Cherry Blossom Festival Prep (2)
My face flushed bright red at the mere thought of making a picnic lunch with The Queen—no, with my girlfriend. The idea alone was enough to make my heart race.
“Anyway, my viewers always twist everything I say in the weirdest ways possible.”
“You’re acting a little strange today.”
“Then, Tteongi-nim, I’ll tie your apron before we start cooking.”
The Queen reached around from behind me and fastened the apron strings. It had been so long since I’d worn clothes and an apron together that it actually felt awkward.
“I’ll tie yours for you, The Queen.”
“Thank you.”
Once again we were wearing matching pink couple aprons. At this point we really looked like a newlywed couple cooking together.
“If being pretty is a crime, then I deserve the death penalty.”
“Confirmed.”
“Knives are dangerous, so I’ll cut all the ingredients. We can’t have you getting hurt before the picnic.”
“Ah…”
“That’s right. Tteongi-nim is love.”
“Y-you guys are acting so weird today…”
The Queen picked up the knife and began slicing vegetables with practiced ease. It was exactly like watching those professional chefs on TV.
“Wow… you’re really good at that.”
“I can’t lose to that! Then I’ll make some rolled omelette.”
“Shut up. I’ll make something amazing, so just watch.”
The Queen mixed the beautifully sliced vegetables with the eggs. Once the frying pan was hot, she added oil and poured in the egg mixture.
“And when it’s just a little set… gently…”
She began rolling it little by little with chopsticks.
The finished rolled omelette wasn’t the prettiest shape, but it was definitely a rolled omelette.
“How is it?”
“I-it’s fine as long as it tastes good.”
“You did a great job. I’ll handle the cutting from now on.”
“Yes, The Queen! What should we make next?”
“Now it’s time for pork belly triangle kimbap. Could you grill the pork belly?”
“Exactly~ That’s why I bought the pork belly.”
“Ah, you didn’t know? I’m now an in-sa who goes to cherry blossom festivals.”
“Of course~ We’ll give you autographs and take pictures too. Right, The Queen?”
“Yes, we’d be even more grateful if people recognize us.”
“Oh really? You actually managed to get one. Bring it and I’ll sign it. Surprisingly, a lot of female fans showed up.”
“Yare yare, is it my fault for being too pretty again?”
“Yes. Your editing timing is perfect.”
I heated up a new frying pan and laid several strips of pork belly on it. The sizzling sound was incredible.
“Kya~ Pork belly goes with soju… but since we have the cherry blossom festival tomorrow, I’ll hold back.”
“Oh, that was a typo, right? This is The Queen’s room.”
“Good.”
When the pork belly was nicely browned, I cut it into bite-sized pieces with scissors. Meanwhile, The Queen scooped rice from the rice cooker.
“It smells amazing. I brought the rice and the triangle mold.”
“I’ll make it in a cute triangle shape-yeo.”
“This surgery… I will perform it myself.”
I put on plastic gloves and declared it with a solemn expression.
“Y-you crazy bastard, shut up.”
The Queen clearly noticed but since my reaction seemed fine, she just let it slide.
Let’s just pretend nothing happened.
“First, fill about half with rice. Then pack the pork belly in firmly.”
Then fill it again with rice to complete the triangle kimbap.
“But The Queen, how do you wrap the seaweed for triangle kimbap?”
“These days they sell special wrapping seaweed just for triangle kimbap.”
The Queen came up behind me and hugged me from the back. On the broadcast screen it looked like an accidental back hug.
“Since you probably haven’t used the wrapping seaweed before, I’ll teach you.”
“...”
While my face burned with excitement, The Queen’s hands covered mine.
“Shall we do it slowly?”
“Yes…”
The warm temperature of her hands felt even through the plastic gloves made it hard to focus. Before I knew it, the triangle kimbap was wrapped in the packaging and seaweed just like the ones sold at convenience stores.
“All done. This is how you do it.”
“I-it’s not easy…”
“Do you think it’s difficult?”
“N-no! I mean… it’s not difficult.”
“W-why would I be mad…”
I pulled myself together again and made more triangle kimbap and regular kimbap with the pork belly and sliced vegetables. In the meantime, The Queen was cutting little octopus shapes into the sausages—the true charm of a picnic lunchbox.
“Mmm…”
“What’s wrong?”
“The Queen, what is that?!”
“Hm?”
I tried to sneak a sausage while she turned her head and got caught.
“Ahaha… w-well, it’s common sense to eat one while cooking, right?”
“Hahaha. That’s true.”
“Have a few more. I bought the expensive ones.”
At those words I ate another sausage.
“Oh~ it’s delicious. Would you like one too, The Queen?”
“Yes, just one please.”
I picked one up and brought it straight to her mouth. Even through the plastic gloves, I could feel the softness of The Queen’s lips… No! No! How many times am I going to get excited during the broadcast!
“Mmm~ it’s good. It’ll taste even better when grilled.”
“…Gulp.”
I calmed myself down and got back to cooking.
And so, a little while later… our dinner and cherry blossom festival picnic lunchbox was complete.
“Everyone~ can you see this?”
I moved the camera closer, showing off the glistening kimbap, chicken nuggets, sausages, and more.
“I think I should just quit streaming and become a chef for real?”
“Tteongi-nim, shall we eat?”
“Yes, I’m seriously so hungry!”
We took off our aprons, moved to the dining table, and continued filming.
“What should we try first?”
“How about the triangle kimbap I made?”
I added something random because I felt like I needed an excuse.
“G-got to check if it’ll kill me or not.”
Sitting across from The Queen at the table, I unwrapped the triangle kimbap and took a bite.
“How is it, The Queen?”
“You really packed a lot of meat in there. It’s delicious.”
“Ehehe…”
I showed the broadcast screen the cross-section of the triangle kimbap, which was absolutely stuffed with meat in the center.
“Isn’t it awesome? I just shoved everything in there.”
After the triangle kimbap, we ate The Queen’s chicken nuggets and sausages—which couldn’t possibly taste bad—followed by fruit for dessert. I already felt like I’d been on a picnic.
“Guys, my stomach is super full now.”
I patted my sweater-covered belly as I spoke.
Current viewer count was hovering around 18,000. Considering that, it felt like we’d done something pretty chill.
“Was today’s stream okay? It was mostly just cooking.”
“Please come watch tomorrow’s cherry blossom festival broadcast too.”
“Whoa, a million won… Should we do one last reaction and end the stream?”
“Yes, let’s do that.”
“For this reaction, I’ll need The Queen’s help.”
“What is it?”
I made half a heart with one hand and looked at her. The Queen seemed to like it; she laughed brightly and completed the other half with her hand, placing it next to mine.
“I’ll fill in the other half for you.”
The heart technique we created together. I think I have the perfect name for it.
“Combined Ultimate QueenTteong Beam!”
“S-see you tomorrow at the cherry blossom festival broadcast.”