Six Feet Apart | kth

2 | Cook Off

I found myself drawn to the balcony more frequently after meeting my neighbors. A few days had passed since our last encounter, and each time I peeked over, no one was around. It was starting to feel like I was the only one getting excited over these brief interactions. I couldn't help but wonder if I'd ever meet the rest of them.

The sound of boiling water snapped me out of my thoughts. I quickly poured it over a waiting tea bag in my mug, then carried it back to the balcony. Settling into my chair, I opened my textbooks, trying to focus on my studies while the quiet street below lulled me into a strange sense of calm.

The morning air was cool against my skin as I sat on the balcony, the quiet of the street making it easy to lose myself in my studies. I absentmindedly sipped my tea, flipping through the pages of my textbook, though the words blurred together in my mind. My thoughts kept drifting back to the boys across the way. Would they come out again? Or had those few chaotic moments been a one-time thing?

Just as I was about to give up and go back inside, I heard the faint sound of a door sliding open. I glanced up, my heart skipping a beat. Sure enough, Taehyung stepped out onto the balcony, his blonde hair slightly tousled as if he'd just woken up. He stretched his arms above his head, looking out at the street before noticing me. A small smile tugged at his lips.

"Hey, Y/N!" he called out, leaning against the railing. "Good morning Taehyung," I replied, setting my mug down. "How's it going?" He shrugged. "Same old. Just trying to stay sane in this lockdown." He glanced back inside for a moment, then chuckled. "It's been kind of quiet without the usual chaos, though. Jin hyung's been on a cleaning spree." I laughed. "That's probably a good thing with all of you cooped up together."

"Yeah, until someone knocks over something he just organized," Jungkook smirked. "Then it's chaos again." As we chatted, I noticed movement behind him. Jungkook stepped out, followed by another guy with deep chestnut hair I hadn't met yet. He had a sleepy look on his face and was holding a cup of coffee. "Mind if we join you?" Jungkook asked, flashing me his usual bright smile.

"Not at all," I said with a smile. Jungkook grinned, and the chestnut-haired guy gave me a nod of acknowledgment before they both grabbed chairs and sat down beside Jungkook. "This is Yoongi hyung," Taehyung introduced, gesturing to the guy with the coffee. "He's usually not awake this early." Yoongi glanced at Taehyung and then at me. "Morning person, I am not," he said in a raspy voice, taking a sip of his coffee. I smiled. "Nice to meet you, Yoongi."

"Likewise," he mumbled, his gaze drifting lazily around the balcony. He looked like he was still half asleep, but there was something oddly calming about his presence. I took a slow sip of my tea before breaking the silence. "So, what crazy plan do you guys have for today?" Jungkook's eyes lit up, and he jumped to his feet with enthusiasm. "Ramyeon cook-off! All seven of us are competing. You should be the judge, Y/N!"

I chuckled softly at his energy, especially for this early in the morning. "I'm surprised Jin agreed to let Namjoon anywhere near the kitchen after that whole fiasco a few days ago. But if I do take you up on being the judge, do you guys even have a plan to get the ramyeon over to me?"

Jungkook glanced at Taehyung, who was leaning back in his chair, lost in thought. After a moment, Taehyung snapped his fingers. "What if... we use a rope and a basket? I could tie the rope to the basket, toss the other end to you, and you can pull it up?" I raised an eyebrow, considering his plan before nodding. "It might just work," I replied, a small smile tugging at my lips. Taehyung grinned at my approval and immediately pulled out his phone to type something. "I'll tell the others! This is going to be fun."

Jungkook, clearly excited, leaned on the balcony railing, watching me closely. "We're all serious about this competition, Y/N. Jin's already been lecturing us on proper cooking technique, and Namjoon... well, he's trying his best," he added with a playful laugh.