That Night It Rained | Yuta

16 | Soup and Fish

Yuta and Jina didn't particularly become friends but their awkward encounters and their wish to avoid each other in the house were starting to dimmish. They didn't avoid each other's eyes anymore whenever they would cross in the hallway or while coming out of their rooms which were next to each other. And, sometimes, just sometimes, they would even see a hint of a smile on each other's faces.

Yuta had not mentioned to Jina nor to any other member about the phone call he had heard of her and presumably of one of her friends. Even though he was worried that Jina might go alone to the reunion and feel miserable the entire time or not end up going at all, he didn't say anything to her.

Yuta came out of his room, yawning and stretching his arms. He checked Jina's door which was left ajar meaning she was not there inside. He found her sitting at the table waiting for breakfast which was being made by Jaehyun and Taeyong today. All the other members were sitting around the table too, either on their phones or staring into the distance, still trying to wake up. Yuta took the empty seat next to Jina's.

Jina looked up at him and just smiled. 'Morning guys,' Yuta said groggily and they replied, equally groggy.

Doyoung got up to set the table while Taeyong was bringing in bowls of food for everyone. The others started setting up their own plate.

Yuta poured some soup for himself. 'This is so good, Jaehyun,' he shouted from the table to be heard in the kitchen.

Jaehyun smiled from the kitchen.

Yuta noticed that the soup was far away from Jina's reach so he poured some in a second bowl and placed it in front of her. Shocked by Yuta's action, she didn't know what to say and only managed a simple 'thank you' and a slight bow.

But just as she was about to drink it, Jaehyun shouted coming from the kitchen with a different bowl in his hands, 'No! Jina don't drink that.'

Jina stopped just as the soup was about to touch her lips.

'It has fish in it,' Jaehyun said.

'So?' Yuta looked confused.

'Oh, she doesn't like seafood that much, hyung,' Mark said explaining.

Jaehyun pushed the bowl Yuta had kept in front of her aside and placed the bowl he was carrying, 'Here, I made this one for you without fish. Have this.'

Yuta's face fell seeing the bowl he poured pushed aside. He knew it wasn't such a big deal that he didn't know that Jina didn't like seafood but it bothered him that Jaehyun and Mark already knew and seeing the casual attitude of the other members, he guessed that they must know too.

Jina read Yuta's expression and said, 'Let me try this once,' dipping her spoon in the bowl Yuta had poured. She looked expectantly at Yuta but Jaehyun snatched the bowl right away and said, 'Nonsense! You don't have to. I made this one specially for you,' and took the bowl for himself and sat down saying, 'I'll have this one instead.'

'So where are you guys going?' Winwin asked, looking at Jungwoo and Jina.

Everyone else looked at them too but Yuta wasn't sure what they were talking about. He realised that Winwin was asking them about their date when Jungwoo replied, 'The amusement park just opened for the season and we were planning on spending the day there.'

'Oh! that sounds like so much fun,' Haechan said, 'I want to go too', he added and clanged onto Jungwoo.

'You want to go on everyone's dates,' Doyoung said, remembering pulling Haechan off him and Jina when they were going for their date.

'You didn't take me on yours,' Haechan said to Doyoung and shifted to Jungwoo's side again, 'But Jungwoo hyung will take me on his date, right?', he said making the cutest face possible.

'I don't think you understand the concept of a date,' Jungwoo said, playing along with Haechan's antics.

'Noona, won't you want me around?' Haechan now turned to Jina.

Jina laughed and said, 'Of course I would.'

'See?!', Haechan shouted excitedly, 'It is decided then, I am coming too,' he declared to everyone.

'You shouldn't have said this,' Johnny whispered across the table to Jina.

But Jina had something else in mind. She looked at Haechan and said in a tone more eager than him, 'Yes, and we are planning to go on the highest and fastest rides in the amusement park.'

She gave a signal to Jungwoo and he seemed to understand her plan, 'Yeah there is this one ride which goes all the way up and drops you down in an instant.'

Haechan gulped but looked at Jungwoo confidently and said, 'But you don't like heights, hyung.'

'No, I don't. But I do like rollercoasters.' Jungwoo shrugged.

'Me too!' Jina joined in.

'Actually, I forgot that I have some work today,' Haechan said faking disappointment and Jungwoo and Jina mimicked the same expression nodding their head.

'Too bad,' Jina said and everyone burst out laughing.

'So cute,' Mark said ruffling Haechan's hair.

'But actually, Haechan,' Taeyong said, 'we do have some work today.'

'Yeah, we have the recording tonight,' Johnny added.

'I am done with my part,' Mark said, 'And I think Yuta hyung is done too.'

Yuta nodded in agreement.

'Ah yes, that's tonight. But then how is Jungwoo...?' Haechan said.

'He'll join us later. His part is at the end,' Winwin answered for Jungwoo.

Being reminded of the recording, Yuta realised the date today. It was 23rd, the date of Jina's high school reunion party. He wondered whether she is going or not. 'But she is going with Jungwoo on the date.' 'Ah, but they'll be back in the evening because Jungwoo has the recording and the reunion might be in later in the night.' 'Should I ask her.' 'But then she'll know I heard her conversation on the phone.' All these thoughts occupied his mind with constant question and answer going on. But he left it alone and just finished his breakfast.

Jina was waiting for Jungwoo in the living room when Yuta heard Jina tell Taeyong and Winwin that she'll be going out tonight for her high school reunion. Both of them told her how fun the night would be but Yuta saw how reluctant Jina was even though she was trying to feign excitement.

'Finally!', Jina said, looking at Jungwoo walking down the hall.

'Sorry, sorry,' Jungwoo apologised for being late, fixing his shirt.

'Bye, have fun!' Taeyong called out when they went out the door.