You're My Target

Chapter 22

the next Morning Troy rubbed the crust out of his closed eyes, and slowly cracked them open. Boram was leaning over him, her face directly over his. Troy jumped a bit not expecting to see her, then lifted his arm to touch her face, to see if he was dreaming.

"it feels real" he thought to himself as his fingers touched Borams soft cheek.

"don't try to kiss me with your stinky morning breath" Boram said pulling her head away.

"ha ha ha." Troy laughed sarcastically at her. "you're the one who comes in my house while i'm sleeping and stands over me watching me sleep for who knows how long. how do i know you didn't kiss me already?"

"trust me Troy. you'd know if i kissed you." Boram said with sass, putting her hand on her hip.

"how did you get in here anyway? and WHY are you here so early?" Troy wondered as he sat in his bed.

"its not early, its 11pm. get your lazy butt out of that bed." Boram said pulling him out of the bed. "you're the one who asked me to hang out if i wasn't busy so here i am! now rise and shine."Boram pushed Troy down the hall as he yawned and swayed in a groggy daze. she thrust him into the bathroom."now get yourself ready and lets go get some lunch im starving!" Boram said, shutting the door on him. "ill play the X-station while i wait."

"id say make yourself at home, but it seems like you already did that." Troy muttered on the opposite side.
Boram happily played the X-station while Troy got himself showered and dressed. once he was ready the 2 took a ride to their favorite place to eat, a place they hadn't been together in awhile. when they arrived, the friendly mustached owner was delighted to see them.

"well, well. look who finally decided to come back." the man chuckled happily seeing Boram. "i thought you forgot about me."

"i could never do that." Boram said greeting him.

"its good to see you today." Troy said to him.

"will you 2 be trying something new today or should i prepare the usual?" the man replied.

"usual for me is fine." Troy said.

"yea usual for me as well please." Boram nodded.

"it'll be right out."

troy and boram sat at the counter together waiting for their food.

"so whats going with you and Soyeon tonight?" Boram asked glancing at him.

"im not sure yet." troy sighed sounding a bit hopeless.

"wait a minute." Boram said making sure she heard Troy right. "you are taking her out tonight, but have no destination or plans?"

"well i asked her to go out 'this weekend' and she said yes, but i never decided on something." Troy answered her.

"well you better think of something!" Boram said hitting him lightly in the back of the head.

"do you have any ideas for me?" Troy asked her gently rubbing where Boram had hit him.

"yea, heres one." Boram said leaning over to say something into his ear. "START USING THAT BRAIN IN YOUR HEAD!" she shouted.

"ahh man" Troy said covering his ears and squinting his eyes. "whats with you today. so violent." Troys ears rang

"im doing you a favor." boram said.just then, their food was bought to them.

"here you go guys, enjoy!" he said serving them with a smile.

"thank you." said boram
"yea, thanks" Troy added.  "so how exactly are you doing me a favor?"

"you do know we're 'tiaras' right?" Boram said making quotations with her fingers.
 Troy nodded.
"and youre kind of officially dating one of them right." Boram continued.

"yea, kinda. i guess." Troy nodded again.

"so then start acting like it!" Boram exclaimed.

"alright alright! jeez!" Troy said calming her down. the 2 finished eating their meals together.
"so what are you going to do when you get home?" Boram asked him

"well before i go home, i have to go shopping quick." Troy explained.

"oh, ok, then after you go shopping, ..." Boram was cut off by Troy:

-"i promised Eunjung id buy her some stuff and make her a healthy meal .." troy stated. Boram stood there. with a dumbfounded look on her face."and then after that im going to see Soyeon and go on our date ..." Troy finished.

"did anything i say sink in before?" Boram asked bonking Troy on the forehead with her fist.

"Eunjung needs some real food. shes been living on junk for too long. you know i wouldn't have to if her actual friends did it for her." Troy said folding his arms.

"watch it smart mouth." Boram said folding her own arms, standing on her tippy toes, getting in his face. "but, i guess it is nice of you to do that for her...."

"i do appreciate everything though, you know that." Troy said to her with a smile.

"well, go do what you gotta do then, because i have some stuff i gotta do too." boram told him.

"o yeah? big date of your own?" Troy asked

"no me and Qri are going to a new buffet that opened up outside of town." she replied.

"but you just ate...." Troy said, Boram just smiled.

"good luck tonight troy!" she said waving to him.

"do you want a ride?" Troy asked her as she went to leave.

"no thanks! ill see you later!" and she continued on her way. Troy paid for the food and set out to the grocery store. he purchased all the items he needed and carefully packed them under the seat of the moped. after shopping he went straight to Eunjungs apartment. when he arrived she opened the door as if she had been waiting since he last left.

"hey, how are you?" she asked as he carried the bags inside.

"im good, i got a bunch of stuff." he said placing the plastic bags down in her kitchen. "i should have thought of this before, but hopefully you arent a vegetarian."

"no, im not." Eunjung giggled. Troy was relieved to see her in a good mood.

"good, 'cause i got, some steak.... and salmon." Troy showed her the meats as he took them out of the bag. Eunjungs eyes were wide with desire.

"make sure to shut the house tight while you cook." Eunjung whispered. "Boram's nose might catch the scent and come eat it all on us."

"are you kidding i bet shes already somewhere hiding in here. she so small you'd never know it." Troy joked, and Eunjung laughed out loud in response. it was the first time he had seen Eunjung laugh that hard.

"if she was here, she would have attacked you by now for that comment." Eunjung said, catching her breath from laughing.

"yeah i should be careful huh." he said as he began to start cooking.

"can i help you with anything?" Eunjung asked him leaning next to him on the counter, looking at the meat.

"mmmmm, no not right now." Troy thought. "i want you to just go and relax and ill take care of everything."

"ok, if you say so." Eunjung said stepping away. "ill be in the living room."Eunjung left Troy to cook in the kitchen.he had never cooked steak on a stove-top before, he had always used a grill. he watched it sizzle in the pan, as the salmon baked in the oven. he quickly microwaved some packaged mixed vegetables and set the table. the delicious smells filled the kitchen and spread to e living room and under Eunjungs nose. she couldn't resist getting up from the couch and taking a peek at Troy's progress. Troy opened the oven and pulled the hot tray out with the salmon on it. he gently placed it on the counter and started to pull open the tin foil that wrapped the salmon. he burnt his finger on it and started swearing.

"ow damnit!" he shouted.Eunjung chuckled in the doorway quietly.he squirted some lemon and then realized he was over cooking the steak! he hurried over to take it off the broiler. the sizzling grease in the pan splattered on him, burning him some more.

"AH!" he shook his hand trying to ease the pain.Eunjung couldn't resist and came to help him.

"you look like you could use some help" she said coming to his aid.

"maybe a little." Troy admitted with a smile.

Troy and Eunjung put their food on their plates and sat down together."well, i hope you like it." troy said looking at her as she eye-balled the food.she took a deep breath, inhaling the aroma.

"it smells so good." she replied.

"yeh, better than all the junk food im sure." troy told her. "so, go ahead. let me know how it is."

Eunjung wasted no time digging into the food. she put a forkful of the tender beef into her mouth and chewed it with her eyes closed first fast, but then slowly, savoring it.

"oh my." she said. "oh. oh oh". troy waited to hear what she had to say patiently. he was trying not to look to eager."oh oh oh." she just continued to mumble.

"so...." Troy said, as if he had to remind her he was there. Eunjung just continued to eat with her eyes closed, as if in a trance. her 4 other senses overwhelmed by her sense of taste."ill take it you like it?" Troy said happily but also a bit jilted, that he was practically non-existent to her at this point. Troy ate slowly and just watched Eunjung eat. she ate her entire piece of meat before Troy got through half of his. she leaned back in her seat and sighed a sigh of relief.

"Troy." she said finally. "who taught you how to cook."

"my parents." he answered. "and im not nearly as good as them."

"well then bring your parents next time you decide to cook for me." she said, followed by a large burp. Troy was surprised by Eunjungs table shaking belch. but Eunjung just went back to eat, and started on the salmon. Troy shrugged happily and went back to his meal as well. a little while later, Eunjung had finished her entire plate. it looked like it never had a drop of food on it, Eunjung licked it so clean. Troy however didn't finish. he was still a bit full from his lunch with Boram.

"are you gonna eat that?" Eunjung said, letting out another burp. Troy just shook his head no and slid the plate to her. Eunjung wasted no time finishing his for him.

"well if its one thing i learned about you girls its that, you sure can eat." Troy smiled.

they finished eating and cleaned the kitchen together. he looked at the time and it was already 6:30pm.

"well i hope you enjoyed it." Troy said to her as he dried his wet hands from washing the dishes.

"i did, thank you very much Troy." she said. she had a big smile on her face.

"i got a few other things for you, to hold you over for awhile." he said pointing to the fridge.

"ice cream i hope." Eunjung giggled.

"perhaps. a little." he gestured 'a little' with his fingers "but i should be going now."

"your date with Soyeon?" Eunjung asked.

"yep." he said

"ok." she said a bit sad.

"you gonna be back in school this week?" he asked.

"we'll see." Eunjung said quietly.

"well, don't dwell on it, see how you feel." Troy said to her. "ill talk to you soon ok?"
eunjung nodded, and walked over to him, throwing her arms around his waste.

"thank you Troy." she said

"yea no problem." he said a bit awkwardly, he hugged her back lightly. waiting for her to let go. she released him, and took a few steps back.

"have fun." she said. "ill see you later."

he waved to her as he stepped out the door. troy walked to his moped and hopped on. he started the engine and felt a sudden wind chill blow across his exposed arms and face.
"shoulda' brought a jacket." he thought to himself as he pulled his helmet over his head. he released the kick stand and rode off towards Soyeons.