Elementary school

Jongwoon always had a problem with chopsticks.

Either his hands were smaller than the norm thus made it harder to break it apart, or the god of chopsticks simply hated him. He didn't know and, frankly speaking, didn't care. He just wanted to get it done and had his lunch in peace. Sadly, no matter how hard he put his force in, these damn wooden chopsticks just wouldn't break. If anything, it was his patience that was on the verge of breaking into pieces.

"You look like a fool."

"Shut up."

He glared at the boy opposite him, Cho Kyuhyun, his classmate and (unfortunately) his best friend. The boy snorted at his murderous glare before picking up his chopsticks.

"Watch me and see how it's done."

With a smug smile, Kyuhyun effortlessly broke apart the wooden chopsticks. It broke evenly and perfectly into two pieces. As if to further drive the point home, his bastard best friend used the newly split chopsticks to pick up a meatball from his lunchbox. As Jongwoon stared at the meatball disappearing into that rude mouth, he started to think that his definition of a best friend was too loose.

"How can you be so proud of something so stupid? Besides, I can do it too. It's not that hard to begin with!"

"Really? Do color me surprised then."

With one annoyed huff of breath, Jongwoon was even more determined to break his chopstick. It wasn't about lunch anymore but his pride (and shutting Kyuhyun up). He inwardly chanted a transformation phrase of his favorite hero to give him courage. Then, with his fingers tightly gripping the wooden chopsticks, he yanked it apart.

"..."

"Pfft, hahaha! So much for I can do it too, huh?"

Although he successfully broke it, his chopsticks came out uglier than Kyuhyun's, with an uneven handle and rugged splinters where the wood was torn apart. For a split second, he considered shoving the uneven chopsticks at his best friend's stupid smirk but decided against it. One of them had to be the mature one and, looking at Kyuhyun's teasing smirk, he didn't think his friend suited that role.

"Shut up. Heebong-ie hyung told me that appearance is just an illusion."

"Do you even understand what illusion means? Last I checked, you barely passed Korean— mmph!"

Jongwoon picked up a meatball with his chopsticks and shoved it into his best friend's mouth. He thought that he won but apparently he was wrong. Instead of being annoyed or upset, Kyuhyun actually grinned wider after swallowing his meatball.

"Hey, at least your chopsticks skill isn't as hopeless as breaking chopsticks skill. Consider yourself lucky, Jongwoon!"

If there was something that Jongwoon was considering, it was reworking his definition of a best friend.

************************************

Middle school 

"Need my help with that?"

"Just keep to yourself, Kyuhyun."

His best friend shrugged and continued slurping a fourth or fifth bite of his ramyeon. Jongwoon, on the other hand, had yet to have his first bite, all because of stupid chopsticks. Turned out growing up didn't mean your problems would magically disappear. (Kyuhyun often teased that his hands didn't grow up with him hence the recurring problem, and he always made sure to smack his rude best friend with these so-called small hands of his). He just couldn't get it. Why was it that every pair of chopsticks he chose always posed him trouble? He just wanted to have his lunch, damn it!

"Jongwoon, you're going to ruin it at this point. Give it to me."

"No, I can do it!"

He stubbornly refused his friend's offer to help while pulling on the wooden chopsticks harder. How hard could it be? Breaking chopsticks? He just had to apply more force and pulled them really hard—

Snap!

"Pfft, good luck having lunch with those crippled chopsticks!"

He had broken apart the chopsticks but not in a way that he wanted. Instead of getting two symmetrical pieces, he got 1+3 piece and another 1/4 of chopsticks. Just why did the god of chopsticks hate him so much? Jongwoon felt that he would never find out the reason.

"Who said that I need two to eat? A kid like you probably never understand that life is flexible."

Glaring daggers at his best friend, Jongwoon used the 1+3 chopstick to harshly stab a spring onion egg roll and angrily chewed it. Was it inconvenient? Yes. Would he ask for his best friend's help? Absolutely no. He would rather have a hard time than his friend's (already enormous) ego. Seeing his irritated pout, his best friend shook his head and snorted in mirth.

"You won't make it to the afternoon class at this rate, what with your pathetic chopsticks."

"If you think so then could you be oh-so-kind and graciously fetch a new one for me? I won't thank you, by the way."

"Nah, don't wanna bother to get up. Plus, I have just the perfect resolution for this."

"What is it then?"

Kyuhyun smirked.

"Let me feed you."

"What? Isn't that more work than fetching— mmph!"

Jongwoon almost choked on the egg roll that his friend fed him. While he was coughing and chewing, Kyuhyun took his chopsticks back to eat his ramyeon. He couldn't help but make a face at the chopsticks that now got both of their salivae.

"No offense but, eww."

It was Kyuhyun's turn to glare at him, "you didn't look the slightest disgusted when you bit the popsicle that I was eating."

"It's not the same," he shrugged, "anyway, this seems really bothersome so I'll go get a new— cough!"

"Just shut up and be fed, Kim Jongwoon."

Jongwoon nodded while chewing on the spongy egg roll. Well, if his best friend was so eager to be his caretaker then who he was to turn down such goodwill? Plus, he didn't have to deal with annoying chopsticks so he only won and won!

He also noticed that Kyuhyun seemed to be in a really good mood but he didn't bring it up, too busy enjoying his lunch without lifting a finger like a king.

****************************************

High school

Growing up a bit more, Jongwoon learned that sometimes you should swallow your pride and enjoy a privilege. Why should he bother himself with chopsticks when he had his best friend to do it for him? For that reason, he always let Kyuhyun handle breaking chopsticks for him or just let Kyuhyun feed him. Life was really great after that. He had peaceful meals without worrying about accidentally breaking cutlery ever again! Plus, Kyuhyun also less and less. If anything, his best friend spoiled him completely rotten that his hyung often said playfully that he wouldn't be able to live without Kyuhyun at this rate.

Well.... about that...

"Jongwoon, you're miles away."

"Huh? What were you saying again?"

"Sigh, I said that I had to meet Teacher Park after class, so you can go ahead and wait for me at the rooftop first."

"Oh, I see. It won't take long, right?"

For some reason, Kyuhyun looked overjoyed hearing that.

"I'll be back before you even realize that I was gone!"

.

.

.

"You liar penguin! It's been fifteen minutes already..."

Jongwoon whinned while leaning on a wall. Lying beside him were two lunchboxes and, of course, chopsticks. He glared at the wooden cutlery in disdain but the gaze soon lost its heat when his stomach rumbled. He was hungry but there was no sign of his best friend yet. Sighing loudly, he contemplated whether he should wait for Kyuhyun or just ate lunch first. Actually, he kinda expected the meeting to take a long time. The school annual exhibition was about to approach so Kyuhyun, the student council president, was busy preparing it.

"Welp, I can at least take care of chopsticks on my own, right?"

Saying that to no one in particular, Jongwoon picked up his nemesis and threatened it with his furrowed brows. After he was satisfied putting the chopsticks in its rightful place (?), he took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and pulled the chopsticks apart.

"Ouch! My thumb!"

Not only he failed to break it, but the damn chopsticks also managed to fight back by stabbing his thumb with a splinter and it freaking hurt! Jongwoon dropped the evil chopsticks to check the wound. Luckily, the wooden splinter didn't puncture too deep and its size was big enough that he could pull it out by his fingers. After taking the splinter out, he blew at his thumb hoping to ease the pain and that was when Kyuhyun arrived.

"What?" Kyuhyun smirked, "you were so hungry that you resort to eat your own thumb?"

"Kyuhyun..."

When his best friend got no sarcastic response, Kyuhyun's smirk was quickly replace by a frown.

"Jongwoon, what happened?"

"This ing chopsticks attacked me with a splinter! Can I burn it to ash?"

Kyuhyun who looked mildly amused shook his head.

"No, unless you want to eat tteokbkki with your hands!"

"Tsk, if you didn't take so long talking to Mister Park then this wouldn't happen!"

"Sorry, sorry."

Jongwoon pouted while letting his friend inspect the wound. Truth be told, it didn't hurt anymore (it was just a splinter, after all) but he still whinned. The reason? He glanced up at his best friend whose finger was caressing his thumb chasing the pain away. His heart sped faster and faster the more that long and slender finger brushed against his skin. At the same time, he praised himself for not letting his mask crack under a kind and worried gaze. Unfortunately (to him), he had fallen in love with his one and only best friend. How could he not? With the way Kyuhyun kept spoiling him rotten, falling for that affection was inevitable. However, he was smart enough to not mistake his best friend's kindness for love. People often mixed the two up and ended up hurting themselves by hoping for more, but he wouldn't be like that. Never.

"You really are helpless without me, Jongwoon!"

"I guess so. That's why, Kyuhyun, promise me that you'll be my best friend forever!"

Yes, being friend was enough. Jongwoon nodded to himself. He shouldn't be greedy and wished for the impossible.

Jongwoon completely failed to notice that Kyuhyun flinched visibly at the word "best friend".

************************************** 

College

Jongwoon had never hated chopsticks as much as this. It was bad enough that the evil cutlery tried to embarrass him in front of his best friend but now chopsticks took it to another level.

These damn chopsticks tried to embarrass him in front of people at a mixer party.

He pretended to inspect the wooden chopsticks while deep down he was actually contemplating throwing the thing into a stove, letting it fuel the fire that grilled meats on a pan. Currently, he was at a grill restaurant with his college friends, including Kyuhyun, and many beautiful girls from another college. A guy in his major held a mixer party and he tagged along for a free meal. However, while other people had already enjoyed the mouth-watering grilled meats, he still struggled with breaking the damn wooden chopsticks. Normally, Kyuhyun would have already done it for him but for some reason, his best friend was really moody today and turned a blind eye on him. So, poor him was left to his own devices...

"Is something the matter, Jongwoon-ssi?"

Glancing up, his gaze met a drop dead gorgeous girl in a pastel pink dress. Her twinkling light-brown eyes looked at him with interest that she didn't bother to hide. He quickly tried to recall her name.

"Miyoung-ssi, you see, I have an... unresolved dispute with chopsticks since my childhood."

"Unresolved dispute?"

He looked around the long table but no one else seemed to be listening to them (minus Kyuhyun who definitely did but pretended otherwise), so he continued.

"Promise that you won't laugh at me?"

"Yep!"

"You see, I can't break the chopsticks..."

"Oh," she looked genuinely surprised, "I've seen people who can't open a water bottle or can't open a yogurt lid, but it's my first time meeting someone who has a problem with chopsticks!"

"Good. This world only need one chopsticks idiot—"

SNAP!

They turned to the noise and saw Kyuhyun holding a chopstick in each hand with an ominous look. Jongwoon frowned. Did his best friend wake up from the wrong side of bed today? Kyuhyun looked very irritated as if someone forced him to wear wet socks. Ignoring his moody friend, he turned back and smiled at Hwang Miyoung.

"You don't think that I'm stupid?"

"Why would I? Everyone has their weakness, right? By the way, I can help you with that if you want!"

"Really? Thank—"

Kyuhyun suddenly snatched his chopsticks.

"You look so pathetic that I feel bad for you."

His best friend said that with a scoff and broke apart the chopsticks for him. However, it came out as a 1+3 and 1/4 instead of evenly split chopsticks like Kyuhyun usually did. Obviously, he couldn't use that. Jongwoon coughed to hide his amusement while deciding against teasing his friend. Kyuhyun didn't seem to be in a mood to enjoy his jab right now. His best friend scowled at the crippled chopsticks.

"Wait a sec, I'll get you a new—"

"Jongwoon-ssi," Hwang Miyoung called him, "please use this. I broke it for you."

"Oh, thank you! You're as kind as you're beautiful, Miyoung-ssi."

The 1+3 chopstick broke into half in Kyuhyun's hand.

.

.

.

2 weeks later...

"I can already imagine Kyuhyun-ssi's face when he knows that you're here with me, alone, and that you let me break chopsticks for you!"

Miyoung chuckled while handing chopsticks to Jongwoon.

"Huh? Why would any of that bother him? It's just a friend gathering anyway."

Jongwoon shrugged and used the chopsticks he just received to start grilling meats.

"It's not to him, obviously!"

"Even though I already told him that we're just good friends?"

"Yes! Let me guess, he probably said something like 'you're too trusting' or 'she isn't what you think she is', am I right?"

His sigh was enough to confirm that and the beautiful lady literally laughed out loud. It had been two weeks since the mixer party that brought him and Miyoung to meet. After the party, the girl exchanged contact with him and they quickly became good friends due to similar tastes and hobbies. However, Kyuhyun didn't seem happy with this new development and often told him to ditch Miyoung, saying that the girl hoped for more but he was too dumb to notice it. Of course, he brushed off Kyuhyun's needless worry because he knew better than anyone that he already and only had Kyuhyun occupying his heart (he didn't say it out loud though, worrying that he might ruin their friendship).

"I don't get it though."

He looked up from folding lettuce and beef, "Huh?"

"How come you don't know that your friend love you? Like, totally head over heels for you?"

He dropped the folded lettuce with beef filling onto a plate.

"Who? Kyuhyun? Me?"

"Yes. Him. You."

With an incredulous look, he waved the chopsticks in his hand.

"Impossible. Well, it's true that Kyuhyun really spoils me but it's just kindness, not romantic love."

"And does he ever show this kindness to anyone else?"

"Of course, he—"

—only shows that kindness to me.

A sudden realization hit him and rendered him speechless. Wait, it was true that Kyuhyun was very kind to everyone in general but he never took it to another level like what he did for him. Could it be that... Kyuhyun...

"Told you so," Miyoung giggled, "he loves you!"

"He loves me and I love him too..."

"Wowie, I literally have zero idea about that."

His brow raised at her sarcastic tone, "you know? Does that mean Kyuhyun also knows? But if he knows..."

"No, I bet he doesn't know. No wonder you two are best friends!"

Miyoung's jab held no bite nor malice, just pure mirth. Jongwoon was left stunned with this new discovery that he let the girl steal his beef from the stove. Suddenly finding out that the best friend you had been in love with also loved you back was too shocking!

"But... What if you're misunderstanding? What if Kyuhyun didn't think of me that way?"

Miyoung rolled her eyes at him.

"Why don't we have a bet? If I can prove that Kyuhyun-ssi is really in love with you, then you must treat me to one special menu from that cafe opposite the subway!"

"Alright, deal!"

If Kyuhyun also loved him then it would be the best case scenario. If not, well, he only hoped that they could still be friends...

.

.

.

Two days later...

"Sigh..."

"Jongwoon? What's wrong?"

Jongwoon looked at his best friend for a brief moment and looked down at his lunchbox (made by Kyuhyun). The chopsticks in his hands (taken care of by Kyuhyun) stopped mid-air.

"Well, you know that I went out with Miyoung two days ago, right?"

"That girl again?" Kyuhyun frowned, "what did she do to you?"

"How should I put it..."

"Just start from the beginning."

"Alright, so, we went to that grill place and ate together. Everything was fine until she brought up my single status. Out of nowhere, Miyoung asked if I want to date her or not because she likes me. Kyuhyun, what should I—"

Kyuhyun leaned in and kissed him.

Jongwoon dropped the chopsticks in shock.

*****************************

4 years later...

"Chopsticks as a wedding souvenir? Seriously? Though I understand the reason behind it."

Miyoung inspected the chopsticks closely. Although it was just chopsticks, the material and design were no joke. The souvenir chopsticks were made from silver and the handles were beautifully carved into an intricate pattern of grapevine intimately coiling around the fluffy cloud.

"Chopsticks are literally the foundation of our relationship, after all. Plus, it has positive meanings too; harmony and inseparable."

"Were you the one who came up with the idea?"

"Nope. It was Kyuhyun, though I was the one who came up with the design."

"Thought so."

Miyoung smiled and placed the chopsticks back into a sapphire-blue velvet box. She couldn't help but chuckle to herself. The troublesome couple finally got married after 4 years of confirming that they were indeed in love with each other romantically (yes, they were that stupid). Today, she dropped by their apartment to offer opinions as a fellow designer (and because Kyuhyun couldn't do fashion for the life of him— Jongwoon).

"How did you know that it's Kyuhyun's idea?"

"I just know. He seems like the type to give everyone chopsticks so that they don't bother with yours."

She said with a carefree shrug which drew laughter from her friend, so she took it that her randomly-thrown reason was actually spot-on. That jealousy guy! She soon laughed along with her friend while playfully shoving him. Jongwoon grinned. He raised his hand as if to shove her back but his small hand was caught mid-air by a larger hand— Kyuhyun's.

"Look at how close you two are makes my heart feel happy like winter is coming."

She rolled her eyes, "Duh, you still can't get over that? I told you it was just a plan, not that I actually like Jongwoon-ie!"

"I can't do that unless you got married, Miyoung."

"Kyuhyun-ah, you're being overly dramatic again!"

"But Jongwoon-ah! Aren't you being overly dramatic too when I'm with Seohyun, my co-worker?"

"I-It's not the same!"

Miyoung sighed as she watched the couple having a childish talk. These two, they were practically the same! A fool who was in love with another fool! They were really a match made in heaven!

Or rather... She looked at the velvet box on the table and giggled.

They were perfect chopsticks made in heaven!

******************************************

Author's note:

I'm soooooooooo sorry for my disappearance. (ﾉ´д｀)  May was very cruel to me with how much works it threw at me :(   Stress + exhaustion made me unable to write anything decent, so instead of forcing myself I decided to take a break from writing + social media. And now I'm back!!! 〇(＞∀＜)〇  I'm still busy this month but not as much as May, so I'll try my best to resume my weekly update~ Thank you for supporting me and my fic! Take care!