off limits ✧ zb1 applyfic

✧ ninety seven

When Irang had triumphantly removed her brace for the last time a few mornings ago, she'd thought she'd won this battle, proven her maturity, and things would finally go back to normal. No more babying from her mother, no more constant worry from her father, no more near-hourly checkups from her brother, and certainly no more babysitting from Yujin.

Well, she'd been right about a few of those things. Her father had definitely visibly relaxed and didn't seem as ready to jump out of his seat whenever she walked. Hanbin, too, had eased up on his nurse act, and did not go out of his way to evaluate her state, only asking her how she was doing when they would see each other. Her mother's babying hadn't stopped, but to be fair, it had started long before she injured herself, so there wasn't much she could do about that but bear it. As for Yujin...

Today again, he'd shown up at her front door, all smiles and ready to take care of her, while the rest of her family was out. Far from her to be displeased about seeing her boyfriend, but knowing he was there out of some sort of obligation to take responsibility for the injury he judged he'd caused her didn't quite sit right with her. It wasn't like she was a baby anymore. Her ankle barely even hurt! What was he going to do the next time he would slightly bump into her, open a hospital? No, Irang could take care of herself just fine.

She'd told him as much as she'd plopped herself down on the couch with a pout on her face, pivoting to fully lie down. "You don't need to come here every time I'm alone, you know? I'll be a-okay."

"Right, right," Yujin said, but it didn't seem like he'd really heard her. He grabbed a square pillow from the couch and gently slipped it under her ankles. "Here, better keep it elevated."

No, Yujin didn't listen to anything she said. Even though she'd told him her ankle didn't hurt anymore, he still seemed acutely aware of it. And, instead of sitting down with her, he stood over her like an attendant ready to be given orders. Maybe Irang shouldn't have opened the door, after all.

"Is there anything you need?" he asked enthusiastically. "Just ask me."

"I told you already, I don't need—"

Her protest was interrupted by a low, cavernous groan, and their eyes widened. It took her a few seconds, and another noise, to realize it was her stomach grumbling. Irang's face turned hotter and hotter, as she tried to clear her throat as a distraction. Sure, it was already twelve, but she'd eaten breakfast! There was no need for her stomach to loudly announce she was hungry, especially not in front of Yujin...

As expected, he'd taken it in stride. "You're hungry," he remarked, nodding. "Okay, I'll make you a meal!"

There he went again. Except Irang knew Yujin most definitely did not have the skills needed to make her anything edible.

"You can just make me a sandwich. Or pass me the snacks," she suggested, trying to talk him out of his ridiculous idea.

"Nope, I'm going to actually cook something for you! You know snacks aren't very good for your health."

Apparently, Yujin had been replaced with Hanbin, or had become a clone of him somewhere along the way. She knew him to be quite the voracious snack-eater, so his health advice was hardly convincing. Not to mention, he could definitely make a healthy sandwich... But he wasn't going to, was he? He already seemed hellbent on actually cooking. All by himself.

Irang already prayed her kitchen wouldn't catch on fire. Her mother would not like that.

Yujin almost turned to go to the kitchen, but paused. "Um, is there anything you feel like eating?"

"Hmm..." Still, she couldn't help but indulge him. "Soy milk noodle soup?"

Maybe the request had been a little too specific, judging from his face. He looked back at her with his eyebrows raised, before pursing his lips, his eyes unfocusing as if to help him think clearer. Irang clicked her tongue.