Meori Apeuda

Chapter 21

In the end they completely finished everything I had prepared, even the big bowl. After dinner I got up and started collecting the dishes but Hyunjin and Han jumped to their feet and stopped me.

"No, look, we've got a tradition in our group!" Han said and his eyes twinkled mischievously. I heard Changbin groan and I.N. hid his head in his hands. Completely clueless I turned to Chan, but he also had his head hidden behind his hand, looking nothing but tired.

"What tradition?" I asked and Han spread his arms in the best Showmaster manner: "We're playing Rock-Paper-Scissors, and the loser has to do the dishes. The chef is exempt today, of course." He added and motioned me to sit back down. Perplexed, I sat back down and watched the chaos that followed.

They played numerous rounds, shouting "가위 바위 보 (Kai Bai Bo, Scissors-Rock-Paper)" all the time, until finally Hyunjin and Changbin remained. Bin's face was quite hopeless and indeed, in the next round Jinnie won, leaving Bin to do the dishes. His head fell forward in defeat, the rest of the group congratulating Hyunjin. They all strolled towards the living room giggling.

Changbin stood up and started collecting plates and cutlery. I looked back and forth between the retreating group and their friend and finally shook my head, starting to collect plates on my end too. "No, Kaylee, don't. I lost. I always lose this game... " Bin murmured, shrugging his shoulders.

Walking past him I bumped my shoulder into his in a friendly way and winked. "So? We'll finish faster if we do it together! Come on, let's do this." A grin spread over his whole face and he nodded. Together we cleared half the table and brought the first load into the kitchen. He opened the dishwasher and started loading it. Watching him for a few seconds I wrinkled my nose for a second and stopped him. "Ah, Bin, you know what? Why...why don't you bring in the rest and I load the dishwasher, ok?"

He shrugged good-naturedly and left. Shaking my head I took everything out and put it back in correctly. He brought in the rest and then stood in the middle of the kitchen, looking a little bit lost.

"Thanks Bin, I'll take it from here." I said and winked at him. "But...the game...and...?" - "Do you WANT to do the dishes?" I interrupted and he quickly raised his hands in defence and shook his head. Grinning, I motioned him to leave: "Then go, I'll join you soon ok?"

He smiled, boxed my shoulder lightly but affectionately and left the kitchen, bouncing as he went.

I started the dishwasher and began to clean the pans and pots I had used. I had never minded doing the dishes, it was a great opportunity to let your thoughts wander. I felt like I hadn't had time to comprehend completely what happened in the last 48 hours.

Leaving the B&B, meeting Jin-Ju, the chase, the guys coming to my rescue like freaking superheroes... What the hell, Kaylee? When did my life turn into a freaking movie without me noticing it? Plus, I feared the next "scene". Being in my position you don't tend to believe in happy endings...

While finally scrubbing the long pincers I had used to turn the meat, a hand suddenly sneaked around my waist. I froze for a second but then felt his lips on my neck, placing soft kisses there. I bit my lip to keep a small moan from escaping. Ah yes...and this guy, of course...

"What are you doing, K?" he murmured between two kisses, his breath tickling my skin. I shivered. "What does it look like?" I answered, not sounding half as cheeky as I intended to. "Hmm...It looks like my little brother has found your soft spot and wriggled himself out of his duties..."

If he continued to kiss me I'd never be able to answer properly, and so I turned around. The next second his lips crashed onto mine, letting me see the little flaw in my plan. But honestly? I didn't care this second...his kiss was just too captivating. I moaned slightly, when his hand slid to my lower back and pressed me against him.