I Love You, Dad—Gimme Allowance (1)
A man's word is his bond. Ban Do-young, who used to be a real man's man, keeps his promises no matter what—even if he's turned into a girl now. Because that's what a promise is.
Hmm.
"Welcome! Salinda Tonkatsu here. Table for two students? Right this way."
Just as promised after the blood donation, Do Ha-min and I made our way to that tonkatsu joint in town.
When my bank balance flashed 6,974 won, I was sweating bullets, but thank God they had king-sized tonkatsu for 6,500 won. What a miracle. Movie tickets run 15,000 won a pop, so scoring two tickets' worth with one tonkatsu? Pure profit.
"Here's your nostalgic king tonkatsu. Where would you like it?"
"Just put it in front of this guy. Thanks, boss."
A steaming plate of tonkatsu landed on Do Ha-min's table, white vapor curling up lazily. A generous heap of sweet demi-glace sauce smothered the classic Korean-style cutlet.
"By the way, you students okay with this? Even king-sized, it might not be enough for two growing kids. You should each get your own to really fill up."
"Nah, I'm good. Not that craving tonkatsu right now."
Lies. No guy hates tonkatsu. Hell, no girl does either.
"Or maybe a side? Our Cajun salad's killer."
"Heh. Boss, you're selling king tonkatsu for 6,500 won? Gotta wonder if it tastes off. Feed it to the guinea pig first—if it's good, we'll order another."
"G-Guinea pig...?"
"Huh, makes sense. Smart kid, pretty as a picture."
"Right? Do Ha-min, what're you waiting for? Dig in."
"Fair enough. We'll try it, order more if it's good, and leave a solid review on SNS. My wife's tonkatsu is art, y'know? Eat up and hook us up with that review, kids?"
The boss winked, thumbs-upped, and headed back to the kitchen.
"Phew... he's gone."
Managed to dodge any more spending. Once Do Ha-min finishes, I'll make an excuse—no extras. Something like the meat's unevenly cooked.
"Cheap is great, but I hate shops that chat you up while eating. You know?"
"Eh, he seems nice enough... Gets along with his wife too."
"A restaurant boss who cooks well? That's all it takes."
"Um... but."
Do Ha-min stared down at his tonkatsu.
"Why'd you only order for me?"
He asked without picking up his fork or knife, eyes on me.
"Told you. I'd buy after blood donation. Promise kept."
"Still, why just me...? If you're short on cash, I'll cover it."
"What? You said you had no money. Don't tell me you lied 'cause you don't wanna see the movie with me?"
"N-No...! Nothing like that! Maybe put down the fork and knife first?"
Do Ha-min flailed in panic. I took a deep breath, pulling out my own fork and knife from under the table.
"Just felt bad eating alone... Not enough for movies, but one meal..."
"Drop it. You trying to turn the great Ban Do-young into some blood-sucking mooch who can't even pay for dinner?"
Scrap the meetup over no cash? Or push through with blood donation as a curveball? I weighed what wouldn't tank his affection—and chose to keep the promise, risks be damned. Break the first one, and trust crumbles for everything ahead.
I'd yelled at him about trust over mango cola—can't exactly bail now.
"Eat up. It's getting cold."
Risky gamble, sure. Dragging him to unpromised blood donation on promise day? Even world's-top-beauty Ban Do-young could lose points. Then mooching dinner after? If I were him, fist to the throat, beauty or not.
Couldn't lean on his wallet carelessly. Gotta protect this delicate Ban Do-young neck from that fate.
"You... said you were hungry earlier. If it's money, I can—"
"Hey now, you think I'm skimping 'cause I'm broke? Even growing kids don't maintain this figure for free."
Truth? Flat broke. But diet excuse shuts it down. Not wrong, anyway—this body's just borrowed till the end. Gotta return it pristine, or hear it later. Don't want 10-20 years future Ban Do-young blaming me for turning into a frumpy auntie.
"...Really just dieting?"
"Duh. How calorie-obsessed do you gotta be to stick to Zero Lime Cola?"
"Doesn't look like there's anything to lose."
"Pfft...!"
His unwitting flirt caught me off guard—laughter bubbled out.
"What?"
"Well, well. Getting bold?"
"No, I really think... "
"I know. You wouldn't say it if you didn't mean it."
The real Ban Do-young might've swooned. The actual one.
"Sure you won't eat?"
"Told you. Or what? You wanna turn this fresh young lady into a potbellied hausfrau?"
"...Dodging with teasing again."
"Heh. Don't wanna hear 'thug bitch' from Sa-hyung and Hye-rang at school, so you eat up. Leave a good review like the boss said."
I personally set knife and fork by his plate, poured ice water into my glass, and chugged.
"Ahh... Water's the best thing here."
"..."
Do Ha-min still ignored his plate.
"Why not eat? Meat overdone?"
"...No."
Grrrowl.
He stood and headed to the kitchen. Moments later, back with an apron to protect his whites and a side plate.
"Whatcha doing."
He hacked off half the tonkatsu, then diced it bite-sized.
"...Here."
He slid the side plate my way—neatly portioned tonkatsu and salad. Just under half his original.
"Not too much. Since... you're dieting."
"What're you doing? I said eat it all."
"I'm fine. Had breakfast."
"Still no. You really wanna make me a thug bitch?"
Scrape.
His hand hesitated, pulling back at my pushy tone—but
Slide.
He shoved the plate forward, avoiding my eyes.
"...As long as it's not freeloading."
"Huh?"
"I'll give you half if you do me a favor. Then it's not freeloading, right?"
"Ho ho... Trying to bargain with me?"
"I-I'm not just a guinea pig either. At 6,500 won, maybe the sauce tastes like mango cola. Don't wanna shoulder that alone."
"...Logical. Gimme."
Convinced by his logic, I pulled the plate over.
"No choice. Hate guinea pig treatment? We'll share the blame."
Fresh fork from the table—I speared a bite of our shared tonkatsu.
"Well...? Still think water's best?"
"...Sigh. Boss kept chatting; was gonna skip next time. Now I have to come back."
The tonkatsu was delicious. Way better than expected.
......
"Thanks! Come again!"
We split the one tonkatsu half-and-half and left. Told the boss honestly it was great but we were broke for more—promised to return.
Couldn't feed a chef that good a lame excuse.
"Boss is a good guy, right?"
"Cooks well? Good guy."
"Thanks... Had fun today. New experiences, free meal."
"So, what's this favor?"
"...Huh?"
I grabbed Do Ha-min's shoulder, facing him. Felt like he'd bail on the reverse commute without spilling if I let it slide.
"Your effort feeding me meat with that lame excuse? I'll hear it. What favor you want."
"Oh... Nothing big. Just curious."
"What, cup size? Bust? Bra?"
"Th-That's all the same! And no!"
"Heh. Then what? Something more intimate—"
"...Birthday."
"Huh?"
His unexpected answer shut me up mid-tease.
"Told you mine, but not yours yet."
"O-Oh..."
Damn, that was a close one.
"Well, well..."
Protagonist move. Entrance ceremony birthday talk looping back at me now? Who saw that coming.
"When? Can ya tell?"
"Nope."
Good sign. Means he's curious about Ban Do-young.
But why? Felt petty. Didn't like eating a hit from him.
"Can't spill precious info for half tonkatsu. No fun."
"Wh-What? You just asked me straight..."
"Heh. But here's a hint."
I'm the attacker here, not you. Reminder time—I whispered in his ear.
"...The virgin seat."
Guess. Before I walk away.