“WE WENT to the grocery to fill the cupboard,” Sarah explained to Ismael when he arrived at her house and didn’t find them there. “We didn’t take long. When you called me, we were just starting to get what’s on the list.”
“Really, huh?” Ismael asked sarcastically and lowered his eyes to the large grocery plastics on their feet. “Do you have speed skills, new roommate? Because a normal human being couldn’t get all those groceries in just a few minutes.”
Sarah looked at Jino and prayed that he wouldn’t give him a sarcastic answer. But the man just looked at her, too. His eyes were like asking him if he really had to explain to this guy.
Sarah laughed awkwardly to release the tension that had started to generate between them. “Ah, by the way, Jino, this is Ismael. He’s my former colleague at the hospital where I used to work,” she said to Jino, then looked at Ismael. “He’s Jino, my new roommate. He’s a… He’s gay.”
Jino looked at him furrowed. “I’m what?”
“You’re gay, right? That’s why it’s okay with you to stay here even though all the things are customized for women?” she said and smiled at him meaningfully. Come on, bite it!
“Oh…” He nodded and looked at Ismael again. “Hi, there,” he greeted Ismael, then winked at him.
Sarah wanted to laugh but contained herself. When she looked at Ismael, her friend was already frowning. “Let’s go inside.”
She took the plastics, but Jino stopped her hand. “I will take care of this. You should rest your feet on the couch. I know you’re tired of walking around the supermarket.”
Sarah widened her eyes at him as a warning, but Jino didn’t get it. “Ah, okay…” When she turned around, Ismael was narrowing his eyes at her. “He’s kind.”
Ismael pursed his lips. “He’s too much gentleman, too.”
When they were all inside, Ismael invited Jino to sit in the living room with them because he wanted to talk to her. Sarah sat beside Ismael while Jino sat in front of them.
“Where are you going to sleep? There’s only one room here,” Ismael started.
“I sleep on the couch,” Jino said without hesitation. “That’s what we agreed for.”
“And it’s okay with you? Did you also buy all those groceries because, as far as I know, Sarah is running out of budget?”
Sarah frowned as she glanced at Ismael, who was currently giving Jino a scrutinizing look from head to toe. She nudged him in the waist to break his gaze at Jino, who was just looking at Ismael casually.
“It’s okay with me to sleep on the couch. It wasn’t really a big as long as the couch is comfortable,” Jino replied slowly without looking away from Ismael. “And, about the groceries…” He looked at her. She motioned her crossed fingers to him. “I paid for it because she said that she’s going to pay when she gets a new job.”
Ismael shot her a look. “I couldn’t believe that you used you’re scamming skills at your new roommate,” he said in between his teeth. “How will you pay him? You don’t have a job—”
“She’ll be hired next week,” Jino butt in.
Sarah suddenly became excited. “Really?”
Ismael laughed and put his arm around her. “You’re really desperate now, huh?” he told her and pulled her closer to him. “With a single word, your hopes went high.”
“Are you best friends?” Jino suddenly asked. His eyes were focused on Ismael’s hands on her shoulders. “Are you really that touchy to her?”
“Yes, I’m her best friend,” Ismael answered and scowled at Jino. “Do you have a problem with that?”
Sarah’s chest started to hammer. “Ismael, do you want to eat ramen?”
“You’re asking him to eat ramen?” Jino countered. His expression was a mix of shock and protest.
“We always eat ramen together.” Ismael arched a brow to him. “Why do you sound like a straight guy?”
“No, he’s gay!” Sarah replied immediately. “He just sounded like a real man sometimes, but he likes men too, right, Jino?”
But Jino didn’t answer. He just looked at him with furrowed brows, and Sarah didn’t like what could happen if he continued to act like normal. Ismael thought that he was gay, and that he should act like one!
“May I speak with you in private, Sasa?” Jino told her and raised from his seat. “I’ll wait for you in the kitchen.”
Sarah’s mouth fell open as her eyes followed Jino as he walked out of the living. This is going to be hard for her.
“What did he call you?” Ismael asked with a knotted forehead. “And why he talks like that? Sarah, I don’t like him. I have a feeling that he’s just pretending to be gay.”
“No. He’s a transgender person. He just dressed and acted like a real man sometimes to avoid stereotyping. I’m sure you’re aware of that, right?” Sarah desperately explained as she glanced at the kitchen. Jino was standing in front of the dinner table where all the groceries were placed. “What is he thinking?”
“Why are you sure about his sexuality? You have met him, Sarah. You really don’t know him.”
Sarah scratched the corner of her cheek. “I’ll speak to him first, okay?”
As soon as she reached the kitchen, Jino spoke to her. “Why are you asking him to eat ramen?”
“Wait, did you call me here just to ask me about the ramen?” She caught her forehead. “Don’t tell me there’s also something shamanic factor in ramen?”
Jino’s lips quirked. “It’s not about shamanism,” he said, then heaved a sigh. “But, it’s about love symbolism.”
“L-Love symbolism?”
Jino nodded. “In Korean culture, if a woman gives ramen noodles to a man, it means that she’s giving her heart to him. Just like how the Roman women threw apples at the man that they wanted to marry.”
“What?” Sarah was dumbfounded. “But it doesn’t mean—”
“I heard it all,” Ismael shouted from the living room. “I will accept your heart, Sarah,” he said and winked at her. “Serve it to me now.”
Before Sarah could answer, Jino stood in between them. “Sarah will not serve the ramen nor throw apples at you,” he said, then turned to her. “There's a bad spirit is following him.”
***