The young lecturer (Huh Yunjin x fem reader)

Chapter 13

Y/N's POV

I couldn't help but mutter, "What's taking those two so long?" I assumed Unnie had heard me as she approached.

"You were saying?" she asked, arching an eyebrow.

"Are they really just buying ingredients, or did they sneak off for a date?" I pondered, wondering about their whereabouts.

She flashed a reassuring smile. "Well, what do you plan to cook? Maybe I can help with some ingredients we already have."

I chuckled. "I'm not planning a feast—just dumpling soup, rice balls, kimbap, and mashed potatoes for snacks."

I had already finished making the kimbap and rice balls since they were easy. Now, I decided to start with the dumpling soup because Kazuha is taking forever to buy potatoes, milk, and oyster sauce.

"Unnie, can you help with the fillings? Here are the dumpling wrappers," I handed her the wrappers, and she began filling them.

"Sure, that doesn't look too complicated," she chuckled.

"By the way, I seasoned the minced meat earlier, so you don't have to worry about that," I informed her, and she nodded in response.

I returned to my wet kitchen to begin cooking the broth. I added all the chopped ingredients, including green onions, garlic, white sesame, dried seaweed, some sesame oil, and regular oil to a large pot. Then, I added the bok choy, along with a pinch of salt and chicken stock.

In the meantime, I went back to check on how Unnie was doing in the dry kitchen. As it turned out, she was doing okay but making a common mistake.

"No, no, you need to press out all the air when you wrap the dumpling filling," I immediately went over to help her.

"Is that so?" she asked, her voice soft.

"Mhmm, otherwise there's a risk of the dumplings exploding while boiling. We definitely don't want that, right?" I explained, and she nodded enthusiastically, making me laugh.

She's pretty cute, I thought.

"Got it."

"Here, let me show you."

As I quietly stood behind her, I gently guided her hands, instructing her to fold the wrapper until it's sealed perfectly. There was a clear sense of tension in the air, yet I couldn't pinpoint its origin. Nevertheless, I continued, helping her place a generous spoonful of filling in the center of each wrapper. The faint melody of 'Careless Whisper' by George Michael filled the background, adding to the ambience.

It was then, as the music swayed, that a sudden realization struck me. I understood why Yunjin had been so tense moments ago. The position we found ourselves in resembled an intimate back hug. My heart raced, and I quickly withdrew from her, making a swift retreat towards Kazuha.

"Oh no, I hope I don't make her uncomfortable."

"Are we perhaps...interrupting something?" Kazuha, who had just returned from the convenience store, remarked with a playful smirk.

I raised an eyebrow and retorted, "Yah, stop the music. What's taking you so long?"

Somi chimed in, "There was a bit of traffic, but you know us, we couldn't resist stopping for a few treats along the way."

I chuckled, shaking my head. Kazuha handed me the plastic bag filled with groceries. As I scanned the items, making sure they didn't forget anything, something else caught my eye.

"Alcohol?" I raised an eyebrow, looking at both of them.

Kazuha and Somi exchanged mischievous glances, and Kazuha replied with a grin, "Well, we thought we could use a little extra fun tonight. You know, break the routine."

Somi chimed in, "Exactly! Let's spice things up a bit."

I couldn't help but smile at their enthusiasm. "For whatever reason it is, I'm in."

Yunjin unnie, who had been listening, decided to join the fun. "Me too, then."

With a unanimous agreement, all of us cheered, ready for an unexpected but exciting twist to our evening.

。。。

"Thanks for the food." Everyone said before munching their meals.

We all sat together, eating quietly. The only noise was the sound of our forks and knives touching the plates. I couldn't help but notice that no one seemed to be enjoying the meal, especially Kazuha. Normally, she loves my cooking and can't stop talking about it, but today she's so quiet. It's making me wonder if something's not right.

I cleared my throat, breaking the silence. "I apologize in advance if the food isn't up to your liking," I said hesitantly. Finally, all three of them raised their heads to look at me.

"What do you mean, 'not good enough'? This is a superb meal." Somi was the first to respond, her voice emphasizing the word 'superb'.

Yunjin nodded in agreement, affirming Somi's statement. " You're a fantastic cook, Y/N," she said with a smile.

Then, I turned to Zuha, who looked at me with her radiant smile and sparkling eyes. "Y/N, you do realize your cooking never disappoints me."

Their kind words brought a smile to my face. I wasn't seeking validation, but their appreciation was a relief. Every day, I thanked my mom for teaching me how to cook. Despite her busy schedule, she never neglected my brother and me. She imparted essential life skills, making her my inspiration, role model, and idol.

She sets the standard that I'll always aspire to meet. The most heart-wrenching thing is when some people have never experienced a mother's love. That's why I consider myself the luckiest person in the world.

"Thank you, everyone. Please savor your meals," I said with a cheerful tone before taking a bite of my own food.