Winter Falls || Lee Know ✓

🎓:Kitchen story, AGAIN

~🎬~

As the day began winding down, the group was sprawled across the park in varying degrees of exhaustion and satisfaction. Suhyun was chattering away, telling some wild story about how she nearly flooded the kitchen again while making ramen. Soyeon was half-listening, nodding along absentmindedly, while Hyerin had her head resting on Suhyun's shoulder, too tired to contribute much but still occasionally adding an amused comment.

"I swear, next time I'm just ordering takeout," Suhyun declared dramatically. "At least that way I won't need to fight the fire alarm."

"That's probably safer for the rest of humanity," Seungmin cut in, smirking from his spot on the blanket. "The house can only take so many near disasters."

Suhyun rolled her eyes. "Oh, like you're so perfect, puppy. The last time you tried to cook, you nearly burned the kitchen down too!"

"That's called a culinary experiment, and I learned from it," Seungmin shot back, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Unlike some people."

Hyerin giggled sleepily beside Suhyun, "You guys should probably stay away from kitchens, period."

"Maybe we should," Suhyun agreed with a grin. "But where's the fun in that?"

Han, who had been dramatically lying on the grass like a wounded soldier from one of his K-dramas, suddenly perked up. "Honestly, the way you both talk about your kitchen disasters, it sounds like an action movie. Maybe we should make a documentary—'The Rise and Fall of Ramen: A Kitchen Catastrophe.' I'd watch that."

Soyeon, who had been quietly watching all the chaos unfold, finally chimed in with a dry comment. "I wouldn't. I'd just move to a safer country."

Everyone burst out laughing, with Seungmin shaking his head in disbelief at how quickly things escalated whenever this group was together.

Scene 3: Minho's Silent Shift

Amid all the laughter, Minho remained mostly silent, leaning against a tree with his arms crossed, a small, almost imperceptible smile tugging at his lips as he watched Suhyun engage in her usual antics. Every time she laughed—whether at one of Hyunjin's exaggerated whines or Han's over-the-top commentary—Minho's gaze would subtly shift toward her, a soft warmth flickering in his eyes.

No one else seemed to notice how his icy facade had cracked, if only slightly. His interactions with Suhyun still involved their usual playful bickering, but it had lost its edge. Now, it was more like a habit—one he found himself enjoying more than he'd care to admit.

During lunch, when Suhyun started spouting some nonsense about how sleep wasn't necessary if you had enough coffee, Minho couldn't help but roll his eyes, but there was no bite behind it.

"You're going to fail everything if you keep that up," he said flatly, though there was a small smirk tugging at his lips.

Suhyun huffed dramatically. "You underestimate the power of caffeine, Minho."

"And you underestimate the importance of basic biology," he shot back, but his voice lacked its usual sharpness.

Scene 4: The Hangout's Finale

As the group's teasing continued, Felix—being the social butterfly that he was—made sure everyone stayed engaged. He dragged Soyeon into the conversation, who, despite her quieter nature, kept up with their energy, throwing out the occasional sarcastic jab that left everyone laughing.

Meanwhile, Hyunjin—ever the drama llama—had taken it upon himself to give an emotional monologue about how tired he was. "I just can't go on anymore. This is it. This is the end of me!" he declared, collapsing onto the grass.

"Here," Minho said, tossing a tissue at him. "Cry into that."

Hyunjin held up the tissue, blinking at it in disbelief. "Are you serious? A tissue? I expected more sympathy from you, Minho!"

"Yeah, well, you expected wrong," Minho deadpanned, earning more laughter from the group.

In the background, Seungmin was casually watching everything unfold, as if it was some kind of elaborate performance, shaking his head at how chaotic the group had become.

"I'm surprised you survive living with her," Felix said, nudging Seungmin, referring to Suhyun.

"Barely," Seungmin muttered, though his smirk gave away the fact that he secretly enjoyed the madness.

Suhyun, overhearing, turned and pointed a finger at her cousin. "Hey! Don't act like I'm the only chaotic one in the house. You're the one who always leaves his shoes in the middle of the hallway!"

"Only because you leave your books everywhere," Seungmin shot back.

Felix chuckled at their banter, adding, "I think your house might be the real disaster zone without aunt jieun."

Minho, who had been observing quietly, glanced at Suhyun once more as she argued with her cousin. Despite her dramatics, there was something undeniably infectious about her energy—something that, no matter how much he tried to ignore it, kept drawing him in.

And as the day finally began to wind down, with everyone packing up and heading out, Minho found himself already looking forward to the next chaotic gathering, wondering just how much more his cold exterior would crack around her.

~⌛~

A few days later, the group found themselves back at their usual hangout spot, without Hyerin and jeongin—At a cozy café. Suhyun was sitting at a table with Hyunjin, Felix, and Han, eat a piece of cake and telling a story that was, as usual, both dramatic and completely off-topic.

"And then, Hyerin was like, 'No way that's going to fit in the oven!' but somehow, it did! And then BOOM, we had cookies, like magic!" Suhyun waved her fork around as she spoke, her eyes wide with excitement. Han was nodding along, looking just as invested in her chaotic kitchen tales, while Felix was stifling laughter.

Minho, seated across from her with a coffee in hand, was watching her with that same small, barely-there smile he'd been giving her lately. She was a mess, her hair slightly disheveled from rushing to the café after class, but something about the way she lit up the room with her energy made him... not mind it as much.

"You're talking nonsense again," Minho said, his tone as dry as ever, though the amusement in his eyes betrayed him.

Suhyun paused mid-bite to narrow her eyes at him. "Excuse me, Mr. Stoneface, I'll have you know that my cookies are a masterpiece!"

"I highly doubt that," Minho muttered, leaning back in his chair, arms crossed. "You'd probably burn water if you tried."

Suhyun gasped, clutching her heart as if she'd been wounded. "I can't believe you just said that. I am a kitchen artist, Minho. You just don't appreciate fine cuisine."

"Fine cuisine? You mean instant ramen and burnt toast?" he quipped back, that smirk of his growing a little wider.

Before Suhyun could come up with a retort, Hyunjin cut in, waving his hand dramatically. "As much as I love hearing you two bicker like an old married couple, can we please talk about something else? I'm emotionally exhausted just listening to you."

"Then why don't you cry into your tissue again, drama llama?" Minho shot back, tossing a napkin across the table at Hyunjin. The group burst into laughter, including Suhyun, who giggled so hard she almost dropped her fork.

~🎬~

MY FUC- GOD this chapter is of 1143 words *le gasp*

Last chapter's answer:

On the corner *Cackles like witch*

Today's riddle:
Which building has the most stories?