As we began working on various recipes, Yuri showed up at his door. On any other day I'd have backed off and let them have their space, but I was beyond irritated. How could she ignore how Hyukjae felt? She was trying to change him into something else and I wasn't going to sit back idly....even though it wasn't my business. I sat there stumped on what to say, watching as she pulled Hyukjae aside for a private chat. I couldn't help but overhear.

"You cannot be serious Hyuk! I said a new menu, Le Petit will be re-opening soon. We can't have the same old recipes. It's a rebranding, you agreed with the terms."

"Yeah, until I realized that it's a good idea. If we toss out the Duck Confit, loyal customers may be turned off." At this, Yuri paced back and forth. I could see her shoulders tensing. Hyukjae was trying to influence her, to get him to understand his side but she wasn't having it.

"Duck Confit is one of the lowest profits in the entire restaurant. You're asking to keep a recipe no one orders!" Ouch. I felt that. She basically called his recipe worthless. For someone who was his girlfriend, she was doing a terrible job at comforting him.

"Donghae orders it!" At this I blanked out. The pen I was jotting down notes with slipped from my hand and clanked loudly onto the hardwood floor. The sound echoed throughout the kitchen. As I bent down to pick it up, I could see how her eyes spewed hatred. Did she hate me? The feeling would be mutual.

"So now you're listening to a foodie over your partner." I wasn't too happy on the tone she used to say partner. It sounded personal, but then I had to remind myself that they were together and currently, me sitting inside Hyukjae's apartment cooking with him didn't look too good.

"At least he agrees with me. All I'm asking for is compromise, I will re-make the menu with the exception of the Duck Confit. I already have a recipe in the works with Dong-"

"-And what is he doing here?"

Definitely my turn to chime in. "I'm working."

Her face turned towards me and I saw the anger flicker in her eyes. "I believe I had you scheduled for Wednesday and if I'm correct, which I am, it is not Wednesday."

"I invited him." Hyukjae interjected and I smiled internally. She was reaching more and more for a catfight and I was ready to stick Chaerin on her. "And how did you find out anyway?"

"Siwon told me. So how about I join you? We worked on the original menu together." She began removing her blazer, passing it to Hyukjae who unwillingly accepted it. She rolled up her sleeves and sauntered her way towards the table I was sitting at. Siwon? The co-owner I had yet to meet.

"Now where did you guys leave off-" Her phone rang and I scowled. Granted, I growled but the sound was droned out by her loud, obnoxious ringtone.

"Give me a minute, I have to take this." I watched as she walked to the bathroom and I glanced over at Hyukjae. He didn't look too pleased and I was surprised. Surely he wanted to spend time with her and not me. I could take a hint after all. I'd be bitter and probably throw a hissy fit for added dramatics, but I wasn't going to come between business and pleasure. As much as a man would add to my life, I needed a job first. There was only so much Chaerin could have my back for, making her the editorial embarassment of the food scene was not one of them.

"I could leave if you want, we can totally reschedule."

"No. I invited you, not her. She's the one who told me to do this portfolio piece, she said it would be great business for Le Petit and then she shows up unnannounced. I'm sorry, Donghae. It must look terrible for business."

I waved my hands frantically. "No, no, no. I'm fine with it, really. It's a great paycheck even if its one or two days a week!" I laughed, my eye catching the frown on Hyukjae's face.

"Sorry about that, I'm needed elsewhere. I have business to conduct. Make this brief, Hyukjae. You have an early meeting: 7 am sharp. Fortunately Element was willing to reschedule." She grabbed her blazer which Hyukjae had tossed over her chair and walked towards him, kissing him on the cheek before leaving.

I sighed. This was getting repetitive for sure. Yuri definitely didn't like me. The reason? I had no clue. It was time for a trip to Chaerin's. She'd know what to do, or at the very least make it look like an accident.

"I should go too, it's getting late." I checked my watch. 8:30. It was only late for the dead. Or the elderly.

"But we've only worked on one recipe, I owe you. This was short notice and-"

"-No really, you don't owe me anything Hyukjae. Yuri's right, we can meet again tomorrow." I motioned, reaching for my camera bag and my jacket.

"Then at least allow me to make you dinner."

I stood silent. Hyukjae pleeeeeease don't do this. My brain was short-circuting by the second.

"I mean-uh--tomorrow. It's the least I could do."

I walked to the door, my eyes watching him intently. Should I say yes? I pondered the thought for a few seconds. I already knew my answer, but would it be right? Was this leading anywhere or was I fangirling and getting ahead of myself? Hyukjae was straight. A choice I had to remind myself of over and over. It was difficult. He was kind, intelligent, charming, and could hold a conversation regardless of the topic. He was, without a doubt flawless. 

"You don't have to, I mean--I'm not forcing you or anything." He asked sheepishly, combing his fingers against his beautiful nape.

"Sure." I said hastily. It wasn't my fault alright? That sad puppy, eyed look got the best of me. 

"Okay. tomorrow it is. How about 12:30, the time we're supposed to meet?" 

I smiled, unlocking the door and opening it. "12:30 it is." And I walked out, closing the door behind me. As I made my way towards the staircase, my knees grew weak and I collapsed onto the stairs, my legs giving out beneath me. Did Hyukjae just ask me out?

"That's a definite yes." Chaerin replied. I went through the story with her a dozen times, both of our happy screeches interrupting the story. 

"So that's a yes? Yes he asked me out or yes I'm officially crazy and obsessed?" 

I sat on the love-seat in her apartment, my back towards the large windows overlooking the harbor. I was curious, but probably also reaching for a response that we both knew wasn't plausible. A date? Impossible. Absolutely impossible--and yet, here I was begging that my best friend would feel the same way as me. That she too would reach for something that would make her friend extremely happy. 

"I mean..." She started off and paused. Paused. That wasn't a good thing. It meant that there was more to what we had just spazzed about minutes before. It meant I was wrong. 

"....don't get me wrong, Hae. As much as I love the idea of you two mingling and kicking Yuri out of the picture, that's exactly the problem." She walked towards me from the kitchen, her pink oversized sweater hanging slightly above her knees and handed me a cup of her famous hot cocoa. She sat on the couch ajacent from me, her legs crossed underneath her. 

I groaned, inhaling the cocoa steam to try and calm down. It was helping my appetite, but not my heart. 

"Well what do I do? I can't go back and forth forever. We have a few weeks left. I can't even believe how quickly the time passed. The portfolio is already halfway done."

"Speaking of which, I want the rough draft by Friday." 

I groaned again, bending over to place my cup atop the circular brown table. "Spare me, Chae. This is serious, if I make a move it'll be too soon."

"But if you don't you'll never know. Shoot your shot!" She demonstrated by shooting an invisible basketball, a giant smile on her face. 

I facepalmed, she was having way too much fun with my mess of a life. 

"Look, Hae. Go to the dinner and--" She stopped.

"--and?" I repeated, hoping for an intelligble answer. 

I didn't get one.

"--and get this portfolio done at least 75%, save the last piece for after the renovation." 

"I don't get it." 

She sighed. "I know Yuri. but I know you better. Don't overthink things. As much as I can't stand Yuri, what are the chances of your crush, THE Lee Hyukjae being gay? Slim to none. I just don't want you to have hope for something that may never happen."

I exhaled shakily. She was right. It was in my nature to be overdramatic, and with the eventual release of this portfolio I had to stop getting sidetracked in my emotions. 

"And pretty much because I want this portfolio to be professional and without tears staining the pages."

I tossed a sofa pillow at her and she giggled catching it in her hand. I picked up my cup of cocoa and smiled, "So here's a toast to no feelings....at least until the portfolio is completed."

She picked up her cup as well. "Are you sure, Hae? Absence makes the heart grow fonder."

"Yup. As we say, curiosity killed the cat and satisfaction did not bring it back." 

"Here ye!"