Alpha Culinary Love

I woke up to the sound of soft laughter. Opening my eyes, I saw Yura and Min-Seo standing near the desk, talking quietly. Yura's expression was more relaxed now, and she looked genuinely happy.

"Did you have a good nap?" Yura asked, coming over to sit beside me.

I nodded, sitting up and stretching. "Yes, thank you. I feel much better."

Min-Seo smiled warmly at us. "I think it's time for us to head home. You both need to rest, and I'll make sure dinner is ready when we get there."

We gathered our things and headed back to the car. The drive home was peaceful, and Yura seemed much more at ease. When we arrived, Min-Seo went straight to the kitchen to start dinner, leaving Yura and me to relax in the living room.

"Today wasn't so bad, was it?" I asked, leaning against her.

She shook her head, smiling. "No, it was nice. I'm glad you came with me."

We sat in comfortable silence, enjoying each other's company. When Min-Seo called us for dinner, we joined her in the dining room, the table set with a delicious spread of food. The meal was filled with laughter and stories, the tension from the morning completely gone.

As the night wore on, Min-Seo headed to bed, leaving Yura and me alone again. We retreated to our bedroom, the familiar comfort of our space wrapping around us like a warm blanket.

"I'm glad we talked things out," I said, pulling Yura into my arms. "I don't like it when we're at odds."

"Me neither," she replied, snuggling close. "I love you, Jiyeon. More than anything."

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"I love you too, Yura. And I always will."

We fell asleep holding each other.

It's been a week since my injury, and I'm finally fully healed. Today, I have a follow-up appointment at the hospital just to confirm everything. Min-Seo and Min-Jun are off on a business trip, so it's just me and Yura heading out together.

"I hate hospitals," Yura grumbled as she helped me into the car. Her pout was back in full force, as if the hospital had personally offended her.

"I know, but it's necessary," I said, trying not to laugh at her exaggerated expressions. "And besides, it's just a quick check-up."

"Still hate them," she muttered, starting the car.

The drive to the hospital was filled with Yura's dramatic sighs and grumbles. It was like having a moody teenager in the car, and I couldn't help but find it endearing. As we pulled into the parking lot, Yura's mood hadn't improved. She scowled at the hospital building as if it had insulted her ancestors.

"You know," I said, trying to lighten the mood, "if you keep scowling like that, your face might get stuck."

She shot me a look that was a perfect blend of mock annoyance and genuine affection. "I'm only doing this because I love you, you know."

"And I appreciate it," I replied, leaning over to give her a quick kiss on the cheek. "Now come on, let's get this over with."

Inside the hospital, we checked in and waited for my turn. Yura fidgeted in her seat, looking around as if expecting a monster to jump out at any moment. I couldn't help but chuckle at her antics.

Finally, my name was called, and we headed back to the examination room. The doctor was a pleasant older man who greeted us with a warm smile. "Good to see you, Jiyeon. And this must be your lovely wife, Yura?"

"Yes, that's her," I said, smiling at Yura, who gave a polite nod, though her eyes still held a hint of suspicion.

The doctor conducted the examination quickly, checking my wound and making sure everything had healed properly. "Looks like you're all set, Jiyeon. Everything is healing nicely."

"Thank you, doctor," I said, relieved to hear the good news.

Yura's shoulders finally relaxed a bit. "So she's really okay?"

"Yes, she's fine," the doctor assured her. "Just make sure she continues to take it easy for a few more days."

As we left the hospital, Yura seemed in better spirits. "See? That wasn't so bad," I said, nudging her playfully.

"I guess not," she admitted, a small smile creeping onto her face. "But I still don't like hospitals."

We got back in the car and headed home. Yura was humming to herself, clearly relieved that the check-up had gone well. As we pulled into the driveway, she turned to me with a mischievous grin. "How about we celebrate your clean bill of health with a nice lunch at your restaurant?"

I laughed, shaking my head. "Are you sure you just don't want to check up on everyone there?"

"Maybe a little of both," she said with a wink.

We headed inside to freshen up before going to the restaurant. As I was getting ready, Yura popped her head into the bathroom. "By the way, you look great today."

"Thanks, Yura," I said, smiling at her in the mirror. "You're not so bad yourself."

We made our way to the restaurant, Yura holding my hand the entire time. The staff greeted us warmly, and it felt good to be back in my element. Yura, despite her earlier moodiness, was all smiles now, chatting with the staff and making sure everything was running smoothly.

"Chef Kang!" I called out as we entered the kitchen. He turned around, a wide grin spreading across his face.

"Jiyeon! It's great to see you up and about," he said, giving me a quick hug. "How are you feeling?"

"Much better, thanks," I replied. "And it's good to be back."

Yura's eyes narrowed ever so slightly as Chef Kang hugged me. She wrapped an arm around my waist possessively. "Yes, she's doing much better now. Thanks for taking care of everything while she was recovering."

Chef Kang seemed to sense the tension and quickly stepped back, giving us some space. "Of course. Anything for Jiyeon."

Yura, still holding onto me possessively, gave a satisfied nod. I couldn't help but chuckle at her antics. "Yura, you really need to relax. Chef Kang is just being friendly."

She pouted, crossing her arms. "I know, but I can't help it. You're mine."

I rolled my eyes playfully. "Yes, yes, I know. Now, let's eat. I'm starving."

We found a cozy table near the window, and Chef Kang himself brought out the first dish: a beautifully plated Caprese salad. Fresh tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil, drizzled with balsamic glaze. Yura's eyes widened at the sight.

"Wow, this looks amazing," she said, momentarily distracted from her jealousy.

I grinned. "Just wait until you taste it."

As we dug into the salad, a few of our regular customers came over to say hello. Mrs. Park, an elderly lady who always ordered the same vegetable soup, was the first to approach.

"Jiyeon! It's so good to see you back. How are you feeling, dear?" she asked, her voice full of genuine concern.

"I'm doing much better, thank you, Mrs. Park," I replied with a warm smile. "It's good to be back."

She patted my hand affectionately. "Take care of yourself, dear. We missed you."

After she left, Mr. Kim, a businessman who often had lunch meetings at the restaurant, stopped by. "Jiyeon, I heard about what happened. Are you okay now?"

"I'm fine, Mr. Kim. Thank you for asking."

He nodded, giving me a thumbs-up before heading back to his table. Yura watched all of this with a mixture of pride and annoyance.

"I guess everyone missed you," she said, taking a bite of the salad.

"I missed them too," I replied, squeezing her hand. "And I missed you, even though you were right there with me."

She blushed slightly, her tough exterior cracking just a bit. "I was worried about you."

Our next dish arrived—a fragrant bowl of seafood linguine. The aroma of garlic, white wine, and fresh herbs filled the air. Yura's eyes lit up as she twirled the pasta on her fork.

"This is incredible," she said, her mouth full of pasta. "Chef Kang outdid himself."

"I told you he's good," I replied, savoring a bite. The pasta was perfectly cooked, the seafood tender and flavorful. It felt like a celebration of our return to normalcy.

As we enjoyed our meal, more regulars came by to check on me. Mr. Lee, who always had a new joke to share, made us laugh with his latest antics. "Did you hear the one about the chef who went to jail? He was charged with beating an egg!"

Yura groaned at the pun, but I laughed, appreciating the lightheartedness. "Thank you, Mr. Lee. It's good to laugh again."

Throughout the meal, Yura stayed close, her hand often finding mine. Her possessiveness was still there, but it was endearing in its own way. She just cared so much, and I loved her for it.

For dessert, Chef Kang brought out a plate of strawberry shortcake, knowing it was my favorite. The strawberries were sweet and juicy, the cake light and fluffy. As soon as I saw it, the familiar scent of strawberries filled the air, making me think of Yura's pheromones. My cheeks immediately turned bright red.

Yura noticed my reaction and a mischievous smile spread across her face. "What's the matter, Jiyeon? Thinking of something?"

I glared at her playfully, still blushing. "You know exactly what I'm thinking."

She leaned in closer, her voice low and teasing. "Do I smell as good as this cake?"

"Yura!" I hissed, embarrassed.

She laughed, clearly enjoying my discomfort. "I'll take that as a yes."

Despite my embarrassment, I couldn't help but smile. Yura always knew how to tease me just right. As we shared the strawberry shortcake, her playful comments continued, making me laugh and blush in equal measure.

By the time we finished our meal, I was feeling better than I had in weeks. The food, the familiar faces, and Yura's constant presence all combined to create a perfect day. As we prepared to leave, Yura leaned in close, her lips brushing my ear.

"Let's go home and relax," she whispered. "Just the two of us."

I nodded, feeling a surge of warmth at her words. "That sounds perfect."

We said our goodbyes and headed out, hand in hand. The drive home was peaceful, Yura humming softly to herself. Once we were home, she pulled me into a hug, holding me tightly.

"I'm so glad you're okay," she murmured, her breath warm against my neck.

"Me too," I replied, kissing her softly.

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