ILLICIT ° nct dream, wayv + srg

Chapter Eighteen: Warm Night Talks

Dedicated to:
SnsdNctBlackpink

~*~*~*~*~

"Could you hand me the salt?" Jaemin requested, turning away from the meal he was cooking for a second.

It was already night, and apparently, the boys wanted it to be a little special than the others. Today is the date when Jisung lost a fight to someone else. They wanted to celebrate that much to Jisung's content.

He didn't take it too well, but he still did eventually. It was a first, all thanks to Koeun for doing her best. After all, the mini-celebration is just the members' humor for his failure.

Jisung grabbed the salt and let it slide on top of the table that stood in the middle of the kitchen. Jaemin was looking back at the food he was cooking when he settled his hand by the end of the table, catching the salt. "Thanks."

Koeun was sitting by the counter, propping her crossed arms on it as she leaned. She was watching them in silence- observing, rather. She still can't believe how they could act like this, as if she's not their enemy at all.

How could they remain calm and trustful towards me?

It felt like she was watching them in another perspective. A perspective no one will ever have. A perspective that she'll probably be the only one to have. It looked like they broke character, which no one should do in front of a person they just knew four days ago.

Koeun became more immersed in her thoughts. There's more to these boys than what meets the eye.

"Koeun?"

Hearing Jaemin's voice, Koeun snapped from her thoughts, her vision going back towards the boys, who were waiting for her. "Yeah?"

"Do you want to help? I could use an extra pair of hands." Jaemin grinned at his choice of words.

Surprised, Koeun's eyes widened. "Me?"

"Well, do you know any Koeun in this kitchen?" He gestured around. "And you look bored. You need to keep yourself busy."

The brunette was still surprised about his offer. And now they're willing to let me help them in cooking. "O-Okay." She answered before she stood up from her seat to walk towards them. "What should I do?"

"Cut these, please." Jisung tapped the carrots twice. Koeun nodded at this.

As the three did their individual works in cooking, someone else entered the room, heading straight towards the fridge. As he walked, he noticed how Jisung and the girl talked as they cut some vegetables- how the girl becomes more comfortable around the members of the team.

Noticing the person who approached the fridge, Koeun unknowingly smiled and called his name. "Haechan."

Haechan froze at this for a second before she shook it off and proceeded to pull out a pitcher of cold water. Jaemin and Jisung decided to watch his reaction but Haechan continued to remain cold as he poured some water in a glass he just fetched from the cupboard.

"Let him be, Koeun." Jaemin whispered to her. "He just need some time."

Nodding at this, Koeun removed her eyes from Haechan and went on with slicing the carrots. The other two boys did the same, trying to lift everyone's mood to avoid the tension. Koeun joined them, laughing whenever Jisung jokes about Jaemin but occasionally, she would glance back at Haechan.

Is he still mad about me? Koeun wondered.

Finishing drinking his glass of water, Haechan placed the pitcher back in the fridge. "Jaemin." His voice made everyone look at him as he quickly threw the glass in the air. Koeun found this horrifying, but Jaemin immediately caught it with ease, without fear as if it was made out of rubber than glass. With that, Haechan left the kitchen, leaving Koeun baffled.