Cheska felt like her stomach would burst because of too much food she just ate. And Carter still served her with kkul-pang or honey bread. It’s like a donut with red bean paste as filling. “Am I about to be hanged? I feel like I just ate my last supper.”
“No woman can refuse a dessert. There’s always a space for something sweet.” He even teased her seductively when he brought near her mouth the honeybread using a metal chopstick.
She opened her mouth without taking her eyes off him. She closed her eyes when her teeth sank on the soft bread and tasted it. It was so good. When she opened her eyes, she saw Carter staring at her lips. He pointed at his own lips.
What does he need? Was he asking permission to kiss me? Or he wants me to kiss him? She wriggled in her seat. What should I do? Should I play hard-to-get?
"Oppa, baegopayo," a teenage girl said. She had long straight hair and was touching her own stomach. She was probably complaining that she was hungry.
"Anneonghasaeyo," Carter greeted the teenager, emphasizing the greeting. It’s common courtesy to greet the owner of the house that way, and Carter seemed to be trying to make the teenager remember that.
"Anneonghasaeyo," Cheska greeted in a weak voice.
The girl just nodded her head but automatically stretched out her hand to pick up the bread in front of her. “Ah! Kkul-pang!”
Carter slapped the girl’s hand. "Wash your hands first."
“Ahhhh! Oppa,” the girl complained and touched her hand. "Ihaeka andoeyo."
“What do you mean you don’t understand? Am I talking in Russian? We have a visitor. Aren’t you ashamed that you didn’t even greet her and just pick up food? You want me to slap your hand again so you would finally understand?”
The girl's eyes widened as she turned to Cheska. “Is she your girlfriend? What happened to the plastic surgery girl? Or she was just about to go under the knife? Aish! There’s a lot of work needed on her. Maybe you can recommend her to the plastic surgery girl’s doctor.”
Was she really that ugly that she needed that overhaul if she ever decided to go into surgery? Cheska was offended.
"Respect please," Carter said, his lips pressed tightly together.
“I’m just a guest here at the homestay. I’m Cheska,” she introduced herself to Carter’s haughty sister, extending her hand to the girl.
“Anneong! I am Eun Young. And if you like my brother he is all yours. You can take him home to the Philippines, with my blessings. Because I won’t be able to have a boyfriend because he’s too strict.”
"Aish!" Carter's hissed at his sister. "You can't have a boyfriend until you graduate from college. Pass your high school first. And you can’t just give me away.”
"Why not? I am proud of you as my older brother. You’re handsome, and you’re hardworking.” The girl was obviously patronizing her brother.
“Cheska’s here to visit the grave of her boyfriend who was buried in Jeju Island. But she was staying here with us for now. She will go to Jeju next week,” Carter explained.
Eun Young tapped her chest. “Oh! Mianhamnida. I’m sorry. Why did he die?"
“He had an accident on his way to the airport. His car crashed into another vehicle. He was on his way to the Philippines where we would meet.” Cheska was a bit surprised because it didn’t hurt as much like before when she talked about Doc Darryl now. She didn’t feel a pinch in her heart nor that heavy feeling in her chest.
“Oh! Geugeo seulpeuda. That is so sad.” And the girl was startled when Carter slapped her hand once again as she reached for the kkul-pang.
“Enough with your fake sympathy. Go and wash your hands.”
Eun Young followed like a gentle sheep. "Neee."
“I'm sorry about my sister. She’s really a pain in the butt. Just tell me if she offends you and I’ll deal with her.”
“It’s okay. No harm done. She’s just being…. a teenager.”
Eun Young came back next to her. She looked more Korean than Filipino because of her pale skin and double-eyelid eyes. "What do you plan to do here in Seoul?"
"Ahmmmm… I don't know yet," Cheska replied and shrugged.
"You just came here without a plan?"
“Your older brother is going to take me on a tour. It’s up to him where we would go. We’ll start touring tomorrow because he still has an English class today.”
“And you'll be left stuck in your room? Let me take you on a tour instead. How about it? Let’s go to Insadong or in Myeongdong. We’ll go shopping. They have a sale. I’ll introduce you to my friend’s older brother. He owns a restaurant and he’s a good cook. My brother’s cooking was nothing against his.” And then the girl grinned at Carter.
"Didn't you hear that she's going to visit her dead boyfriend?" Carter asked.