* Name Reminder
Haphuco - The main character
Biani - Haphuco's younger sister but not blood related
Biudo - The owner of the house where Haphuco is living in an apartment for rent inside
New Character
May - Biani's co-worker and her best friend
Hakyo - The name of the city where Haphuco is living in
[ Before Biani and May's arrival ]
For the dinner tonight, Haphuco will make Fried Pork Belly, a classical dish, easy to make and goes really well with rice. The ingredients are :
+ 500 gr Pork Belly
+ A handful of green onions ( It's convenient that they are sold ready-to-use, not like I ask for it )
+ Spices : Fish sauce, salt, sugar, caramel, seasoning powder
The steps go like this :
Step 1 - Preparation: Wash the pork belly, remove the skin, and cut into bite-sized pieces of about 0.4-0.5cm.
Step 2 - Fry the meat until the edges are browned: Add a spoonful of cooking oil to the pan, shake well and heat. Then add the meat and stir until the fat melts and the edges of the meat are browned, drain off the fat.
Step 3 - Seasoning: Add 2 tablespoons of fish sauce, 1 tablespoon of sugar, 1 tablespoon of caramel, stir well over low heat so that the spices are absorbed into the meat. When the spices are well mixed and turn a beautiful golden brown color, add seasoning powder, green onions and turn off the stove.
While making the dish, Tofu in Tomato Sauce, another dish for the dinner, is also being made. The ingredients are :
+ 4 - 6 large pieces of Tofu
+ 2 Shallots ( Supposed to have but having been excluded in this case because Biani HATE vegetables )
+ 2 Tomatoes ( At least she is still fine with tomato sauce )
+ A handful of green onions ( And this too )
+ Spices : Salt, sugar, seasoning powder
Tofu, after being washed and cut into small pieces, is put into a pan already has heated cooking oil. While frying, turn all sides to help the tofu to be evenly golden brown and not burnt when frying. Fry until the tofu is cooked, has a beautiful golden color, then remove to a plate.
After chopping the shallots and tomatoes. Fry the shallots in a pan, then add the tomatoes and stir-fry together. Add 1 teaspoon of salt, 1/2 teaspoon of sugar and stir well to quickly cook the tomatoes. When the tomatoes have started to cook, pour 1/2 bowl of water into the pan and use a spoon to mash the tomatoes to create a tomato sauce mixture.
Add the fried tofu, season with salt and seasoning powder to taste, then stir gently until the tofu absorbs the sauce and changes color. Cover the pan, cook over low heat for another 5 minutes so the tofu absorbs the spices and tomato sauce. Add the green onions last before turning off the heat.
Haphuco ( Proud ) : The food looks great !
...
[ Continue from the last chapter ]
Having trained his eyes since he was young, Haphuco immediately gets some description about the person named May who he meets for the first time : Quite tall, black asymmetric cut hair, having earrings, wearing office clothes similar to Biani so they really are co-workers, gender not sure,...
Wait, gender not sure ?!
Yeah, can't say if that face is a boy or a girl. If he / she is wearing the office clothes of Biani which is only for women or high heels, the answer would be clear. But no, the clothes are unisex which can be worn by people of any gender so it's difficult to tell the gender of the person.
Haphuco ( Curious ) : Are you a boy or a girl ?
May ( Smile ) : Oh, do you wanna check yourself ?
Haphuco ( Slightly blushed ) : What ?!
Biani : May ?!
May ( Laugh ) : Haha, I am just joking.
May : To make it clear, I am a girl. I admits that my face can look like a boy and I don't seem to have anything in front of my chest but trust me,...
May : They are well-hidden inside the shirt.
Biani ( Clearly embarrassed ) : May !!!
May : Haha, sorry, sorry, got a bit too far here.
Haphuco : ...Well, nice to meet you, May. As you are here now, why don't you have a meal with us ? The dinner will be ready soon.
May : Sure, thanks. To be honest, that's what I did hope for.
Soon, the table is filled with the dishes for the dinner. In addition to the mentioned Fried Belly Pork and Tofu in Tomato Sauce, there are Boiled Water Spinach and Dracontomelon Sour Soup. Worrying about the food being insufficient, Haphuco quickly prepares one more dish.
Haphuco : Just in case, here's one more dish of Vietnamese Beef Sausage. It is much more delicious than the Vietnamese Pork Sausage and was on sale today so I snatched it immediately.
May : Oh, isn't this all Vietnamese style food ?
Haphuco : Yes, I am working for a restaurant which is specialized in Vietnamse style food. During the time until now, I have been able to learn how to make a few Vietnamese style dishes.
May ( Look at Biani ) : So this's why you refused to eat out tonight when I give suggestions, right Biani ?
Haphuco : Eh ?! You could just text or call me if you want to eat out, don't you, Biani ?
Biani : It would be too late to tell you at that time plus I don't want your preparation to be wasted.
...
May : Wow, the food is so delicious !
Haphuco : I am glad you like it. Want more rice ? I always cook plenty of it so me and Biani can use the leftovers as late night meal.
May : No, that's enough for me. By the way, I feel like the spinach portion is a bit small. Why's that ?
Haphuco ( Look at Biani ) : Ah ! It is because this girl here refuse to eat vegetables. She has hated eating vegetables since she was young and apparently that still remains until now.
May : Oh, that explains a lot of times she gave me her broccoli during meals.
Biani ( Embarrassed, pick up a piece of tofu ) : No, I am just a bit picky. Here ! Look at how I am fine with eating tofu. Isn't tofu a vegetable ?
Haphuco : No, Biani. Tofu is made from soybeans, which are beans, not vegetables.
Biani ( Puff up her cheeks ) : Oh...
May ( Laugh ) : Hahaha...
...
Haphuco : So you guys must have first met each other at the School, right ?
Biani : Yes, it was not easy at first to be away from you and everyone else but since I met May, she has been helping me a lot in getting adapted to the new lifestyle.
May ( Put her arms over Biani's shoulders ) : I consider it fate, isn't that right, Biani ?
Biani : I guess so. We are now both working on the same Facility, receiving Orders and even having a "business trip" with each other.
May : I like that. It always feels great to get away from the paper work and have a trip outside the city.
Haphuco ( Worried ) : Oh right, I forgot to ask. Did you get any hurt from the trip, Biani ?
Biani : Eh, no ! I am completely fine.
May ( Just remember something ) : Speaking about the trip, were you the person who told Biani to wear the long socks that cover her entire legs ?
May ( In rage ) : They make her sexy long legs completely hidden. That's a crime.
Biani ( Embarrassed ) : May !!! Stop it !!!
Haphuco : Ehem ! There is nothing wrong with wearing the socks. They are custom-made for Biani and ensure that they will not hinder her movement in anyway.
Haphuco : But most importantly,...
Haphuco ( Resolute ) : As her older brother, I can not stand seeing my Biani letting her legs exposed like that. She might attract unwanted attention from men, especially the bad one.
May : Are you her parents or something ?
Haphuco : No, I am her brother !
May : Say something about this, Biani. Are you really fine with this ?
Biani ( Blushed ) : Well... I think he has a point so I... umh...
May ( Seem realise something ) : Oh, boy...Really ?!
...
Haphuco : Let's me just clean the dishes.
Biani : Let's me help, Haphuco.
Haphuco : No, Biani. You must be still tired from the trip so just stay there.
May : I can help you.
Haphuco : No, you are our guest. I can't let you do that.
Haphuco : Ah ! I completely forgot that I had made orange juice and put it in the fridge. This is for you, Biani. Drink it up, it will make you feel much better.
Biani ( Blushed ) : Ah, thanks... Haphuco.
May ( Whisper to Biani ) : Hey Biani
Biani : Eh, what ?
May : Don't mind if I attack him ?
Biani : What ?
May : It's just one dinner but I could say that he is the dream boyfriend that every girl wants. Therefore, I think I should approach him while I still have the oppor...
Biani ( Seem mad ) : No, you can't !
May ( Confirmed ) : Oh !
Biani ( Blushed ) : No, I did not mean by that.
May : So that's why you invited him to live with you.
Biani ( More blushed ) : No !
May : At first, I thought you just wants someone to cook for you but turns out that you have an actual scheme behind, don't you ?
Biani ( Cover May's mouth ) : Stop it, May !
Haphuco : Is there something wrong, you two ?
Biani ( Flustered ) : No, nothing, Haphuco. There is nothing wrong.
May ( Take Biani's hands out of her mouth ) : Listen, Biani. I completely support you. Be honest with your feeling.
Biani ( Blushed ) : But he has always considered me as her younger sister. Moreover, I just don't have the courage to confess to him.
May : In that case, I have something for you, Biani. ( Taking out a small bottle )
Biani : What's that ?
May : Inside the bottle is a substance that can dissolve into the liquid and is completely undetectable. The drinker will become drunk immediately when drinking the liquid with that substance inside.
May : Use this on Haphuco so you can confess without any worry about impacting your current relationship with him or use it on yourself to get the courage you needs. The choice is your.
May ( Hug Biani ) : Remember, Biani. I completely support you. I hope you can confess your feeling with him.
Biani ( Emotional ) : May...
May ( Let Biani go ) : Well then, I guess it's time for me to leave !
Haphuco : Oh really. Then let's me see you off then.
May ( Thought ) : I don't even need to ask. He is such a good boy.
May ( Wink at Biani ) : It's your chance, Biani.
Biani ( Not sure ) : ...
...
Haphuco sees May off until they are outside the house. May says there is no need to worry about her and she will take a taxi to go home. Haphuco then comes back inside and meets Mr. Biudo.
Biudo : Hey Haphuco, is that guy Biani's boyfriend ?
Haphuco : Eh ? No ! She is actually a girl.
Biudo : Oh, that's a surprise. I did not think she was a girl when Biani came back along with her.
Biudo : But that makes sense, considering you are her boyfriend, right =)
Haphuco : What the ?! No, Mr. Biudo ! I am her older brother, not her boyfriend. Please don't don't tease me like that
Biudo ( After Haphuco walk past him ) : I don't think about that, Haphuco...
Haphuco ( Thought ) : Why did he say that ?
Haphuco ( Come back to the apartment ) : Hey, Biani.
Biani : ...
Haphuco ( Come closer to Biani ) : What's wrong, Biani ? Why don't you...
Biani hugs Haphuco
Haphuco ( Taken aback ) : Eh, Biani ?
Biani : Hehe...
Haphuco : Wait, are you drunk, Biani ? How could you be drunk ?
Biani : May gave me a bottle that contains a substance to put into the liquid that would make people fell drunk immediately.
Haphuco : That bottle over there ?
Biani : That bottle over there !
While the situation happens, May is hearing everything using the tracking device that she has secretly put on Biani when she hugged her.
May ( Slap her head ) : Oh dear, Biani.
Haphuco : Okay, Biani, we will talk about this tomorrow. Now, you should go to sleep.
Biani : No ! I have a reason to do this.
Haphuco : What ?
Biani : Ever since we were young, you have always been kind to everyone, including me.
Biani : You have taken care of me a lot and helped me become someone who I am now.
Biani : When we met again, you are still the same person that I know and I appreciate that.
Biani : So Haphuco...
Biani : I WANT TO TELL YOU SOMETHING...
May ( Eating popcorn aggressively from the other side ) : ...
Biani : I ...
Biani ( Fainted ) : Ah...
A hit from the back caused Biani to faint.
It's a quite hard technique to execute but there is an area called the occipital region, located where the skull meets the spine. A precise chop, strike, or blunt force to this area will cause immediate unconsciousness to the target.
May : Oh, come on !
Haphuco : You are drunk, Biani. And from what I know about drunk people, it's better to knock them off. So sorry, Biani.
Having said that, Haphuco immediately identifies the tracking device that May put on Biani.
Haphuco ( Talk through the device ) : We will talk about this the next time we meet, MAY.
Haphuco then effortlessly crushes the device.
May : Scary...
Haphuco eventually brings Biani to her bed. After neatly covering her with the blanket, looking at Biani sleeping in the bed, a thought appears inside his head.
Haphuco : I wish for you and all our brothers and sisters out there wherever they are to have one happy life.
End of Chapter 3 : Hey Biani
Next Chapter - Chapter 4 : Last Month