“Hay! Why do their showers have to seem like Koreans too? I’m having a hard time understanding you, man.”
Cheska was more stressed than relaxed after the shower. It was hard to estimate the heat of the shower. Just turn a little turn and the water was either just too hot or too cold. It takes a lot of patience and perfect timing to be able to have the right temperature of the water fit to her taste. But she was proven that the towel she used was really very absorbent.
After getting drying her hair and getting dressed, she went down to the kitchen. Cheska was greeted by the delicious smell of a chicken soup dish. When she peeked inside the kitchen, she saw Carter in front of the stove. He was wearing a red polka dots apron and pink bunny slippers on his feet. It was too girly, she supposed. But it suited Carter. His manliness didn’t falter at all.
"You’re cooking?" she asked. "I thought it was Aunt Selina."
“She has a delivery of kimchi and yellow radish for a restaurant nearby. She also needs to buy something so I’ll be in charge of you for now. Don’t worry. She told me her secret. You can sit down over there and wait for a little. This will be cooked soon.”
"What are you cooking?" she asked and excitedly sat at the vacant table.
“Samgyetang. Chicken ginseng soup.”
"It looks delicious," she whispered. Five minutes later, he finally served his cooked dish together with kimchi, pickles, and yellow radish as side dishes.
She was surprised when he tasted the side dishes because they were tastier than what she tasted in the Philippines. She never enjoyed the dishes she had before, especially kimchi. She loved the crisp vegetables. The taste of spices played in her taste buds.
“Do you have any rice? Chicken tastes better with rice,” said Cheska.
“The chicken has glutinous rice inside. Even if you don't put rice in it,” he said and spooned the rice inside the whole chicken to show her.
“That rice wouldn’t be enough for me. I prefer to have real rice because it really tastes better for me. I’ll definitely eat a lot today,” she said excitedly and sipped the soup. "Wow! Delicious! I felt like in heaven. Thank you because I’ll have a taste of your cooking. I've been dreaming of you cooking for me for the longest time.”
"Huh?" He looked confused. "You’ve been dreaming of me cooking something for you?”
If Mikha was here, she would have poured this chicken ginseng soup on me. Coz I’m mixing Doc Darryl and Carter into one once again.
“No. I mean, I've been dreaming of… coming here to Korea for a long time and tasting authentic Korean food. I’ve read that home-cooked Korean dishes were better than the ones at restaurants. This is the food that locals serve to their family.”
“Thank you for appreciating it. Eomma cooks better though. I'm still not used to traditional Korean food. When I cook, there is still a Pinoy twist. I’ve been coming back and forth here in Korea for ten years and I only settled here for good three years ago. But I still think Filipino dishes were better, at least for me.”
"Of course." So, he was traveling back and forth to Korea during those times that she met Doc Darryl. “This is good. The spicyness was just right. I can still taste the flavor of the ingredients. Unlike other Korean dishes that are too spicy for my taste.”
“You said it was your first time here in Korea. Some are not into spicy food. If you want something spicy, you can just add chili sauce or chili powder.”
“No. I’m good. Your house is really pretty, by the way. I feel like I'm on the set of a Korean drama.” How many times she had imagined herself in a place like this with Doc Darryl. That he would cook for her while they talking about things. Just like today. Cheska looked around them. "Do you have any other guests here?" Because it seemed like it was just the two of them in the house.
"We have no other guests for now," he answered in a sad voice.
Good. She has him for herself now. He looked like a boyfriend serving her. She also has a reason to pour her whole attention on him. His hands didn’t look delicate. He obviously looked like someone who was used to hard labor.
"Where do you want to go tomorrow?" Carter asked.
“You’re the tour guide. Tell me where we should go. Aren't we going today? ”
"I have a tutor job tonight.”
Her smile disappeared. “O-of course. You need to do that first.”
Was it the K-pop wannabe that he would tutor tonight? She felt sad. Because he was prioritizing another woman. 
I was not part of his plan. I just popped into her life.  She cheered herself up. We’ll be together tomorrow so it’s fine. He is going to be my tour guide. I’ll also be living in his house for a week. And I can ask him to extend his service for a few more days if I want to. He has no problem when it comes to money, anyway.