“We’re making kimchi.” Nari stepped in Johnny’s room with hands on her hips and a stern expression as she made the announcement. Johnny arched his eyebrows, Haechan slowly trying to stand up and sneak away but the girl grabbed his shirt and pulled him back. “Yes, Lee Haechan. You too. You’re basically living here and eating our food, especially our kimchi so you ing stay and help out.”

“Ouch,” he shuddered. “I get the chills every time you curse, Park.” he hurried back to Johnny’s bed and hid behind him. 

Nari dropped two pairs of rubber gloves on their laps then exited the room. Haechan peeked at Johnny with worry in his eyes as the elder just shrugged and grabbed the gloves, patting Haechan on the back and telling him to just relax. When they went to the living room, their jaw dropped. Nari had managed to push back the couch and the coffee table, on her own, and spread a large blanket on the floor with large bowls on it. Hyemi was resting on the couch and watched how her friend was running back and forth in the house to prepare everything. Haechan snorted when saw how the girls had put their hair up in messy buns and were armored in aprons and rubber gloves. He walked to the couch and plopped beside Hyemi, snuggling closer to her, the girl patting his head gently.

“Just one question. I’m not a kimchi expert or anything, but…” Haechan heaved a sigh. “I thought kimchi is cabbage? I don't see any vegetable here.”

Just then Nari’s phone rang and she picked up the call immediately. “Hey, you’re here?” she waited for the answer then a smile plastered on her face as she hummed and nodded. “Great, I send the two idiots to help you. Yeah yeah, see you in a bit.” she ended the call and set her eyes on Johnny and Haechan. “Jaehyun is here with the vegetables. Go and help him.” she pointed at the door. 

Hyemi’s eyes widened and she pushed herself up. “Jaehyun? You mean, Jung Jaehyun?”

“You know any other Jaehyun perhaps?” the other girl grinned while Johnny and Haechan put on their shoes and exited the apartment, growling.

“You called him to make kimchi with us?”

Nari nodded innocently. “Why? Don’t like the idea?”

“It’s not that.” she shook her head and contemplated how to phrase her thoughts. 

A few days have passed since her panic attack and her schedule just had to be too similar to Jung Jaehyun's. However, he didn’t question her. He didn’t pressure her to tell him what had happened. He just smiled brightly every day as he put a coffee in front of her, telling her good morning. 

Johnny was seemingly fond of him very much and dragged him out to drinks and shopping while Haechan was still distant. Hyemi herself found him to be nice and all but something lingered in the air that made her a bit uneasy around him these days. She didn’t understand what was the reason behind but something was up. Maybe the fact that beside Johnny and Haechan, she hasn’t really spent time with men at college and these days she was always around Jaehyun. It was something new in her life.

“I just didn’t know you became so close.” she shrugged nonchalantly. 

A knowing smile crept on Nari’s face. “Ah, yes. We have two classes together and we talk. He’s nice and he hangs out with us a lot nowadays so I thought I might include him. Not to mention he’s hot.” she winked at Hyemi to which the girl snorted and rolled her eyes.

The front door slammed open and Haechan was the first to enter with a wooden box in his arms. 

“It’s not even kimchi making season. Normal people make kimchi in November. You, out of all people, should know this best, Park!” he groaned as he put down the box with a thud. “How do we make kimchi when there’s cat hair all over the house and the furball is walking everywhere anyways?” he asked as he wiped his sweat off his forehead.

“Now listen you little brat!” Nari walked to him with dangerously furious eyes and quick steps. Haechan staggered back in fear, his back hitting the wall. “I’ve been cleaning the house all this morning and we locked Tofu in Hyemi’s room.” she pointed a finger at him and flashed her eyes. “So you’ll go and wash your hands, took off your fancy, expensive jeans, change into sweatpants and you don't get up, don't stand up, you sit down to peel all the carrots and onions I gave you, and you will enjoy every moment you spend with your friends because you love us so ing much, are we clear?”

“Yes ma’am.” he stood straight and looked Nari in the eye as he saluted.

“Now that’s my Haechanie.” she flashed a grin and reached out to pinch his cheek then hugged him tightly, squeezing the life out of him as he whined and protested.

While Nari was busy disciplining Haechan with hugs and kisses, Hyemi heard a knock on the door and went to open it. She greeted Jaehyun with a smile and stepped aside to let him in. He was holding two large boxes, Johnny behind him with the same amount. They put everything down on the floor next to the blanket and puffed out tired sighs. 

Hyemi studied Jaehyun carefully. He looked stunning in the black sweatpants and simple grey shirt with the black cap on his head. She watched how he took off his cap and wiped his sweat as he pushed his bangs back and turned to her with a soft dimpled smile. Nari was right. He was hot. She blushed a little and turned her head towards Johnny who was complaining about the amount of vegetables Nari had ordered Jaehyun to buy. This was way too much for them. Nari threw an apron onto Johnny’s head, earning a laugh from Hyemi, then walked to Jaehyun with another one.

“Let me help you Mr. Jung.” she offered and Jaehyun turned around so she can put the apron on him and tie it at his back. Hyemi watched their interaction with a frown on her face but relaxed her features the minute she felt Johnny’s eyes on her. 

“Can you help me Grandma Kang?” Johnny teased and Hyemi rolled her eyes.

“Yes, Grandpa Suh, come here.” she reached her hands and Johnny gave her the pink and white striped apron. 

“Aigoo, I don’t remember the last time I’ve seen our grandchildren. Sure they’re busy.” Johnny joked and Hyemi couldn’t hide her chuckle as she played along.

“Let them be, they have to study to get into a good university.”

“Why go to university? Look over, Grandpa Lee, he didn’t get into one and he’s living his best life.” he cocked his head toward Haechan.

Hyemi followed Johnny's gaze and couldn't help but snicker at the younger male who was dressed in Johnny’s sweatpants and hoodie, all at least two size bigger than his actual size, and was murmuring curses under his breath as he struggled to put on an apron and the rubber gloves. Johnny leisurely slung his arm over Hyemi’s neck and pulled her closer, casually ruffling her pink hair.

“I hope Nari has her mother’s kimchi recipe. That woman can do magic with cabbage.”

Hyemi nodded just when Nari clapped her hands and ordered everyone to stand in line so she could assign the tasks. So at the end, Johnny and Haechan was cutting the green onion, carrot and radish, Nari was busy making the kimchi sauce while Hyemi and Jaehyun awkwardly gathered in the bathroom to wash the cabbages. They squatted beside each other, body leaning over the bathtub as they washed each cabbage with care, then put them aside.

“How are you nowadays?” Jaehyun initiated a conversation since they were too quiet for his liking. 

“I’m good. You?” she asked, not even looking at him and he chuckled.

“Okay, it was a lame attempt I admit.”

She tilted her head at him. “What do you mean?”

“I tried to ease the mood so it’s not that awkward but seems like I failed.”

She stopped washing the vegetables and stared at him. “Am I? Am I awkward? I’m so sorry.”

“Don’t be, just tell me if you don’t like hanging out with me then I don’t bother you at college.” he looked at her from the side and hid his smile.

Hyemi straightened herself and wailed her hands in front of her, panicking. “No, no. It’s okay, you’re nice and I’m glad I have someone who is nice with me at classes.” she blabbered and Jaehyun couldn’t help but laugh at her worried expression.

“Easy there. I was joking.” he grinned and she relaxed her tense body, letting out a sigh of relief. Jaehyun was glad she felt that way since he also liked spending time with her and the others, so hoped her little embarrassment wasn’t because she didn’t like him. “Nari’s really invested in making kimchi. She’s as determined as my grandma was back in the days.” he said while rinsed one cabbage.

Hyemi nodded absentmindedly. “Yes. Back in our town, before Chuseok we all helped making kimchi together. Her parents have a small restaurant where they serve their own kimchi and we'd always helped to make enough for a year.”

“That sounds fun.”

“It was.” she agreed with a bitter smile as she remembered how they had gathered in the empty restaurant with their parents to help the Parks. 

Making kimchi was a major event in their town. It was hard work but it worth it. There was one time when even Haechan’s especially busy parents and their secretary, Secretary Kim, were even there. This was one of her favorite memory of her childhood. They were eight years old, Haechan’s mom had given birth to their youngest child two years before and was on a maternity leave so the Lees thought they might have a little rest and the join the kimchi making party. Despite being wealthy and powerful, the Lees were never supercilious and selfish, even Hyemi could see that at a young age. They were cheerful and they willingly helped others. They helped paying off Mr Park’s loan, letting the man repay them when he could, they helped finding a tutor for Simon and Haechan’s personal driver often dropped off home the other kids. Of course, they were demanding regarding their son, but they never radiated the typical grumpy rich parents’ aura.

It was a chilly November day, early in the morning when Hyemi’s mother barged in her room to wake her up. She pulled the cover over her head groaning, while Mrs Kang hopped to the window and pulled the curtains. 

“Come on Sweetheart.” she chimed and opened the window to let in fresh air. 

Hyemi shivered under her blanket and whined but got out of bed eventually. She loved making kimchi with the Parks but getting up before the sun rose was her worst enemy. After getting dressed, she joined her parents in the kitchen to have a quick breakfast, then they would head over to Parktaurant. Yes, Nari’s father had thought that merging their family name with the word restaurant was a genius idea for the name of the place. 

Parktaurant was a ten minute walk from their house and since it was famous and beloved in their neighborhood, it didn’t surprise Hyemi to see a few of their other neighbors, beside the Suhs, walking the same direction as they were heading. Nari’s father was standing at the entrance, welcoming everyone with a bright smile, handing out vitamin drinks to the people who came to help. He also gave a small pat on the head to Hyemi as she entered with Johnny and Simon on her side, their parents behind them. She ran to Nari as soon as she saw her, greeting her friend with a hug, while the two boys headed to Haechan.

“She’s such a beautiful baby.” Mrs Kang cooed, pinching gently the cheek of the sleeping two-year-old in Mrs Lee’s arms. “Hyemi! Come here and say hi to Haechan’s mom.”

The girl turned tail and walked to her mother obediently, saying hi to the woman beside her. She curiously leaned over to have a better look at the child and a smile crept on her face. Haechan's baby sister was sleeping peacefully, occasionally a smile appearing on her little face, signaling she might have been dreaming about something beautiful. 

“Honey, do you want tea?” Mr Lee came and offered a mug to her wife. 

“Let me hold the little one.” Hyemi’s mom offered so the other woman could drink comfortably.

“It’s good to see you, Hajoon.” Hyemi’s father chimed. “We should play baduk sometime and invite the old and silly Suh.”

“Of course I’d love too!” Haechan’s father nodded.

“Who are you calling old?” Mr Suh came with his wife on his side. 

Hyemi chuckled at how Mr Suh was bothered by the term old but not the term silly.

“Hyemi-yah!” Mr Suh placed a hand on her head. “Go and call the kids over, we’re starting soon.” he flashed a smile, the same Simon had. 

Johnny was resembling his mother while Simon was the spitting image of his father. The same piercing but warm eyes, the same shape of nose and mouth and they both even had a mole on their noses, different side though. 

The little girl nodded to the elder and hurried away to find her friends.

The tables and chairs in the small restaurant had been pushed against the walls so they had enough space in the middle to place the large kimjang mat, a collapsible plastic pond, similar to a kiddie pool, packed with napa cabbages, soaking in salted water. Mrs Park and her husband had already washed the cabbages the day before because they let it soak in salted water for 12 hours. Nari said that was the secret of their kimchi. The restaurant had a garden, where at least fifteen giant kimchi pots were waiting to be filled with chopped vegetables and spicy sauce.

The kids were running around the mat, Secretary Kim playfully chasing them, while Nari’s mom instructed the people what to do. While the youngers had to clean and wash the vegetables in the garden, and the men were chopping and slicing everything into the size of a pinky, Mrs Park, with the help of the women who were skillfully peeling garlic, was busy making the flour porridge with all kinds of extra ingredients like shrimp and fragrant mushroom. She took extra care while cooking since it was the base of the kimchi sauce. The hard labour was filled with laughter, chatting and gossiping, so time flew by.

“Johnny stop!” Nari whined as she tried to shield herself with her arms from the spraying water.

“She’ll catch a cold!” Haechan scolded him, the other shrugging and telling Haechan he was a party pooper.

“Are you harassing the girls again?” Simon came and offered a towel for Nari.

“No!” Johnny denied. “I slipped and splashed water on her. It was an accident.”

“You’re lying!” the girl snapped and furiously throw the towel at his head. 

“Are you cold Hyemi?” Simon turned his attention to the other girl, upon seeing Nari running towards Johnny to beat him up. “Do you want my jacket?”

“I’m okay.” she shook her head, but Simon already draped his jacket over her back, patting her head. 

“I bring these to dad.” he pointed at the bowl of radish which Hyemi had washed already. 

“Secretary Kim! Johnny wants to push Nari into the water!” Haechan shrieked and ran in the restaurant, Johnny trailing after him to shut him up.

Nari gave a satisfied nod to Hyemi and they continued washing the vegetables.

“Have you seen Kim Junmyeon?” Nari looked at her friend and wiggled her eyebrows.

“He’s here?” Hyemi’s eyes widened in excitement. 

Nari hummed and told her he was inside with the fathers. Kim Junmyeon lived a few houses away from Nari’s, and was 9 years older than them. The girls were head over heels for him since he looked like a prince out of a fairy tale, with his beautiful smile and kind demeanor. 

“Oh, I have to sn