Prasasti

Sohyun peeks into the bedroom, careful not to make any noise. “Okay, she’s still asleep.” She takes off her house slippers and holds the door open with it, tip toeing to the kitchen. Taking a slow breath, she picks up a food tray, furrowing her brows and sticking her tongue out to focus, staying as slow and stable as possible. 

She arrives back at the door, taking another breath before pushing it open with her shoulders. The bowl on the tray slides a few centimetres as she does, causing a mini heart attack. Thankfully, it didn't go any further and none of the drink spilled.

Exhaling and gulping, Sohyun wafts into the bedroom, so laser focused on her movement that she doesn’t notice the woman in the bed stirring awake. 

“Mmm…So..hyun?”

Sohyun freezes with a hiccup, her eyes dashing to the bed and finding a pair of half-lidded eyes staring back. “Er…thi—umm, hi! Darling, you…you’re awake, aha…”

 The woman rubs her eye and sniffs, raising her back. “What…what is that?”

“Uh…” Sohyun glances between the tray and her, then sighs and raises the tray. “S–Surprise! Happy birthday, Zhou Xinyu! I er…made something for you.”

Xinyu looks at her blankly for a few before shaking her head and squealing awake. “Sohyun! You…really? For me?” she points at the tray excitedly.

“Yeah! I—wait, let me set this down, it’s heavy,” she chuckles and puts it on the nightstand. “It’s uh…not much, really. I kinda panicked making the sauce because I woke up late, but…should be decent, heh.”

Xinyu rubs her eyes and leans over to get a better look. An ornate bowl sits in the middle of the tray, loaded with noodles covered by a good heaping of sauce made from stir-fried pork cubes, bean paste, scallions, and some other aromatic spices. A handful of bean sprouts and cucumber slices decorate the perimeter, adding fresh colourful contrast to the pale noodles and brown sauce.

“This bowl…” Xinyu tilts her head and gasps. “The one my parents got? As our wedding gift?”

“Yup.” Sohyun puts her trembling hands behind her back, shifting side-to-side. “Finally got a chance to use it.”

Xinyu squeals and covers her mouth, swinging her long legs over to leap onto Sohyun, pulling the latter into a tight hug. “You’re so sweet!” She peppers Sohyun’s cheek in kisses, making her squirm and giggle helplessly. “When did you make all this?”

“Er…two hours ago, I think? Took longer than I thought.”

Xinyu looks down at the dish, then back at Sohyun. “And…when did you buy the ingredients?”

“Got them on the way home yesterday, hid them near the door.” She sighs into Xinyu’s shoulder. “I was anxious all night, scared some cat might tear into them.”

“Aww,” Xinyu pouts, pinching Sohyun’s flushed cheeks. “You’re too adorable, what do I do with you?”

“Um, you could tr—mmhhh! Zhou jie!” Sohyun squints and squeals as Xinyu kisses her on the lips. “You could try the food, for one.”

Xinyu laughs and sits down on the bed, tugging at Sohyun’s hand. Sohyun purses her lips into a tiny smile and sits beside her. Xinyu grabs a pair of chopsticks on the tray and mixes the noodles around, going in for a bite. 

“How is it?”

Xinyu replies with a high-pitched hum, shaking her shoulders and kicking her feet. “It’s amazing!”

“Eh! You can say it honestly,” Sohyun chuckles. “Don’t need to exaggerate because it’s me.”

“But I am being honest!” Xinyu pouts. “You don’t believe me?”

“I do. I just…” Sohyun sighs and lowers her head. “ …really worried I might’ve messed it up.”

“Oh, darling…” Xinyu sets her bowl down, reaching out for Sohyun’s chin and turning it towards her. “ …you worry too much. It makes me worry. You want me to be worried?”