Jay must admit that Gio Kwon can cook. But no matter how divine the casserole tasted, he couldn’t eat more than three spoons. He was enjoying his steak with a Pinot Noir when he got a call from Mr. Choi. He detests going out with this kind of weather but he just couldn’t say no to his benefactor’s son. The guy is a tad eccentric for Jay’s taste.

The man even goes swimming in a robe and pajama. Jay guessed as much that Gio Kwon is a member of Tabi’s intimate circle. Tabi Choi never calls in for a favor. Like never never. Besides, eccentric or not, he likes Tabi’s no nonsense attitude. Never mind his weirdness, he’s a decent guy who spends too much money on his hobbies; art, wine and furniture.

“You haven’t eaten much,” Sandy noticed. The lady of the house sat at the head of the table as they enjoyed dinner. Jay was seated on her right, across the silent Gio Kwon.

“I don’t have much appetite. I only had two hours of sleep last night.”

“I see. It’s still the same, huh. You’re still a picky eater.”

She had a knowing smile as she pushed a piece of cherry tomato around her plate. Her lashes looked like tiny fans caressing her cheeks. She looked a little better now, gone was the sickly pallor she was sporting.

Jay’s smiled mirrored hers. “Some things never changed.”

“Yeah. Like how fussy you still are,” she teased.

“And you’re still stubborn as ever,” Jay countered. “We’re quite a pair. Why did we ever break up?”

“Because we wear each other out. At the end of the day, we’re so annoyed with one another that it robs us of sleep. You’re a doctor, you need your strength. After our fights I turn into a monster that bites everyone’s head off. It happens almost every day. We nearly drove everyone around us to the loony bin.”

Gio felt out of place as they both burst out laughing. Spoon after spoon he stuffed himseIf, forgetting the table manners his mother rigidly drummed in his head ever since he learned the difference between fork, spoon and knife. He nearly spitted the stuff out; it tasted like sawdust, unappealing to his taste buds. It took him a lot of effort to chew and swallow the food he took pride in preparing earlier. He bet even if he choked and die, they wouldn’t spare him a glance.

He eyed the other two occupants of the table. His annoyance spiked a little higher when Jay reached out to Sandy and brushed some stray hair away from her face. Worst, she shyly smiled at him as if the gesture is the most natural thing in the world. Gio didn’t like the way his stomach churn. He didn’t like the way she smiled at Jay. Hell, he dislikes everything she does as far as Dr. Jay ing Jung is concerned!

His spoon and fork clattered noisily against the gray Chinese porcelain plate. Jay and Sandy’s head snapped in attention, her eyes twin pools of concern as it zeroed in on Gio.

“Are you alright, Mr. Kwon?” Sandy inquired.

Gio inwardly cursed. “Y-Yes. I’m sorry, it slipped from my hand.”

“You seemed to be preoccupied. Business?”

“Just a lot of this and that. I have never been away from the office this long doing nothing.”

“Your empire won’t crumble if left unattended for a short period of time,” Jay remarked.

“The internet’s working. You can work here if you need to.”

“Can I?” Gio asked. Sandy’s head bobbed up and down for an affirmative.

“I have my old laptop somewhere in my room.”

He held his phone for her to see. “Thanks, but that’s not necessary. This is more than enough to do what’s needed to be done. As long as we have a reliable connection, everything’s peachy.”

“I’ll turn on the modem after dinner.”

“That would be great.” Gio pushed his plate away and dropped his napkin on the table. “I can’t eat another bite, I’m stuffed. Would you mind if I smoke?”

“No. It’s okay.”

“I’ll be at the living room.” He picked up his plate but Jay stopped him.

“I’ll take care of that. Leave it, man.”

“Alright, if you insist.”

“I think I’ll turn on the modem now. “ Sandy’s chair gave an almost screeching sound when she pushed her chair back to rise on her feet. “You might want to check how things are during your absence.”

“Are you done eating?” Jay asked.

“Not yet. Are you?”

A sheepish smile flashed across Jay’s boyish features. It successfully shaved off a few years of his actual age.  “I’m done if you are.”

“Silly. I’ll be back. I’m dying to hear what you have been up to all those years.”

“Okay.”

For the second time in his life, Gio felt invisible as he watched the exchange between Jay and Sandy. Disquiet settled on his chest like a mama croc nestling on top of her eggs. He didn’t like it one bit. So before he could do something stupid, Gio traipsed over to the living room hoping to breakout of the maddening and senseless feeling.

He knew she was behind him; the sweet scent of fresh strawberries were enough telltale signs. But Gio paid no heed to her. He dropped himself on the sofa as she passed. She eyed him behind her shoulder before disappearing into a room behind the stairs. He was still swamped with his annoyance of himself, Sandy and the doctor.

It didn’t help that Jay is good looking, or that she seemed to reserve that special kind of smile for the guy. Why can’t she smile at him like that? Why does it made him feel left out? These are all new to him. He can’t even begin to understand where those thi