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{What can you do to cheer up the person you love?}

~~~

Soobin was a drama queen. And mentally of five years.

"I am asking for the last time. What happened?" The boy sometimes acted so bloody stubborn sometimes, it annoyed me to my very limits. I crossed my arms, staring hysterically at him.

Since that very morning, Soobin had all his attention on his phone, scrolling through god knows what. The next day was the last day of this year and I, at least for that occasion, wanted to celebrate it with the other in peace. You already know the Christmas blunder and the days that had followed after that. Everything was a huge mess until the day before.

I groaned, rubbing at my closed eyelids. "Fine! I won't ask." But the boy doesn't even budge, giving me a saddened gaze before turning it back to his phone. I was at a loss for ideas to catch his engagement towards me and was growing a bit irritated. But then it all washed away when an idea came to my mind. A perfect one, at that. "You know, no one is at home, except the two of us," I started, noticing the way he was acknowledging my words without actually giving a reaction. And I was aware that he was listening because of the way his head nudged up just a little. I maintained the silence, waiting for another sign.

A sigh came from Soobin as he took hold of the water bottle from the table beside him, opening the cap. "I am listening," He said, confirming my suspicions. I flashed a victorious smile at him, leaning back against the couch.

"So... I was thinking," I initiate again as the other drank from his bottle, "that we could maybe, I don't know, do something as I was kind of bored-"

Soobin choked on the water, starting a coughing fit right then. Startled, I slapped his back a couple of times, which helped. He cleared his throat, staring at me with widened eyes. "What do you even mean by that?" It took me a while to understand if he said that out of shock or his was generally squeaky because of the episode just moments before. I settled with the latter but was, nevertheless, dumbfounded.

"I was just saying that we could cook lunch together. It's already twelve and I don't think we should order anything." I gave him a sheepish smile and I heard the boy huff at my answer. What did he think to have reacted like that? Well, not that it matters.

"Thank god- of course, let us do it."

I forgot my past doubts, displaying a toothy smile and rising to my feet with my excitement and confidence boosted and a sparkle in my eyes, I went ahead to the kitchen. Soobin trailed behind me, tucking his phone back inside his pocket. He sat at one of the kitchen chairs as I rummaged through our cupboards for ingredients, humming softly and tapping on the surface of the countertop. But, suddenly, I came to a halt and stared right at the only other presence in the room. "Aren't you gonna do anything?" I asked.

Soobin shrugged, resting his chin on his palm. "I mean, I can only bake. Cooking is not a thing of mine."  He answered, making me frown. But was I gonna let him be? Obviously, no.

After a few minutes, when Soobin was too preoccupied with his own thoughts, I slid the chopping board towards him with several fresh tomatoes. His daze was broken as he blinked at my hand and then shifted his gaze to my face, his puffy lips forming a small, but cute pout of confusion.  He raised an eyebrow, glancing down at the tomatoes. "What?"  He questioned, tilting his head a little.

My heart was warmed at the very sight of his cute face, refraining me from letting go of a grin that settled on my lips.  "Cut these precisely. It's time for some cooking lessons, dumbass."  I teased lightly, gently hitting his head with the spatula. He rolled his eyes playfully, before smiling brightly at me. Finally.

That look would kill me someday.

Thereafter, the kitchen was filled with the sound of cutting vegetables and boiling water. I watched as the little bubbles formed at the walls of the vessel, slowly rising to the and disappearing into nothingness. Cooking always managed to bring me solace, almost like I was listening to a calming ASMR video on the subway to school. Oh, how I missed going out with no care in the world and enjoying some time with myself. If only it wasn't for this damned virus.

I let my eyelids, sighing in a sense of loss of a whole year-- the last of school, to be precise.

"Done!" Announced Soobin, breaking me out of my reverie. I flickered my eyes open, focusing them on the chopping board in front of him.  There were about a dozen tomatoes, neatly sliced and placed on a small plate.

I smirked, looking back at my boyfriend. "And someone said they weren't good at cooking." He gave a sheepish smile, rubbing at his neck as a red tint appeared on the tip of his ears.

"Well, is there anything else I can do?"  He questioned and I couldn't help but chuckle a little.

"I believe not." I took back the plate full of tomatoes, dropping its contents on a separate pan. It instantly emanated a sizzling sound that filled up the area. I skimmed my gaze across the slab for some cumin seeds. That was when I remembered that I forgot to retrieve them from the top shelf.

Facepalming mentally, I turned to the aforementioned shelf, standing on my tiptoes to reach the small container. My efforts, however, were in vain.  I reached for the jar and I felt it slipping away from my grasp. I tried again but still failed.

Soobin's deep voice close to my ear stunned me as soon as he said, "Let me get it for you."

"Oh, no sir, you do not. I can do it on my own." When I turned around, I was met with the elder's broad shoulders. He was a tiny winy bit too close to where I was. So, my first reflex was to place my palms over his chest pushing him away with gentle ease.
"It's alright," I smiled reassuringly, patting his chest a couple of times. "I can do it."

"But don't you think you are..." I expected that. I freaking expected him to pick up that argument-- the one that I was trying to ignore. I glance up at his face and the boy had the audacity to look amused.

"What?"

"Well, a bit short to-" I very rightly interjected in the middle of his words, slapping his upper arm. My eyes were already throwing daggers on the said person.

"You dare complete that statement, Choi Soobin, and I will-" My breath hitched as I goggled at the boy. I found myself at a loss for words. Soobin raised one of his eyebrows, leaning a bit closer.

"And you will what, babe?" I gulped, mind reeling. The sizzling of the tomatoes and the pops from the boiling water was prominent in the air. Soobin's challenging gaze was on me, urging me to do something, anything. But the boy was unaware of how breathtaking he looked at that very moment. And to top it all, he smirked.

Soobin smirked.

I shook my head. "Nevermind, forget it." I scoffed before I grabbed the container full of cumins easily this time around. I surprise even myself but shrugged it off eventually.

I don't know how Soobin got that sudden boost of courage as he leaned lazily on the slab right beside where I was working. I ignored it, focusing on stirring the contents of the pan. The way he looked at me, I don't what it was, but it was sending me into a crazy whirlwind of my own thoughts.

"You look so cute while frowning, Hyunnie," he commented, twirling a carrot in his hand that must've lifted from the pile I had kept at one corner.

Okay, maybe fuck the lunch. I was so distracted that I doubt I would've endured working any further. "Are you gonna do anything?"

Soobin shamelessly shook his head, taking a bite out of his carrot. "Not until you instruct me, babe." He replied between chews, grinning cheekily. I glared at him before turning back to add the water to the pan.  "Maybe I can give you a shoulder massage? What about I-"

"Oh, fuck this."  I cut him off, facing him with a glare which I tried oh so hard to be scary enough for the other to shut up. Keyword: tried. The person's endearing little smile, yet again, distracted me and, for a moment, I got lost.

My conscience was, however, stronger and my patience was at the very brim. Before any of us knew it, I turned off the stove and, swiftly, lifted Soobin off of the ground-- who yelped in stupefaction-- and threw him over my shoulder. "Hey!" I heard him whine. "What are you doing- Tae!"

"You were annoying me," I simply stated and walked out of the kitchen with the struggling giant bunny.

See? A five year old he is.

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