JJs Kitchen (1/1)

"Kim and Associates, can I help you?" Greeted the legal assistant as she picked the wireless up. But not after giving Jun Su a glare. For days now, he just refused to answer the phone on his own and as his direct line kept ringing from all the clients who can't seem to put their legal issues behind during the holidays, it was too much for her to bear. "I'm sorry but Atty. Kim is on holiday and will attend to all your concerns after New Year." Pause. "Sure. I can take a message." But not moving a bit to get a pen and paper, muttering curses under her breath.Jun Su can guess it's Mrs. Ricks, an old woman suing her ex-husband for massive malversation of funds from the company she built on her own. It was an important case but what he was working on was a lot important. At least for his own happiness.Ah Ra, after placing the phone not-so-gently, huffed. "Now, tell me what this is all about?" She asked, tone menacing. She's not afraid of her boss at all. She's actually one of the few people that were not. Jun Su glued his gaze onto the computer screen, typing in a super fast speed. She had to go around the oval glass desk to see what Jun Su was doing and was wound up to see that he was chatting. "Whatdahell?! You refuse to do your work to chat?! I am so proud of you." She tsked in disgust."I am not paying you to step on my foot, Ashley Go." He said, not looking up. He was talking to one of his contacts through the internet. He made sure his office has a secure network as many sensitive documents were stored in their data base. But he can't do that for their phone lines so he chose to talk to his contacts in Miami through chat. Their line could be tapped for all he knew. "Now, leave me alone and do your work.""Not until you tell me what your problem is! You're supposed to be in Yoo Chun-sshi's hometown, right? What happened? Did you two fight?" Jun Su sighed. He sure had a very curious staff."Yes to all your questions, happy? Now, if you don't mind. . ?" He trailed off, eyes sending a silent plea.Ah Ra sighed in defeat. "Fine!" She gave up. "Anyway, a certain Eun Hyuk Lee called and left a message, she handed him a sticky note. "I'm gonna put the ringer off and I'm outta here. If you need anything, don't call me." Jun Su rolled his eyes and wondered silently on what Eun Hyuk would want from him. He picked the handset reluctantly and dialed the number he left with Ah Ra."Hâllo." He can discern a Swiss-Romandie accent that he must have acquired from living in Geneva for so long."E-Eun Hyuk-sshi. . ?" He started, quite uncertain. "This is Kim Jun Su.""Jun Su-sshi!" He sounded like he was waiting for his call. "I was just talking to Shin Hye and was told you're not in Faixfax with Micky, is everything alright?" He fired nonstop without preamble and Jun Su could tell that he was genuinely concerned."I. . .err. . .""I think this is not something we should talk on the phone. I'll meet you at Carmine in a few?"He was just few blocks away from the said restaurant, he nodded absently like Eun Hyuk could see him. "Yeah. . .sure." And he hung up. He made it a point that the fax machine had enough paper. He was waiting for a few documents that will decide on his future with Yoo Chun.*****************************************************************************Christmas Eve."Now, let's make our favorite Pumpkin Pie!" Jae Joong smiled at the imaginary camera and picked the ingredients one by one. "For the crust, we will need one and a quarter cups of flour, one teaspoon cinnamon powder, two teaspoons sugar, a dash of salt, four tablespoons of (frozen) butter--cut in cubes, quarter cup (frozen) vegetable shortening--cut in cubes, one lightly beaten egg and two to three tablespoons of cold water." He was enjoying it, like a real psycho, projecting his best profile and lifting each of the small bowls of ingredients like a real celebrity chef. He was alone in the apartment and he got nothing else to do. He's not in the mood to eat but since it's Christmas and he was feeling bad enough, he decided to entertain himself."Remember not to touch the butter and the shortening too much lest you'll melt it. We need it extremely cold. Then, in a food processor, combine flour, sugar, cinnamon powder and salt and pulse for a couple of times." He didn't know how flour dust was able to escape the forsaken machine and he coughed helplessly. He's getting worse in the kitchen everyday, he concluded. His fake smile faltered a bit. "Add the fozen butter and process until you see lumps of dough about the size of large peas." He frowned a little when it didn't look like how it was supposed to but carried on with his 'cooking show'. "And lastly, the frozen shortening. Pulse it for another three seconds.""In a measuring cup, combine egg and water, forming an egg wash. Add it to our mixture and process for another five seconds. Now, our dough is ready! Let's empty it on our dusted counter." He managed to cut himself while removing the blade. "Aw!" He hissed and immediately bit his hurt finger. He thew the dough on the counter brusquely like it was the one at fault. He channeled all his frustation on the poor dough, overworking it on the process ( A/N: an absolute no-no when baking!). After rolling and unrolling it several times, he was finally (with Herculean efforts) able to transfer it onto the pie dish. "Now let's rest that for two hours!" He beamed and wiped his flour-smeared face with a towel. He then proceeded to partially clearing the mess he made."We're back! Again, I'm JJ Kim for Christmas Kitchens!" He waved and flashed his pearly whites like a total idiot. "We are making the holiday favorite Pumpkin Pie and since we're done making our pie crust, we will now continue on our pie filling. For this, we will need three quarters of a cup of light brown sugar, half teaspoon salt, one teaspoon cinnamon powder, half teaspoon ground ginger, quarter teaspoon ground cloves, a couple of eggs, one and a half cups mashed pumpkin (boiled until fork tender) and a twelve-ounce can evaporated milk." He rummaged onto the drawers to find a can opener but to no avail. He used the knife to get through it, earning more injuries than ever. He now believed that he really was a klutz.*Minutes later*With a bandaged hand (and hurting ego), "Let's beat the eggs in a large bowl and stir in the rest of the ingredients. Pour this carefully into the pie shell that we made earlier and bake at four hundred twenty-five degrees fahrenheit for fifteen minutes." He was extra careful on opening the oven door or he will definitely end up in the hospital for second degree burns. "Then reduce temperature to three hundred and fifty and bake for another forty-five minutes or until firm." He was practically burning a hole through the oven. He can't leave it or it will set on fire. It definitely will even if he uses timers ect. He might as well call the fire department if he's going to leave it on its own.Jae Joong's not cut for cooking. He's reconciled with that fact a long time ago. But that didn't stop him from cooking for Yun Ho. The poor guy had been brave enough to try the almost unpalatable dishes he made in the past. He smiled sadly at the bittersweet memory.Whatever happened to them? They used to be happy. They used to tell each other everything. HE used to tell him everything.He had hurt him so bad.And now he was gone.*Ding*The oven signaled the end of the hour. He checked the pie that he made and let it out. It smelt good despite of it all. A smile hovered his lips as he placed it on a rack to cool. He ward unwanted thoughts off his mind as he took a refreshing shower.****************************************************************************"I hope I am not the reason why you're not in Virginia." Jun Su was taken aback by Eun Hyuk's straightforwardness. First time in his life, he didn't know what to say. "I know you know what Lee Teuk-hyung was trying to do." It was a statement."I--I don't know what you're talking about." He tried to deny."Jun Su," He touched his arm. Jun Su nearly flinched even if it was meant to be a comforting gesture. Eun Hyuk withdrew his arm cautiously. "C-can I call you that. . ?" He backtracked, and Jun Su nodded. Eun Hyuk smiled and he relaxed. "Jun Su, I am married."Jun Su stared. "Excuse me?""I don't know whatever it was that happened between you and Lee Teuk-hyung but I can assure you that Yoo Chun isn't the reason why I'm back." For once, he saw the sadness that lurks behind those twinkling eyes."Y-you know something is up?"He rolled his eyes dramatically. "I grew up with them. Besides, the tension between you two was almost tangible. Only the pabo MM was oblivious as ever. And when I get to talk to their sister and found out that you're not with them, I thought he was successful in giving you the wrong message.""Why, weren't you Chun's first love?" Sarcasm laced his voice and it was too late to take it back.Eun Hyuk giggled much to his amusement. "Right tense. Were. It was a long time ago and you are his present and his future. And he didn't even tell me that so you can't count on it. Many people around us just guessed. I might have been his first love but he was no more than a brother to me. You should know that by now." Jun Su lowered his head in shame."You said you are married. . .how come they don't know?" He asked after an eerie silence."I was stubborn as a bull, even as a kid." His face was drippy. "I know what I want and how to get it. I was independent, a go-getter. Maybe I can't accept that I was stupid enough to let go of the only person that will make me happy. Took me long enough to realize that. That's why I'm here. And I won't go back to Geneva without him." He added in a determined voice.*****************************************************************************A/N: Ah Ra=Ashley.Comments, please?:)