After a couple hours of finding what you needed, organizing, folding and putting away, you decided it was time for a break. Coincidently, so did Mrs. Jung. As you were about to open the door, it opened by itself, or more accurately, by her. “Hello dear! You’ve been working hard haven’t you?” she stated, glancing around the room. “Why don’t you come down and eat some lunch before continuing?” she sang. “I made cookies too!”

You bowed, “Hello Mrs. Jung. Thank you so much for the wonderful breakfast. It was really scrumptious. I didn’t know that you made really good American foods as well!” She chuckled, “Oh dear, call me auntie. And I have a diverse knowledge of cuisine so if there’s anything you’re craving, tell me. I’ll do my best to make it for you!” you bowed once more and thanked her.

Following her, halfway down the stairs you were greeted by the amazing smells of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies and dukboki with odang (spicy rice cake and fish cake soup). Your mouth began to water as you thought about biting into that delicious rice cake and drinking the amazing broth. Mrs. Jang seemed to notice, “Hungry?” You nodded frantically, “Yes! I was craving something spicy.”

As you sat down, the group of boys came waltzing down the stairs. “AJUMMMMAAAAAAAA~~~ BAE-GOPPA!!! (Auntie, we’re hungry)” they yelled as they entered the kitchen. The smell of the spicy rice cakes and fish cake soup surrounded them and they sat down, a ravenous look filling their eyes. “Come here, there’s plenty to share~” she cooed. They cheered in glee.

They all sat down, chopsticks in hand; ready to devour the meal that she had placed before them. Once Mrs. Jung began to eat, the boys gulfed down the meal like they hadn’t eaten in the last few days. You took your time and savored each and every bite. Mmmh this is really good. “Thank you so much for the wonderful food all the time Mrs. Jung, though you’re probably busy,” you told her. Mrs. Jung brushed it off saying, “It’s not too bad sweetie. I’m used to cooking a lot all the time; the boys come over quite frequently.” While you were only a quarter done with the food, the rest of the boys were reaching for seconds. Daehyun stared at you across the table, not really eating much. “Why don’t you take the mask off and eat Daehyun?” I asked him while reaching to pull it off. His stare quickly turned into a glare and the boys all stopped eating to watch us. “Don’t touch me,” he spat out through the mask. “I’ll eat how I want to.”

An awkward tension filled the room as Mrs. Jung apologized for her son’s behavior: “Ah, sorry. He’s a little sensitive about people messing with his mask.” Zelo tried to alleviate the atmosphere by cracking a few jokes, b