A cluster of groceries lay spread across the kitchen table, arranged in a manner that teetered between order and chaos. Crisp colourful vegetables sat neatly bundled beside cartons of eggs, while jars of sauces and bottles of seasoning formed an uneven row along the edge.
At the far end of the table, Jihoon sat with one leg pulled up onto the chair, his head dipped as he scrolled through his phone. The faint glow from the screen reflected off his face as he lazily twirled a pen between his fingers, with a notepad resting open on his lap.
A cooking video caught his attention, and he seemed to note down the recipe before pausing and setting the pen down with a huff.
"They sure mistitled the video," Jihoon grumbled to himself, his brows drawing together. "How can they call it 'done under 30 minutes' when it needs to marinate for 24 hours? Does that even make sense?"
His lips pressed into a thin line as he stared at the screen for a moment longer before sighing and saving the video. Maybe he could try making it on a day when he wasn't pressed for time. But today wasn't the day. He had already gone out early in the morning to buy the groceries, and now he just needed to cook and deliver the meal before lunch.
"Well… I guess I'll stick to what I'm most confident in." Jihoon finally set the phone aside and stood. He began separating the ingredients, setting aside what he needed and putting the extras away on the shelves.
The soft sound of running water filled the kitchen as he rinsed the cuts of meat beneath the steady stream. His hands worked efficiently, the cool water running over his knuckles as he cleaned away any residue, watching it swirl down the sink. The recipe he had in mind would only need an hour of marination, which was perfect for today's timeline.
As Jihoon prepped the cutting board and reached for his knife, the sound of hurried footsteps pattered down the hallway.
"Hyung! Look at this!"
Haneul burst into the kitchen, clutching a piece of paper in both hands, his face beaming with excitement. His small feet skidded against the floor as he rushed toward his brother.
"Hey- slow down. I told you not to run like that, didn't I?" Jihoon said, glancing up from the cutting board.
Haneul's steps faltered, but his smile remained intact as he approached his brother. He thrust the paper toward Jihoon with both hands, practically vibrating with anticipation.
Jihoon sighed but couldn't hide the amused curve of his lips. He set down the knife and studied the paper as the boy bounced on his toes, waiting eagerly for a response.
Jihoon scanned the wobbly drawing, tilting his head as he tried to make sense of it. It vaguely resembled a burger but the lines forming the top almost gave the impression of a roof. Aburgerorahouse? He couldn't quite tell. Jihoon's brow knitted in quiet confusion as he glanced from the paper to Haneul's expectant face. His little feet shifting restlessly as if trying to contain his excitement.
"Wow. Did you draw this?" Jihoon smiled, keeping his tone light. "I didn't know you were this good. You could become a pro with no problem."
Haneul's face lit up immediately at the praise, his small chest puffing with pride. Jihoon would have ruffled his hair like usual, but his hands were in the middle of cooking.
Feeling satisfied, Haneul waddled back toward the living room, already reaching for his colored pencils to continue adding to his masterpiece. Jihoon watched him go with a fond look before turning his attention back to the cutting board.
Jihoon picked up the pace, his hands working swiftly and efficiently. The sizzle of meat hitting the pan filled the air almost immediately, followed by the soft bubbling of broth on the other burner. He adjusted the heat under the soup with one hand while grinding garlic and toasted sesame seeds with the other, the savoury aroma mixing with the richer scent of soy sauce and ginger.
His movements were almost a blur, hands moving between the frying pan, pot, and cutting board with seamless fluidity.
After nearly two hours, a wide array of dishes was ready. Jihoon carefully packed the dishes into a large, compartmentalized container. It was a purchase Jihoon had bought it weeks ago for storing side dishes but had never gotten around to using it. It felt good to finally put it to work. He also set aside smaller portions for himself and Haneul on the table before closing the container's lid with a soft click.
Jihoon glanced toward the clock. It was close to noon. He wasn't sure if his neighbor usually ate lunch early, but it was better to deliver it now rather than later. He approached Haneul, who was sitting cross-legged on the floor, entirely absorbed in his coloring.
"Do you want to eat now?" Jihoon asked.
Haneul barely glanced up, too focused on perfecting the strange lines of his burger-house. "Not hungry yet."
Jihoon shook his head with a quiet laugh.
A child's appetite was unpredictable and could change at any moment, so Jihoon figured it was best to deliver the food quickly and return before the little guy changed his mind.
"Make sure to lock the door behind me," Jihoon reminded as he grabbed the container and slipped on his shoes.
"Mm," Haneul mumbled, not looking away from his paper.
Jihoon stepped into the hallway and headed toward his neighbor's door, the container tucked securely under one arm. His pulse quickened slightly as he raised his hand and pressed the buzzer.
He could hear the soft chime ringing faintly through the thin walls.
"….."
Jihoon waited, shifting his weight from foot to foot. After a moment, his lips pressed into a thin line. He had half expected the man to not answer but somehow, the silence still left him feeling oddly disappointed.
Not ready to give up, Jihoon promised himself he'd ring the buzzer at least three times. If Ryul didn't answer, he'd just drop the food off later that night when the man was more likely to be outside.
But just like the first attempt, the other two went unanswered.
Jihoon sighed but there was nothing he could do. Just as he turned to leave, the sound of something stumbling from inside made him stop in his tracks.
A moment later, the door creaked open and the tall figure emerged from the dark interior, leaning slightly against the doorframe.
"Hm?" Ryul's voice was low, almost rough and his gaze slowly focusing on Jihoon. "How do I owe this pleasure?"
Jihoon's eyes narrowed as his gaze swept over Ryul's unusually sluggish appearance. His face was a little pale, and the slight slackness in his posture made Jihoon's stomach twist with concern.
"Ajeossi…Is something wrong with you?"