Hobi’s stomach growled. Loudly. There was no disguising it. He couldn’t believe it. Sandra politely ignored it. Then it did a repeat performance a moment later. This time she laughed.
“Too bad I don’t have a kitchen tonight. I’d cook you a delicious meal,” she offered.
“Ah! But I do!”
“What?” she asked.
“I have a friend with a well-stocked fridge here in the city. He’s a chef, and he has told me I’m welcome to stop by his apartment any day or night.”
“Hobi!” she laughed. “It’s nearly ten o’clock!”
“Just in time for a midnight snack, no? Hmm…let me call him.” A moment later he closed his phone. “Yep. He’s not there right now, but he said we are welcome to stop by tonight and use his kitchen and anything we find in it. He left my name at the front desk. The porter will let us in.”
“The porter? Is your friend very rich?”
Hobi’s eyes lit up. “Very.”
Sandra giggled. What on earth was that? She hadn’t giggled since she was a little girl. What was Hobi doing to her?
“Then come, my friend, I will cook you something delicious. I wish to comfort your poor stomach, so you can rest well tonight!”
A few minutes later, as Hobi maneuvered the car out into traffic, Sandra texted Sara to let her know why she wasn’t back in their room yet.
Afterward, Hobi turned towards her. “Sandra, would you like to come to practice with me tomorrow?”
She glanced up at him. “Before the concert?”
He nodded. “I would pick you up around eight.”
“I would love to.” She gave him such a sweet smile that he felt his heart flip upside down even as his stomach kept jumping up and down with excitement in anticipation of the meal she was going to make him.
—
Jin walked Sherry to her room after their five-star desserts were consumed.
“I wish I could stay out with you all night,” Jin assured her longingly. “I had a really good time with you tonight.”
“It’s all right, Jin. I feel complete. After all, I got to see Jin eat!”
He laughed. “Would you like to come to the stadium with me in the morning? Although, it might be kind of boring. You’d be stuck there all day.” Then he grinned widely as he finished, “But you’d probably get to see me eat lunch too!”
“Boring?! Jin, are you nuts?! Every ARMY in the whole world would empty out her bank account for a chance to watch you practice before a concert!”
Jin grinned, quite unsure of the veracity of her assertion, but he appreciated her support. “So, I take it that’s a yes?” he asked drily.
“YES! And thank you!” she breathed. “Although, I probably won’t sleep a wink tonight for all the excitement you’ve stirred up in my soul!”
—
A few minutes later, Hobi and Sandra wandered into his friend’s empty apartment. Sandra opened the fridge before taking an inventory of the cabinets and pantry.
“Any idea what you’re hungry for?”
Hobi grinned, his mouth forming a heart. “Surprise me!”
“All right. But I’m not cooking alone. I was going to give you a lesson, remember? Besides, it’s important to work up an appetite.”
“Even when my stomach is already growling?”
She laughed. “We’d best get to work then!” She tossed an apron at him.
An hour later, she set a plate before him on the table. Hobi stared down at the pretty plate of food. He looked up at her with wide eyes. “I helped to create this masterpiece?”
She nodded firmly. “You did, Hobi! And I think you are quite talented!”
He quirked his lips questioningly. “Let’s find out!”
He sampled a bite, closing his eyes to savor the multitude of flavors dancing on his tongue. After a moment, he opened his eyes to gaze up at her. “Sandra, that is amazing! You are quite the teacher!”
She shrugged. “I had an excellent student!”
