Trauma

Part 9 "Holy Mackerel"

As the big hand of the clock started to inch towards the big 6, I was nervous out of my mind.

I just had to march over there and tell him that something happened suddenly and that I couldn't make it. How hard could that be?

I breathed in a huge breath and stepped out into the corridor, and pressed the buzzer.

"Oh hey, Lizzie! You are kinda early! I was just setting out plates!" Jack opened the door with a huge grin.

"Oh well I-" I started to say, but Jack cut me off.

"Why are you standing there? Come in, Come in!" Jack ushered me before I could say anything else. Great.

"Actually I," I started to say again, and Jack looked at me expectantly, still smiling his goofy grin. Ah. F it.

"I was going to bring something to drink. I kind of forgot it back at my house. Let me just bring it."

Jack shook his head. "Don't worry about it. I already prepared a drink. Maybe we can drink yours next time."

I froze at that. There was going to be a next time?

"Come, Sit here. I had just finished making the food. It's kinda great that you came early. Re-heated food isn't as good as just cooked food, you know?" Jack smiled as he brought a huge pot and set it on the table.

"What did you make?" I asked as I sat down on the chair.

"Braised Mackerel." Jack said proudly as he opened the lid of the pot.

I was honestly intrigued. I wasn't a big fan of seafood. Mostly because I wasn't used to it.

"A braised mackerel." I said slowly.

"I wager you never had it?" Jack said, chuckling.

"Yeah. I don't really eat seafood." I said.

"Are you allergic?" Jack asked, looking concerned.

"Oh, No.No. It's just that I didn't eat seafood a lot when I was young, and I haven't really tried to eat it afterward." I replied.

"Well, you are going to like this. It wouldn't be fishy. I promise." Jack said as he put a bowl of rice in front of me.

"So...How am I supposed to eat this?" I said, feeling stupid.

"Oh. Right. Well, take a spoonful of rice, put a piece of mackerel and this white radish right on top of it." Jack said as he demonstrated it with my spoon. "And eat it in one bite." Jack said as he gave me the spoon back.

I stared at the spoon full of food skeptically.

"You won't know whether it's good or bad unless you try it." Jack said, chuckling.

I opened my mouth and put the spoon inside. I started to chew slowly.

"So..? Is it good??" Jack stared at me, looking hopeful.

I said nothing as I kept on chewing and finally swallowed.

"It's...Really good! Wow. Are you a chef or something?" I said with a grin. Who knew fish could taste like this?

Jack smiled in relief. "It's a recipe of my mother's. She was a Korean Cuisine master."

"So the food that you gave around the neighborhood was also Korean?" I asked, taking an another spoonful of food.

Jack nodded. "Well yeah. I kind of think myself Korean at heart. My mother was Korean and married my pop. I was born in LA."

"Wow. You know you are an amazing cook, right?" I complimented.

"Thanks, Lizzie." Jack smiled.

I was kind of grateful that I hadn't been able to cancel the dinner.

Before I knew it, I was laughing and relaxing, tasting amazing food.