It’s now been over a week since Kai started his Herculean project, coming back to Khanh’s again and again. And now, with the afternoon still ahead of him, he’s finished. He wipes the sweat off his forehead with his arm, and surveys the renovated back garden.

Truthfully, all of this had cost money. Even now, thinking about how Kai got that money makes him cringe.

The answer is Khanh, of course. Kai hadn’t even asked! Khanh had just tapped his shoulder one afternoon and presented a stack of $20 dollar notes—a $100 in total.

“It’s too much!” Kai had protested, pushing their hand back.

Khanh had tilted their head. And then pulled out some more notes.

“Khanh, no, really—”

“Is this enough?” Khanh had said, smiling sweetly, tucking another $100 into Kai’s hand.

Kai had clicked his teeth together and shook his head. He grudgingly accepted the money—if he kept protesting, Khanh might have given him even more! With that $200 though, Kai has been able to stretch it, resulting in the frankly wonderful garden.

Instead of overgrown grass and weeds, there is order in the garden. New tree saplings and garden beds of vegetables now lie in neat rows along the back fence. Kai has also moved Khanh’s original herbs and replanted them in the garden beds. Bright edible flowers fill the spaces in between, especially around the pond.

—A pond that Kai hadn’t realised existed. It had been so obscured by algae and scum and muck! But now, Kai has installed a miniature waterfall and central floating fountain. With the water features, the water will be kept moving and not stagnant as before. With that, there will hopefully be no mosquito infestation to bug Khanh.

And by the fence near the pond, Kai has acquired a bench, as well as a trellis with baby tomato and pea plants beneath it, completing that corner of the garden.

Feeling pleased and accomplished, Kai turns towards the house, stepping up onto the back-garden deck and heading towards the back door. He is intent on telling Khanh that he’s finished and that there is no more real reason for Kai to hang around—

Khanh’s standing right there when Kai opens the door. Kai almost jumps back in shock.

“Thank you for opening the door,” Khanh says, their arms full with a loaded tray.

Kai’s eyes grow wide. “Is that…?”

“Perfect weather for a barbeque,” Khanh says brightly. They set the tray down on the table by the barbeque and start a small fire with some newspaper and charcoal in a metal chimney starter.

“But—ughhh….” Kai dissolves into a groan. “You really don’t have to do this,” he says, almost pleading. And also wondering why he’s trying to reject Khanh’s cooking when in reality he’ll always say yes to Khanh.

Khanh smiles beatifically. “It’ll be delicious, don’t you worry!”

That’s not what I’m worried about!

Khanh tips the burning charcoal into half of the barbeque and puts the grill back on top.

Despite himself, Kai wanders over. “What are you making?”

“This is marinated pork,” Khanh promptly answers as they check the grill’s temperature. When they are satisfied, they transfer the pork chops over. “The dish we will be having is called bún thịt nướng—literally, noodles with grilled meat. It’s a bit like the bún chả giò from a few weeks ago, but instead of the chả giò—the fried spring rolls—it’s grilled pork.”

Kai nods: already, a lovely fragrant smell is arising from the grilling meat.

Khanh pokes at the meat a little, but then shakes their head. “It’ll take a bit to cook.”

“...I could show you your new garden?”

Khanh’s eyes light up. “Oh, yes please!”

Despite his complaints, it’s not that big a garden, so Kai gives them a thorough tour, naming the new vegetables and flowers he’d planted, and how often to water them.

Khanh seems delighted by the water features. “Look at them!” They crouch down by the pond and stick their hand into the water fountain, laughing. “It tickles!’

Kai’s heart skips a beat. “I. Um. Glad you like it.”

“Hmm.” Khanh looks at the flowers around the pond and bends over to pick a pale blue one. They stand up, approaching Kai.

Kai freezes, and continues to be frozen as Khanh tucks the flower over Kai’s ear.

“It matches your shirt,” Khanh says, nodding to themself.

Kai’s eyes widen. Fuck! What should he do now? Should he pick a flower for Khanh too? But then he needs to pick the best flower!! Which flower is the best? Which one would be the most suitable? What would Kai even say—

“Oh, smell that? It’s just about done now!” Khanh walks with a bounce in their step back to the barbeque. “I’ll have to slice it up before it can be served,” they say, moving the grilled pork onto a metal tray to rest. They close the barbeque lid and vents, effectively turning off the fire.

There are other ingredients on the tray, too, in covered containers: the familiar pickled carrot and daikon and a lot of fresh greens and herbs.

Khanh tilts their head. “Go and wash up, Kai, I’ll prepare the dishes.”

“...If you say so,” Kai says. Despite his words, he’s greatly anticipating the food. So Kai heads inside to wash his hand and face. He also notices the jug of ice lemon water, and so carries that out with two glasses, and sets them on the table on the deck.

Khanh is carrying the tray of food towards the table too. “Oh, thanks for getting that, I forgot!” they say. The meat is now all sliced up, and there are two large bowls, filled with rice noodles, the various toppings, and the sliced meat. Khanh pours a generous amount of nước chấm over their bowl, and Kai follows suit.

“Thank you,” Kai says, breathing in deeply. The smoky, charred, savoury scent of the grilled meat is extremely enticing.

“You’re welcome,” Khanh says. “But you don’t have to say thank you! Aren’t we good friends now?”

Kai is about to eat—luckily he hadn’t bit down yet, or else he would have choked. “Yeah—yes, of course,” he says.

“There is no accounting between friends,” Khanh says seriously. “Go on.” Khanh brandishes their chopsticks and takes the first bite of their food.

Kai goes in for the meat first: the taste is just as good as it smells; the meat is tender and fatty and juicy, and its deep flavour is contrasted nicely with the bright sourness of the pickled vegetables and the summery-freshness of of the salad and herbs, and even the rice noodles taste cooling. After a hot day working, this meal hits exactly the right spot.

“How do you know how to cook so much?” Kai has to wonder. “It’s so good. You could open a restaurant!”

Khanh laughs a little, their cheeks reddening. “I’m glad you’re enjoying my cooking, Kai. It’s just home cooking, though. More importantly, did I say how lucky I am that you planted edible flowers?”

Now it’s Kai’s turn for his cheeks to red. “Well, I thought, the herbs and vegetables are edible so…”

“Where did you buy it all from?”

“Oh, I visited…” Kai tells them about all the nurseries he’d visited, getting the best deals. Their conversation moves onto plants and other matters that Kai cannot really remember, but enjoys nonetheless. After the meal, they have fruit for dessert, relaxing on the back garden veranda and admiring the new garden.

Eventually, though, Kai returns home. Once he’s back in his dingy flat, the first thing he does is press the flower that Khanh gave him.

*

Little Red Riding Kai arrives at his destination only to find a large wolf wearing an apron standing in the doorway!

“What big eyes you have!” Kai exclaims.

“All the better to see you with,” replies wolf-Khánh.

“What large teeth you have!”

“Perfect for the meal we’re about to have,” the wolf stretches their mouth into a wide smile. “Why don’t you come in…”

Before Kai can resist, he’s being ushered into the dining table. He begins to sweat nervously, fearing that he will be the main course, when suddenly they round a corner to find a table laden with so many dishes it’s sagging.

Kai: ???

Wolf-Khánh, sitting down and tucking a napkin over their lap: “I worked hard preparing such a feast for you. Let’s eat!”