"Budding Friendship"

Once home Miyoung fixed herself some ice cream & turned on the tv in her living room. She was on her phone when she realized her Line had new contacts.

방찬 🐺 (Bang Chan)
리노  🐰 (Lee Know)
창빈 🐷🐰 (Changbin)
현진 🦦 (Hyunjin)
한 🐿 (Han)
펠릭스 🐥 (Felix)
승민 🐶 (Seungmin)
정인 🦊 (I.N)

She stared for a minute. When did they add their Lines ? What did they have her saved as ? She decided to text one of them at random.

(A/N: Miyoung' emoji for the boys = 🍪)

She ended up choosing Bang Chan. Who else than the leader to clear up any confusion ? They weren't close so honorifics aren't established.

🍪: How did I get your Line ?

🐺 : We put our numbers in your phone.

🍪: Why though ?

🐺: We felt it was the best option if you can't get into the house.

🍪: That makes sense. I do lose stuff sometimes. I could misplace the key.

🐺: No need to be so formal. We can't be friends that way. Be yourself around us.

🍪: Myself ?

🐺: Yourself.

🍪: Ok. See you in the morning ?

🐺: Goodnight, Miyoung ah.

Miyoung put her earphones in. She headed into her kitchen. She backed some more chocolate chip cookies alongside some vanilla cookies she planned to decorate.

Her Line went off while her cookies were baking in the oven. She answered.

🦊: Miyoung Noona, are you awake ?

🍪: What is it, Jeongin ? Need anything ?

🦊: Can you come by early tomorrow ? I want to do something for the hyungs.

🍪: Of course. See you in the morning.

Miyoung decorated her vanilla cookies. With icing she wrote the boys' names in hangul, of course. There were sixteen cookies. So each member had two cookies with their name on it. On top of that, she also made more chocolate chip cookies.

She put them in tins before heading to bed.

Early the next morning...

Bang Chan told her to be herself. So that was exactly what she was going to do. She wore her SKZ hoodie with soft toned denim jeans. She even wore thrifted white shoes shoes she painted to suit her & her loved for Stray Kids.

Miyoung let herself in with her key. She rounded the corner for kitchen when I.N appeared holding a finger up to her lips. Clearly he wanted her to keep quiet. "Morning. What did you want me to help you with this early ?"

To be fair, it wasn't as early as you think. It is just that the others were still asleep. It actually was round maybe eleven a.m. Jeongin gave a sheepish smile, "You're such a great cook, Noona. I was wondering if you'd make us some tteokbokki."

Miyoung smiled. "You're lucky I can order the ingredients." She put her cookie tins in a special hiding place. Jeongin finally noticed her hoodie. "Does that mean you are a Stay ?" Miyoung nodded as she ordered the ingredients for the tteokbokki.

Jeongin & Miyoung were bonding while she made his wish for his hyungs come true. "How did you become such a good cook, Noona ?" Miyoung sighed giving a small smile. "I learned from my Dad. We used to spend so much time in the kitchen. I miss him a lot."

Pretty soon the others came into the kitchen smelling the tteokbokki. Miyoung sat the tteokbokki in the middle kitchen island. Satisfied praises sounded throughout the room.

Things weren't as awkward as they were before. Miyoung was growing comfortable with them. "I brought some sweets," she said grabbing her tins from her hiding spot.

She handed the maknaes the chocolate chip tin & sat the vanilla decorated cookie tin next to the tteokbokki.

She noticed Hyunjin had excused himself at some point while they were all talking. She walked into the living room finding Hyunjin looking at a picture. Getting closer Miyoung noticed the picture. She was no older than six standing with her friend Hwang Jin, Mr. Hwang' nephew. "Ah, I didn't know this was kept here."

Hyunjin gave a small glance in her direction. "Who's the boy next to you ?" It was Hyunjin, but he knew Miyoung didn't remember. Miyoung grinned thinking back on memories. "My friend, Jin. His uncle owes this house. I miss him but he moved away."

Hyunjin held the picture next to his face. "I missed you too, Miyoung ah." Miyoung looked between the picture & his face. "Figured it out yet ?"  How did she never notice ? Her best friend was stood before her.

She wrapped her arms around him in a hug. "I really missed you." Hyunjin held her back," I missed you too, dumpling."