IX

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ACT II | SCENE IX

KITCHEN TALKS


THE CAR KEYS made a jangling sound as jangmi placed them in the small, red ceramic bowl on the table close to the door. rosalie snored softly in her arms.

quietly, she padded to the girl's room, placing her carefully in her bed. the child made a small sound and smacked her lips lightly as her mother pulled the covers over her. turning the night light on, she flicked off the bedroom lights. it was still bright outside as the sun was low in the sky but jangmi was certain it would be replaced by its nocturnal colleague in a couple of hours. she left the door slightly open so she could hear if anything happened while she made dinner.

rosalie had insisted on having black bean noodles in the car ride back home before she fell asleep. jangmi had just gotten all the ingredients out when she heard the beeping that usually accompanied punching in the right security code.

there was only one other person who knew the pass code to her home. she waited for hoseok to appear in the kitchen. "best timing!" he chirped when he came in. she grinned at him. "what did you bring this time?" she nudged her chin towards the small box in his hand.

"another whistle." he lifted it up before placing it on the island. "rosalie said the other one 'breaked'." he added affectionately. jangmi grimaced, letting a small groan escape her lips. "a part of me was happy when she accidentally stepped on that damn whistle. god, she blew it all the time, i thought i would lose my hearing."

hoseok laughed at his best friend. "you're horrible." he told her. "i know." she pouted a bit. hoseok sidled up to her and began to help her dice the vegetables. "how are you holding up?"

"do you know little girls can be as horrible as teenage ones? a fight broke out about who would be prima ballerina for the dance recital. while trying to separate them, i learnt that seven-year-olds have claws like cats." she turned her arms for him to see the scratches on them.

"whoa!" his eyes widened animatedly. "you should get ointment on that." he told her. "i will after dinner." she answered. "but that's not what i was referring to though." he said softly following a moment's silence. "ah..." jangmi breathed, throwing her head back. she was well aware of what hoseok was talking about. the dinner with jimin and his family was the next day. if jangmi said she was unenthusiastic about it, it would be a gross understatement.

"i would, no doubt, cut my pinky toes off if it meant not having to go for the fucking dinner." she popped. hoseok's face crumpled in disgust. "i didn't need that mental image in my head, thank you very much."

"sorry," she chuckled, recalling her best friend's distaste for all things gory. "but it's something i have to do for rosalie. she deserves to know her grandparents."

"are you worried they won't like you?" he asked. "i don't care if they don't like me. his mum never liked me and she won't start now, especially since her son's marriageability dropped because of me. i just want them to treat rosalie right."

"she's jimin's daughter, it's not like they have any other choice." he watched as she fried the black bean paste quickly before turning it into a bowl. "yeah, i guess you're right." she gestured for him to pass her the diced pork.

"i just... i don't want them treating my baby less than she deserves because she's an 'illegitimate child'." she sighed lightly as she sautéed the pork. "i understand your sentiment but i don't think jimin would let that happen. i mean it's jimin."

"well okay, yeah, he wouldn't. i can see how much he loves her just by the way he just looks at her." she said. "i'm kind of jealous to be honest. he's going to suck up all of rosalie's love and i will be relegated to the background." hoseok tossed the diced vegetables into the wok as she stirred.

"aw, hobi, you know that rosalie adores you and no one could ever take your special place in her life." she cooed out. the corners of her mouth lifted in a loving smile. before jimin, hoseok had been the only father figure in her daughter's life. and she was certain that rosalie could never forget that. he returned the gesture, dimples becoming visible on his cute cheeks. her index finger came up to poke one, making the smile on his face even brighter. she mixed the paste back in, and added water.

"i'll get started on the noodles." hoseok informed. "thanks," she beamed with gratitude. "so how do you think the dinner will go?" he placed a pot of water to boil. "it will, without a doubt, be the most awkward dinner i will ever have in my life." hoseok chuckled at the pained expression she had on. she leaned against the counter, a small sigh leaving her lips. "i wish i could be there." he laughed lightly. dinner at the park residence tomorrow would definitely be like something out of a drama.

"i wish you could." jangmi ignored the clear amusement on his face. "it would make me feel better about the whole ordeal." she admitted. "you'll have jimin." hoseok offered earning a dry look from his best friend. "how's he going to make-?"

"uncle hobi?" a still sleepy rosalie called out as she tried to rub the sleep out of her eyes with her dorsums. the two adults shot their gazes in the direction of her voice. neither of them had even heard her come in.

"hey, rolly polly." he murmured, bending over as he moved towards her. she sent him a lazy smile as she followed his movements with tired eyes. hoseok's arms wrapped around her, lifting her against his body. jangmi smiled at the sight. hoseok spun around to meet her gaze, eyes shifting to the now boiling water. her eyes followed his. "play with her. i'll finish up here." she smiled warmly, knowing that it was the end of another one of their many kitchen talks.

"noodles!" rosalie cheered in his arms, sleepiness instantly leaving her at the sight of food, causing a laugh to erupt from her mother and uncle. "yes, i'm making noodles like you asked." she replied.

"we'll get out of your way." hoseok picked up the box he had left on the kitchen island earlier. "i got you a new whistle." he announced and the girl in his arms let out a squeal of delight. jangmi grinned as she resumed cooking, listening to the sounds made by two of her favourite people on earth.

☀☀☀

i got this in extra early because today is my favourite man's day. i'm so proud of jimin and how far he's come in life and i just hope that he keeps getting bigger and better and ultimately all his dreams are fulfilled. i wish him all the happiness and love because that's what he deserves and i hope he feels as proud of all he's accomplished as i do. happy birthday park jimin!

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