Autumn Angel | JHS ✔

.thirteen.

The cool water from the sink runs over my skin as I wash my hands. My painting is starting to hurt, but I'm glad Hoseok bandaged it last night so I don't have to have a twitch of guilt run through me every time I glance down at my wrist. My arms lift as I gather my thick curls and tie them back into a ponytail. Finally, I reach for the apron before filling a large pot with water and setting it on the stove to boil. 

"Angel." 

I jump and gasp, putting a hand to my chest once I've recovered from my initial shock. I turn around to glare at Hoseok. "Hobi, don't do that." 

He just smiles. "Oh, I apologize." 

I force myself to hold in my laughing at his sassy, sarcastic tone and just turn around to open the package of raw pasta. "Did you sleep well?" 

Hoseok laughs gently as I watch him through my peripheral vision. He leans his tailbone against the kitchen edge and crosses his arms, tilting his head slightly to the side as he smiles down at me. "I slept wonderfully, thank you for asking. Also I ended up using some of your mouth wash." He chuckles. "I hope you don't mind. What exactly are you making?" 

I move to the other side of the kitchen and take out slices of bacon. "I mean, you did end up waking just now, and since it's already noon, I thought it would be more rational to skip breakfast and just prepare lunch instead. I wanted to prepare something a little more sophisticated so I'm trying carbonara. Although this is my first time making it and I've only watched one video so it could end up being a disaster." 

"Sounds exciting. Can I help in any way?" 

I glance over at him as I slide the small pieces of bacon into a pan and turn on the stove. "Can I trust you in a kitchen?" 

Hoseok laughs. "I can only promise effort." 

I give him a once-over again before surrendering and taking the chance. "Can you put some of that cheese into a bowl and then mix in two eggs?" I leave the bacon alone, allowing the fats to sizzle out, and stir the cooking pasta. 

"How did you learn how to cook?" Hoseok asks as I take out a package of fresh frozen peas. 

"I guess I was just kind of forced to when I got my own place and started to live on my own. I only really know basic dishes though, so this is my first time cooking something that actually requires some level of knowledge in the culinary field." I drain most of the fatty liquid the bacon has emitted into another bowl and then add in the green pearls. "Can you check if the pasta is done?" I ask, noticing Hoseok patiently waiting for his next order. 

He walks up next to me and grabs the spoon to pull out a handful of strands. Hoseok reaches for a noodle but jerks back from the high temperature. He does the same motion again twice more until he finally is able to grab a noodle and place it in his mouth. I look up at him in anticipation. He just tilts his head as he continues to chew. "I can't tell." 

I laugh and pull out another bunch of noodles, grabbing one and throwing it to the wall. The strand sticks to the surface and I nod. "It's done." 

Hoseok stares at the spot on the wall with wonder. "You can do that?" 

I grin up at him. "You've never thrown pasta at the wall to see if it's done?" 

He just shakes his head. I take another strand and hand it to him. He grins at me, waves of energy and excitement running through his body and making him seem like a child receiving candy. Hoseok grabs the piece and throws it at the wall. He laughs and claps his hands together when it sticks. I can't help but grin at the adorable image. 

"One more time, just in case," I say, handing him another strand. I take my own and we throw at the wall, giggling like five year-olds. 

"Enough," Hoseok says through laughter. "At this point we won't even have pasta for the dish."