Blaze

Heart to Heart Talk

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Namjoo turned around from the stove to see Tao chopping the veggies she needed for her dish very slowly as if to make them precise in size and looking nice were most important. Scraps of old leaves lay scattered aside on the table in a mess and Namjoo watched him work away concentratedly. It wasn't hard to see that Tao was putting the most of his efforts into the smallest things. Realizing this made her remininsce back to the earlier days when he just joined the group.

To complain, whine, and plead had been his ways. She wasn't sure what had happened mid-way that influenced him to change his ways. Thinking about how he was changing allowed her curiosity to grow. He was definitely like a child just growing up; leaving his youth behind to step into adulthood.

Stepping forward Namjoo glanced at the cut pieces he had sitting on one corner of the cutting board then looked up at him.

"Good job, Tao," she complimented, "they look nice."

His eyes slid over to glance at her before he quickly looked away. This sudden movement made her want to laugh.

"Is there...is there anything else?" Tao wondered setting the knife down and Namjoo took the cutting board over to the counter.

"No."

"Really? Are you sure?"

Knowing he wouldn't stop until she gave him something to do she said, "You can get the rice ready and set out some plates."

"Ok," he answered enthusiastically.

When Tao started moving around Namjoo stole a glance of him through the corner of her eyes. In some ways Tao was similar to Kris. He always wanted something, always having the need to converse, and she was made the center of it all. Namjoo was still feeling sorry that she'd given up dinner with Kris for Tao.

She didn't have a preference between the two yet, but she definitely did feel like she knew Kris on more terms than Tao. Both of them were good people and that made it troubling.

"Do you always eat alone?" Tao asked a few minutes later when they were both at the table eating.

Pulling the spoon out of her mouth she nodded while chewing.

"Then...can I come eat with you instead of Donghae?" Tao questioned. "He's not that entertaining."

Quickly swallowing she told, "Sometimes...I'm not always in. I eat out too or I'm with Suho."

"But you nodded earlier..." Tao tried than gave up. "Are you and Suho always together?"

"We work together."

"There are other people on the team right now too, why don't you hang out with them?" After the question, Tao immediately shut his lips. "Never mind. Forget what I said."

A moment of silence passed.

"What about you Tao?" Namjoo asked with an edge of curiosity and patience in her tone. "Do you always eat alone?"

He gripped onto the end of his utensil and never placed the food on his spoon into his mouth. "Who would want to eat with me?"

Namjoo lifted her head up to look at him and they ate the rest of the meal in utter silence. As if Tao had been watching all along, once she finished what was on her plate and began to get up he jumped from his seat, taking the plate from her.

"I'll do it," Tao offered, "I'll wash the dishes. Just sit there, don't move at all, ok?"

Her lids fluttered appalled before turning around to watch Tao turn the sink on and grab the sponge. Another moment of silence passed on and Namjoo glanced at the leftover rice on the table before getting up to put it back in the rice cooker. She turned when Tao took the plate from her. As if to keep himself busy he focused on washing the dishes and spoke without looking at her.