On Thin Air

Ends Meet

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In the end, Namjoo ended up taking over the kitchen. Newbie at work. While her step-mother sipped her glass of soda. Ice filled to the brim and fanning herself with a paper plate. All this as she sat on a steel chair by the open doorway. Flinching and cursing when flies and bees flew past. Certainly a fancy image for a woman who refused to walk without a red carpet.

Chewing on a piece of watermelon Namjoo glanced her step-mother's direction. At least she could close the door. Flies were swarming into the house hoping to get a taste of the juicy fruit on the table. By far Namjoo was irritated. Swatting at them every other second, and not even halfway with slicing the slab of meat on the cutting board. The pieces were so uneven Namjoo was even more annoyed with her lack of skill. An hour and a half in and this was all she'd done.

She hated herself.

She released a yelp when a bucket of water landed on the table beside her. At first she heard the wild flapping of fishes. Dropping the knife surprised she hurled backward wiping her face deliriously.

Oh Shiwoo haughtily laughed. "Sorry, Namjoo."

Scowling at him she stupidly said, "What is that?"

"Fishes. Do you want to gut and clean them?"

Making a disgusted face she retorted, "No!"

He laughed again, entertained. For some reason he got even more on her nerves.

"Honey," her step-mother called out. Namjoo turned to see her father and Sehun entering the kitchen. She diverted her attention from him. As the elders disappeared into the background most of her bitterness grew to the fore. She thought about how he'd ditched her earlier to go have fun on his own.

"Namjoo," her father called. Handing her the plate of whatever she'd sliced up, "Go out with Sehun to cook the meat on the grill. We cleaned the grill when we got here. It should be ready."

Snatching the plate she walked by. Noticing him eyeing the uneven pieces she snapped, "What?" as she passed.

She was embarrassed with her knife skills, but she didn't need him pointing that out. A few minutes later she watched him drag the charcoal grill into the yard. Cough as smoke flew into his face when he started the fire two minutes later.

Namjoo watched objectively when he poured more coals in and fanned the small flame. Criticizing, "Are you sure you know what you're doing?"

She made a face when he didn't answer. Bored because she'd been standing for over five minutes she looked around the open area. Their vehicles was nearby. The sight of the other car beside theirs left her distraught. It didn't make sense her father and step-mother would come all the way out here with Sehun's father in the backseat. A well-to-do man like Sehun's father would drive his own brandished automobile. Wasn't it embarrassing to third-wheel at his age?

A squirrel skittered up a wide oak catching her attention. Somewhere in the distance a woodpecker was noisily going at it. Peering at her feet she wondered what kinds of bugs existed here. She just wanted to go home. To the comfort of her bed.

"Plate," he held out his hand.

Attention coming to she looked at him. Pricked with irritation that she had done so. Dropping it into his hand she crossed her arms. The elders must be having the joy of their life knowing that they were out here together. Namjoo wanted to spit because she wouldn't let them win.

Despite her determination, her will grew weak when the stench of cooking meat infiltrated her nose. The scent of pine and earth was instantly overpowered by the meat. Instinctively, she turned see the meat sizzling on the grill. The oil dripping into the coals below tempting the fire. The meat becoming firm as it cooked. Turning into a delicious shade of gray-brown.