Enchanted Forest (Daerin // Bbangsaz)

Ch 4

The soft trill of birdsong drifted through the open window, mingling with the warm light of dawn as it gently roused Haerin from her sleep. She stretched beneath the cozy blankets, feeling the warmth of the morning sun caressing her skin. The tranquility of the forest seemed to seep into her very soul, making her want to linger in bed for just a few moments longer.

With a contented sigh, she reached out for her phone on the bedside table, instinctively pressing the power button to check the time. But the screen remained dark, unresponsive. Haerin frowned, realizing her phone had died overnight. She sighed softly, setting it back down. There was no urgency here, no deadlines, just the slow, peaceful rhythm of the forest.

A gentle knock on the door pulled Haerin from her thoughts, and she turned to see the door creak open. Danielle's face appeared in the gap, her eyes crinkling into a smile that seemed to light up the room.

"Good morning, Haerin," Danielle greeted, her voice smooth and melodic, as if she had been awake for hours. "Breakfast is ready. I thought you might want to wake Minji up."

Haerin nodded, returning the smile. But before Danielle left, she added a playful wink, causing Haerin's heart to skip a beat. Danielle closed the door softly behind her, leaving Haerin with a warm, fluttery feeling that she couldn't quite explain.

She lay back for a moment, her mind replaying Danielle's smile, the soft lilt in her voice. Finally, shaking her head with a soft chuckle, she turned to Minji, who was still deeply lost in sleep, sprawled out comfortably in her bed.

"Minji, wake up," Haerin called, giving her friend a gentle nudge on the shoulder. Minji groaned, burying her face deeper into the pillow.

"Five more minutes..." Minji mumbled, her voice muffled.

Haerin laughed softly. "Come on, you lazy bum. Breakfast is ready."

With some effort, Minji finally rolled over, squinting up at Haerin with bleary eyes. "Alright, alright, I'm up. But if the food isn't amazing, I'm going back to sleep."

"It's Danielle and Hanni's cooking. It's always amazing," Haerin teased, tugging the covers off of Minji.

Minji groaned dramatically but swung her legs over the edge of the bed, slowly pulling herself up. "Fine, you win. Let's go eat."

As they made their way to the dining room, the mouthwatering aroma of freshly cooked food filled the air. Haerin's stomach growled in anticipation, and she exchanged a grin with Minji. When they entered, they were greeted by the sight of a beautifully laid table, with stacks of fluffy pancakes, scrambled eggs, and bowls of fresh fruit.

"Good morning!" Hanni chirped, her enthusiasm contagious. "We've got a little bit of everything. I hope you're hungry!"

Danielle glanced up from pouring tea, her gaze lingering on Haerin for just a second longer than necessary. "I made sure to include something for everyone's tastes."

Haerin and Minji exchanged a look before sitting down. The table was filled with warmth and light, the perfect setting for a leisurely breakfast. They all started to dig in, the conversation flowing naturally as they savoured each bite.

"This is so good," Minji said around a mouthful of pancake, her eyes wide with appreciation. "I swear, I could eat this every day."

"I'm glad you like it," Hanni replied, beaming. "I've always enjoyed cooking, especially when it's for friends."

Haerin smiled, taking a sip of the tea Danielle had poured. It was perfectly brewed, the flavour rich and comforting. "You're both amazing hosts. It's like staying at a five-star hotel."