We entered the first coffee shop we walked past. After a server took our order, the three of us were sitting around a rounded table. My mom was sitting closer to me and was arranging her coat on the chair, rummaging inside her bag and getting comfortable. While she was doing this, Geonsu and I didn’t even dare look at each other. The whole situation was so confusing and so sudden. I don’t even know how far we walked to get here, but no one spoke until we got here. Even now, no one has said anything.

“So, first, thank you for helping my son out. I figure he slept over at your place, since he didn’t return home last night.”

“Ma’am… yes… but I offered him to be brought home first. My apartment was just more convenient, given the circumstances.”

His hands were moving around more than when he was cooking. My mom might have come off as strong, but that was just her tone. She was not mad or angry. Moreover, I was an adult. She never moderated my movements since I turned 19. She knew I was not going to be home that night; I texted her. Well, poor Geonsu didn’t know this information.

“Why are you making excuses? I wanted to thank you for that. I am not going to pry more into this situation. You are adults, it’s not my business where my son spends the nights as long as he is safe.”

“Oh… no need to thank me. I didn’t know you were going to be there for Kento, ma’am, that’s why I accompanied him.”

“Geonsu was it? What do you do for a living? Are you a bouncer?”

“No. I am a chef.”

“Huh, waisted potential… you have enough muscle. Oh, thank you.” The coffees arrived.

Geonsu started laughing and glanced at me.

“Where do you work at?” my mom was asking again. I knew she was trying to be nice and get to know him better, but before she would warm up to people took a while for her.

“Toscana. It’s right next to Bella-Donna.”

“Oh!” my mom exclaimed. “Your manager is Cony, right?!”

“Yes, she manages the kitchen and front of the house.”

“Oh! You must be the sauté chef!”

What? How does she know his exact position in the kitchen? My mom is too connected in this city.

“The one who did the apprenticeship. She was impressed with your work. She sent me one of your final exam dishes you plated. They looked very beautiful.”

“Thank you! Which one?”

His face lighted and he leaned in to talk to her better. Now, my mom shifter her chair away from me, moving closer to him and pulling out her phone to show him the pictures she received. So, is this all it took for them to become friends? My mom kept on asking questions about how he did certain decorations on the plate, why her osso bucco always ended up drying out… and so on. I was the odd one out. I enjoyed seeing them talk.

“What do you do for a living?”

“I do make-up for TV shows or news reporters. I got my license 5 years ago.”

“5 years is a lot of experience to have.” Geonsu said, his voice sounded congratulatory.

“Oh, no. I started only around 2 or 3 years ago.”

“What did you do before that?”

My mom’s eyes widened and she glanced at me. She might have thought I would want to hide it or that she was going to embarrass me. Well, Geonsu wasn’t that type of man. Or at least, I didn’t believe he was. Time to test it. I nodded my head once, closed my eyes and nudged her to tell him.

“I was working as an exotic dancer.”

“Well, you must have had more muscle than me. The moves must have been difficult.” He said it sincerely, not feigning his casual voice and not looking away awkward.

“Oh… yeah...”

My mom was now off guard. Their conversation went on even longer. They bonded over working out, Geonsu comparing one dance as an exotic dancer to 50 minutes on the stairmaster. Then they talked about wine, some TV shows both of them seemed to have watched and so on. Nothing too deep, nothing major, but the conversation was flowing. My mom must have taken a like to Geonsu, because to my shock, she asked.

“What are your plans for Christmas? I would love to invite you over.”

“Mom, he’s pretty busy, on weekends especially. And he might have plans with his family on Christmas, you cannot just…” before I could finish, I got interrupted by him.

“I am free on Christmas.” Geonsu answered. Then he turned to look at me and said “If you want me to be there, I will. If you don’t want me to spend Christmas with you, tell me.”

He looked intensely into my eyes, waiting. No one has ever asked me in such a short span of time this many times what I please and displease. I gave in.

“If you have the time, come over for Christmas.”

“Will do.” He smirked and then dropped the sly smile that bult around his mouth. “I’ll take my leave now, you must want to spend time together or go home. Thank you for inviting me to get coffee. Have a great day. Goodbye!”

“Well, how did you meet this one?” My mom asked me after Geonsu was at a reasonable distance.

“I met him through Romina. Remember the birthday party I went to? Romina and his sister are good friends and he was also there. So…” wait, no. I needed to correct myself. “Actually, he is the one who gave me the blanket.”

“Alright. He’s nice.” My mom said, calling over the server, ready to pay for the coffees.

“Oh, the coffees were paid for by the man who left you table. Would that be all?”

“Yes. Thank you.” My mom was smiling and looking down inside her bag.

“Well, he is nice I guess.” I laughed, raising my eyebrows at her.

“Pfff. Let’s go.”

She started to walk first, urging me to go home and relax. As we were walking down the stairs of the subway entrance, a strong wind blew our hair violently to the back. I reached around my neck and raised the scarf higher. The scarf! I forgot. As we were waiting for the subway, I texted Geonsu about his scarf, telling him I forgot about it and I hoped he wasn’t cold because of me. He responded.