Seasoned by Love

la's

es pulled to my chest, the phone clutched like

trying to sound br

Just three words-and I alread

day. The house is beautiful. Th

ing softly. "I knew you'd be okay. I told everyone, y

s. I bit my lip and force

try

ut how I saw the Han River from the plane, how the taxi driver poin

jected before I

wasn't

e I never

und like you're d

id, "Yea

I love you," and then..

ne beside me and

came almos

into my knees as quiet sobs shook through me. I had crossed an ocean, le

chest like smoke-thick, ch

could've chan

ama. That was the pilgrimage she'd only ever prayed for. That was a house where the roof didn't leak w

efore I even tu

ong I cried before

AI

meone had thrown

r phone glowing in her hand a

really not

he job!" s

r, mascara half

He just called. Like... literally just now. Said-and

led. "Wait...

ht break. "Apparently, someone left a magic

d. "He

, plantains, everything. Then he called

er to laugh or cry

whispered. "M

her head.

ing up sti

ling into something warmer. Realer. L

nd would be the thing that saved me. But ma

on't even know what you just did. I've worked with this man for months a

. "I don't even

d. "You're

y getting humi

ike she was about to spill the biggest

under my breat

Like brushed steel and smoo

someone casual. It belonged

Si

spilled

who dism

ed my food and c

ieter this time. It lande

g prepped. I need to c

k folder. "I got the specs. The pantry inventory. Hi

w do you always come

"I'm your fa

remnants of my tears

that

gain, but it didn't f

e me. Notes, client preferences, high-profile guests, even his allergy pr

g flavors. Dashi with smoked ginger. A marinade that whispered instead of sc

ot ju

he opportuni

t here

because I

, and stared at the skyline again. Seoul was stil

d walk through t

rl hoping t

an ac

n with someth

to beg anyone t

That's all I e

Ren

aration my mind was still on Ren Sion, c