A/N: Yay I'm back! Hope 2018 has started out on a good note for all of you. Enjoy this chapter! Will upload the next one soon :)

Dr Choi wheeled Grandpa Lee to the connecting room for his CT scan. In the meantime, Soo Hyuk was left to wait in the hallway. He leaned his back against the seat, glancing at his watch every five minutes. The encounter with Dr Choi and Grandpa earlier had been rather strange. Did they know each other before this? But when? How? Soo Hyuk ran his fingers through his dark hair. The more he thought about it, the more familiar she seemed. Those hazel eyes. Her warm gaze…...just like Mom’s. He released a long sigh.

*******

- At Starlight Entertainment -

A bowl of half-eaten jjajangmyun sat on the table, alongside several plates of Chinese dumplings, kimchi pancakes and fried chicken. The otherwise empty meeting room was only filled with the sharp snapping of Ha Neul vigorously flipping through his script. He had just finished a meeting with the director for a new project and the offer was unlike any that he had received before. Although he started acting five years ago, he had not many opportunities to explore other areas of entertainment, like hosting. Modelling and acting were now second nature to him, but hosting a show was not his cup of tea. To add to his worry, he was casted as the main host of a cooking travel programme. Earlier on, the team had ordered various dishes as props to test Ha Neul’s reactions, comments and knowledge about food. The director was impressed by his genuine expressions and basic knowledge and showered the handsome actor with compliments before he left.

As Ha Neul read the proposal and script, he felt even more burdened, knowing he was still new in the entertainment industry. A hard knock interrupted his thoughts. Manager-nim’s head peeked from behind the room door.

“Ha Neul-ah. It’s already late, let’s go home.”

“Wait a bit, hyung. I’m still reading through this proposal. Argh, my head is spinning,” Ha Neul sighed.

Mananger-nim plopped himself onto the chair next to him and reached for the unfinished bowl of jjajangmyun. He slurped the noodles and continued talking with his mouth full. “What’s the big deal? It’s just going to be a programme where they’ll make you look cool and pretty, and let you eat good food. Everybody wins. Just enjoy it…aghh…AGHH…” The food was going down too fast till he choked.

Ha Neul looked over and patted his manager’s back to help ease the choking. “Are you okay, hyung?” He passed him a bottle of mineral water.

Manager-nim nodded. “Sorry, this jjajangmyun is too good,” he laughed.

“Hyung! You greedy pig, you literally inhaled all the noodles!” Ha Neul laughed and shook his head. “But hyung, that’s the thing. It’s not just about saying that the food is good. I’ll have to describe WHY the food is good and I’ll need to be familiar with the ingredients. You obviously know that I’m not a good cook. Other than that, I’ll have to make food look so delicious that the viewers will want to try them too…”

“Oi, who are you calling a pig?!” Manager-nim playfully smacked the actor on his back. “But wait, isn’t So Eun’s boyfriend a chef? You can ask him for help,” he suggested.

“Soo Hyuk hyung? WHAT?! No way.” Ha Neul recalled their embarrassing encounter.

“YAH! You’re already calling him hyung, so that means you’re close right? Besides, you don’t have much of a choice now.”

Ha Neul contemplated for a moment. What his manager said was true. Most of his friends were actors or singers, and not many of them could cook well. The best choice would be asking for Soo Hyuk’s help. A deep, long sigh resounded through the room.

*******

- back at the hospital -

The grey eyes of the young chef shifted back and forth on the computer screen. Flashed on the monitor was a large, black and white image of his grandfather’s chest. Dr Choi had kindly highlighted some parts in red to indicate the problem areas.

“Look here,” she directed her laser pointer at the screen. “This white part here shows that there is a lot of mucus on the walls of the airway, and you can see that it is constricting the air flow. For now, his condition is still under control, but we will need to perform a bronchoscopy to remove the mucus plugs.”

Hearing her explanation, Soo Hyuk’s forehead began to crease. “Bronchoscopy?” He turned to look at Grandpa Lee whose expression has hardened.

“Yes, a bronchoscopy. In other words, we will insert a tube through the airway to suction out excessive mucus which is blocking the airway. The earliest I can schedule the procedure is tomorrow morning. So, Mr Lee is required to be warded for one night,” she explained calmly.

Grandpa Lee’s face deflated but he only nodded in consent. Soo Hyuk squeezed his grandfather’s hands.

“I’m sorry I didn’t take good care of you, Grandpa,” he whispered.

Grandpa Lee patted his back. “What are you saying? It’s not your fault, Hyuk. I guess those younger days as a smoker are coming back to haunt me. Don’t worry, I’ll be fine.”

Dr Choi looked at the grandfather-grandson pair in adoration. “I can tell that the two of you share a very tight relationship. I’ll do my best to make sure the procedure is done seamlessly.” She reached out to pat Soo Hyuk’s shoulders and suddenly, the memory of her holding his small shoulders eight years ago ran through her head. Her eyes began to water. “Don’t worry dear, he’ll be okay.”

After Grandpa Lee was wheeled back to his ward, Soo Hyuk excused himself to head home. Secretary Park had offered to drive them back as he had noticed the young chef’s face turning pale. Soo Hyuk had not gotten enough sleep and had lost his appetite. Early next morning, the two of them returned to the hospital for the bronchoscopy procedure. They were greeted by the cheerful sight of Grandpa Lee and Dr Choi having some laughs over their conversation in the ward.

“Hyuk-ah, you’re here!” Grandpa Lee called when he noticed his grandson’s figure approaching. “I’m all ready for the procedure!”

“That’s great to hear, Grandpa,” he smiled, hiding his worry. “Good morning, Dr Choi,” he greeted the female doctor. Although this was So Eun’s mother that he was meeting, he felt oddly comfortable in her presence.

Dr Choi greeted him back with a grin. “By the way, Mr Lee Seo Jun, I’d like to invite you and your grandson for dinner at my house this Friday. I’ve always harboured a little regret that I couldn’t do more for the little boy that I met back then, so it would be an honour to have you two share a meal with my family.”

Soo Hyuk raised his eyebrow. “The little boy you met? Do you mean me?”

She nodded. “I was talking to your grandfather last night and I found out that I was the doctor-in-charge when your family was sent to the hospital after the accident. I vividly remember the sorrow contained in your eyes. You’re the boy who wouldn’t let go of my arms when you cried in the corner of the ward.”

As he basked in her endearing gaze upon him, his mind drifted back to the fateful day of the accident.

There he was in the corner of the ward, hiding behind the white curtains. Crouched on the floor, his head leaned against the white coat of the doctor while his hands wrapped around her arms. Tears dripped down his cheeks in cold silence. Amidst short breaths, his lips whispered his dad and brother’s names. The female doctor held his shoulders tight. Her warm embrace was like a blanket sheltering him from the cold, fear and loneliness. He remembered her deep, hazel eyes looking over him in concern.

“That lady…was you, Dr Choi?” The sudden realisation brought tears to his eyes.

Dr Choi reached out for his hands. “Yes, that was me. I’m so glad I found you again. I could never really forget you,” she sniffed.

Soo Hyuk caressed her hands before he moved closer to give her a hug. It felt like a reunion with his long-lost mother. “I always thought you looked familiar. I remember you now. Thank you so much, Doctor. Without you there, I might have never seen the light of another day after the accident. My mum was broken over her loss, but she never realised that her other son was broken too. She left me lost and alone.”

His words caused her to sob. “You’re not alone, dear. Your grandfather was always watching over you. It’s heart-warming to see that you grew up all right.”

They broke their embrace with smiles and wet eyes.

“Now I’ll leave my grandfather in your hands, Doctor. Please work your magic once again,” Soo Hyuk asked earnestly.

*******

- 3 days later -

Ha Neul sat back on the chair with his shades and a black cap on his head. There were only two other customers in the quaint café that was well hidden in the alley. His fingers fiddled with the proposal that he received from the directors while he hummed to the tune of BTS’ Spring Day that was playing through the speakers. After ten minutes of waiting, Soo Hyuk arrived in a knitted tan coat.

“Did you wait long? Sorry I’m late,” a deep voice disrupted Ha Neul’s train of thoughts.

“Ah, hyung you’re here. No worries, I was in the area, so I came earlier. Where’s So Eun?” he asked, a little disappointed to see that she was absent.

“She said her coach asked for extra ski training today, so she couldn’t tag along.”

Ha Neul nodded in understanding. His expression stiffened when he realised that he was all alone with the one he considered his love rival. Although he had accepted that he lost in the love race, he still can’t mask the hurt that he felt. It will take time to heal.

Soo Hyuk noticed the change in his expression and tried to lighten up the mood. “So, what’s up? To be honest, I was a little excited when I got your call earlier. I thought you would still be mad at me about the other time.”

Aish, he’s my rival, but how can I hate him when he’s so well-mannered and charming? Ha Neul shook his head at his immature thoughts and grinned. His shoulders loosened as he spoke. “I need your help with this, hyung.” He passed the proposal to the man opposite him.

The dark-haired actor began to explain the dilemma he was in. A producer had casted him as the host of a cooking and travel programme which will begin filming in another two weeks, but he can’t calm his nerves as he felt he had no experience in the field of gastronomy and travel. Heck, he can’t even differentiate spices properly, what more remember their names. And yet, the producers and director still entrusted him to carry the show well.

“Therefore, I thought, if you’re not too busy, you could take me as a student for a few days and teach me the basics of cooking?” Ha Neul asked Soo Hyuk who was scanning through the proposal.

He raised his eyebrow at the request. “You want to be my student? Are you sure? To learn the basics of cooking, you’ll need more than just a few days. Are you willing to commit? All my staff and apprentices tell me that I’m really scary in the kitchen.” He shot a piercing look at the actor.

Ha Neul was stumped by his unexpected reply and stared blankly at the chef. He sure looked like he was serious. Did I ask for too much? Should I take back my words?

Seeing his shifty eyes, Soo Hyuk chuckled. “Why do you look so serious? I was just kidding! I’d be more than happy to help,” he laughed.

Ha Neul looked confused but joined in the laughter when he saw the genuine delight on Soo Hyuk’s face. The corners of his lips almost touched his cheekbones.

“When can we start?” Ha Neul asked nervously.

“Right now!” Soo Hyuk beamed.

*******

The suave chef led the way around the perimeter of his restaurant, shuffling towards the back door, with Ha Neul trailing two steps behind him. It was already 9.30 but they spotted a handful of customers still having their late dinner. The kitchen crew were serving their last order before starting to clean up for tomorrow’s service. Soo Hyuk exclaimed a sudden greeting as soon as they entered the kitchen, which caused the whole crew to stop in their tracks. Gasps could also be heard from amongst them, thanks to the unexpected visitor behind him.

“Chef Lee!” the manager called. “What brought you here? I thought you weren’t coming today.”

Soo Hyuk smiled. “I thought so too. But I’m helping a friend out today, so don’t mind me. Carry on with your work,” he cheered them on.

“Isn’t that actor Kang Ha Neul? He’s so handsome,” one of the female crew whispered while hiding her face behind her hands.

“I think it is! Oh my gosh, he is really good-looking!” another female staff replied in excitement. She swiftly retrieved her mobile phone from her pocket and started snapping photos.

“Excuse me, He Ra-sshi, he’s my guest. Please don’t be rude,” Soo Hyuk said in a stern voice and pushed Ha Neul behind him to shield him from the camera shutters. “He’ll be learning a thing or two about cooking, so you might be seeing him here again. I hope all of you treat him nicely. And if he’s kind, he’ll agree to take photos with you so there’s no need to snap sneaky photos like that.” His eyes narrowed towards the two female staff and they bowed their heads apologetically.

It was a usual thing to have strangers snapping paparazzi shots of him, but it was the first time Ha Neul felt someone standing up for his privacy. He internally thanked the chef and scratched his head in embarrassment. “Annyeonghasaeyo, yes I’m Kang Ha Neul. Pleased to meet all of you. Sorry for intruding at this hour,” he stepped forward and bowed to the staff.

Soo Hyuk dismissed the staff to get back to their work and ushered Ha Neul towards the pantry. The cabinets and cupboards were filled with an extensive array of spices and fresh vegetables, with the wet and dry ingredients neatly separated. Sitting in the back was a large refrigerator which contained stacks of meat, all labelled and packed. Right in the centre was a small table perfect for two. Soo Hyuk invited Ha Neul to take the seat opposite him.

“It’s so weird to have two guys sitting here like this,” Soo Hyuk commented. “Like we’re on a date.”

An awkward laugh escaped Ha Neul’s lips. “You must have done this with girls before though? You know, to look cool and all?” He unconsciously imagined So Eun and Soo Hyuk on a date there and it sent a chill down his spine.

Soo Hyuk dismissed his question with a chuckle. He stood up and began to pour several herbs and spices into serving dishes. In a matter of minutes, he laid ten dishes in front of Ha Neul, each containing something different. The dishes were numbered from 1 to 10. Then, he passed him a piece of paper and pencil.

“The basics of cooking is knowing your seasonings and spices. Even if you don’t cook, it’s a good skill to know what you’re eating. Identifying different tastes and knowing the properties and benefits of each ingredient will give you a better understanding of the food that you’re eating. Here I have poured ten condiments which are commonly used in cooking. I want you to take your time to smell, taste and basically do whatever you want with these spices. You can even talk to them if you want,” he explained in a serious tone. “On the piece of paper, write down the properties related to each spice, whether they taste sweet, smell pungent or so on. Lastly, make a guess on what each of them are. This is to test your basic knowledge, so I know what kind of lessons I should cater for you.”

The actor stared at the ten dishes in front of him. Wow, this guy really means business. He could feel the hairs on his arms stand. He can’t deny that he felt slightly intimidated.

“Don’t worry. No pressure at all. Just take your time,” Soo Hyuk assured him.

The young chef watched as Ha Neul awkwardly fiddled with the spices in front of him, observing his every expression. It was like looking at his 18-year old self during his first year at culinary school. Back then, he had discovered his natural flair for cooking when he could distinguish all 20 spices that were presented to him during the first lesson. Even his instructor was impressed. Over the years, many of the chefs he learnt from had imparted valuable lessons and shared kitchen secrets with him, and he was glad to pass them on to his apprentices. Who knew that he could even be helpful to someone like Ha Neul. Soo Hyuk left him on his own to work on the assignment. He returned twenty minutes later with a sauce that he specially made. Ha Neul was still busy taking down notes. The empty white sheet was now filled with scribbles and drawings, while the table looked like a colourful mess with spices spilled here and there.

“Once you’re done with that, have a taste of this. Let’s see if you can identify which of these spices I used in the sauce.”

“Okay, Chef. I’m just about done here,” Ha Neul mumbled as he quickly scribbled his last observations. When he looked up, Soo Hyuk was all ready to feed him a spoonful of the sauce.

“Go on, try it,” Soo Hyuk urged.

Although Ha Neul was uncomfortable with the closeness that he was showing, he did not want to seem rude. He tasted the sauce. The cool sensation of the sauce on his tongue woke his taste buds. He kept his eyes shut as he savoured the burst of flavours in his mouth, which left him craving for more.

“Wow, this is amazing, hyung! Daebak!” he exclaimed. His head was still buzzing in the sweet and spicy delight.

Soo Hyuk looked satisfied. “How is it? Describe what you tasted,” he asked, curious.

“Hmm. It has a very smooth consistency. I could taste something sweet, which probably comes from the honey. The dark colour and saltiness definitely comes from soy sauce. There’s some heat from the red pepper flakes. I also smell something toasty or nutty, but I’m not sure what it is…”

“The nutty flavour and strong aroma comes from the sesame oil. I also added a bit of minced garlic for some heat. Anyway, that’s a good first try. Congratulations, you’ve passed today’s test,” Soo Hyuk grinned.

“Huh?” Ha Neul widened his eyes. “But you didn’t even check the piece of paper that I wrote on,” he held the paper up towards the chef.

Soo Hyuk laughed. “That’s your homework. Memorise everything you’ve written and check if you got them right. Make sure you know all of these ten spices by heart. I’m adding ten more the next time.”

Ha Neul was left speechless. What have I signed up for?

*******

p.s. Is this the beginnning of a friendship (read: "bromance") between the two male leads? Will there be an impending collaboration between the two? And the dinner with So Eun's parents, how will it go....? Find out in the coming chapters :) Thank you all for reading!