Hey, deskmate ; minsung 𖦹

40

Jisung placed his phone on the counter, glancing at Minho's last text with a tiny smile before locking the screen. He shook his head, surprised at how their dynamic had shifted so quickly from quiet rivalry to something that felt... friendlier, maybe even comfortable. The odd satisfaction of knowing Minho wanted to see him tomorrow was still settling in, but he brushed it off, focusing instead on making lunch.

Heading into the kitchen, Jisung grabbed a few ingredients from the fridge and cupboards. He figured he'd keep it simple—something easy but comforting, especially with his mom still at the hospital with his grandmother. He tried to push away the worry bubbling in his chest, but his thoughts drifted back to her. The past few days had been so overwhelming, and he found himself wanting something to keep his mind busy. Cooking felt like a good distraction.

He chopped up some vegetables, setting a pot of water to boil and pulling out the rice cooker. As the aroma began to fill the kitchen, he relaxed a little. Jisu wandered in, peeking over the counter.

"Whatcha making?" she asked, standing on her tiptoes to watch him chop vegetables.

"Just some rice and stir fry. Mom should be home soon, so I thought we'd have everything ready for her," he replied, tossing the chopped vegetables into the pan.

Jisu nodded, moving around to set the table without being asked. Despite being younger (8-9), she could sense the heavy atmosphere lately and was doing her best to help. Jisung was grateful for her calm presence; she had this way of grounding him when his mind got too caught up in anxious thoughts.

They worked together in companionable silence, occasionally sharing little smiles and glances. After setting the table, Jisu turned to watch the pan, and Jisung showed her how to stir the vegetables, her tiny hands carefully holding the spatula.

"You're good at this," he said with a smile, watching her concentrate.

"I learned from the best," Jisu replied with a cheeky grin, earning a soft laugh from Jisung.

Just then, the sound of the front door unlocking pulled their attention. His mother stepped in, her face tired but relieved. Jisung's heart settled a bit, reading that expression as a sign of some good news.

"Hey, Mom!" he greeted, moving forward to hug her.

"Hi, sweetheart," she whispered, giving him a gentle squeeze before nodding toward Jisu and taking a seat at the table.

As they all sat down, the warm meal between them, Jisung couldn't help but feel the weight on his shoulders lighten just a bit. For tonight, at least, they were together, and he was grateful for that comfort amid all the uncertainty.

The three of them settled around the table, the familiar clinking of dishes filling the air as they passed around bowls and plates. His mother smiled softly, glancing over the table at what Jisung had prepared.

"You didn't have to go through all this trouble," she murmured, though her smile was filled with gratitude. "It's nice to come home to a hot meal after everything."

Jisung felt a twinge in his chest at her words, but he shrugged it off. "Just thought it'd be nice to do something for you and Jisu." He didn't say it, but he knew she needed this—a small moment of normalcy.

"How's grandma?" he asked softly, picking up his chopsticks but pausing before taking a bite.

His mom's expression softened, though the exhaustion in her eyes was clear. "She's stable, which is good. She was even a little more responsive today," she said, her voice hopeful yet cautious. "The doctors say it'll take some time, but we're all taking it day by day."