When Shadows Fall | BTS Kim Namjoon

Chapter 24: Normal

"Seriously, Namjoon, we don't really need your help. You should go in and talk with Mom and Dad," Areum said.

"But we're making lunch for them."

"You're not helping much," Areum grumbled under her breath. I chuckled and continued to slice vegetables. She sighed, and finally said with a shrug, "I guess you could turn on the grill - we're ready to cook the meat."

"Okay," Namjoon said. At Areum's shriek, I turned around to see 10 centimeters of flame blasting from the grill. I ran over, but Namjoon had shut the heat off before I got close enough to do it myself. Areum and I looked at each other, then at him.

"What did you do?" Areum asked, crossing her arms.

"I just turned it on! Really!" Namjoon protested, looking at the grill in confusion. I bent closer to examine it as Areum started in on a lecture.

"This isn't our house, you can't go around breaking everything! You need to be careful, seriously, or you're going-"

I turned the dial, and the flames leapt up again. I quickly switched it off, and looked at the others with a shocked little laugh. "I think it's broken?"

Areum came over and turned the switch as well. She laughed and turned to us when no flames appeared. "You guys just don't understand machines," she said.

I rolled my eyes. "Just please keep an eye on that thing. I still think it's unreliable."

While Areum grabbed the plate of meat and I returned to my vegetables, Namjoon looked around, seeming to be at a loss. "Is there anything else I can do to help?"

Gently placing the meat on the grill, Areum said, "No, not really. Just go enjoy Mom and Dad's company."

"If you want to do something productive before you sit down," I added, "you could load up your bag into the car. The keys are in the front pocket of my backpack."

Namjoon nodded, and padded out of the kitchen. I looked over at Areum, wondering if it was okay to talk about last night - she'd started crying about Seulgi, and fallen asleep before she was able to rejoin her family and spend time with them.

"I can tell what you're thinking," she said. "I'm fine. I just get lonely sometimes."

"I understand that completely," I said.

"When you have someone, you forget how much it sucks to be single," Areum said, flipping the sizzling bits of meat. The savory aroma was making me so hungry; I popped a bit of the pepper I'd been cutting into my mouth.

"True," I agreed. "Flying solo isn't a big deal, but it's the little things that get you. You know, like eating dinner alone, or not having anyone to message and say 'goodnight' before you go to sleep."

Namjoon stuck his head into the kitchen. "Where's your backpack, Chunhwa?"

I pointed at the kitchen table. "In one of the chairs."

"Oh, thanks," Namjoon said.

"Although, there are worse things than being single," Areum continued as Namjoon started digging through my backpack.

"Oh yes," I agreed. "A certain Buttface comes to mind."

"As exes go, he's certainly an example of a worst case scenario."