Ch.251251. Hands Can Do More Than You Think

I suddenly turned my head, struck by a sudden premonition. Hwa Nabi was still smiling prettily. Perhaps because her smile was so beautiful, I found myself staring blankly before suddenly coming to my senses.

And coincidentally, at that moment, Hwa Nabi opened her mouth.

“Shall we start by feeding each other first?”

“…What do you want me to feed you?”

The qualifier “first” makes me extremely uneasy. If feeding each other is just the first step, what on earth is waiting at the end?

To avoid getting caught up in Hwa Nabi’s pace, I kept my distance and asked calmly. What she wants me to feed her might not even be food. If it’s just a drink, it would draw less attention and we could finish quickly.

But contrary to my expectations, Hwa Nabi tapped the edge of the plate containing the beefsteak.

“You know what I mean, right? Obviously the food that just arrived.”

After a long introduction, her main point was that she wanted me to put food in her mouth. All that talk about translation fees and service was just setting the stage for this moment.

I had somewhat anticipated this, but had no time to respond. I casually picked up a fork with my free hand and carefully asked Hwa Nabi.

“Everyone will see us.”

“Why are you suddenly concerned about that? We’ve been attracting attention since we sat so close together, sharing a table meant for four people.”

That’s exactly the problem. We’re already standing out, and if I feed her too, everyone will definitely stare. Unlike Hwa Nabi, I don’t enjoy being the center of attention, so this situation only makes me more uncomfortable.

“What’s wrong? Don’t you want to feed me?”

“It’s not that I don’t want to, but can you handle the embarrassment?”

“If you don’t feed me, I’ll starve.”

“…”

She firmly declares her hunger strike, refusing to accept any objections. This leaves me with no choice. I’ll just have to feed her directly as she wishes.

Well… in life, sometimes you feed someone in front of others. What’s the big deal? Especially when it’s Hwa Nabi, not some stranger. A little embarrassment is nothing. We’re not just casual acquaintances—I can do this much for her.

It’s not even difficult. Just cut it properly and put it in her mouth. Easy as pie.

Of course, with us sitting so close together, feeding each other will attract even more attention. But I’ve received such glances all the time in Korea. No need to be concerned about it now.

After this self-hypnosis, I cut a piece of beefsteak with the knife and fork, genuinely lighthearted. Although Hwa Nabi’s arm linked with mine restricted my movement, I’m no stranger to using a knife and managed easily.

“Here.”

I carefully extended the fork with the piece of beefsteak. But Hwa Nabi didn’t immediately eat it, instead staring at the fork before adding another request.

“Something’s missing.”

“What’s missing? Oh, maybe the sauce?”

“No, you need to say ‘aahn.'”

“…”

I’m truly grateful this is happening on the opposite side of the globe and not at a restaurant near home. These people will only see me once, after all.

I closed my eyes tight and extended the fork toward Hwa Nabi’s lips again, saying:

“…Ahn.”

“Aahn.”

Only then did she open her lips, taking the bite in one go, carefully chewing to taste the beefsteak. Munching away, her cheeks puffed out as she chewed enthusiastically—she seemed to be enjoying it.

She looks just like a squirrel storing acorns. I unconsciously reached out to poke her cheek but stopped myself just in time. It would be inconsiderate to play such tricks while she’s eating.

Unaware of my thoughts, Hwa Nabi covered her mouth with her hand and made an “Mmm!” sound as she swallowed the beefsteak.

Her satisfied smile suggests it suits her taste, which is good. But perhaps because her reaction was so enthusiastic, the gazes of several nearby customers began to fix on us.

Since most citizens of this country speak Spanish, they began chatting among themselves in a language I couldn’t understand. Judging by their expressions, their reactions weren’t hostile, but rather curious and interested.

Is this how a tiger feels in a zoo? I’d like to leave immediately, meal or no meal. But we’ve just started eating, and Hwa Nabi either doesn’t notice or doesn’t care about the attention. Now she cut a piece of beefsteak and extended it to me.

“Here, darling, say aahn.”

“…”

…Am I supposed to eat this? Even if I asked, I wouldn’t get an answer. As I hesitated, conscious of the people around us, Hwa Nabi’s gaze grew increasingly stern. Her eyes seemed to say, “I’m offering this to you myself, and you won’t eat it?”

Ah, whatever. I gave up thinking and took a bite. Chewing thoroughly—perhaps because it was recommended by locals—the taste was definitely good. The meat was cooked well-done, just as I prefer, and the juices released with each bite enhanced the flavor, making it enjoyable to chew.

Gulp. It melted in my mouth, and I soon chewed and swallowed it all. The aftertaste was clean, and the aroma pleasant—this dish is clearly worth more than the few dozen dollars it costs. It doesn’t make sense that we can eat such quality food for such a low price.

The value for money seems incredible. Is this why tourists in Puerto Rico are recommended to visit Majorca? There must be a reason everyone recommends it.

“Wow, this is really delicious.”

“Right? It’s amazing! I was surprised too when I first tasted it.”

“Yeah, it’s really good. How do they prepare it to make it taste like this?”

Though it’s awkward to say it myself, I do have some expertise in cooking, and when I taste good food, I can’t help but get interested.

If I could learn the recipe, I’d like to try making it at home. How do they prepare beefsteak—which normally just involves sprinkling salt, wine, and pepper according to taste—to create such flavor? If there’s a special sauce or secret, I’d even pay extra to find out.

“Maybe it’s because I’m feeding you myself?”

As I was continuing my train of thought with some excitement, Hwa Nabi’s smiling voice reached my ears. Returning to my senses, I quickly organized my thoughts and replied:

“Hmm, maybe that’s it. If I’d eaten it with my own hands, it probably wouldn’t have tasted this good.”

“…Heh, my darling. You’re quite perceptive, aren’t you?”

“Huh? What do you mean? What perception?”

“Never mind. Would you like another bite?”

Though the beefsteak was so delicious that I’d like another bite, it would be a shame to ignore the Majorca. While similar pastries exist in Korean bakeries, locally-made ones might be different, and since we ordered it, I should try it.

“I’ll try the Majorca this time.”

I reached out to grab the fork on Hwa Nabi’s side. But she moved faster, quickly extending her hand to take both the fork and knife. Obviously, this meant I couldn’t cut it myself.

“Nabi, why did you take everything…?”

“Why? Did you forget? We agreed to feed each other today.”

“I don’t remember agreeing to that…”

I have no idea when this mysterious anniversary was established. Ignoring my complaint, Hwa Nabi divided the Majorca into four pieces and extended one piece to me.

“Here, darling, say aahn.”

“…”

There’s no point arguing—it would only prolong the conversation and attract more attention. Giving up, I obediently accepted the bite. Chewing slowly, I tasted ham and cheese. The sugar powder created a simultaneous sweet and salty flavor. Is this what they call that sweet-and-salty combination?

Personally, I don’t particularly like strong flavors. Perhaps that’s why this food felt quite peculiar to me. The strong sweetness and saltiness alternately punching my palate—it seems like something children or women would enjoy. If I had to compare it to something, it’s like Korean rose tteokbokki.

“You don’t like this one?”

“Yeah, it’s too sweet and salty.”

“Hmm, is that so?”

Ah, I accidentally spoke honestly. Since Hwa Nabi fed it to me herself, I should have said it was delicious even if it was peculiar.

Just as I was internally worried she might feel hurt, Hwa Nabi extended her fork to me. This wasn’t asking me to eat more, but requesting that I feed her.

“Um… aahn.”

“Aahn.”

Hwa Nabi accepted the Majorca. Her eyebrows moved up and down even though she barely chewed. She must be experiencing the same sweet-and-salty bombardment I did.

But unlike me, she seemed to genuinely enjoy this flavor festival. Evidence of this was the gentle upward curve of her lips. While I could never enjoy such intense sweet-and-salty flavors, Hwa Nabi, with her preference for sweet things, seemed to be enjoying it.

Nodding her head as she tasted it, Hwa Nabi let out a small exclamation after swallowing. The satisfied smile on her face suggested that the Majorca suited her taste.

“Mmm, it’s really delicious. Sweet and salty—exactly my taste!”

“Oh, really? Then should I make it for you myself sometime?”

Bread-making is all about the dough-making process; the recipe itself isn’t difficult. Just sprinkle some seasonings, put it in the oven, and bake it.

So I thought it wouldn’t be too difficult and mentioned it casually, but for some reason, Hwa Nabi stared at me. What’s with her?

“Are you trying to seduce me right now?”

“Huh? What are you talking about?”

“You’re saying you’ll feed me sweet bread if I come to your place. Isn’t that one of your usual tactics?”

Setting aside how impractical that method would be, Hwa Nabi and I already live together. Not only that, we got married just a few days ago. I have no need to seduce Hwa Nabi.

She’s already mine… why would I need to do that?

Or so you might think.

“What? How did you figure it out?”

Ironically, I tend to show more affection when I consider something mine. Just because I’ve caught the fish, should I neglect it? Why would I do that? If something is mine, shouldn’t I cherish it more and show it off to others?

I sincerely believe this and act accordingly. I never let go of what I’ve obtained, but hold onto it even more tightly.

“You used similar lines a few times when we were students. ‘Want to come to my place for something sweet?’ You tried to seduce me like that.”

“And I fed you plenty, didn’t I? I even took you home afterward.”

It’s true that I used sweet food as an excuse to bring Hwa Nabi to my home, but I swear I never did anything inappropriate. Based on that experience, I made a comment, but for some reason, Hwa Nabi looked at me with meaningful eyes.

“That’s right. The problem was that after bringing me all the way home, you were too kind and sent me back veeeery properly.”