The Twenty-Fourth Story
Use meat.
Jungkook opened his eyes to the warm sunlight streaming through the curtains. Barely regaining his senses from a half-asleep state, he looked at his hands. Perhaps because he'd given them to Yoosung, they were empty. He was relieved to know Yoosung wasn't a myth, but the feeling that he'd soon be separated from him left him unsettled. Joy and sadness coexisted in Jungkook's mind, confusing him.
“Are you awake?”
Jimin, who had woken up before Jungkook, roughly toweled off his wet hair and said, "Yes. Did you sleep well, hyung?" Jimin nodded in response to Jungkook's question. He then went into the room where the hair dryer was to dry his hair. Jungkook woke up the moment Jimin entered the room and stretched, feeling tired. As he was about to straighten the blanket, Taehyung was still snoring beside him. It sounded like a cat purring.
Jungkook checked the wall clock, seeing it was nearly ten o'clock, and woke Taehyung. Taehyung grumbled something and then jumped up. He tidied his hair and stretched, as if trying to come to his senses from a daze. He yawned, still sleepy, and then, with a chocolate-bun-like face, he looked at Jungkook, who was standing next to him.
“But where did the teddy bear and flowers you slept with last night go?”
“Oh, I was afraid I might crush it while I was sleeping, so I just woke up in the middle of the night and put it in my room.”
As expected, Jungkook, who had expected him to ask, laid out his prepared excuses without a hint of embarrassment. Taehyung, slightly fooled by his acting, nodded as if to say, "I see."
“Jungkook, hurry up and wash up so we can prepare for Mom’s birthday party. Taehyung, you wash up too.”
Jimin, who had finished drying his hair, came out of the room and said. Taehyung told Jungkook to wash first and then made himself a blanket.
After Jungkook finished washing, Taehyung went in to wash up. While Taehyung washed, Jungkook dried his hair. While the two prepared, Jimin prepared the food. He wasn't very good, but he managed to get people to say, "It's okay," so Jimin started cooking first.
After Jungkook finished drying his hair, he joined the cooking crew. Of the three, Jungkook was the best cook. Taehyung, not a good cook, was in charge of blowing up balloons and decorating the house. Taehyung was quite talented at decorating.
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After a few hours, Taehyung and Jimin finished getting ready and headed home. They told him to spend some quality time with his family. Jungkook felt both sad and happy about Taehyung and Jimin leaving. The thought of sitting down for a meal with his family for the first time in a while was nice, but he also felt a little sad because he'd been longing to have a meal with Taehyung and Jimin.
‘Tiring, clanging-’
Before he could even grieve, someone burst through the door. Jungkook smiled brightly as soon as the front door opened and someone's figure appeared. It was Jungkook's mother and father. His parents, too, beamed with joy as soon as the door opened and Jungkook appeared. Perhaps it was because they'd seen him often, but not every day, that they were so happy.
“Happy birthday, Mom.”
“Oh my, what is all this, son?”
My mother looked ecstatic at the sight of the house Taehyung and I had decorated together. After a quick look around, she was immediately moved by the sight of the sumptuous table, and covered her mouth with both hands.
“What the heck is this? I knew my son was a good cook, but… he cooked all these dishes?”
"I didn't do it alone. Jimin and I prepared it together. Taehyung helped me decorate the house."
“Oh my god…”
His mother repeatedly thanked him and hugged him. Jeongguk patted his mother's back.
“Vegetables are really expensive these days, I guess…”
His mother was both touched and worried. Jeongguk smiled as if trying to reassure her. "The boss of the place I work part-time is very kind, so you don't have to worry," he said. Of course, it was all a lie. It was just Jeongguk's white lie to his worried mother.
“Really? That’s good~”
“Oh, by the way, I have something for my mom.”
Jungkook went to his room for a moment and then came out carrying the coat and bag he'd bought yesterday. His mother seemed even more touched and concerned. "This expensive thing..." Jungkook gave her a sly smile and assured her it was okay. His mother happily accepted it, since it was something Jungkook had worked so hard to prepare. Then his father, who had been silently watching them, spoke.
"How did you know your mom's coat was worn out? And you bought it because it's exactly your mom's style."
Jeongguk was delighted and happy at his father's words. His mother was also delighted. His father, too, smiled proudly at the sight of his mother and Jeongguk.
That day was truly a happy one. It was such a joy to be able to enjoy a quiet, cozy meal with my family and chat happily. Yet, even amidst that happiness, Jungkook occasionally found himself thinking of Yoosung. His face, when he remembered Yoosung, didn't look as joyful as before. He seemed somewhat sad, as if he had made up his mind about something.
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Continued in the next episode