Fate part 2

Chapter 227

Namjoon's P.O.V.
We did as we said... And invited everyone again. Hobi hyung and Moonbyul noona didn't come. Irene didn't either, and fair enough! She hosted the awards last night. Of course she'd rather stay in, but Tae came over. Jin hyung was on a little trip with his friend, now girlfriend.
As always, we debated: a.k.a. trying to convince my partner we don't NEED to cook for our army of friends.
"Takeout is good too!"

"They deserve better than this, come on."

"Min, I know that you have a heart of gold. Okay? But, for the love of our sanity, let's not. We arrived home, after picking up Mushu from noona's and her sister's apartment, an hour ago."
We thanked Byul's sister so much for watching him..
"Our fridge is bare, and we told them to arrive at 5pm."
Which means that at least one of them will show up at 3pm, maybe two.

She looked at our pantry and refrigerator.
"It is pretty empty here.. Don't we have time?-"
Babe. Beautiful. Take a good look at my face. "Joonie, I'm not blind. Stop giving me your you're kidding me look."

"Listen, Kitten.."
My hand gently wrapped around her wrist and kindly pulled her away from the kitchen.
"Let's show ourselves a little grace here, shall we?"

"But.." She looked at the picture of our group from our last dinner.
"It makes them happy."

Sweet people-pleaser of a woman you are.. "Being here with us makes them happy. I propose a compromise. Okay?"

Don't raise a brow at me. You know I'm right. Also, you have been yawning all morning.
"I'm listening."

So, I pitched it.
"We take an hour nap. Then, we take a shower or a bath to freshen up from our flight.. Whether it is a solo or duo affair is up to you."
The last thing made her smile.
"I'm serious. We put comfy stuff on. We can look at a few places to order from until they arrive. If we have early guests and have what you'd need.. We can occupy them by making cookies. How's that?"

"You're treating them like kids now?" Always. You've met them.
"No one will be upset if we don't cook?"

"I think they'll be more upset if we do, if I'm being honest. I've been told we're pushovers."

"No, really? I have no clue what you're talking about."
She finally gave in.
"Fine.. A nap does sound amazing, and I'm stealing a shirt from your closet. Not negotiable."

I tried not to chuckle too loudly.
"Then we have a deal.. Want me to put your pajamas in the dryer for 15 minutes?"

"If you do that, I'm not sleeping for just an hour." So, I'd put them in the dryer, and set an alarm for myself.

"Want me to put your sheets in too?"

"Please?" You're in for a great nap, Beautiful. Needless to say, I showered first.
.
.
.
I put my finger to my lips.
"Don't make too much noise. I don't know if she woke up, but I think I heard the shower running."
I haven't gone near her bedroom since I left mine.

He did. "We can do this another day if Min wants to sleep."

Sleep for her is a need, more than a want. "She'll be up before 5pm, trust me."
My head turned to a sound.
"Moonie's up. That's her hair dryer."
I checked my watch.
"I didn't expect you to show up first and this early, hyung."

Two hours early, on the dot.
"To make sure you didn't put too much on your plate. You being your muse of a partner, mostly."
Don't give me that look.
"And not leaving you alone with your head."

Yoongi's P.O.V.
I wouldn't say that your girlfriend texted me to ask if I could come over earlier. I didn't know why, but I happily agreed to do so. He seemed pretty sound.
"She agreed to order takeout if we bake cookies for dessert."

The guys LOVED her cookies, all of them. "That's pretty fair. The machine does the work."

He offered me a drink and we sat down. "That's the point. Only performing, rapping, once this season made me realize how draining that time of the year must be for her."
No shit. Min was probably sore from neck to toe.
"She won't change that side of her overnight, hyung."

Oh, I know. I've known you for 17 years and you haven't changed one bit. "I'm not asking for that miracle. I'm hopeful, not stupid."
My day back home while you were in Hong Kong wasn't full of rainbows. I was not making that kind of mistake again. I monitored social media, spending a part of my day reporting false claims and any comments that were mean, hateful, sometimes cruel to each or both of them.
"At least, there's no cooking, so no dishes. Did you plan on doing something in particular?"

That's why Min texted. She knew about those. He's clueless.
"Is a King of The masked Singer watch okay? We saved the new season's premiere. My Moon is very much looking forward to it. They're doing duets this season."

"It's great. I'm just glad to be here."
Wasn't the season not done recording? Because I know one of your Christmas gifts. Didn't the hairdryer stop some time ago?
We shared the same thought.
"I can check on her."

Of course, he denied. Not for the reason I thought.
"Min might not get your knocking on her door. I'm so done startling her each time."
Joon went, didn't knock, but came back. "She's picking a shirt to put over her tank top in my room.- There she is~"

Lounging clothes? Yoon Mina? Never in a million years.
"My love, we said an hour, at 12pm. That's 4 hours ago now."
Why are you speaking so loudly?
Are you mad at him?

"I know, but I did set an alarm at 14:50 for you and put the phone under your pillow."
The words coming out of his mouth next.. "Beautiful, you're at mezzo-piano. We need you at pianissimo."

She covered her mouth, looked at me, then rubbed her hand against her face. "I'm doing it again?"
Min turned towards her room, correcting the strength of her voice.
"I'm sorry. Maybe I should put it on tonight. It's gonna be loud."

While she wasn't looking, I nudged him. "Go fix this. That was really shitty of you."

How can you be so smart, yet so dumb? "What? She asked me to tell her."

"Not in front of people. In a subtle manner. That was blunt. If I see her with something she didn't have right now, you'll get an earful."

Then, a lightbulb lit up over his head. "Fuck.. Not my proudest moment. I'm so GAUCHE."

Yep. "You know I'm right. I'll wait. Go."
Maybe she wasn't pissed at him, no.. She clearly wasn't. To her, it's her fault.

Mina's P.O.V.
What was I thinking? It's not like it used to be. I was starting not to flinch when I'd see him by my door. I sat there, on my bed, knees to my chest, my dog on my feet.
Then, I felt a hand on my arm.
I didn't even look.
"I'm overwhelmed. Leave."

A finger caressed my arm.
"If that's what you really want, I'll leave you be. I was tactless."

Joonie.. It's not you.
".. Even silence is different."

"It's a lot of change in a short time." He sat down next to me and kissed my temple, hand on my opposite cheek.
"We all love you just the same."
I haven't had time to be sad about. I had to make sure it wouldn't cause trouble for work first..

My head naturally fell on his shoulder. "I know.. I just need a minute."
I fidgeted with what I came in the room to get. "Do I have to?"

"No, you don't. We've been clear about that."
He glanced at what I was holding.
"But, getting out of the room? Preferably, if you're still up to chat with our friends."

"Alright then.."
I put the case on the nightstand.
"Can you put your hand on my shoulder if I get too loud?"

"Sure thing, Beautiful."
He opened the door for me.

"Think we have chocolate chips?"
I really craved that type of cookie. Maybe it's just for energy. A coffee would do the same, right?

A smile. "Enough to make a few batches? We should be good."
Joonie took a deep breath.
"Ah~ I can already smell it. I imagine the warm chocolate melting as I bite into one."

And... We found Yoongi, nose in the freezer, looking for something.
"Joon, didn't you say you always have at least a batch of cookie dough in the freezer?"
Not since MY PARTNER ate it all, no.
Clearly, cookies were needed, probably for everyone.