“There are guys who grow up thinking they’ll settle down at some distant time in the future, and there are guys who are ready for marriage as soon as they meet the right person. The former are pathetic; and the latter, frankly are hard to find.”

1 Chocolat chaud et lasagnes aux épinards : Hot chocolate and spinach lasagna.

 

It’s amazing how things and people can change with time.   I didn’t expect L to confess at all. I expected him to run away for some time before getting back to business and leaving things as it was, the right thing to do.   I didn’t expect them to hit it off pretty quickly either.   “Did you confess?” I asked and I was responded with an absent-minded look. I noticed the way he smiled ever since I saw him today. He hadn’t even finished the hot chocolate I made for him ten minutes ago. When he realised what I meant, he snickered and took a sip from his mug. He earned an annoyed look from me. “Oh, come on! What happened? You didn’t call me out even after you left me at the Crazy Horse the night before.”   “It’s not like you don’t know I work on weekends,” he said matter-of-factly.   When I noticed the elated smile forming on his face, it came to me. “She accepted!” I cried out excitedly, already at the edge of my seat.   Before I could say anything else, I heard a thud and a gasp, “Oppa!”   Both of our heads turned to the source of the sound: Hyun Ah, her jaw dropping and her eyes large. I noticed her bag and books on the floor.   “Oppa!” She let out a shrill cry, marched up to L, and skewed his neck. “WHO did you sleep with?!” she demanded, jealousy burning in her eyes.   Her words made me fall off my couch. I managed to reclaim my balance and ogled at the marks on his neck. I swear I let out a dolphin scream. How the did I not notice that when we were swimming? In my defense, as a normal man, I wouldn’t go around looking at other men’s neck.   But omygod. L actually did it? Now, that’s something. Please tell me this isn’t the sign of Apocalypse was my initial thought.   “How could you?” My sister clenched her fists in vexation, indisputable hurt and betrayal in her eyes. “You never even touched me!”   But I was still caught up with the discovery. “YOU HAD WITH HER?!” My jaw dropped and my eyes almost popped out of the sockets. I didn’t know how long I had that expression on for, but I could feel my mouth and eyes getting dry from the wind drifting past.When I thought I needed an asthma puffer, I told myself to breathe properly.   “No,” L denied, staring at me with doe eyes.   “LIAR!” Hyun Ah barked. “Those marks are definitely—” her sentence stopped in mid air. She seemed appalled to even say the word. She held her head and grabbed onto the couch, as if to prevent herself from falling down.   “Yes! Don’t you lie!” I joined in with an authoritative tone.   He gave me a look. “We didn’t have . We made love.”   “SAME THING!” Hyun Ah and I yelled at the same time.   She snapped at me for not letting her talk. Not wanting to argue with her, I pulled L into my room and locked the door. I didn’t say any word until Hyun Ah decided to leave for her class.   I shoved L onto my chair and stood up towering him with crossed arms. I shook my head in disbelief. “Whoa… I can’t believe this. You guys did it? Whoa… L Kim, I never knew you had it in you.”   He knitted his brows. “How did you know?”   I scoffed. Did he have to ask that? “What? About your feelings? Who am I? I’m the almighty Sung Yeol! As if I wouldn’t know what’s going on.” I stared at him with a knowing look. “You’ve been acting weird all week, asking me to go clubbing and to the strip clubs with you,” I pointed out and quickly added, “Although you ended up leaving five minutes into the show. You must be so frustrated huh." He sighed and pursed his lips. "You’re so lucky! I thought she would reject you.”   He nodded. “I know right.” Realising the meaning behind my words, he glared at me, offended. “Hey! What do you mean by that?!”   I laughed. “Well, from your stories, it doesn’t seem like she is attracted to you.” He said nothing because he agreed. A more interesting question popped in my head. “So,” I started. “How was she… In. Bed?” I wiggled my eyebrows in a playful manner and smirked.   Something in his eyes changed. It was like the fire of anger burning in there. He sent a killing glare at me and I jolted from the electric shock I received. His breathing became heavy and I quickly put both arms up in an I-surrender way.   “I’m just kidding. That glare just penetrated my soul and heart." That managed to calm him down, just a little bit. "You’re such a jealous prick!”   Likewise, I didn’t expect him to get her a ring, a promise ring. And with something as meaningful as the Cladduck ring.   “Sometimes, the only way to catch an uncatchable woman is to offer her a wedding ring” was what he said.   Where the hell did he get that from? I gawked in horror. I also almost puked. When did he get so romantic all of a sudden? No joke, the hair on the back of my neck actually stood up; and it usually takes more than that to give me goose bumps.   “Our age is the time to fool around and have the time of our life! Why would you want to settle down so early?” I lectured him, but his grin remained intact. I then remembered something Hyun Ah had said before and chuckled in disbelief. “To give someone an accessory is a basic sign of possessiveness. If you give a necklace, it’s like a choker; a bracelet is like handcuffs and a ring is like a promise of a lifetime. You’re crazy, man! This is your whole life we’re talking about.” When he laughed at my statement, I decided that he was creepy. “Do you think… she will accept you?”   He shrugged. “That’s why I’m getting her two things.” I gave him a questioning look to prod him to continue. “A bracelet and a ring. If she doesn’t want the ring, then I’ll just keep it and give her the bracelet instead. She has to receive something.”   I snorted. “Why not a necklace too?”   “She’s not a dog,” he said.   Is Amber really that amazing?   Are women really that amazing?   I had no intention to settle down so quickly with so many girls to go around to but so little time! Life is short, so better make every second count. That’s what I’ve learned since I was eight.   But then again, L and I were two different people. His definition of happiness wasn’t the same to mine.   I had heard of a saying that, “