Welcome Faithling, and thanks to the rest of you for comments. Although I am not going to reveal my plans for the story (what's fun in that?), but I am not planning a sob ending, not the sad kind of sob at least.
"Does it mean you can teach me to cook before I need to leave?"
"Yes. Ha Na-yah, I'm going to teach him how to cook."
"Baby, but I thought we had plans." And she strolled out from the kitchen, making eyes at him toward the bedroom, "You know, after I try the meal you made for me."
Hee Jun quickly withdrew his offer, "Sorry, dude, maybe next time." But then looking at Choi Young's disappointed face, added. "I can teach you quickly." And he pulled the general by the arm to the kitchen, while he hurried to take the coat off.
"Wear this." And he put a flowery apron on the clueless warrior, tying the strings on the back. "You don't want to get your fancy suit dirty." Hee Jun showed him the basics, all the while the girl was impatiently waiting. "Then, you are on your own, dude. We are going to eat now."
"Thank you, that was helpful. I remember everything you showed me," and Choi Young turned to the counter to start cooking.
The girl whispered something in her boyfriend's ear.
"I have an idea: watch a cooking show, I'll find you one." And he dragged Choi Young again, now to the living room, and putting him on the couch in front of the TV, grabbed a remote and started scrolling through the channels, finding the food network.
"And dude, you can borrow my things any time, I don't mind. I think you might be better of cooking in jeans and T-shirt, not a suit, unless it's your thing."
"It's not my thing. I do not have a thing."
"Sweet buns, can you give him something to wear of mine."
"Sure." And pouting at this annoying guest who took her boyfriend's time away, she hurried to produce a set of sport shorts and a T-shirt. "This should fit you."
They returned to the kitchen where the woman ate the soup prepared by her boyfriend, moaning so loudly that Choi Young felt the need to retreat into Eun Soo's room, fearing that it was not just the food the couple was sharing. Back in the peaceful quiet of the one place where he really started to feel at home, he looked at the clothes he received. He took off the apron, marveling at a strange colorful piece of fabric, which reminded him of the aprons worn by blacksmiths. Then he picked up the shorts and holding them by the leg openings, lifted them, studying, then he turned them around, pulling with interest at the band, which stretched at his hand, he then flipped them again, thinking: If this was a T-shirt, he already knew about those, than logically this item would be a pant. But where are the actual pants? Was this particular pant cut so short on purpose? Did they run out of fabric? Or was the girl mad at him and cut the pants? What did he do to make her so upset?
Out of curiosity, he decided to try it on. Seeing his bare legs, he laughed: it was too funny to imagine that one would be walking around like that, although movement was unrestricted and it felt good for his skin to feel the air on it. For fun, he tried a few lounges and kicks and liked how his body felt as if he did not have any clothes on at all. It's like a modesty cover, there is just enough not to show his private parts, yet still a piece of clothing. This world had more surprises in store for him, he was sure. Still giggling at the site of his legs, he put on a robe and then on top of it an apron. Being covered like that made him feel more comfortable. He returned to the kitchen and recalling in his mind the instructions of his culinary teacher, began cooking. Cooking was a very difficult task, requiring attention, dexterity, and precision. Luckily, he had them all, and successfully completed all the preparatory steps. Now he needed to boil the dish. He approached the cooktop cautiously, and turning the knob, he remembered had to be used, moved away expecting flames to rise from the smooth surface. Nothing happened. He waited for a few minutes, but the surface stayed calm and no holes opened in it to free the fire out. He shrugged his shoulders and turned away, wondering how this cold flat plane could warm up the food. He heard giggles, whispers and then rustling. The boyfriend stuck his head out of the bedroom door, screaming, "Dude, need any help?"
"Yes, actually I do."
"Be right there." And more whispers and rustling and hushed noises.
"If you are busy…" But the guy was already in the kitchen in his underwear. "You do not require clothing?"
"Ne, have to be ready for more, you know." And he winked at Choi Young, making him imagine what that meant and shudder at the thought, shaking it off quickly. "So what seems to be the problem?"
"The fire does not work."
"Fire? Let me check." Nothing surprised him, even the strange way the "dude" talked. He came up to the stove and looked at the dials. "It's on. It should be hot by now," and placed the pot, prepared by Choi Young on a round red circle. "Haven't you used one of these before?"
"No."
So the guy explained how the device worked. Choi Young had to keep himself from openly expressing his amazement; being from the very distant past was not easy to adjust to all the inventions of the future, and he still found himself surprised over and over again.
"By the way, dude, you should leave in an hour." And turning, he left just like he came, back to the bedroom, followed by laughter and noise.
Choi Young watched the pot boil, literary, which seemed like forever. He was afraid to step away, as he could not tell by looking and had to lift the lid many times till he saw the water bubble vigorously and the steam escape. He turned it off and tried his creation. It tasted decent, good even. Happy with the outcome, he took off the apron, hanging it carefully on the hook and went to change.
He caught a taxi, already comfortable with the procedure and asked to be let off a block before the entrance to the park. He tuned out all the noise and distractions of the surroundings and focused his senses, searching for the presence of the illusive assassin. He combed through the whole park and then waited by the closed gate, using himself as a bait in the open, but nobody showed up. He did not feel anybody watching or tailing him. Then he was right and the man Eun Soo was meeting with was the assassin! The thought brought so much fear and instant regret about him agreeing to go with her plan, instead of his. Killing the assassin was the right thing to do, he should not have listened to her! What if she is in danger? He tried to calm down and be more rational. They had a plan, and he knew that on a mission, you have to stick to the plan before you panic. He went back home, his heart aching anxiously in his chest, and having been taught by Eun Soo how to use the alarm, opened the door.
The apartment was quiet, he saw two extra pairs of sleepers at the entrance, which meant that the couple had left. He was alone in the house; all he could do now was wait. He pulled out the alarm clock from his pocket. Eun Soo said she should be back by this time, and he placed his fingers in a vertical line, making it 6 o'clock. He tried to decipher how much longer he would have to wait, judging by the placement of the thin black arrows, called "hands". They seemed close, but he was not sure. He reluctantly removed his coat and holding the sword, as if it gave him more strength, went to the living room, sitting down on the couch. Only now he noticed that TV was still working, with a figure on the screen skillfully using various implements to do something, which looked like cooking. The sound explained that he was preparing a marinated something dish and that in order to do it, following steps should be taken… Not even realizing it, Choi Young got absorbed in the show and even started to memorize the recipe, when he heard the door open. Jumping off the couch, still clutching his sword, he leaped across the room to the hallway to grab Eun Soo into a tight hug.
"You are safe, home. I was so worried!" and he frantically kissed whatever his lips found, be that her hair, her ear, her nose, her cheek or her lips. Finally, settling on her lips, he took in her as if she was the air he needed for breathing, while feeling how she was sharing her own KI with him. Gasping in surprise he pulled away. "Did you just...?"
"I think so, not sure how, but it feels great."
"Imja, we'll definitely talk about it later, but now, tell me everything, quickly."