Boba and Pancakes

Still, in rage, Dam-bi glared at Ha-neul,"Why did you silence me?"

"If I don't you will start to throw hands," stating the obvious.

She could not deny and changed the subject, "...Want to join us for dinner? Min-Ji is staying tonight as well." He averted his eyes not knowing how to answer. She looked over and said, "Need someone to grill so we can eat comfortably."

After realizing her motive, he firmly denied,"Not going."

"Yah. That was a joke. Come join us." Chasing after him.

---

"I didn't know you were a tech person." There was another monitor beside her computer and laptop. Accidentally moving the mouse while he placed his bag down in her room, the screen turned on and there were drafts of figures.

"Dam-bi. Do I close this?" Taken interested in what she has been doing, he clicks on the play button. Suddenly, the slides began to come alive.

Dam-bi scoffed as she heard him call her without honorifics. 'This kid has no fear.' She walks in and leans in, "It's just some of my personal project... Is it saved?" Making sure the progress is saved.

Dam-bi could feel his stare below, "What?"

"Nothing." He turns away.

Dam-bi shrugs and walks out, "What do you like to drink?"

"What do you have?"

"I bought these instant boba. Want some tea?"

"Sure."

In the kitchen, she peeks to see what he was doing, 'It's a good thing I cleaned. Ha-neul walks around like a mother-in-law.'

She began chopping scallions.

"What are you making?"

"Pancakes."

"Have you been practicing?"

Back when Min-Ji and Dam-bi were still in high school. They used to cook for Ha-neul when their parents were on business trips. Not one single dish looks or were edible. That is when Ha-neul realized that to survive he must learn to cook himself.

Dam-bi looks at him cluelessly, "For what?"

He shakes his head while biting his lower lip, raising his brows, "Ah! Nothing…" Letting out an awkward laugh. He watches her intently.

She finds a medium bowl, pouring in the flour, eggs, salt, scallions, and water, and starts to mix. Midway stirring she puts the bowl down as she notices the water starting to boil in the pot and kettle. She opened the instant tapioca pearl slowly, pouring it into the pot. And stir it a little and reduce the heat to medium after covering the lid. And pour the hot water into the electric tea kettle.

"You're multitasking..?" He said with a nervous tone.

"Relax. I heard the pancake is easy to make."

He has doubts.

"You don't have to stay here. You can go do your homework."

"My mind won't even focus if I take them out."

She starts to mix again and around 5 minutes goes back to the pot and stirred it, "It's done (the tapioca pearl)."

Letting the batter sit for about 10 minutes. She checked the consistency before cooking, "It said the batter should be a little bit runner… looks like I nailed it." Lifting the spoon and watching the batter fall.

The real deal was about to begin, Dam-bi rolled her sleeves as she spread oil in the pan. Ha-neul walks up subconsciously, "Stop."

Dam-bi stopped on his command and glanced over, "I know what I'm doing."

Ha-neul ignores her and mentions, "Now wait until it's golden brown, then you flip."

"I know."

Few moments later, Dam-bi began to fidget with her nails, "Now?"

"No."

"Now?"

"Not yet."

"Now." "Yeah."

Dam-bi takes a chopsticks and tries to flip it over, "Wae..why is it not working?"

"Flip it over or else it's gonna burn!!"

"I'm trying!" After a moment of struggling she began to panic seeing the color getting darker, "Ha-neul- ah, help me!!"

He quickly scoops in and took over, held the handle and flips it in the air landing perfectly back on the pan.

"Daebak!" Pouring another batch into the pan she states, "You do that while I make our boba tea."

She searches for the extra boba straws that were lying in the storage containers and puts them in the cups, carrying over to Ha-neul, "Try it."

He looks flustered. 'Can't let this chance slip.'He looked at her and took a sip.

"How is it? Does it need more milk?"

"Nah. It's good." Chewing on the boba, he hands the pan over, "It's ready to flip. Don't think I'm gonna do all of them." She clicked her tongue. Seeing her brows frown, a smile emerged on his face, "I'll teach you."

Dam-bi gave it another try. She listened to his instructions, "I did it!"

After finishing making the pancakes, they sat down on the dining table. Taking her phone out, she squealed,"I got to take a pic of this."

"You're in college and don't know how to cook. What do you eat daily?"

"Take out food."

As he was about to open his mouth again she stuffed a pancake in, "Just eat" with a smile "it's gonna get cold."

They went the rest of the evening doing their own thing. The doorbell rang, "Can you get that? Min-Ji is back." Dam-bi said, preparing the table and sauce.

Ha-neul goes to open the door, taking Min-Ji by surprise,"What are you doing here?"

"Dam-bi invited me."

"It's Dam-bi nuna.(Old sister)" Min-Ji fists the back of Ha-neul's head, "Do they know where you are at?"

"I said I went to my friend's house. I'm not that stupid."

Min-Ji's eye spoke for her, "sure sure"

"What are you guys standing in front of the door? I only have two hands."

"How can you bring home another mouth to feed?" Min-Ji nags as she takes off her shoes.

---

Two days later, Dam-bi got her place back after Min-Ji went to her boyfriend's place.

"Let's start with our next project which is to draw the person in front of you," the professor said while moving the tables.

Dam-bi looks at the person in front of her and he and she meet eye to eye. He trembles with fear as he meets her ice-cold glare, his eye wanders as she examines him. 'He looks familiar.' Sketching out the face proportion and measuring the eyes. A smirk forms under her neutral face, "you were that guy. The one at the supermarket aren't you?"

He gulped. It felt like she could have swallowed him whole.

"Try to draw how the person looks," The professor said after passing his.

"You are drawing me as a wanted criminal?"

"No.."

---

"Man, you look like you aged in there, Beom-soo. You have the worst seating ever. Out of all this time, how can you be sitting next to that snake-like beast."

"The first day of school, I came late and that was the only seat available. No one has changed their seating since. What was I supposed to do?"

All his friend could do was pat his back, "Just don't make her angry."

"Too late for that."

Dam-bi came out and glared at him.

"...Well you are done for."