𝐑𝐎𝐒𝐄𝐒 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐑𝐍𝐒

XV

Rosé walked through an arched doorway and let out a sigh of relief as the room registered as familiar in her mind. Now-now this place, I do remember from when Jihun took me around the house-

Hardwood floors. A large island with a smooth wooden surface in the center of the room. Against one wall rested a massive refrigerator and matching shiny freezer; adjacent to that wall was a stove with several burners; across from the refrigerator and freezer was the sink-a large metal tub of a sink, propped up on legs, bracketed by black marble countertop-and then on the last wall, exposed brickwork-a final flourish-surrounding a large oven.

And at the sink, washing something furiously, droplets of water flying everywhere, was the gray-haired figure of Kim Seokjin.

"Um-Mr. Kim?" Rosé called out tentatively, jumping in surprise as the older man dropped whatever he was holding under the water from the tap with a sharp clang. Wiping his hands on his apron, he turned around and strode over to Rosé, his long legs taking many, many steps to cross the kitchen floor, and extended his hand. His eyes-so like his nephew's-were just as welcoming.

"Welcome, Miss Park-glad to see you again-what brings you to the kitchen?" His grasp was firm. Strong. Endless laugh lines on his face. Rosé almost felt the urge to hug him-

-stupid, stupid-

"Ah-well, since Jihun's out for the day, I didn't really have anything to do-so I figured I'd help everyone out around the house-if that's all right?" Rosé felt herself speaking at a higher octave than usual-her voice coming out almost childlike-as she broke their grip, folding her hands together in front of her.

"Of course it's all right!" Jin boomed, reaching out his hand once more to pat her on the forearm. "I can always use extra hands-tell me, how're your vegetable-chopping skills? I was thinking about making the staff some sautéed vegetables as part of lunch…"

Rosé blushed. "Ah-well. I-I'm a… a fast learner, Mr. Kim…"

Jin smiled broadly again. "That's what I like to hear, Miss Park-after all, Rome wasn't built in a day-even I had to start from somewhere…" He walked over to the countertop beside the sink, where large piles of vegetables-asparagus, onions, mushrooms, carrots-lay in a messy heap upon a large white plastic cutting board.

Opening a drawer and withdrawing a rather intimidating-looking knife, he crooked his finger towards Rosé. "Come on-I'll make you an expert in no time!"

Rosé walked towards him slowly; Jin reached for a perfectly orange carrot and laid it before him on the cutting board. "All right, Miss Park, now here's how you chop up carrots-and please, call me Jin."

"Now-make sure you've got your oven mitt on, Miss Park-you gently lift the pan and tilt it so that the vegetables fall onto the plate…" Rosé, sweating slightly from the heat of the stove, did as Jin directed, allowing the golden-brown mushrooms and onions to join the heaping piles of fragrant vegetables on the large plate on the countertop.

As she placed the pan back on the stove, being sure to turn off the heat, she pulled off the thick, checkered oven mitt and dropped it onto the counter as Jin patted her on the arm. "See-not so hard, right?"

Rosé cracked a smile despite herself. "Ah-well, I don't think I'll be going to culinary school any time soon-" Like hell-though, at least I won't have to live off instant noodles when I go back to school-