A Goodnight Kiss

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❝The little things in life are what matters most.❞

—Jungkook

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Jungkook

I almost forgot that her cousin is married to Seojin hyung. Does she know we are friends with him?

I wonder how much she remembers.

We made our way down to her flat, which was in the quieter parts of Gangnam. According to Haneul, her parents had left it for her.

That's still better than me, who lives with two of my cousins!

I opened the door for her, and took in the sights. My eyes scanned the street for any unusually dressed people, or strangely marked vehicles.

The people here seemed really relaxed, almost like they didn't care that my girl and I were heading over to her flat, un-sheperoned.

A part of me laughed at that. There was a time where we would have sheperones following us even though we never actually dated.

I used to take her out to the movies or the bowling alley. Sometimes we'd share a pizza or go on a picnic.

Before our parents had died.

Before everything changed.

"What's on your mind?" she asked sweetly, her arm looping through mine.

"I'm just thinking about when we were in school and the elders would have sheperones follow us whenever I took you out."

"Hey! I thought you said we didn't date!" she knit her manicured brows together.

"We didn't. I used to take you out as friends. Like we did today."

That seemed to satisfy her curiousity and she beckoned for me to follow her into the building.

We made our way up six stories, I only remember this because the lift creaked and groaned at each floor. The place was neat and tidy-even the lift was clean. It just needed to be serviced.

As soon as the doors opened, Haneul rushed out towards her left, idly fishing her keys out of her bag.

"Nice place," I murmured close to her ear so only she could hear.

Some of her neighbours peaked from behind their curtains. How rude!

"Pssht, you haven't even seen the inside yet!" she chuckled.

She knew they were watching!

The door swung open welcoming us inside, away from the prying eyes of her crazy neighbours. I closed the door behind me, amazed by her decorative talents.

"Wow!"

"Thanks!" she grinned, flinging her handbag on the counter.

"You can make yourself comfortable, I'm just going to change. The living room is through that doorway," she gestured with a hand while tying her hair up into an elaborate knot.

"Uhm, okay," I blinked.

Unsure of what to do with myself, I took a seat in front of the television. Then I pulled out my phone and caught up with texts.

Jimin: How's it going?

JK: Fine. I'm at her flat.

Jimin: What! I said take her home! Not go home with her!

JK: Yeah, it's complicated.

Jimin: Just don't kiss her before I do! Oh, and we need to meet with her and everyone else tomorrow!

JK: Tomorrow? So soon?

Jimin: Jageunappa already told her that earlier.

JK: Cool. See you tomorrow.

There were a few messages from some of my other cousins. Scratch that.

There were five hundred messages from my other cousins, on our group chat!

JK: Hold up! I can't reply to ALL 576 texts now. I'm busy!

They're so excited about Haneul, they blew my phone up! I sighed.

"Okay, I'm back!" Haneul emerged in the living room, dressed in a loose fitting t-shirt and track pants, coupled with pink fluffy slippers.

Did I mention how sexy that is to a man?

Ladies, that is sexier than lingerie!

"Hey!" I smiled, pocketing my phone. "You wouldn't believe who's jealous to learn I'm here!"

"Jimin?"

"Good guess!"

"Come on, you can help me sample some of the things I baked earlier," she nonchalantly called me into her kitchen.

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To say that Haneul's kitchen is sacred to her, is an understatement.

She practically lived in there!

For one, the kitchen was the largest room in the flat! Then there's also the fact that she hangs her bags and other important belongings where she won't forget them.

"Have a seat Ca- I mean Ken," she playfully gestured at a bar stool near the counter.

I obeyed the queen of this palace and sat down quietly observing her, my chin propped on a palm. She bustled around the kitchen, getting the kettle boiling, two mugs on the counter and a tin of treats propped open in under a few seconds.

"Wow, you'd do well in the military," I jested.

"I did think about joining, but I was advised that with my condition it wouldn't be very good."

"Condition?"

"Aha, I'm recovering from an accident. But I'm sure you know, since you asked me if I remembered you."

"Oh, yeah. I just wouldn't call it a condition. You're doing great!" I assure her.

She remembers the nickname she had for me. She recalled Jimin's nickname. And she's slowly recalling our time together.

Earlier on she did something she used to when we used to go out together. It was a cute little gesture to make sure she didn't get lost in crowds-she curled her pinky around mine.

But this time spent with her now, as adults, is extra sweet. It's like reliving our childhood together-with more freedom.

If she remembers everything, we can do so much more together! We can recall our high school years together!

"What can I help you with?" I stood, grabbing hold of a mug.

I hated sitting idle. It made my mind wander over to things I didn't like thinking about.

Like my parents.

"I told you, you sit there! You can help try these out when the tea's ready," she grabbed my shoulders and sat me down again.

"But I want to help. I know my way around the kitchen!"

"Really?" Haneul raised her eyebrows. "I'm impressed, Jeon!"

"I live with two of my older cousins. So when they're busy, I usually get lunch or supper ready. Sometimes even breakfast," I shrugged for emphasis.

"Nice, what sort of things do you cook?" she asked, pouring boiling water into a teapot then placing it on the stove to brew.

"Pizzas, pastas, traditional Korean meals, some basic Japanese and Chinese dishes, and the usual..." I trialled off, becoming conscious of myself.

"Why don't we run off now, and you can marry me?" Haneul gushed, her cheeks turning rosy once more.

I laughed heartily at that.

"Oh, I will be marrying you sweetheart. Just not yet."

"Are you one of the seven then?" she cast a side ways glance at me as she laid out a variety of biscuits, muffins and pastries on a platter-enough to feed a small army.

"Woah! That's a lot of food for two people, or are you calling the neighbours too?"

"Those snobs? Pssht. Nope. This is for us," she rolled her eyes as if to say 'duh'.

"Uhm, Haneul, that's enough to feed all your future husbands and your in-laws."

"Nice to have a head start then."

I gulped. Maybe waiting for her to meet the others was a good idea.

"Try one Ken. Don't worry, it's edible," she teased.

I helped myself to a chocolate biscuit.

"Wow! This is amazing!" I felt my worries melt along with the delicious coconut and chocolate taste.

The biscuits were sandwiched with real chocolate!

"I'm glad we're getting married," I murmured.

"Now the platter doesn't seem so overwhelming, does it?" Haneul stuck her tongue out at me.

"No, I'm taking all the chocolate biscuits!" I said as I took another one.

"My mum used to make these before she died," her voice was a soft whisper.

"I'm sorry."
"Don't be. Didn't your parents-"
"Yeah, they did," I nodded.

"Our parents died on the same day. I didn't think you'd remember that," I said sheepishly.

"Well, I remember some things. As time goes by, there are things I remember as clear as day. Like my Carrots and how we cried together the day we got the news about our parents," the look in her eyes made me want to cry again.

I got up to wrap my arms around her.

"I'm here if you ever need to talk," I whispered to her. "Anytime you need me, Haneul."

She sniffed a little and nodded. "Okay, I can smell the tea over-brewing," she giggled and shuffled to the stove to get the teapot.

"I mean it. If I'm going to marry you, I need you to understand that I'm here as long as you need me."

"Thank you, Jungkook," she handed me a mug of piping hot tea, then reached over and placed a soft kiss on my cheek.

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Haneul and I spent the rest of the afternoon talking about our parents.

I haven't felt this relieved since she and I had bawled our eyes out together, that evening all those years ago.

We sat in her living room, watching an English movie-Legally Blonde.

It was almost surreal, since I'm technically working in the same field.

"Hey, aren't you a lawyer too?" she playfully poked my arm.

"Yeah. But I just graduated. So I'm waiting for a permanent placement at this firm."

Mr. Park and Mr. Kim owned the practice. But that didn't mean that I would readily get a position because I'm family.

I wouldn't take it even if they did give it.

"I served my articles and just graduated, officially," I explained to my confused Barbie girl.

"Oh, nice! Which field did you specify in?"

"Criminology, like Yoongi hyung. But for now I'm just assisting whoever needs my help. I'm still learning the ropes," I felt my face burn up.

"You're so cute! Don't be so shy! At least you're working in the field you're qualified for," she bumped my shoulder, calming me instantly.

"Aren't you a pastry chef?" I rested my head on her shoulder.

"Yeah, but I graduated with a degree in commerce before I took a baking course."

"What!?" I straightened up, looking at her.

Her laugh is so captivating. I could watch her forever.

"Yeah, I initially wanted to get into corporate or supply chain management. But you know how tough the job market is," she scrunched her nose up.

"So, you decided to start your own business?" I prompted her.

"Yeah, after a while I realized I like baking more than working with people and numbers. So I spoke to Seojin and Sol-and they made me a partner in addition to accepting my proposal."

"That's really good, Haneul. I'm proud of you," I pressed a kiss to her temple.

Is it my imagination or the longer I spend with Haneul, the less awkward this is? It's almost as if she's her old self.

She fits my frame naturally when she hugs me and even now, sitting her with her head in my shoulder, it feel like it used to.

But I can't get ahead of myself. Dr. Min will want to know so she can improve the treatment.

I guess tomorrow will determine how soon we can move on with our Haneul.

Before I knew it, the sun had set and the movie had ended.

"Haneul, I have to go now. I guess I'll see you tomorrow?" I rested my head against hers.

"Okay. Hey, I don't have your number!" she got up and walked over to the kitchen.

I followed her after switching the television off.

"Here, type your number in!"

I did, then handed it back to her.

"You can text or call me anytime, baby girl."

My phone rang, catching me off guard. "Oh, it's you!" I grinned.

"Aha. Just practicing," she winked, walking with me to the door.

"Goodnight, Haneul."
"Goodnight," she reached up and kissed my cheek.

I knew then that if I didn't leave, my cousins would most definitely smack me.

Because Haneul kissed me first.

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