Crime, Betrayal, and Love (A Seventeen Street Racing AU)

XXXVII | Personalities

"Do you want to go to the races with me tonight?"

I turn away from the sizzling pan to look at Mingyu; eyes widen in surprise at his sudden suggestion. It's not a strange offer; however, I'm not used to him asking me.

"I mean like, I could take you if you wanted to go. I have to race in the first one, but if you want, we could hang out during the second." Mingyu scrambles with his words. "I just thought I should ask since you haven't been going recently. You haven't gone to one since Eight's gotten back."

"Oh yeah." I almost want to say no, because I'm still scared of confronting Minghao, but I can't be like this forever. Not when I'm staying in the same house as him. If any race were a good one to watch, it would be this one. Now that it's a few weeks after the meeting, it's time for the race to impress Jennie, which should make them interesting.

"Don't feel pressured! It was just a suggestion in case you were bored." Mingyu shows off a small, comforting smile.

"No, I'll go! I don't have work or anything, so I mig-"

"The eggs!"

I spin around to find a stream of dark smoke rising from the pan. "Darn it!" Taking it off the stove, I turn off the burner and try to find something to place the pan down on.

Mingyu laughs at my despair, standing up to help me. Besides the stove, he places a pot holder. "Here," His voice extremely happy, considering I just ruined his lunch.

"This is unfair," I complain, placing the pan down and looking at the charred eggs.

"Don't worry." He chuckles, "I'll be the one to cook for us from now on."

After the midnight snack Mingyu made for us, I wanted to repay the favor, and today turned out to be the perfect day. When I came to my breaking point in dancing today, I decided to go home, too tired to do anything else. Once I was here, I discovered Mingyu was the only other person in the mansion, and I impulsively offered to make us lunch, forgetting that I'm not a good cook. There's a reason I stay as a server in the restaurant.

"Thank goodness," I groan, moving to scrap the eggs and place them on top of the already prepared kimchi brown rice. At least the first part of the dish looked nice. Unfortunately, the plate is brought down by the blackened egg.

Taking the two plates, Mingyu brings them to the table while I bring the pan to the sink, filling it with water to make the burnt parts come off easier once washed.

"Hey, at least it looks mostly edible!" Mingyu compliments from the table.

"Glad you think so." I take a seat beside him. "Now, let's see how bad it tastes."

"Don't doubt yourself; I'm sure the rice part will be... okay."

I anxiously watch as Mingyu takes his chopsticks and gathers a part of the rice, avoiding the part by the egg. He doesn't hesitate to take a bite. On the initial taste, he seems pleased, and Mingyu turns to me with a happy smile.

"Wait, is it good?"

He nods, still chewing the food. However, his expression becomes sour after a few more seconds, and he makes a faint coughing noise. After forcing the food down to me,  Mingyu offers another smile, although his nose and eyes scrunch up in distaste. "I can really tell that you tried hard."

"Woooow.""The first two seconds are good!"

"Well, that doesn't matter!" I laugh at the sad attempt of my cooking.

"At least you tried."

"Comforting," I say, taking up my own chopsticks to try the food. And, as Mingyu said, the first bit isn't bad, not good, but not bad. Then a vile, sour, and acidic flavor, not in the way the dish is supposed to be.