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Family dinners weren’t as dreadful as they might sound, at least in Jimin’s opinion. After all, his mom was a great cook, and even a pleasant presence in the house (unless she was nagging at him to clean up his room or to throw the trash out).

The Park family wasn’t one of those dysfunctional households you hear so much about. Not at all; Jimin really had it good. His mother was someone he could talk to; his father was someone he could admire. Even his older sister wasn’t so bad, even though Jimin secretly considered her a bit stupid.

“I’m going on a date tonight, okay? I’ll be back late.” Jimin’s noona chuckled. “Or rather, early.”

“All right, dear.” said Park Soo Hyun, her voice soft and flat, as if she was sleep-talking.

A loud clang! signaled Jimin’s sister’s fork had fallen from her hand and rattled against the place. She looked from her father to her mother, unable to believe they had let her go so easily. But her father was engrossed in his food, and her mother seemed strangely distracted. Jimin’s noona grinned in triumph and elbowed Jimin in the ribs.

 “Yah!” he protested, throwing a crumpled napkin at her and stealing one of her sweet potatoes.

That seemed to finally get Soo Hyun’s attention.

“Jimin?” she said, looking at him with her eyes suddenly wide.

“Are you okay, mom?” he asked. Her hair was a mess. She looked sad, and perhaps a little betrayed. “Did something happen at work?”

She looked as if she wanted to say something, but then shook her head. “Eat it before It gets cold.” she said softly, motioning to his plate.

Suddenly Jimin had an idea. “Mom?”

She immediately turned to him. “… Y-yes, Jimin?”

“If noona is going out, can’t I go out too? It’s Friday!”

Park Soo Hyun took a moment to think about it. She seemed to be trembling, but Jimin discarded that idea. There was no reason why his mother should be trembling in the middle of dinner.

“Perhaps not today. But why don’t you could invite your friends here next week?” she said with a smile.

Jimin’s noona was outraged. “MOM!!!”

“Yes, dear?”

“How come Jimin gets to have a house party and not me?!”

Soo Hyun took a deep breath. “You can have a party the week after, if you want. But after that, you both have to start studying for your exams!”

Jimin grinned from ear to ear. Under the table he sent a text to Taehyung, making multiple typos in his excitement.

tae tae, we got some shopping to do. five liters of soju.  for starters. :P

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