WALK THROUGH WALLS

FORTY THREE

" Kim Jong-in Kai, come back here with that rolling pin or else I swear to God I will hit you with this frying pan...." I always speak Korean to Kai when am very angry and this was those rare times. The idiot decided to use the rolling pin as a microphone while singing. We are now at the kitchen. We decided that we will forgo lunch and eat dinner instead. We were having budae jjigae, a Korean fusion stew like jeongol that incorporates American style processed food. It was all Felix and Guan's idea for dinner claiming that they were bored of the buffet we had the other time. The ingredients were already there so everyone took what he could manage in preparation for the hotpot dinner in the evening. All apart from Jimin, Tae , Kai and I because we had 'promised ' to prepare kkabaegi for everyone... beat me, I don't remember the promising part but here I was. We had an agreement that Jimin and I were to prepare the dough while Kai and Tae would do the frying. Kai was running away with the rolling pin just to bug me.

" So what now?" Jimin told me while sighing. We really needed the rolling pin because we wanted to crush some cardamon pods into powder," what do we do next?"
" Let it be, we will just use the grinder then." I told him. We had decided to prepare the dough early being that for kkabaegi, we had to use yeast to make it soft and fluffy. Jimin did the measuring while I grinder the cardamon. We then mixed the ingredients into the right stickiness, put the dough on top of the counter, divided it into two and then started kneading it. We made plenty being that it was to serve as our afternoon snack with tea. Afterward we put it back into a container, covered it using a clear foil and a wet kitchen towel and left it to raise. The next step was to be done by Tae and Kai. We went to help the rest with the hotpot ingredients.

I was impressed that Tae had already distributed different tasks to everyone. Tuan were helping each other to make the sauce mix( gochugaru, Mirin, soy sauce, minced garlic, sugar, gochujang and black pepper) that was to be used. They were to make it and place then in the refrigerator to chill to be used later. Ten was to thinly and diagonally slice the sausages, Cai was in charge of slicing the tofu, Bambam was in charge of the mushrooms, Jackson was for the green onions and the spinach, Felix was for the cheese, Tae was in charge of the rice cakes which were suppose to be soaked in cold water for fifteen minutes. Because they were many, he had to do it early. Kai, that is when he stopped running was tasked to help Bambam with the mushrooms being that they were three types, we needed different parts of the different mushrooms...caps of the siitake mushroom, separated base stems and stems of the enoki mushrooms and well prepared king oyster mushrooms. V and Jungkook were in charge of making the chicken stock from scratch. The asked me to help them out while Jimin was to help out anyone else who needed some assistance.

The stock was not that hard to prepare , just boiling water, chicken, carrots, cerely, cabbage, onions, sage extract, parsley, salt, sugar and yeast extract together in a large pan. We had to make so much being that we were going to have two types of hotpot, spicy and not so spicy. The kitchen was so busy much that only knife cutting things sound was heard. Everyone was all over the area, washing things, cutting things... I had a very peaceful time being that it felt that they had forgotten that they were mocking me earlier.

" So just a stupid question you guys, what is your story, as in I see different personalities here but you seem to be so close like one family..." Ten asked after long hours of silence.
" It's not that stupid question but rather an interesting one if I may add.. the unifying person here is Lensah so it is her story, let her tell it " Jackson said while stealing a piece of carrot that Bambam was about to cut.
" Seriously Jackson, what if I could have cut those sticky fingers of yours, damn..." Bambam said looking concerned and then he went back to doing his work.
" Hell, where do I start, I guess I should tell you that I am the oldest of them all but my birth certificate says that I was born on 18th July 1993 like Tae that's why we call each other twins. That's the date we came to Seoul. Our families are friends. With Kai, our parents worked together so we met occasionally in functions but I met Jimin before Kai. They had come for an exchange program at our school, Jackson's family as my adopted family while in China for a debate competition where I was representing my school. For Tuan, well I am kind of his saviour while he came to Kenya with his family for holiday. He was to be coned but I helped him out. Felix's religious counsellor is a priest from Kenya so he introduced us two, V is Jimin's friend from music school that's why I know him, as for little Cai, his family and our families are friends. We took care of him whenever they came to South Korea. I met Bambam through Tuan and Mjungu through Jimin and V." I said while taking a very long sigh. Wow, our history is that long....
" By the way, between Jackson and Jimin, who did you meet first?" Tae asked.
" I have always wanted to ask that also" Kai added.
" I think it is Jackson because I remember I met him while in middle school while Jimin was during my junior high school." I said.
" And I heard you calling Bambam P' why is yet he is younger than you" Ten asked. I understood his concern because he was also from Thailand," why not call him Nong?"
" It is just an in-house joke to help him remember his homeland." Jackson said, " is it right Khun Bambam or should we call you..."
" Of course gègè" Bambam answered quickly. I knew that he was avoiding Jackson calling his full hard Thai name.
" Hahahaha, you guys are just hilarious. Why did you call Jackson gègè?" Cai asked
" Oh, like that girl who called you Kun gègè?" I asked while staring at Cai who was now so pale and was looking down," oh boy, I smell shyness little Cai!"
" What little girl is making our Kunkun shy like this?" Kai asked why kneeling down to look at Cai's face that was turning pink from blushing so much. This made everybody in the room to laugh so hard.
" Hey, stop bullying my son... It was my daughter-in-law, we are a handsome family, we attract people like magnet people, blame it on our superior genes.." Jimin said proudly while hugging Cai
" We shout make a toast now, to the handsomeness!!! or..." Tuan said while looking around for a glass
" Look at you, have some shame Mark Yi-en Tuan! You are just looking for a reason to have some wine..." I said while hitting his head.
" Be gentle on him P', he has a good reason to celebrate..." Bambam said while rubbing Mark's head to sooth him. Mark was nodding in agreement.
" And even the Bible says that a little wine is good for the stomach" V said after a long silence.
" Ooiii, I had even forgotten that you were here." Jackson said while looking at V who was acting as if he never said anything.
" Don't notice the silent noise, the Kim Tae-hyung just quoted the Bible you people." Jungkook said, also breaking the silence on his part.
" And it just had to be the verse that talks about wine mack you'' Felix added.
" Hey you two, don't hate me for loving my second wife, a glass of wine" V said which made everyone there to laugh again.
" And who may I ask is your first wife?" Ten asked
" Music..."

"