Beef Ribs

His breath was getting shorter and shorter. The smoke was engulfing him, making it hard to breath. Coughing violently, he looked around, trying to see through the heavy black fog. But the toxic gases were stinging his eyes, making him unable to see anything.

"Mom!" he cried out. "Dad!"

But his cries were drowned by more explosions in the rooms above him. The orange flames soared through the night sky, swallowing everything in its way. The roof would fall on him any minute.

I must run! He thought wildly. His instincts told him to move, but his body was incapacitated by the poisonous gases. He could not move an inch as his knees wobbled.

"Mom! Dad!" he shouted but to no avail. No one could hear him amidst the flames. He fell to the ground, coughing out blood from his lungs.

"Someone…" he mumbled. "Please...save...us…"

He felt his energy being drained. It was impossible to move even a muscle. Is this the end? He thought. He did not want to die, not without apologizing to his parents. The last words he said to them, flashed before his eyes. "I hate you!" he had shouted at them moments before the fire broke out. "I don't wanna see either of you ever again!"

Now he regretted those words. Why did I say it? He lamented. Tears rolled down his cheeks. He was going to die there without meeting his parents.

"Mom...dad…"

His eyelids were getting heavier. He felt his consciousness slipping away and he fell on the floor with a thud. The ceiling was hanging dangerously above him; it will fall on him any instance.

As his senses were shutting down, he dimly recalled seeing a pair of feet coming his way. The figure bent down and looked straight in the eyes. It was saying something he could not hear.

All he remembered were a pair of amber eyes looking back at him as he finally fainted.

…..

"Joonjae…" a singsong voice called out to him. Joonjae turned his head the other way and ignored the voice. He was too tired and wanted to sleep.

"Joonjae…"

He felt a cold finger poke his back. Groaning in annoyance, he put a pillow over his head.

"Joonjae, wake up."

Someone gently shook him.

"Go away!" Joonjae mumbled in annoyance.

"But I'm hungry!" the voice said.

"You'll not die of hunger!" he snapped. "I wanna sleep."

He rolled over and went back to sleep.

"Fine," the voice said in a cool tone. "You leave me no choice."

Joonjae suddenly felt the cold fingers stroking his back. Jolting in shock he leapt up.

"What the hell?" he yelled. Sitting next to him was a petite, black haired girl looking at him expectantly.

"I'm hungry!" she said in a cheery tone. "I want beef ribs!"

"You woke me up for beef ribs?" he scowled. "You had beef ribs last night!"

"Well, I want them again," the girl insisted.

"Lee Chaerin, you're seriously getting on my nerves!"

"But I'm really hungry," Chaerin pouted. "Hubby."

She gave him a puppy dog expression. Joonjae rolled his eyes and pulled her cheek.

"Ow ow ow!" she cried in pain.

"Stop it with the innocent white lotus trick!" he scolded her.

"Alright alright!" the girl conceded, abandoning her cutesy tone. "Just gimme food and I'll shut up!"

Joonjae let go of her cheek.

"Ugh! Why do you have to be such a meanie?" she complained loudly.

"Deal with it," he said sarcastically as he picked up a towel and headed towards the bathroom.

"Hurry up hubby!" Chaerin exclaimed. "I'm really hungry!"

"You're not getting any beef!" he replied from the bathroom. "Eat some vegetables instead!"

"But I love beef!"

"No arguments!"

Chaerin pouted miserably and cursed her luck. Of all the guys I could have married, I had to end up with him, she thought sourly.

After a while, Joonjae came out of the bathroom, wearing only a towel. Despite her anger towards him, she could not help but admire the fine specimen.

With piercing green eyes and tall stature, Joonjae was what people called an elegant beauty. He had a calm and composed demeanor which would instantly soothe those around him. His hair was dyed blue. No matter how many times Chaerin asked him, he would not tell her which is his real hair color.

Just looking at him, gave her improper thoughts.

"Stop drooling over me," Joonjae said in annoyance.

"Can't help it," Chaerin sighed. "I'll appreciate anything that's beautiful."

"Pervert," he muttered under his breath.

"I prefer the term 'Connoisseur of Beauty,'" she beamed proudly.

"Which is basically a pervert," Joonjae shot back.

"Ugh! I don't care!" she shrugged. "I want food."

"Fine!" Joonjae said as he put on his shirt and pants. "Give me a minute."

Joonjae headed downstairs towards the kitchen. He opened the fridge and took out the beef curry they had the previous night. After heating it in the oven, he put some of it in a small bowl. He took another bowl and scooped some rice into it. Placing both the bowls on a tray, he headed towards a small room next to the dining area.

In the corner of the room, there was a small shrine. Decorated with small white candles, a few flowers were scattered on it. A bowl of uncooked rice lay on the wooden plaque while incense sticks were placed in front of a picture. There were two black stripes on the picture.

Joonjae placed the tray aside and cleaned up the shrine. He took out the dead flowers and ashes from the sticks and replaced them with new ones. Carefully dusting away the rise, he lit the new sticks and placed the food bowls in front of the picture.

Joonjae put his hands together and closed his eyes.

"In your remembrance, I offer you this small amount of food in the hopes that your soul is appeased, Lee Chaerin," he chanted. He looked up to see the picture of a lively, black haired girl with amber eyes.

A small label on the picture read: Lee Chaerin (1989-2009)