Seo-in's face lit up in a radiant smile. She leaned in and kissed his cheek, "but I'm warning you," she said playfully, "you look like a mess. I'm not letting you work yourself to death. You're going to take it easy for a while, understand?"
Luca couldn't help but let out a chuckle. Even when she was scolding him, Seo-in was too adorable.
"Yes, yes," he said, feigning annoyance. He didn't like being told what to do, but at the same time, it was endearing how worried she was for him. "I'll take it easy. I promise."
Seo-in grinned and kissed his cheek again. "Good. Now, first things first, you need a shower."
Luca chuckled at her bossy tone. It was like a switch had been flipped in her. She went from clingy girlfriend to full-on caretaker in seconds.
"Are you saying I smell?" he joked, raising an eyebrow.
Seo-in wrinkled her nose dramatically. "You stink, yes."
Luca placed a hand over his heart in mock offense. "Ouch. Brutal."
***
After they entered the apartment, Luca headed to the shower while Seo-in unpacked her things. She placed a few essentials on the dresser and looked around the small, simple apartment. The apartment was bare and messy. Clothes and books scattered everywhere. Coffee cups and instant ramen containers stacked on the table. The faint smell of mildew lingered in the air. She sighed to herself, knowing that Luca was far from taking proper care of himself.
Despite the mess, there were signs of Luca's effort, the open laptop, stacks of research, notebooks filled with writing in multiple languages. He was brilliant, yes, but she could see how much it was costing him.
As she started folding her clothes and putting them away in the dresser, Seo-in thought about how she could help Luca. She knew he was stubborn and independent, and probably wouldn't appreciate her coddling too much. But at the same time, she couldn't just let him continue like this, clearly heading towards a total burnout. He needed someone to take care of him, just for a while.
When Luca came out of the bathroom, he found Seo-in folding his clothes and neatly tucking them into the closet. He froze for a moment, she looked oddly out of place doing chores like that. A twinge of guilt hit him; he hadn't meant to make her clean up after him.
"Hase, you don't have to do that," he said.
Seo-in looked up from the clothes, giving him a slightly disapproving look. "Are you kidding? It's a total mess in here."
Luca scratched the back of his neck, looking embarrassed. "I know, I know. I've been a little busy with my project. Remember?"
Seo-in rolled her eyes playfully. "A little busy? You look like you haven't slept for a week."
Luca was about to protest, but then he yawned loudly, confirming Seo-in's point. He couldn't deny it. He was exhausted. He had been running himself ragged, fueled by caffeine and determination. But now, with Seo-in here, his defenses crumbled.
"Yeah, okay, I guess I am kind of tired..." he admitted, running a hand through his damp hair.
Seo-in smiled softly and came over to him. She gently touched the dark circles under his eyes, the concern in her gaze deepening.
"When was the last time you ate a proper meal?" she asked.
Luca had to think for a second. "Uh, I had a sandwich for lunch yesterday."
Seo-in raised an eyebrow. "And how about breakfast? Or dinner?"
Luca winced. "Does a cup of coffee count as breakfast?"
Seo-in shook her head in disapproval. "No, coffee is not a meal. You need real food, Luca. You're working yourself into an early grave."
Luca sighed. He knew she was right. But in his mind, work had taken priority above everything else, including eating and sleeping. It was an unhealthy cycle. Luca froze for a moment as he locked eyes with Seo-in.
"Yeah, I know. Uh ... I have to get dressed first," he said, breaking the silence.
Seo-in nodded, understanding that he needed a moment. "Alright, go get dressed," she said. "I'll continue cleaning up."
Luca retreated to the bedroom, closing the door behind him. In the privacy of the room, he leaned back against the door and let out a long sigh. He was so thankful for Seo-in's presence, but at the same time, he was feeling a gnawing sense of guilt.
Late afternoon, Seo-in ordered food to eat with her boyfriend. By the time Luca emerged from the bedroom, Seo-in had finished tidying up the apartment and there was a delicious smell wafting through the air. She had ordered food from a local Korean restaurant, Luca's favorite. Luca's stomach rumbled as he walked into the living room, his hair still damp from his shower. The smell of the food made him realize just how hungry he really was.
"Hase, is that-" he started to ask, but his words were interrupted by another loud grumble from his stomach.
Seo-in couldn't help but laugh at how famished he looked. "Yes, your favorite Korean food," she said, gesturing to the food she had spread out on the coffee table.
Luca's eyes lit up as he took in the sight of all the dishes laid out before him. The spicy, savory odors made his mouth water. He sat down next to Seo-in, his previous worries momentarily forgotten, replaced by hunger.
"You're a lifesaver," he said, already reaching for a plate to fill with food.
Seo-in smiled, happy to see him enjoying the meal. "Eat as much as you want. You look like you need it."
Luca didn't need to be told twice. He dug into the food with gusto, shoveling bite after bite into his mouth. Seo-in watched him with a mixture of amusement and affection.
"Slow down, you're going to choke," she jokingly chided him.
Luca chuckled, his mouth full of food. "Can't help it. It's too good," he mumbled.
Seo-in shook her head, amused by his appetite. As she watched him eat, she couldn't help but feel a bit relieved. At least he was getting some nutrients into his system. After eating and finishing his drink, Luca stared at Seo-in without saying a word, but his gaze was quite serious. Seo-in noticed the change in Luca's demeanor. The carefree expression he had had while eating was replaced by a more sober, serious one. She tilted her head, looking at him with curiosity.
"Everything alright?" she asked softly, a hint of concern in her voice.
"Hase, please listen to me. In the future, you don't have to spend money like this," he said, "we've been together for a long time, we're a team, and you don't have to take care of me or support me financially just because you live with me now, okay?" Luca said.