ACT VIII | SCENE XXXVIII

❝SLEEPING BEAUTY❞

JANGMI DRAGGED HER feet as she tried to rub the sleep out of her eyes. she heard movements in the kitchen and knew it was hoseok. she brushed her hair back and out of her face as she stepped into the kitchen to find him pouring orange juice into a glass.

"morning, sleeping beauty." he chimed, smiling at her. "hey, sunshine." she smiled back, pulling a glass out of the cabinet. she stepped up next to him, taking the bottle out of his hand. she glanced up at him and took in his attire. "did you go jogging? you're really sweating."

"sweating? i don't sweat, i glow." he replied, gulping down orange juice. she burst out laughing. "oh my god. that's a new one." her hand pressed over her mouth to stifle her chortles. "did i lie?" he cocked one brow. she shook her head. "no, no. you definitely glow." she giggled.

he gave her a cheeky grin, wiggled his brows and downed the rest of his juice. "go clean up. i'll start breakfast." she brought the glass to her lips. "okay, love." he gave her shoulder a light squeeze and left her in the kitchen.

she placed a pot of water on the stove and got started with breakfast. the doorbell rang a while later, pulling her attention away. wiping her hands, she hurried to the front door, pulling it open. she raised her brows in surprise at the unexpected guest.

"uh, sorry i didn't call earlier to let you know i'll be coming." jimin apologised as he stepped inside with an awkward smile. "it's fine." she shut the door and returned back to the kitchen, jimin close behind her.

"rosalie's still asleep." she informed, turning off the stove. "oh." he slipped his hands into his pockets as he stood on the other side of the counter, watching her move around. "something on your mind?" she paused to regard his awkward form. he pulled his hand out of his pocket to run it through his hair. "uh, no." he shook his head with a sigh. her left brow lifted but she said nothing.

"sleeping beauty the second still hasn't woken up. i think she's all gassed out from all that colouring last night." hoseok appeared, ruffling his damp hair. "oh, jimin. hey," he paused in surprise. "hey," jimin replied just as surprised. "you were the one who told her if she did the last four pages of her colouring book without going outside the lines, you'd buy her chocolate croissants." jangmi smiled at hoseok.

"what's wrong with a little motivation to help improve her dexterity?" hoseok opened the cabinet and began to pull out dishes. jangmi glanced behind her at him with a look on her face. she turned back, shaking her head.

"um... you slept over last night?" jimin glanced between the two friends. "yeah. i'm staying over for the week." hoseok answered, setting the table. jimin's widened eyes moved to jangmi in question. "hobi's going to cape verde next weekend so he's spending all his free time with us." she explained, pulling off her apron.

"oh," he glanced down, not knowing what else to say. "will you be having breakfast with us?" hoseok asked, looking at the younger man. "if you don't mind." he mumbled, mind still on the fact that hoseok and jangmi were living together, however short it might be. his leg twitched a bit. he wasn't sure why but the idea of it bothered him.

he was saved from his wandering thoughts by the sound of a small voice. "papa!" rosalie squeed, running toward him. he heaved her up when she reached him, a huge grin painted across his lips. "princess," he held her to his chest while her small arms came up to wrap around his neck.

he sighed contentedly before she leaned back to see his face, a giddy smile on her face. "i want to brush my teeth." she informed. "papa, brush my teeth." she blinked cutely at him. "of course, princess." he ruffled her hair.

"she sees her father and i suddenly don't exist." jangmi pouted, tucking her hair behind her ear and crossing her arms over her chest. "mummy!" rosalie reached over for her. "it's too late." jangmi jutted up her chin, nose in the air. "mummy..." the child whined. "mm-mm," her mother shook her head. hoseok chortled. "let papa help brush your teeth first and then come make mummy feel better, hm?" he suggested.

rosalie pulled her bottom lip over her top lip, bobbing her head cutely. jimin chuckled lightly, finding the situation adorable. "okay then." he breathed, holding the still pouting girl higher on his body and adjusting his grip as he walked in the direction of the bathroom.

he stole one last glance at the best friends as they began to chat animatedly. something about them staying together in the house didn't sit well with him. he just didn't know what or why.

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y'all i'm so ready for the next chapter. i finally get to formally introduce someone i've been excited to write in! he's been mentioned a couple of times already and his addition will make a total of three kims in the story.