our summer | soobin

two.

❏— Chapter Two
˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳ Yeji

Knock. Knock. Knock.

The steady knocking on his door roused Soobin from his nap. Blinking away the remnants of sleep, he glanced at his phone and saw that it was already seven in the evening.

"Soobin, dear, are you asleep?" His grandmother's voice called gently from the other side of the door.

Soobin sighed with relief at the thought of not having a parent barging in unannounced. "I'm awake now, Grandma," he called back, getting up from the comfort of his bed to open the door.

His grandmother chuckled as she saw the pillow marks imprinted on his cheeks but didn't comment on them. "Oh good, let's have dinner. I've prepared a delicious meal for you."

The mention of food made Soobin realize just how hungry he was. He followed his grandmother to the kitchen, his stomach growling in anticipation.

As he entered the kitchen, the sight of the spread before him was enough to make him exclaim softly, "Wow." The table was laden with an array of home-cooked dishes—steamed vegetables, fragrant rice, and a hearty stew, among other things.

"Stop staring at the food and take a seat," his grandmother said, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "You can't taste it just by looking at it."

Soobin sat down at the table, waiting for his grandmother to start eating before he dug in. "Thank you for preparing this, Grandma."

It had been a long time since Soobin had enjoyed a meal like this. At home, his parents were too busy to cook, often resorting to takeout. His mother had long stopped making an effort, as Soobin was the only one left at home—his siblings were away at college or working.

"Eat slowly," his grandmother advised as she served him. "You might choke if you keep eating so fast."

Soobin swallowed a mouthful of stew, the rich flavors making him realize how starved he was. "Sorry, Grandma, but everything is just so delicious. I can't help it."

Just as Soobin was about to enjoy another bite, a soft voice called from outside. "Grandma? Grandma?"

"Ah, that must be Yeji," his grandmother said, getting up from her seat. "Soobin, could you please open the front door for me?"

Soobin's eyes widened slightly, but he nodded and made his way to the front door. He took a deep breath, telling himself, "Relax, Soobin. You just need to open the door. You don't have to do anything else."

He turned the handle and opened the door to find a girl around his age standing there, struggling with a heavy-looking box.

"Hello!" she greeted brightly. "I haven't seen you around before. Is Grandma here? I'm here to return the gardening tools I borrowed from her."

Soobin was taken aback by her immediate friendliness. It was a stark contrast to his own introverted nature. He reached for the box, worried she might drop it any second. "Thank you," she said, still smiling. "I could manage, but it's nice of you to help."