From the Beginning

Chapter 28: Dinner

            Yulian grabbed a jar of satay sauce and handed it to Bailey. "Here."

"Thank you," Bailey said as he accepted it from the stranger.

"You like to cook with satay sauce, too?" Yulian tried to make conversation as he placed a jar of satay in his cart.

"I'm not much of a cook, but Yulian," Bailey halted his words abruptly, "my partner likes to use satay sauce sometimes."

"I see. This person must be very special to you." Yulian gazed at the other's sad eyes and fought the urge to leap forward and hug him.

"He is." Bailey forced a smile.

"Did you get everything," Bowen rushed over to Yulian and realized who was there with him, "J-John ge? Hi, Bailey ge," he immediately addressed. "What a coincidence! You're grocery shopping too?"

"Yes. Since I'm living alone, I come here to buy instant meals for convenience."

"You shouldn't eat too much of that," Yulian blurted out in concern. "It's not healthy."

"I know, but..."

"There's no but!" Yulian shouted.

His sudden outburst startled Bowen and the lad stared at him with wide eyes. Even Bailey looked a bit shocked.

"You're coming over to eat dinner with us," Yulian commanded.

"It's okay. I have food." Bailey showed them the box in his hand only for Yulian to snatch it away.

"You have no say in this. You're eating with us and that's that!"

Bailey glanced over at Bowen with a questioning look and received a mere shrug as a response.

"I guess you're coming with us," Bowen derived.

"I..." Bailey pursed his lips.

Yulian made his way to put the box back in its counter. The two quickly followed behind him obediently.

"We should pay for the stuff and head home. Sion ge is probably complaining that he's hungry."

"All right," Yulian agreed.

"I'm going to call ge and inform him that Bailey ge is going to join us for dinner. Do you have enough money, John ge?"

"I do."

"Okay. I'm going to go buy some pastries as well. Wait for me outside."

"Understood." Yulian put the drinks along with everything else in the cart on the checkout counter. He then took the jar of satay sauce from Bailey's hand and added them to his things. "I'll pay."

"It's okay. I could..." Bailey's words were cut off by Yulian.

"Let me pay for you. It's the least I can do."

The least he can do? What does he mean by that? Bailey wondered.

"We're in a hurry. It's faster this way."

Seeing how persistent the man was, Bailey gave in with a nod of his head.

"Wonderful." Yulian smiled and paid for everything.

Bailey helped put the things into a reusable bag that Yulian brought. Why does this feel so familiar? He stole a glimpse at Yulian. Why does he remind me of...him?