He Left Me Breathless

The Hotel

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"Mother" I shout, seeking her out in the empty garden and stroll into the area where the cabinets were. I pull a cookie from the glass jar and search for the petite figure that would no doubt be hunched over vessels whilst eagerly making dishes that I could never pronounce but could somehow drool for.

"In here" she motions from the kitchen and I follow the signal.

"Are we celebrating Thanksgiving twice this year?" I squeal when I find her surrounded by huge pots, containing an assortment of vegetables.

"No honey, I am making Kimchi from grandma's traditional recipe and she is very adamant that I prepare it for us" she chuckles and slides her small hands inside the pink gloves that were stained red due to the chili powder.

"Mum, I think you're going to be lectured either way, Nana's Kimchi recipes are no joke. Better throw in that towel when you still have the chance Mrs. Byun" I tease habitually and she pinches the edges of my cheeks in warning.

"AH AH, that hurts Mom" I wail loudly and she releases her grip instantly with a soothing stroke. I had been exaggerating of course but Byun Baekhyun was nothing if not Oscar worthy.

"You're back from college early sweetheart" she remarks and casually ignores my painful groans.

"I come bearing news, oh dear mother" I begin, faking a natural cheer.

Honestly, I hadn't been to the college in two, long weeks and it was becoming extremely hard to hide the fact from my parents and Chanyeol, both. I was the first person to leave the house in the morning, just to avoid running into them while I went to fulfill my obligations as a Secretary in the Oh Enterprises.

My family was under the impression that I was attending extra classes whereas Chanyeol thought my schedule had been changed fully. It felt like I was leading a double life and the lies were complicating it.

"Go on, darling it's been a while since we had a chance to chat properly or gossip as your father would say. Quite frankly, your dad and I were starting to feel that we were living alone in this big place" she speaks wistfully and continues to mix the ingredients.

"Mum, please sit down and listen. I can handle this part easily" I urge pushing her onto the island chair and relieve her of the difficult task.

"Pumpkin, your mom is not old enough to need your help in preparing Kimchi" she scolds reluctantly and I pout until she fixes the violently fluorescent gloves along my half fists.

"Of course not mum but I'm almost never around so let me do this for you. Think of me as your assistant" I grin at her reassuringly.

"Shall I heat up some warm milk?" she humors me and straightens the unruly fringe covering my eyes.

"Yes please and could you put lots of tiny, pieces of strawberry in it?" I request quickly. My daily diet consisted of 12 cups of strawberry yogurt, 3 cartons of strawberry milk and I made no exceptions on that account.

A man has to eat healthy to live a long life.

I'm sure many would disagree and call my reason a bullshit excuse for devouring half the strawberries produced in this world but those haters had yet to savor the real taste of paradise. Bunch of cynical, chicken shits.

"Honey I remember. Now tell me what is it that you wanted to talk about. I'll have you know that if you and Kyungsoo are still determined on adopting the entire Penguin enclosure from the zoo I will be declining straightaway" she finalizes and boops my nose playfully.