When Ahn Hae finally finished cooking and turned around, she was startled to see Leo staring so intently at her. Embarrassed, she quickly set the steaming plate of fried rice down in front of him.
The fragrant aroma hit Leo's nose immediately, making his stomach growl again. The presentation wasn't the most refined, but judging by the smell alone, he knew it would taste great. He eagerly picked up his spoon but paused when he noticed Ahn Hae's portion—a tiny bowl compared to his overflowing plate.
Sensing his hesitation, she quickly reassured him, "I don't eat much at night. Don't worry, just enjoy. Though… it might not taste that great."
To put him at ease, she took a bite first.
"Thanks for the meal."
With that, Leo took a spoonful of rice and put it in his mouth.
Ahn Hae anxiously watched every movement, waiting for his reaction. She had confidence in her Vietnamese dishes, but Korean food? Not so much.
"…It's delicious."
The tension in her shoulders eased as a relieved smile spread across her face.
"Really? You don't have to say that just to make me happy. If it's bad, you don't have to force yourself to eat it…"
Seeing how doubtful she looked, Leo didn't bother explaining. Instead, he simply shoveled in another big bite. Then another. Before she knew it, he had devoured half the plate in one go.
"I meant it. It's really good."
Watching him stuff his cheeks like a chipmunk, Ahn Hae didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
"Okay, okay, I believe you! But slow down before you choke!" She scolded him, but the joy in her voice was unmistakable.
Leo gazed at her bright, beaming smile, and he felt something inside him slowly melt.
Truthfully, the fried rice was just okay. But knowing that she had put her effort and care into making it for him—that made it the best meal he'd had in a long time.
Before long, Leo had completely cleared his plate. He leaned back, patting his now-full stomach with satisfaction. Meanwhile, Ahn Hae chuckled as she got up to clean the table. But before she could even lift a dish, Leo quickly reached out and grabbed her wrist, stopping her.
"I'll take care of it."
The unexpected contact made Ahn Hae freeze. Her brain completely short-circuited, leaving only one absurd thought behind:
I'm never washing this hand again.
Leo didn't notice her dazed expression. Afraid she might snatch the dishes away from him, he quickly carried everything to the sink, slipped on a pair of gloves, and enthusiastically started scrubbing.
The sound of rushing water snapped Ahn Hae back to reality. When she realized Leo was actually doing the dishes, she shot up from her seat in a panic.
"What are you doing?! Let me—Ah!"
In her rush, her clumsy feet tangled together, and before she knew it, she was falling forward.
Frantic, she flailed her arms, desperately trying to grab onto something—anything—to stop herself from face-planting onto the cold, hard floor. But at that moment, the only thing running through her mind was:
I'm about to make a complete fool of myself in front of my idol. I'm going to die of embarrassment.
The floor was inches from her face. Ahn Hae squeezed her eyes shut, bracing for impact.
Please, oh please, just let my teeth stay intact!
But the pain never came. Instead, she felt something warm and firm tighten around her waist.
Her eyes fluttered open, only to find the floor still dangerously close. Confused, she glanced down and saw a strong, muscular arm wrapped around her midsection. The veins bulging under his skin made him look effortlessly powerful.
Slowly, she lifted her gaze and met Leo's eyes. His face was flushed from exertion, but despite holding her full weight, he still managed to ask gently, "Are you okay?"
The floor was no longer her biggest concern—Leo's face was even closer. She could feel his warm breath ghosting over her skin, sending heat surging through her entire body.
"I—I'm fine…" she stammered.
Leo hesitated for a moment, his deep eyes locked onto hers, pulling her into a trance. The soft glow of the apartment's warm lighting only added to the hazy, dreamlike atmosphere.
This… this felt like the build-up to one of those cliché romance dramas she loved.
Normally, in a scene like this, the male lead and female lead would be overcome with emotion. Their hearts would pound, their eyes would drift shut, and then… their lips would meet.
Wait, wait, wait— Was Leo about to kiss her?! Why would he kiss her?! But… what if he did?!
Her thoughts spiraled into a whirlwind of chaos, but before she could get any deeper into her delusions, Leo finally spoke:
"…Can you get up now? My arms are getting tired." A bead of sweat rolled down his temple as he waited for her to move.
"Oh! S-Sorry!"
His words shattered all the ridiculous fantasies running wild in her head. Mortified, Ahn Hae wished she could dig a hole and bury herself in it. What the hell was I thinking?!
Frustrated with herself, she hurriedly pushed off his arm and tried to stand up—only for a sharp pain to shoot up her left leg.
The sudden jolt made her legs give out again. Leo instinctively reached out, catching her before she could hit the floor. This time, however, she didn't just fall into his arms—she fell straight into his chest.
Ahn Hae barely registered the warmth of his broad, firm torso because she was too busy grimacing in pain. Normally, she prided herself on having a high pain tolerance, but this… this was unbearable.
Leo's brows furrowed in concern. "Ahn Hae, what's wrong?"
"M-My ankle…" she whimpered. The pain didn't feel normal at all.
Leo glanced down at her leg, his expression darkening.
"…I think you sprained it."
…Shit.
* * *