invisible string theory 𝙟.𝙮𝙝

seventeen

⌒౨ৎ

The two of them gathered around the dining table where her mum had laid out a delicious spread of steaming bowls of rice, kimchi, and hot soybean paste stew. The atmosphere was cosy, with the morning sun streaming through the windows.

Mi-cha and Yunho however, still felt a bit on edge and could feel the lingering embarrassment from earlier. Mi-cha just knew that her dad wouldn't miss a chance to bring it up.

Just as they had started eating, her dad cleared his throat and looked directly at them. "So," he said, voice dripped with mock innocence, "did you two sleep well last night?"

Mi-cha's chopsticks froze mid-air, and she just sent her dad a pleading look, but he just smirked. The boy sitting beside her had nearly dropped his spoon, his cheeks were flushed as he stared down at his bowl, clearly wishing he could have disappeared into the food.

Her mum, oblivious to the context, smiled warmly. "Oh, that's right! You ended up sleeping over here," she said to the boy. "It must have been a bit cramped in that spare room. Was it comfortable enough?"

With a widened grin, her dad said, "Oh, I think they managed just fine. Quite... cosy, actually."

She could feel the heat that had risen in her face, and she nudged her dad under the table, muttering. "Dad... please."

Her dad leant back, chuckling. "What? I'm just saying they looked... close this morning."

With a puzzled look, her mum glanced between the two of them. "What are you talking about?"

Yunho was unable to take the teasing any longer and he stammered, "We, uh... we accidentally fell asleep on the same mattress, that's all. Nothing else!"

Her dad raised an eyebrow, clearly enjoying his discomfort. "Just the air mattress, huh?"

The man nodded furiously, cheeks ablaze. "Yes, sir. Just the air mattress. It was an accident."

Her mum finally caught on, gasping slightly. "Oh! You two ended up sleeping next to each other?" She looked a little surprised, but there was a glimmer of amusement in her eyes now, too.

"Well, that explains why you were both so flustered this morning!" She beamed.

Mi-cha's dad chuckled, clearly proud of himself. "Young love, dear," he said to her mum, who shook her head, though she was smiling.

She sighed, mortified, and shot the boy an apologetic look. However, when their eyes met, they both couldn't help but smile, the awkwardness gave way to something warmer. A silent acknowledgement of the little moment they had.

As the meal finished, her dad snuck in the occasional teasing remark, but it became easier to laugh it off. By the end, they all joked around, the initial embarrassment faded into something they'll both remember as a funny, heartwarming moment.

Her mum stood to start clearing the table. Eager to help, she reached for her empty bowl, but at the same moment; he reached for it, too.

Their hands brushed, fingers lightly overlapping. The contact was soft, but it sent a little spark through both of them. She glanced up, startled, and met his gaze.