rewrite the stars - jaywon

chapter 6

When Jungwon rushed into the kitchen late the next morning, he found that nearly every inch of available counter space was occupied. Half was filled with plates of what looked to be various types of egg dishes, the other half in cartons of eggs or chopping boards with various produce items.

Jungwon's father was hovering around Jay as the robot swirled a pan around at the stovetop.

"Dad, what-- what's going on here?"

Jungwon had just wanted to grab a piece of toast and get on the road. He wasn't even sure where to find the bread in this mess. It was probably buried under a carton of eggs somewhere.

Jungwon's father looked up excitedly from where he'd been watching Jay work.

"Jay's showing me every kind of omelette he knows how to make. So far he's done three American styles-- spinach and mushroom, bacon and cheddar, and original-- two French-- oh my God, remind me to ask your mother to pick up more butter from the store-- a Spanish-style one. Now he's showing me Japanese!"

Jungwon's father ticked off each type on his fingers as he named them off. Jungwon looked around at all the dishes on all the countertops, amazed that every single one was only just a variation of one basic dish.

"Don't you think you're overdoing it a little? There's no way you can eat all of these."

As he watched, Jay slid a yellow mass from the pan he was holding onto a dome of rice on a plate. The yellow mass wiggled and jiggled atop the rice, and Jay sprinkled a pinch of chopped green herbs atop it.

When Jay had finished garnishing the Japanese version, he looked to Jungwon. Jungwon could swear he saw some strain around his eyes, some tension there that was new.

"I informed your father that the first two omelettes I prepared for him were more than enough for his breakfast."

"But-- but omelettes, Wonie!"

"But-- but food waste, dad!" Jungwon mimicked, with a smile. Placating, he pointed out, "You can always ask Jay to make you more tomorrow."

Jungwon's father frowned, as if that was the first he'd heard of that idea. Jungwon shook his head. He loved his father, but he had to acknowledge that sometimes his father lacked a sense of limitations when he got over excited.

Jungwon resigned himself to having to make a breakfast of food court cinnamon rolls instead of the toast he'd wanted, and started towards the door.

"Do you need me to drive you anywhere, Jungwon?" Jay asked, as Jungwon took a step.

Jungwon stopped and looked at him, curiously. He hadn't thought Jay was capable of speaking faster than his usual pace. But he was sure he'd heard Jay do just that, just then. Jay had spoken urgently, not in his usual monotone. Jungwon put it down to his imagination.

"I think I'll drive myself today. It looks like you're pretty busy here."

As much as Jungwon wanted to seize the opportunity to get Jay alone in the car again, to get the chance to play him music until he admitted to feeling something about it, Jay was about elbow deep in omelette preparation. And, if Jay drove Jungwon to the mall, there was no reason for him not to stay there with him.

Jungwon wasn't sure how he felt about how easily some of his friends had taken to Jay. Or, if he was being honest, he wasn't sure how he felt about Sunoo spending more time with Jay.

"Oh, by the way, I'll need Jay next Friday. Last night I promised the poker group that they'd get a chance to see my 'bot during my turn to host" Jungwon's father's voice was muffled through a mouthful of omelette, "The Sims were asking about him. Jensen looked so annoyed."

Jungwon felt his face heat as he nodded his silent assent. It felt strange, wrong even, to acknowledge his partial ownership of Jay. Suddenly, he found it hard to look at Jay.

"See ya later," he said, though who it was directed to-- his father, or Jay, he couldn't say.

"Mmph," his father grunted, stuffing another bite of omelette into his mouth, as Jay said, "Goodbye, Jungwon."

⭐

Half an hour later, Jungwon found himself seated at the mall food court, scarfing down a cinnamon roll as his friends sipped leisurely at their varied coffee-adjacent beverages.

Jake and Heeseung were debating the relative merits of tube socks versus ankle socks. Sunghoon and Ni-ki were recounting the match they'd missed yesterday, going through highlights on their phones. Sunoo wasn't paying attention to either conversation. He was as disengaged as Jungwon. His eyes tracked a lady walking by their table, an android a half-step behind her, his arms full of shopping bags.

"I wonder what it's like to kiss a robot," Sunoo said, breaking his silence. His eyes glinted with untold mischief.

Jungwon felt that sharp thing in his chest shift, like it'd moved even closer to his heart. He feared it was in danger of puncturing it.

"That's-- what?" Jungwon laughed, too high pitched to be believable.

"I bet they're all cold and stiff. It'd probably feel really gross to kiss one," Ni-ki pitched in, his eyes cast down at his drink. He plunged his straw up and down with an almost violent ferocity.

"Well, let's ask Jungwon," Sunoo said equanimously.

Jungwon froze as he felt four pairs of eyes on him. Jake and Heeseung's sock debate had come to an abrupt end. Jungwon's discomfort was more entertaining.

"I've never kissed Jay," he said, panicked, blurting out the first words that came to mind, "why would I even-- want to do that? That's just-- no. That'd be weird."

"I wasn't going to ask if you'd kissed him, idiot," Sunoo snickered, "I was just gonna ask if he really is cold. Surely you've at least, like, touched him or something."

"Oh," Jungwon felt heat flood his cheeks. He looked down at the table, praying that his bangs concealed enough of his face that Sunoo wouldn't catch his blush.

"No, sorry. I don't know."

- the end of chapter 6 ♡