What should you give to a man who has everything?
But Juminâs lack of interest in sweets daunted you. You were a baker at heart - you loved to dip your fingers in frosting and cookie batter, and Jumin preferred steak and foie gras.
Those were one in the same right?
You tried to follow several celebrity chefs - Gordon Ramsay and Jaime Oliver specifically - but to no avail. Too many dishes were either burnt to a crisp or overcooked - a nice and more roundabout way to say burnt.
You werenât about to give in so easily, however. This was for your husband, the absolute and undeniable love of your life. You were going to make him the fanciest dinner he had ever set his eyes on, and you were going to be successful.
âBeef fillet. Lean meat with little fine sinews of fat running through. It just melts in your mouth like butter. Seasoned.â
You lightly seasoned the fillet with salt and pepper, eyes glued to the overhanging tablet. With Gordon Ramsay as your instructor, what could go wrong?
âHot pan, olive oil.â
You moved your hand over a cast-iron skillet and delicately poured olive oil⌠and winced as the oil hopped and skipped from the pan onto you.
âOw, ow!!â You yanked the skillet from the stove and yelped once it hit the floor, almost smashing your toes.
âSeal. Mustard. Think about it. Fillet beef wellington, English mustard. You arenât gonna put dijon on there, are you?â
You grabbed a cloth and plopped the skillet back onto the stove. âSlow down, Mister Ramsay! Okay, where⌠where is my mustard⌠wait, how long do I cook the beef?!â
âMushrooms. Seasoned. Blitz.â
Frazzled, you gathered your mushrooms and threw them into the food processor, switching it on shortly after.
âNow, weâve got to take the water out of the mushrooms.â
You brushed your hair away from your face with a huff. âWha - Iâm not done blitzing Mister Ramsay, I still donât know what a blitz is!â
âLook how wet they are. You donât put oil or butter into the pan. You put nothing in there.â
âOh my god.â With a pop, you shut off the drowning noises from the machine.
âLook how much waterâs coming out now.â
A frustrated huff followed by a roll of the eyes. âI canât Mister Ramsay, Iâm not there yet.â
It all happened so quickly. You couldnât make heads or tails of it - one second you were scooping the processed mushrooms from the processor, the next⌠it was on your husbandâs chest.
â... I am so sorry Jumin, are you okay?!â
Jumin gathered the mushroom concoction onto the tip of his finger, licking it and lightly smacking his lips.
âNo, oh my gosh, please donât eat that,â you sighed while dabbing his vest and tie with a wet cloth. âWelcome homeâŚâ
âYou donât seem very enthused,â Jumin chuckled lightly, swiping the mushroom on your nose and shifting your chin upward.
âSorry,â you smiled weakly, swiping the mushroom from your nose. âI wanted⌠I was hoping to make you Beef Wellington.â
Juminâs fingers tenderly massaged your arms. âBeef Wellington? Gordon Ramsayâs recipe?â
âYes,â you pouted. âItâs your birthday and itâs such a special day, so why not go all out you know? It isnât coming together, thoughâŚâ
âCome now, darling,â Jumin lightly chastised you, pinching your cheek. âYouâre far too hard on yourself. Weâll make it together, hm?â
âNo, this is for you to enjoy!â
âI enjoy spending time with my wife,â Jumin crooned, wrapping his arms around your waist.
â... Youâre still so smooth. For an old man, that is.â
He laughed heartily, digging his fingers into your stomach and tickling you mercilessly. âExcuse you?â
âJu-Jumin!! Stop!!â You pried his hands from your stomach, lightly kissing his knuckles.
He turned his palm up and cupped your cheek, stroking your cheekbone. âShall we, my love?â
âYeahâŚâ You beamed. âYeah, letâs do it.â
âAssemble. Clean film.â
Both you and Jumin stared blankly at the ingredients. The tablet was greased with fingerprints and olive oil, the Parma ham lay abused from repetitive folds⌠and there was still remnants of mushroom on Juminâs vest.
âYeah, this uh⌠this isnât gonna happen,â you shook your head.
â... What does blitz mean darling?â
âI still donât know!!â You giggled, dabbing your husbandâs vest.
âThank you,â Jumin hummed, his hand gripping your fingers delicately.
âFor what, the mess I created?â You teased.
âPrecisely that. We can spend more time with each other cleaning everything up. Itâs the perfect end to a perfect day.â
âYouâre adorable, Jumin.â You tugged his tie down and planted a wet kiss on his cheek. âHappy birthday, honey⌠Iâm about to get sappy and emotional, but you mean the world to me, and Iâm so⌠Iâm so happy youâre here.â
He closed his eyes, pulling your hand to his cheek and affectionately kissed your palm. âI was born for you, my love. I was born to love and adore you, and to be loved and adored by you.â
âYou were born to fulfill your dreams and your desires, Jumin!â You beamed, blushing madly.
âYou are my dream. And you are my desire. I need nothing else.â
â... Youâre going to make me melt. How you come up with these things is beyond me.â
Jumin chuckled gently, tucking his fingers under your chin and kissing you devotedly. âI was a poet in a past life.â
âI thought you donât believe in past lives!â
âI didnât believe in a lot of things until you came along, lady.â
Dazed yet entranced, you cupped his cheeks and smooshed them lightly, arousing him to hold the small of your back.
âI love you,â he growled against your lips.
âI love you. And happy birthday. You old coot.â
âMake another joke about me being old. I dare you.â
âWho said I was joking?â
His fingers burrowed into your stomach again - you squirmed and squealed, screaming, âYou canât keep using the same attack, Jumin!â
âCome,â Jumin lightly patted your rump. âWe need to clean.â
âHuh, look at you! You didnât push it off to the maid! I guess what they say is true, you can -â
Jumin raised a wary brow at you.
âTeach an old dog new tri -â
He plucked you up, throwing you over his shoulder rather recklessly.
âGah, Jumin!! I was just kidding, heeh, put me down!!â
âYou donât seem to realize what comes out of that pretty mouth of yours,â he hummed coolly, moving closer to the bed. âIâm charmed, but my feelings are hurt. And you need to take responsibility.â
âIâm sorry ~!!â You pleaded. âMercy Juju, mercy!!â