The Kissing Booth: Adult Edition

Worst First Dinner Ever

"Remind me again why we're doing this. Why we're going to blow half our week's food budget on a single dinner, just so we can hang out with the guy who broke your heart," Lee was to my left and Marco at my right. We were heading down the street to one of those Korean bbq places. I'd been here for nearly half a year and have yet to visit one of them yet. I let out an exasperated sigh and Marco rolled his eyes. "We're going because he's your brother, and because he wants to re-establish a relationship with Elle. One of her conditions was that we are included in this friendship circle," Marco explained for me, to which I was thankful for. Lee, on the other hand.... He eyes narrowed unimpressed. "Who said I ever wanted to be chums with Noah? I was doing perfectly fine before he came back along." "Lee....." I sighed deeply again. "Just do it for Elle. If she wants us there, the least we can do is go along." "No, the least we can do is nothing. Do you really want to be friends with Noah again, Elle?" Lee's gaze wandered back over to me. I stared straight forward, considering Lee's question for a second. Well, no; not really. It's not at the top of list anyway, but... "That's why I want to be friends, Elle. You make it easy.... And I just want it to be easy for a little while." I guess a part of me feels like I can't say "no". Oh well.... I sighed for I don't what time that day and closed my eyes. "Might as well, while he's here anyway...."

We agreed to meet Noah outside the restaurant at seven that Saturday night. He was already outside the place when we came into view. Naturally with his hands in his pockets, he saw us and grinned. We met on the sidewalk halfway. "Hey," Noah greeted everyone in his usual casual manner. "Hey, man." "Hi, bro." "Good evening, Noah," we all acknowledged back. "Should we go in? I have no idea how these places work," Lee's head turned to the sliding wooden doors. "We just go in and sit down," I explained; sure, I'd never actually been to somewhere like here, but I knew enough about the culture. They took my word for it and we all clambered inside. It was a cute little restaurant: one room and each table had a tiny grill in the middle of it. "How 'bout here?" We found a four-person table with two chairs on each side. Lee and Noah sat down beside each other. Marco helped me remove my jacket and placed it on the back of my chair before doing the same with his. Once we were seated, I pulled out a two-sided menu. It was all in Korean- fantastic. But it did have pictures.

"Why do you guys want?" I asked, scanning over the menu; I could read a good part of it, and knew they couldn't. "How does this work?" Noah eyed the grill suspiciously. "You cook your own food at your table. We order raw meat and veggies and stuff like that," Lee told him. "You're supposed to cook it yourself?" Noah didn't sound impressed. "It's really good; you can cook your food how you like," I rushed to Lee's aid. "I can man the grill," Marco folded his arms. "You?" Noah's eyes darted to him. "Let him. He's a really good cook," I said without thinking. Luckily I didn't notice all eyes, particularly Marco's, on me immediately after this. Marco smiled; Noah did not.

"How does a plate of marinated beef rib-eye sound?" My finger pointed to the photo so they'd know what it looked like. They seemed surprisingly cool with this suggestion. "Sure. And how about some beef bugogi too?" Lee added. "Sounds good. What do you guys think?" "I'm down. Marco?" "Yeah, sure. Those will grill nicely." "Great! And what do we want to drink?" I then picked up the smaller, thinner drink card. This one didn't have any pictures for me to show them. It didn't help it was all in a language they couldn't understand either.

Noah shrugged. "Any of those alcohol?" My finger flinched a tad. "Uh, yes. What kind of alcohol do you want?" "Any beer?" "You want Korean beer?" I questioned, making Noah blink to me startled. "What about that booze they're always drinking in Korean dramas? What's that called?" Lee asked. "Soju?" I answered a bit unsure; I've never any of this before. "Yeah, that. It's supposed to be sweet, isn't it? Let's try a bottle of that," Lee announced. "Eh, why not?" Noah's shoulder shrugged again. I set down the drink menu and lowered my eyes. "I'll get a pot of tea, then," I think it went over their heads that I don't drink now. Instead, Noah glanced over to Marco with a bit of smug air about him. He spread his arms along the top of his chair in a confident position.