Alpha Culinary Love

Jiyeon slouched deeper into the passenger seat, watching the endless road stretch out before them. The car hummed softly, and the warm afternoon sun bathed the landscape in a golden hue. Despite the calm, her mind buzzed with curiosity.

"I swear, if you're kidnapping me and taking me to some corporate retreat, I'm jumping out of this car," Jiyeon deadpanned, breaking the silence.

Yura smirked but didn't take her eyes off the road. "Don't worry, I wouldn't waste your precious time like that. And I don't think you'd get very far. You barely survived those high heels last month."

Jiyeon huffed, crossing her arms. "Excuse me, but I was being fashion-forward. Not my fault we had to walk across a gravel driveway for that gala."

"You could barely stand after ten minutes," Yura teased, her eyes glinting with amusement.

"Who puts gravel at a gala? Some sadist with no taste," Jiyeon muttered, narrowing her eyes at the memory. "I could've killed the event planner with those shoes."

"Instead, you nearly killed yourself," Yura quipped. "Honestly, you were wobbling like a newborn deer."

"Hey!" Jiyeon pointed at her accusingly. "You're supposed to be on my side!"

Yura raised an eyebrow. "I was. I had to practically carry you to the car afterward. You owe me."

Jiyeon shot her a look. "Oh, do I? How exactly does helping your spouse count as a favor? Isn't that the bare minimum?"

Yura snorted. "Spoken like someone who doesn't do 90 percent of the laundry."

Jiyeon gasped dramatically, placing a hand over her chest. "Low blow, Yura. Real low. I don't criticize your… weird obsession with organizing the fridge."

"That's called being efficient," Yura said defensively. "You'd understand if you didn't treat the kitchen like a war zone."

Jiyeon rolled her eyes. "This from the woman who alphabetizes the spices."

Yura grinned. "And yet you benefit from it every day. You're welcome."

"Benefit? Pfft," Jiyeon scoffed. "I'm lucky if I can find the garlic powder without needing a search party."

"You're just mad because I'm right," Yura said, her smirk widening.

Jiyeon stuck her tongue out but couldn't help smiling. "Fine. You win this round, Miss Organization."

Yura's laughter echoed in the car, and for a moment, the tension from the last few weeks faded into the background. Jiyeon sighed, feeling lighter than she had in a long time. She hated to admit it, but Yura's surprise trip was already working wonders on her nerves.

"Okay, but seriously," Jiyeon said, after a comfortable pause. "Where are we going? Don't think I haven't noticed that we've been driving for over two hours with no end in sight."

Yura's lips curled into a mischievous grin. "You'll see."

Jiyeon groaned, pressing her forehead against the window dramatically. "This is torture. I hate surprises."

"No, you love them," Yura corrected. "You just hate waiting for them."

Jiyeon opened her mouth to argue but quickly closed it again. Damn, Yura knew her too well.

"Fine. You're right," she muttered, her voice tinged with reluctant amusement. "But if this ends up being some weird retreat with motivational speakers, I'm dumping you."

Yura chuckled. "I'd love to see you try."

"Try me," Jiyeon shot back. "I've been working out. I could totally push you into a ditch."

Yura glanced at her, one eyebrow raised. "Working out, huh? You mean the fifteen minutes of stretching you do in the mornings?"

"Active recovery," Jiyeon corrected with a smirk. "It's an important part of fitness."

"Sure," Yura drawled, the skepticism heavy in her voice. "You're a real fitness guru."

Jiyeon pouted. "You'll regret this when I'm lifting twice my body weight, and you need help moving the couch."

Yura bit back a laugh. "Uh-huh. I'll be waiting for that day."

The two lapsed into a comfortable silence again, but it didn't last long. Jiyeon's restlessness got the better of her.

"So… I'm supposed to just sit here and do nothing?" Jiyeon asked, fiddling with the strap of her seatbelt.

"Yes," Yura said simply, enjoying Jiyeon's frustration far too much.

Jiyeon's fingers drummed on her thigh. "You know I can't do that."

"I'm aware," Yura said dryly. "That's part of the fun."

"You're evil," Jiyeon muttered. "Sadistic, even."

Yura grinned. "You love me anyway."

"Debatable," Jiyeon grumbled, but the smile on her face gave her away.

Yura reached over, taking Jiyeon's hand in hers for a brief moment before letting go. "You'll like where we're going. Trust me."

Jiyeon glanced over at Yura's confident expression, the warmth in her eyes making her stomach flip. It wasn't often Yura pulled out surprises like this, so whatever she had planned, it had to be good.

"Alright, I'll trust you. But if there's even one motivational poster at this place, I'm throwing it in the trash," Jiyeon warned.

Yura chuckled softly. "Noted."

As they continued driving, Jiyeon's anticipation began to grow. She leaned her head against the window, watching the scenery change from suburban streets to more open landscapes. The tension of the last few weeks slowly eased, replaced by a sense of calm she hadn't realized she'd been missing.
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"I'll admit," Jiyeon said after a while, "I've been so focused on the restaurant that I kinda forgot what it feels like to just… chill."

Yura smiled softly, her tone gentle. "That's why we're doing this. You need a break."

Jiyeon sighed, grateful but reluctant to fully acknowledge it. "Yeah, I guess I do."

Yura's hand found Jiyeon's again, and this time, she didn't let go. They drove in silence for a while, the quiet hum of the car and the soft tunes from the radio filling the space between them.

Jiyeon squeezed Yura's hand gently, the knot in her chest loosening little by little. Whatever awaited them, Jiyeon knew it didn't really matter. As long as Yura was by her side, she was already home.

"Still gonna throw a tantrum if it's not up to your standards?" Yura teased lightly, her thumb brushing against Jiyeon's hand.

"Always," Jiyeon grinned. "But I'll give you a pass this time."

Jiyeon and Yura's car pulled off the highway and onto a smaller, winding road that cut through a densely wooded area. The air was cooler here, and the shade from the towering trees cast dappled shadows on the windshield. Jiyeon shifted in her seat, squinting at the unfamiliar surroundings.

"Okay, this is starting to feel a little too much like a horror movie," she muttered, glancing suspiciously at the thick forest that seemed to swallow the road ahead. "You sure we're not driving into some haunted cabin in the woods?"

Yura grinned, clearly enjoying Jiyeon's discomfort. "Wouldn't that be a twist? But no, it's not haunted. You'll live."

Jiyeon rolled her eyes, her mouth tugging into a smirk. "I'm not so sure. If a serial killer pops out, you're on your own."

Yura chuckled. "Thanks for the vote of confidence. I'll make sure to take you on every adventure from now on. You're a real pillar of support."

"I'm a chef, not a survivalist," Jiyeon retorted. "Unless you want me to stab someone with a paring knife, don't expect miracles."

Yura couldn't help but laugh at Jiyeon's sarcastic tone. "I think I'd rather avoid any stabbing, but thanks for the offer."

They continued up the winding road, and Jiyeon's nerves began to settle as they left the denser part of the forest. The trees thinned out, revealing a gorgeous view of a large, serene lake that glistened in the late afternoon sun. Nestled on a hill overlooking the water was a sleek, modern cabin with massive windows that reflected the golden light.

Jiyeon's eyes widened. "Okay, I'll admit… this is way better than I expected."

Yura smirked triumphantly, glancing at Jiyeon. "Told you. I don't do half-assed surprises."

Jiyeon snorted. "Yeah, yeah. You win this time."

They parked near the cabin, and Jiyeon stepped out of the car, taking a deep breath of the crisp, clean air. The lake shimmered in the distance, and the quiet hum of nature was the only sound around them. It was the exact opposite of the noisy, chaotic city life she'd grown used to, and Jiyeon felt the last bit of tension in her shoulders finally ease.

"I can't believe you planned all this," Jiyeon said, genuinely impressed as she walked up to the cabin's front door. "And without me figuring it out."

Yura followed behind her, unlocking the door with a swipe of a keycard. "It wasn't easy. You're suspicious by nature."

Jiyeon raised an eyebrow. "Suspicious? I prefer to call it being observant."

"Sure," Yura said with a teasing smile. "And yet you didn't see this coming."

Jiyeon opened the door and stepped inside, the smell of cedar and fresh pine filling her senses. The interior was just as stunning as the outside—minimalistic but warm, with plush furniture, a stone fireplace, and an open kitchen that Jiyeon immediately gravitated toward.

"Alright," Jiyeon admitted, glancing around appreciatively. "You've officially outdone yourself."

Yura smiled, leaning against the doorway. "I'm glad you like it. Now go relax—no excuses this time."

Jiyeon grinned, knowing that Yura had won. "Fine, but you're cooking dinner."