I don’t know if I’m doing my job as the leader to take care of my members. I often find myself being the one who's taken care of.

“Here, let me taste.”

“NO,” I say, grabbing her hand and holding it a fair distance away from the hotpot.

She smiles. There it is; she wants to play.

“I don’t understand why you’re so against me trying your food.”

Yes, you do.

I’m still holding onto her hand stiffly. “I’m too embarrassed if it’s not good enough to you,” I deadpan, looking straight at her with a smile. She busts up laughing and pulls me into a hug and I squeal into her shoulder already feeling the embarrassment creep in.

I feel her arm snake around my waist to grab a quick spoonful from the hotpot.

“Needs more salt.”

I hand her sugar.