Author’s POV

Jiyong woke up the next day without a sore body. He yawned and smelled grilled meat. He went out of his room, drooling because of the smell.

He saw Seunghyun grilling meat on the table.

Seunghyun: knew you’d wake up.

Jiyong: oh… you still have that portable stove?

Seunghyun: (chuckles) yeah. I’ve always kept it.

Jiyong: I see…

Jiyong sat on the chair in front of Seunghyun and waited until the meat was cooked. While they were waiting, silence filled the kitchen.

Jiyong couldn’t really take it and just stood up to take a shower. He took more time in the shower than usual since he didn’t want to go back to that awkward silence.

But then, someone knocked on the door.

Seunghyun: Jiyong-ah.

Jiyong: Muo?!

Seunghyun: mianhae…

Jiyong: Muo?

Seunghyun: Just… I’m sorry ok? I guess… it’s fine if you still call each other with your pet names. I know you’re both used to it.

Jiyong: what’s with the sudden change of attitude now?

Seunghyun: nothing… I just… don’t want you to run away again.

Jiyong: I won’t… Dara’s just gonna make me guilty again.

Seunghyun: (chuckles) I see…

Jiyong: don’t worry… I’ll try not to call her cakey again.

Seunghyun: it’s fine… You two shouldn’t stop just because I told you so. I realized that suddenly stopping you both from doing what you’re used to… would only make it hard for all of us. You’re best of friends so I shouldn’t get in the way of your friendship.

Jiyong: did you watch a drama or something? You’re getting on my nerves.

Seunghyun: (huffs) yeah… sorry. Well… the meat’s cooked so… better come out of there.

Since there’s a door between them. Seunghyun didn’t see Jiyong’s reactions. Of how he guilty he looked… of how pissed off he was when he heard him say “friends”… and of how pathetic he thought of himself as he looked at the mirror.

Jiyong soon came out of the shower and went to his room to change. After changing, he put the towel over his head and headed to the kitchen. Seunghyun was already eating.

Jiyong: yah hyung! Why did you start eating without me?!

Seunghyun: ah… mian… I didn’t even realize it.

Jiyong: you enjoyed being alone too much that you already forgot about me.

Jiyong pouted with puppy eyes. Seunghyun suddenly coughed up his food and ended up laughing at Jiyong. With that, the awkward air around them slowly disappeared. Jiyong and Seunghyun bonded that day since Jiyong decided to skip school, well he’s been skipping anyway.

Seunghyun decided to bring Jiyong to the cake shop just so Ji young could also see Jiyong.

Ji young: Omo! Omo! Omo! Now who do we have here? Omo… This is the first time this brat has come to visit!

Jiyong: (scoffs) why are you still as nosy as ever?

Ji young: aigooo… you’re still as arrogant as ever.

Jiyong: (laughs) yeah… Of course I am. The world needs someone like me every now and then to add thrill to people’s lives. Besides, the world won't be a great place to live in if I'm not in it.

Ji young: aigooo, aigooo… you’re head’s too big for my shop! Go! Go out now!

Ji young and Jiyong were always like this whenever they met before. Jiyong would always start bickering (friendly) with her just because he knows that her reactions are amusing and funny. So Seunghyun was really glad that they still share the same bond that they did before.

Ji young: Hurry up and leave! I don’t want you to influence my children with that attitude of yours!

Jiyong: (snickers) I already have.

Ji young: Muo?

Seunghyun: ah… ahjumma… remember the best friend that Dara mentioned before?

Ji young: de? Oh! Don’t tell me…

Jiyong: de… I’m Dara’s best friend. I also met Sanghyun too. Tsk, tsk, tsk… you’re too late ahjumma. I already influence them.

Ji young suddenly pretended to be fainting and she leaned at the counter as if she was really weak.

Ji young: why… why? My lovely daughter is now tainted… my pure daughter.

Jiyong: yah ahjumma! What are you talking about?! I didn’t taint her! Yah!

Seunghyun and Ji young just laughed at Jiyong’s wild reaction. After a while, they all sat by a table. Ji young took 2 plates of cakes and drinks, then she served it to them.

Ji young: here you go.

Seunghyun: kamsahamnida ahjumma…

Jiyong: is this sweet? I want the one that Dara baked with the dark chocolate.

Ji young: (wrinkles her forehead) Muo? But Dara never bakes with dark chocolate.

Jiyong: she did. She made one the day before her birthday but she…

Jiyong suddenly stopped. There were 2 reasons why he suddenly stopped. 1 is that he remembered that Dara couldn’t go home that time because of her sister and their mother doesn’t know about it. And 2, Dara slept over in their house which Seunghyun doesn’t know. Of course, it’s like hitting 2 birds with one stone but this time the birds might actually attack and kill him.

Jiyong: she made it in school. Yeah… sorry. I forgot about it.

Ji young: Omo… really? She baked using dark chocolate? Omo… that’s wonderful of her. How did it taste like?

Jiyong: it tastes really good.

Seunghyun: as expected from her.

Jiyong: why?

Seunghyun: didn’t I tell you that I’m her personal taste-tester?

Jiyong: ahhh… no. you didn’t.

Seunghyun: oh…

Jiyong: well I’m her cake-design coach. She always draws the cakes when we’re together.

Ji young: Omo… isn’t this just a nice sight to see?

Jiyong: what are you talking about ahjumma?

Ji young: (laughs) nothing, nothing. I’m just glad about something. Well eat up!

Jiyong: I don’t like sweet cakes.

Ji young: aigooo… this brat is so demanding!

Jiyong: you can eat it. I’ll just drink coffee.

Please Subscribe to read the full chapter