than a gathering of friends. Everywhere you looked, there were people dancing, eating, and enjoying themselves without a care in the world.

And here I was, smack in the middle of it all, trying to keep up with Leola’s whirlwind energy while keeping an eye on Minjun, who, to my surprise, was adapting to this environment much better than I expected.

Leola grabbed my hand, dragging me toward a table loaded with all sorts of treats. “Lingomso, you have to try this!” she said, shoving a plate of grilled corn on the cob smothered in butter and spices into my hands. “You won’t find this anywhere but here.”

Minjun appeared beside me, curious and a little amused. “What’s this?” he asked, inspecting the food as if it might be booby-trapped.

I smirked, handing him a piece. “It’s corn. Don’t tell me you’ve never had grilled corn before.”

He took a bite, his eyes widening in surprise. “This is good,” he admitted.

“See? You’re finally learning to trust me,” I teased.

Minjun rolled his eyes for what felt like the hundredth time since we met. “Don’t get ahead of yourself. It’s just corn.”

Leola, who had been watching our exchange with a mischievous grin, leaned in and whispered loud enough for both of us to hear, “You two argue like an old married couple. It’s cute.”

“Cute?!” we both said simultaneously, exchanging a look of horror that made Leola burst out laughing.

I quickly changed the subject, trying to steer the conversation away from any implications of romance. “So, where’s this ‘hunk’ you promised me, Leola? I need to see if he’s up to standard.”

Leola’s eyes sparkled with mischief. “Oh, he’s around. But first, you have to dance with us. Come on!” She didn’t give me a chance to decline before she yanked me toward the makeshift dance floor, leaving Minjun to trail behind us.