❅ 𝗙𝗔𝗡 𝗙𝗜𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 ❅
As he saw the helpless man weeping for the love of his family, Namjoon asked himself, "So who is to blame now?" He had also lost the person he called home after all. His mother and sister did too.
But when his mind drifted...
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Cooking was an art.
Little Namjoon realized this when he helped his parents in the kitchen, eagerly handing them spices, spatulas, or pot lids whenever they asked. Though his contributions were small, he tackled each task with cheerful enthusiasm, knowing it was all he could manage.
Everyone else knew this too-especially after the iconic incident.
One dreadful day, Namjoon took it upon himself to make coffee for the family and friends who had come over. What he didn't realize was that he'd forgotten to turn off the stove, nearly suffocating them all in a cloud of carbon monoxide.
Thankfully, modern technology had since replaced Moka pots with electric coffee makers, a change that allowed him to fuel himself with caffeine a decade later without risking his loved ones.
But this morning, it seemed his energy had drained faster than ever as he cleaned up the mess Eunha and Minji had created.
The smell of burnt toast still lingered in the air, mingling with the scent of dish soap. His body screamed for rest, longing to slip back under the covers and pretend this morning's chaos was just another bad dream. Sadly, reality demanded otherwise, and he still had to check on Eunha and Minji, hoping to prevent them from scratching each other's faces like wild cats.
He wondered how their incoherent, senseless bickerings always ended up so intense. Maybe it was one of those frustrating mysteries of siblings and cousins no one could unravel. Either way, he didn't have time to waste pondering.
Tossing his empty mug into the washbasin, he trudged upstairs, his legs feeling like lead. He was barely twelve feet away from Minji's room when he saw Eunha slipping out, looking mildly irritated.
"Hey," Namjoon called, startling her.
"Oh, hey!" she replied with a quick smile. "Finished cleaning up downstairs?"
"Yeah," he said. "How's Minji? Doing any better?"
"All cool and freshened up. I ordered miso soup for him and chicken noodle soup for us. Thought it'd be nice after the morning we had."
"Yeah, that sounds good."
Eunha shifted her weight, humming softly, the weariness in her eyes evident. "Yep. I'm gonna go shower. You should too, Joon. How about we have the soup together in your room after?"
"Sure thing." Namjoon nodded, stifling a yawn as he mirrored her stretch. "Tired" didn't begin to cover how he felt. Between the workload he'd shouldered over the past two years and the chaos of this morning, he was completely drained, both mentally and physically.
But he knew he had to keep pushing through until he could finally rest. He wished that day would come soon. For now, though, he settled for a long, warm bath and the thought of a comforting meal afterward. Leaving for Seoul could wait until late afternoon.
