The Gimbap Project

Chapter 33 Best Actor

In the quiet stillness of early morning, a gentle humming could be heard through the Baek household, mingling with the soft sounds of utensils and the occasional chirp of birds. Standing in the kitchen, a certain teenager moved with practised ease, gathering and chopping the ingredients with a quiet focus that surpassed his peers.

The golden light of dawn streaming through the kitchen window seemed to paint his skin in a soft, ethereal glow, accentuating the natural warmth of his olive complexion. As if that weren't swoon-worthy enough, the slight furrow of concentration between his brows as he expertly rolled the gimbaps only added to his quiet allure, making it impossible to look away.

Without thinking, Baek Hyun Woo reached for the stack of paper bags on the table. Then, his hands stilled over the gimbap, his humming tapering off as the realisation hit him.

It wasn't a school day.

Why was he even making gimbaps now?

Sighing quietly to himself, Hyun Woo stared down sadly at his handiwork.

"I wonder what Hae-in's doing now," he wondered aloud, his thoughts inevitably drifting to her.

Good Lord, it was going to be a long week.

Speaking of Hae-in, the atmosphere was far less serene in the Queens' Mansion. Breakfast, as always, resembled a corporate meeting rather than a hearty gathering, with Hae-in and her family seated around the pristine dining table. Hae-in's father, Hong Beom-jun, was currently delivering an extensive update on the family business while Chairman Hong listened in stoic silence, occasionally grunting in what could be agreement or disapproval (one could never fully tell with the old man).

Before Hae-in sat a meticulously plated seared salmon toast, paired with a side of vegetables arranged so perfectly it looked like art. As her father droned on and on, Hae-in sliced into the toast and placed a bite into her mouth, chewing thoughtfully. But as she swallowed, a soft sigh escaped her.

She'd much rather be eating Hyun Woo's gimbap.

Gosh, she missed it already.

She missed him.

The realisation struck her as heavily as it did Hyun Woo.

Indeed, this was going to be a long week for the lovebirds, and the school break had only just begun.

Shortly after breakfast, Hae-in sat at her desk, attempting to distract herself with her studies. Yet, no matter how hard she tried, her thoughts kept drifting back to Baek Hyun Woo.

She sighed, propping her chin on her hand, her pencil twirling absently between her fingers. The urge to text or call him gnawed at her, growing stronger with each passing minute.

"Ya, Hong Hae-in, you've survived countless breaks without him. Don't you dare become a lovesick fool now," she muttered under her breath. "You've never been clingy."

Yes, of course, you aren't.

But you miss him.

The small voice at the back of her mind teased her relentlessly.

"Surely you can go a few hours without texting him? You're more than just Baek Hyun Woo's girlfriend," she tried to reason with herself.

Stop lying. You've been waiting for his messages.

The conflicting thoughts left her perplexed.

All her life, she had never experienced such an intense longing for anyone.

Besides, she was supposed to be the one in control.

After all, she was the one who always had her emotions in check in the relationship.