Gemotions

Liam practically skipped down the stairs, the morning light glinting off his messy hair. He heard the familiar rustle of newspapers in the living room and a low chuckle that belonged to Maya. He couldn’t contain his energy and ran in. "Good morning!" he burst out, his voice practically vibrating. Maya looked up, her eyebrows raised in amusement. "Morning, sunshine. What's gotten into you?"

He couldn’t wait to explain. "I heard you talking to your mom on the phone last night, in Korean," she continued, her voice full of understanding. He grinned, feeling a surge of joy. Maya had been secretly studying Korean! "I've got a surprise for you," he said. He grabbed her hand and ran towards the kitchen.

He cleared his throat. "잘 먹겠습니다 (jal meokgesseumnida)!" he blurted out, bowing dramatically. His pronunciation was atrocious, but Maya's reaction was priceless. Her laughter bubbled over, and she clapped her hands together. "Oh, Liam," she said, shaking her head. "That's awful! But…so sweet."