Cilantro tastebuds
Cilantro tastebuds
Yoonhee is his favourite little niece for good reason.
“She’s your only niece you idiot.” Sora, his sister pinches the loose flesh of his underarms as they hug warmly in greeting, Yoonhee standing offhandedly to the side, balancing on her sides of her feet, flowery sandals bent at the soles. It was something Sora used to do as well; their mom would scream about damaging the glue of sandals.
Eunhyuk takes a step back and grins at his sister, “Doesn’t make her any less special.” He turns a gummy smile at Yoonhee, who giggles a little and then ducks behind her mother at the attention.
“Yoonhee have you greeted Uncle?” Sora reminds her daughter, pulling her out from behind herself, Yoonhee clingling on to her mother’s hand, playing with the silver band on her wrist.
Yoonhee stares up at Eunhyuk, as there’s a beat of a moment that Eunkyuk catches, and perhaps it is true that kids were always more open with their emotions than adults.
Her eyes reflect apprehension.
“Hello Uncle Eunhyuk.” Her voice has lost its cutesy high-pitched tone; it is mellower, hesitant, like the time she had to grand-bow a greeting to her grand-aunt’s family when they came to visit.
Eunhyuk tries to shrug off the sudden tightness in his chest. It was easier with kids after all, you at least knew you had age-factor as the upper hand. He pats her head, and retracts it when she scrunches her shoulders in distaste.
“I made her bring a change of clothes in case she perspires too much.” Sora points to the pink bulging sling bag on Yoonhee’s shoulder. “She needs the exercise though. Getting fat.” She pushes Yoonhee’s fringe back, damp strands sticking to the side of Yoonhee’s forehead.
“Momm.” Yoonhee whines. “…Tell- tell uncle about the time grandma and I went to the… the Gardens Bay… and…”
It must be the obese genes from her father’s side, Eunhyuk grumbles to himself, but bites down the comment for fear of his sister’s armlock. “What?” He asks instead, looking at Yoonhee with interest.
Yoonhee stares right back at him, and heaves a dramatic sigh, “But it’s a veery long story. Mummy can you tell it?”
“You can have all the time this afternoon to tell Uncle everything okay?” She glances at Eunhyuk and purses her lips. “Yoonhee was going on and on about mother-in-law and forcing her to eat too much.”
“Don’t worry, I can starve her instead.” Eunhyuk says seriously, and steps back in defense when his sister moves forward menacingly. “Okay. I’ll send her back by 6.30 for dinner.”
“Thanks.” His sister pats him, then frowns and places her hands on Yoonhee’s shoulders, rolling them backwards. “Don’t slouch.”
~
They wave goodbye to Yoonhee’s mother as she rides the escalator down, then Eunhyuk turns to Yoonhee, who’s bouncing on the balls of her feet, her ponytail swishing from left to right. She already looks less tense, eyes with a sparkle of interest at her uncle. Eunhyuk almost reaches for her hand, but he reminds himself that she’s turning ten next month.
“Come on, your favourite steak restaurant is at the fifth floor.” He gestures upwards instead, and pushes her gently towards the moving escalators.
Yoonhee’s face is contorted in a mixture of unsaid words and impatient curiosity as they ride the elevator. “How was Japan?” She blurts out, chubby face leaning forward to Eunhyuk’s ear. “…Uncle Eunhyuk?” She adds belatedly, remembering her mother’s words about politeness.
“It was great. Cold, but great.” Eunhyuk can’t help but smile at her inquisitiveness. “You never came to visit me. I was sad.” He gives an exaggerated pout and Yoonhee protests, pale arms stretching out with palms facing up. “Mommy didn’t allow!”
“Because of the radiation?” Eunhyuk asks in understanding. Yoonhee nods.
“Well you’re forgiven then.” This time Yoonhee doesn't dodge when Eunhyuk nudges her cheeks in response.
~
They sit on swivel chairs facing the waterfront and outdoor play area. Yoonhee does a three-sixty degree spin and Eunhyuk one ups that with a five-forty. He laughs when she makes a face at him.
When their food arrives, Yoonhee picks out the cilantro from her soup and dumps it into Eunhyuk’s bowl, but he prevents her from doing the same to her bean sprouts. Briefly, he remembers Ryeowook’s longwinded nagging at him and Kyuhyun for picking out celery bits in their nabe, and hides a grin to himself. (They had gotten away by feeding it to Fat George when Ryeowook went to the kitchen for broth refill.)
It makes him feel funny, like he’s still clinging onto childhood with his kiddy tastebuds and inclinations towards spinning chairs. The world dictates that maturity should accompany age, but Eunhyuk doesn’t feel that experiences truly make him wiser. If any, he thinks, it only reminds himself more of his own failings as a person, and of a reluctance to let go of childhood.
They stop by the pet shop to look at hamsters, and when Eunhyuk squats down, Yoonhee towers above him by a head. Eunhyuk almost wants to laugh; all that’s changed for Eunhyuk’s sister in the time he’s been gone is a few extra eye wrinkles, but here Yoonhee is a grown child, all independent and steady-footed.
“I used to have a hamster.” Yoonhee tells Eunhyuk solemnly. “It loved carrots and sunflower seeds. It died after it crawled into the kitchen sink.”
Eunhyuk laughs. “Would you like another one?”
Yoonhee shakes her head frantically, hands waving in front of Eunhyuk’s face, “Mommy will scold me! It’s okay Uncle Eunhyuk.”
Eunhyuk pats her shoulder, and makes a mental note for Yoonhee’s Christmas present this year.
~
He drops Yoonhee a little after 6.40 at his sister’s house. Sora is dressed up, fumbling with her left pearl earring as she greets Eunhyuk, and asks Yoonhee to use the bathroom before they leave for dinner.
“Thanks for being such a sport.” She sighs looks heavenward, “Almost done.”
“Great. We had a good time too.” Eunhyuk leans against the kitchen countertop as Sora sticks her head in the fridge, searching for something. “Yoonhee really grows up fast.”
“Yes, and she’d really like a playmate in the family too.” Sora gives Eunhyuk a raised eyebrow, “Not you, someone more around her age?”
“Urgh. Noona, I just came back!” Eunhyuk makes a face as he receives a tupperware full of kimchi. The box is cool to the touch.
“Well Linyi’s cousin’s got married a year after she returned from UK.” Sora states firmly.
“Urgh.” Eunhyuk reiterates, even as his phone buzzes with Zhoumi’s number, asking for the name of the bar that they are meeting at later tonight. “Okay see? I’m going out tonight to get a future sister-in-law for you. Happy?”
“Hmm.” Sora’s lips are pursed exactly like how their mother looks when their hands are chocolate-stained and the brownie jar is suspiciously depleted.
~
The woman in the slipdress thows him a knowing smirk over her glass of red wine, her features barely visible in the low light of the bar, as a overexcited group of people burst out into song for someone’s eighteenth birthday at the next table.
But for once, Eunhyuk thinks of Yoonhee’s bright eyes and the way her arms wrap around Sora’s sturdy legs, and finds himself wishing for his future wife to be just as dependable.
Yoonhee is his favourite little niece for good reason.
“She’s your only niece you idiot.” Sora, his sister pinches the loose flesh of his underarms as they hug warmly in greeting, Yoonhee standing offhandedly to the side, balancing on her sides of her feet, flowery sandals bent at the soles. It was something Sora used to do as well; their mom would scream about damaging the glue of sandals.
Eunhyuk takes a step back and grins at his sister, “Doesn’t make her any less special.” He turns a gummy smile at Yoonhee, who giggles a little and then ducks behind her mother at the attention.
“Yoonhee have you greeted Uncle?” Sora reminds her daughter, pulling her out from behind herself, Yoonhee clingling on to her mother’s hand, playing with the silver band on her wrist.
Yoonhee stares up at Eunhyuk, as there’s a beat of a moment that Eunkyuk catches, and perhaps it is true that kids were always more open with their emotions than adults.
Her eyes reflect apprehension.
“Hello Uncle Eunhyuk.” Her voice has lost its cutesy high-pitched tone; it is mellower, hesitant, like the time she had to grand-bow a greeting to her grand-aunt’s family when they came to visit.
Eunhyuk tries to shrug off the sudden tightness in his chest. It was easier with kids after all, you at least knew you had age-factor as the upper hand. He pats her head, and retracts it when she scrunches her shoulders in distaste.
“I made her bring a change of clothes in case she perspires too much.” Sora points to the pink bulging sling bag on Yoonhee’s shoulder. “She needs the exercise though. Getting fat.” She pushes Yoonhee’s fringe back, damp strands sticking to the side of Yoonhee’s forehead.
“Momm.” Yoonhee whines. “…Tell- tell uncle about the time grandma and I went to the… the Gardens Bay… and…”
It must be the obese genes from her father’s side, Eunhyuk grumbles to himself, but bites down the comment for fear of his sister’s armlock. “What?” He asks instead, looking at Yoonhee with interest.
Yoonhee stares right back at him, and heaves a dramatic sigh, “But it’s a veery long story. Mummy can you tell it?”
“You can have all the time this afternoon to tell Uncle everything okay?” She glances at Eunhyuk and purses her lips. “Yoonhee was going on and on about mother-in-law and forcing her to eat too much.”
“Don’t worry, I can starve her instead.” Eunhyuk says seriously, and steps back in defense when his sister moves forward menacingly. “Okay. I’ll send her back by 6.30 for dinner.”
“Thanks.” His sister pats him, then frowns and places her hands on Yoonhee’s shoulders, rolling them backwards. “Don’t slouch.”
~
They wave goodbye to Yoonhee’s mother as she rides the escalator down, then Eunhyuk turns to Yoonhee, who’s bouncing on the balls of her feet, her ponytail swishing from left to right. She already looks less tense, eyes with a sparkle of interest at her uncle. Eunhyuk almost reaches for her hand, but he reminds himself that she’s turning ten next month.
“Come on, your favourite steak restaurant is at the fifth floor.” He gestures upwards instead, and pushes her gently towards the moving escalators.
Yoonhee’s face is contorted in a mixture of unsaid words and impatient curiosity as they ride the elevator. “How was Japan?” She blurts out, chubby face leaning forward to Eunhyuk’s ear. “…Uncle Eunhyuk?” She adds belatedly, remembering her mother’s words about politeness.
“It was great. Cold, but great.” Eunhyuk can’t help but smile at her inquisitiveness. “You never came to visit me. I was sad.” He gives an exaggerated pout and Yoonhee protests, pale arms stretching out with palms facing up. “Mommy didn’t allow!”
“Because of the radiation?” Eunhyuk asks in understanding. Yoonhee nods.
“Well you’re forgiven then.” This time Yoonhee doesn't dodge when Eunhyuk nudges her cheeks in response.
~
They sit on swivel chairs facing the waterfront and outdoor play area. Yoonhee does a three-sixty degree spin and Eunhyuk one ups that with a five-forty. He laughs when she makes a face at him.
When their food arrives, Yoonhee picks out the cilantro from her soup and dumps it into Eunhyuk’s bowl, but he prevents her from doing the same to her bean sprouts. Briefly, he remembers Ryeowook’s longwinded nagging at him and Kyuhyun for picking out celery bits in their nabe, and hides a grin to himself. (They had gotten away by feeding it to Fat George when Ryeowook went to the kitchen for broth refill.)
It makes him feel funny, like he’s still clinging onto childhood with his kiddy tastebuds and inclinations towards spinning chairs. The world dictates that maturity should accompany age, but Eunhyuk doesn’t feel that experiences truly make him wiser. If any, he thinks, it only reminds himself more of his own failings as a person, and of a reluctance to let go of childhood.
They stop by the pet shop to look at hamsters, and when Eunhyuk squats down, Yoonhee towers above him by a head. Eunhyuk almost wants to laugh; all that’s changed for Eunhyuk’s sister in the time he’s been gone is a few extra eye wrinkles, but here Yoonhee is a grown child, all independent and steady-footed.
“I used to have a hamster.” Yoonhee tells Eunhyuk solemnly. “It loved carrots and sunflower seeds. It died after it crawled into the kitchen sink.”
Eunhyuk laughs. “Would you like another one?”
Yoonhee shakes her head frantically, hands waving in front of Eunhyuk’s face, “Mommy will scold me! It’s okay Uncle Eunhyuk.”
Eunhyuk pats her shoulder, and makes a mental note for Yoonhee’s Christmas present this year.
~
He drops Yoonhee a little after 6.40 at his sister’s house. Sora is dressed up, fumbling with her left pearl earring as she greets Eunhyuk, and asks Yoonhee to use the bathroom before they leave for dinner.
“Thanks for being such a sport.” She sighs looks heavenward, “Almost done.”
“Great. We had a good time too.” Eunhyuk leans against the kitchen countertop as Sora sticks her head in the fridge, searching for something. “Yoonhee really grows up fast.”
“Yes, and she’d really like a playmate in the family too.” Sora gives Eunhyuk a raised eyebrow, “Not you, someone more around her age?”
“Urgh. Noona, I just came back!” Eunhyuk makes a face as he receives a tupperware full of kimchi. The box is cool to the touch.
“Well Linyi’s cousin’s got married a year after she returned from UK.” Sora states firmly.
“Urgh.” Eunhyuk reiterates, even as his phone buzzes with Zhoumi’s number, asking for the name of the bar that they are meeting at later tonight. “Okay see? I’m going out tonight to get a future sister-in-law for you. Happy?”
“Hmm.” Sora’s lips are pursed exactly like how their mother looks when their hands are chocolate-stained and the brownie jar is suspiciously depleted.
~
The woman in the slipdress thows him a knowing smirk over her glass of red wine, her features barely visible in the low light of the bar, as a overexcited group of people burst out into song for someone’s eighteenth birthday at the next table.
But for once, Eunhyuk thinks of Yoonhee’s bright eyes and the way her arms wrap around Sora’s sturdy legs, and finds himself wishing for his future wife to be just as dependable.