For the Love of Kimchee (Book 1)

25

Daniel

Daniel was faced with the living room as he made his way past the foyer. The open floor plan allowed for him to see past the living room and straight out to the pool area. With the kitchen and dining area separated by a wall.

"Oppa?!" a short 14-year old girl came running down the stairs towards him. She hurled herself towards him, and suddenly stopped short right in front of him. Close enough for Daniel to scoop her into a brotherly hug if wanted, but he didn't. Instead ruffled her short hair that was cut just below her chin.

"Aishhh, stop that!" She reached up and pushed his hand off of her head. Daniel laughed as she seethed with anger.

"It's been a while, yeo-dong-saeng" Daniel greeted his little sister. He could've called her by her real name, Ji-woo, but he liked the formal title better.

She stuck her tongue out at him as she tried fixing her hair with her fingers. They had the same eyes and mouth, but everything else she inherited from her father. Like her stout figure. She was a little bit on the cubby side.

Ji-woo grabbed his arm and pulled him towards the kitchen.

"EEOOMMAAA!" Her voice rang out through the house. "Daniel is home!"

Daniel smiled. She was the only person in their family that respected his chosen American name. She was also the closet family member he had. She was spoiled and a brat, but she was the only family member he actually trusted through and through.

"Daniel? Who is that? Ahh, you mean Ji-hun-a is here?" His mother's voice floated to him from the kitchen.

"yes, Eomeoni." Daniel's Korean floated off his tongue like he didn't live in America for an extended period of time. Yes, mom. I'm here. He thought, and I can't wait to leave.

He entered the kitchen just as his mother was wiping her hands on her apron. It appeared she had been busy. The kitchen staff shot dirty looks at her turned back as she greeted him. She ran a tight ship and if they didn't like it, his mom had no problem firing them.

The kitchen was huge and packed. The 5 person staff his mother hired to cook their dinners bustled around the kitchen adding spices here and there to different dishes.

"I've missed you, my son!" His mother reached up to hug him. His 6'2 frame dwarfed hers. His annoyance at the evening drifted away as she pulled him into a bear hug. No matter what was going on in his life, his mother's hugs were the best. Full of warmth.Even when they didn't see eye to eye.

He told her this once when he was 10-years old, and she said she learned how to give the best hugs from an American drama she watched on TV. She said it's all about the emotion put into the hug.

She pulled away and gave him a once over.

"Have you been eating? It looks like you've lost weight." She patted his stomach and began guiding him out the other side of the kitchen to the dining room . "A woman likes a man with a little meat on him. You're too skinny."

Daniel rolled his eyes and nodded at his mother's comments. "Yes, I've been eating."

The table was set extravagantly for tonight's Sunday dinner. The dark chestnut oval table was piled with side dishes. There had to be at least 30 side dishes prepared. There was everything from radish kimchi to Namul.

The dining room table was placed right next to the glass walls in the back of the house. Allowing them to watch the sunset as they ate dinner.

The kitchen staff came in dropping off more dishes to the table. Walking around them, while juggling the dishes on their arms effortlessly.