A new home

The next morning as Yul was leaving for the office, he saw a food container kept on the dining table. He could hear Liya and Inu talking from the kitchen, so he removed the lid of the container to check what was in it as it seemed to be the breakfast. As expected, there were five sandwiches very neatly set inside it. Yul became happy on seeing it and decided to see what was happening in the kitchen.

He kept his coat and bag on the chair and went to the kitchen but didn't enter as he was reminded of Liya's words. He stood at the entrance itself and saw Liya pouring milk for Inu to a cup; whereas Inu was sitting on the kitchen counter next to the fridge on one end. It was a lovely sight to watch.

Yul was reminded of his mother again. He was also a child who liked to roam around his mother when she was working. And his mother always prepared food for him, herself, saying that he should eat food prepared by her own hands and not servants. Yul was very pleased to see a similar scene in his own home after several years.

Inu had seen Yul standing at the kitchen entrance and called out him, "Dad…Are you leaving?"

Liya heard it and turned around only to lock eyes with Yul who was still looking at Liya working. She asked while hiding her awkwardness, "Oh! You must be leaving. See you later then…"

Yul was annoyed on hearing that. 'So you are not asking me to have the breakfast? Then why was it already kept at the dining table for me to see? What is the deal with you?' Yul wanted to ask all these but just said, "Yeah…see you in the evening, Inu."

"Are you also leaving without eating like mom does?" Inu asked Yul on sensing that he won't be eating the breakfast.

Yul stopped on hearing that but waited for Liya to say it. Liya had actually prepared food for everyone but she was still not sure how to tell Yul to eat. So she had purposefully kept it on the table for him to see, so that he may have it on his own. But now, he hadn't eaten it and Inu brought out the topic in public.

Inu was still looking at Yul to know his response. And Yul was looking at Liya to hear her ask him to stay for breakfast. Forced by the situation she finally said it, "Why don't you eat something before you leave?"

"Fine," Yul said nonchalantly though he was inwardly very happy. He went to sit at the dining table and Liya set the table. Inu also came and took a seat. She placed the sandwich for Inu and pushed the container for Yul to take. Then she went to the kitchen and brought Inu's milk and another cup with tea.

Liya asked, "Hm… Do you drink tea?"

"I don't have any allergies. Tea will do." Yul was content as long as there was good food, on time.

"I only made tea." Liya said and moved the tea cup to his side.

"Thank you," Yul thanked Liya for the food.

"Tell me if you have any preferences. I will try to make it." Liya said in a low voice and then went to the kitchen quickly.

Yul saw how Inu was slowly eating his share with joy and then ate his own sandwich. Just like the dinner, there was nothing extraordinary in Liya's cooking. But still, it had the warmth of a home and love of a mother. It was really appetizing both for stomach and the mind.

Yul certainly enjoyed the way Liya was making him comfortable though she didn't intent to. He finished eating while Inu was still to reach half of his sandwich. Yul stood up and got ready to leave. He could guess that Liya was still loitering in the kitchen to avoid him.

So he purposefully asked Inu to call Liya. "Momma…,"without knowing why, Inu called for Liya loud, obeying his dad.

Since he was having the food in his mouth, his sound was hoarse and unclear. Thinking that Inu choked on something Liya rushed out to him, only to see Yul waiting for her.

"Dad called you…" Inu said to Liya after swallowing what was in his mouth.

Liya was obviously angry to hear that. She was seriously worried that something had happened to Inu. And here he was working for a stranger. She turned to leave in annoyance because of them.

But Yul had something to say. He said quickly before Liya went back to the kitchen, for her to hear, but as if to Inu, "Dad will come early from now on to have dinner with Inu and mom. So wait for me…"

Then he waved bye to Inu and went out. Liya was flabbergasted on hearing that. 'What am I supposed to understand from his words? That I should also eat together with them or that we should wait for him to have dinner? Or that from now on I should prepare food for him too? Or is it all these? What does he actually want?' Liya blabbered on and on herself in the kitchen.

Meanwhile Yul had driven his car to some distance from the house on the way to his office. He suddenly pulled over to the side and thought about what he had said to Liya. He smiled pleasantly on feeling proud about himself.

'Well done Yul. Well done. You can surely do this.' He encouraged himself and then drove off. He was in an ecstatic mood today for the achievement he had made.

Devin call came on the way. Yul picked up the phone and Devin's hurried voice could be heard, "Boss, we got the results. And there is something else you need to see. Better hurry."

"So Liya wasn't lying right?" Yul asked in return.

"Yes, she wasn't."

"That's good. What's the other thing?"

"It's just like you guessed. Actually boss, you were right. She is the one we were searching for. We got confirmation."

"Are you sure? You really confirmed it, didn't you?"

"Yes, I did. It really is her."

"I knew it. I knew it all along. I couldn't be wrong about her… You wait for me in the office. I will be there in no time."

Yul hung up the phone after that and increased the speed of the car. He couldn't wait to see everything with his own eyes. Today was really a great day.