#one shots

You smiled to yourself, even though you felt a ping of disappointment in your chest.

“Baby, you were supposed to stay in bed, so I could bring you breakfast to bed”, you mumbled, your face now being practically squished by his hands as he tried to reach every area of your face with his lips.

He stopped in his tracks only to turn you around, so you could face him. He looked incredibly squishy right after waking up. His eyes were still puffy, there were imprints on his face indicating that he indeed had a good night sleep and the way his hair was all ruffled, just gave you the biggest cuteness aggression toward him.

Your gaze softened as you put your hands on his chest, gently rubbing it. “Happy birthday, my favorite birthday boy”, you smiled and pressed your lips on his. He sighed contently into that kiss, his hands once around you tightening to press you closer to him, so tight that he lifted you off your feet for a couple of seconds.

You chuckled into the kiss, just before he gently put you down again. He still made sure to keep his arms around you tho. There was no way he let go off you when you were wearing his sleeping shirt that went down to your knees. You just looked so … his.

“What were you thinking leaving me alone in that bed? I woke up all by myself”, he pouted, pushing his lower lip forwards. You rolled your eyes and moved the pan just in time before the contents could burn. “You were supposed to stay asleep until I am done with the cooking, so I could bring it to bed with you. You were never meant to wake up before that”, you explained again and he sighed.

You softly patted his bum and pushed him from you. “Sooooo … how about you go back to bed, pretend like you just woke up and I bring you the food?”, you smiled softly and you could see he was contemplating, but he only looked at you with a grin that grew wider by the second. “Fine.”

He walked backward toward the bedroom, pointing a finger at you. “I am expecting an Oscar-worthy entrance.”

“Oh, you bet your ass you’ll get one.”

With one last grin, he disappeared down the hallway.

Silence settled over the apartment again, followed by the exaggerated rustling of sheets and a very obvious “I’m sleeping now”.

You had to bite your lip to stop yourself from laughing. You turned back to the stove, plating the last of the breakfast. Balancing the wooden tray carefully in your hands, you took one last look at everything. Crispy bacon, scrambled eggs, sliced fruit, two steaming mugs of coffee and a tiny cupcake with a single candle flickering in the middle.

You smiled to yourself before making your way down the hallway as quietly as possible. The bedroom door creaked open. Changbin was tucked beneath the blankets with his eyes squeezed shut just a little too tightly. His breathing was dramatically slow and one hand rested over his stomach.

You shook your head, setting the tray down on the dresser for a moment, you walked over to the bed. “Bin?”

No response.

You leaned down a little closer. “Hey, baby?”

Still nothing.

“Oh no”, you whispered, placing the back of your hand against his forehead. “I think he’s fallen into a birthday coma.”

Still nothing.

You gently poked his cheek. “Maybe I should eat all this breakfast myself. Starting off with that delicious cupcake-“

One of his eyebrows twitched and his eyes flew open immediately. “Not the cupcake!”

You burst into laughter as he immediately sat upright, hair sticking up in every direction. Your hand found his hair, trying to comb through it. “You’re lucky you’re cute”, you mumbled and picked up the tray again. “Move over.”

His eyes widened. He quickly scooted backward until his back rested against the headboard, grabbing a couple of pillows and fluffing them behind himself before patting the empty spot beside him. “For the five star chef.”

You chuckled and carefully settled the tray across both of your laps.

“You made all of this?” Changbin simply stared.

You looked down almost shyly. “It isn’t much …”

His head snapped toward you. “Not much?” He gestured dramatically toward the overflowing tray. “Baby, this is the most amazing breakfast in bed I’ve ever received! It looks so delicious! You even got a me a candle.”

“It’s your first day off in forever”, you said quietly. “I wanted your morning to feel peaceful.”

His gaze lingered on you for a moment. “You know”, he murmured, taking your head instead of reaching for the food. His thumb slowly brushed across your knuckled. “I’ve had birthdays where people gave me expensive presents, but I don’t think anything has ever made me feel as loved as this.”

Your heart squeezed. “You don’t have to say things like that before breakfast”, you laughed softly, blinking away the sudden sting in your eyes.

“Why?”

“Because I will cry.”

He smiled, that warm, gently smile reserved only for you. “I don’t mind.”

He lifted your hand to his lips and kissed your knuckles. “I mean every word.”

Unable to stop yourself, you leaned over and wrapped your arms around his neck. He welcomed you without hesitation, one arm circling your waist while the other rested securely against your back. “You deserve to be spoiled”, you whispered into his shoulder.

He let out a content hum. “I think my favorite gift is still hugging you.”

You laughed and stayed like that for another moment before pulling back just enough to look at him. “Okay”, you smiled. “Before everything gets cold …”

You carefully picked up the little cupcake and held it toward him, the tiny flame flickering between you. “Happy birthday, Binnie.”

His eyes reflected the warm glow of the candle as he looked from it back to you. “Now make a wish.”

He looked at you, you could see his brain working – before he closed his eyes and blew out the candle. A thin ribbon of smoke curled into the air.

You clapped quietly, making him laugh. “Now”, you said, handing him a fork. “You are finally allowed to eat.”

By the time the last crumbs of breakfast had disappeared and the mugs of coffee sat empty on the bedside table, the apartment had settled into a comfortable silence once again. Changbin stretched with a satisfied groan, his arm now slowly slinging around your shoulder to pull you toward him. “Filled me up so good, I think I need to take a nap now”, he mumbled and you could feel his bicep curling around your throat.

“Lord, I thought we were done with breakfast and now you offer me a snack? How generous, and here I thought it was YOUR birthday”, you laughed and lightly bit into his bicep.

“Aghh”, he yelped, followed by a delightful laugh. “Another great present”, he added and nuzzled into you.

After a quick nap, that you spent intertwined with each other – until noon – you softly flicked his forehead after you had laid there in silence for a couple of minutes. “Are you ready to go out?”

He narrowed his eyes. “You got something planned?”

“Of course I have.”

You laughed before hopping off the bed. “Get dressed.”

“Can I know where we’re going?

“Nope.”

“Give me a hint?”

“No.”

“Not even a tiny one?”

“No.”

He started pouting, but finally left the bed. “Guess I have to trust you on this.”

About forty minutes later, the two of you stepped out of the car.

Changbin looked around curiously before turning to you. “An arcade?”

His eyes immediately lit up. “You remembered.”

“Of course I did.” You slipped your hand into his. “Last month you spent twenty minutes talking about wanting to come here.”

For a brief second he simply looked at you before a grin spread across his face. Then he practically dragged you inside. Bright lights flashed from every direction while game sounds echoed through the building. Children laughed nearby, claw machines chimed every few seconds and somewhere in the distance someone celebrated hitting a jackpot.

Then his eye lit up even more.

“Where first?”, you asked.

He looked around before pointing. “Basketball.”

Changbin confidently picked up the first basketball and spun it in his hands. “Ladies first.”

You took a deep breath – you knew you sucked at basketball, but gave it a try anyway.

The timer started counting down – you bent your knees the way you’d seen athletes do on TV and threw the first ball. It didn’t even reach the hoop.

Instead it bounced off the front of the machine and rolled back toward your feet. You huffed dramatically before grabbing another ball. “This one will go in.”

You were so embarrassed that you didn’t even turn around to see his reaction.

But that one didn’t go in as well. It hit the backboard. The third somehow flew to the left.

By the time the buzzer sounded the machine displayed a score so low you actually just wanted to vanish. Then you finally turned around to him. He was just smiling at you, there was some empathy written on his face.

“I don’t want to talk about it.”

He stepped beside you, gently nudging your shoulder. “Hey.” He reached over and tucked a loose strand of hair behind your ear. “Do you want me to show you?”

You hesitated before nodding. “Okay.

He picked up one of the basketballs and held it out to you. Then he stepped behind you, careful to leave just enough space for you to move comfortably.  “Can I?”

You nodded.

A second later, his hands gently settled over yours as you held the basketball together. “Relax your shoulder.”

You let out a small breath.

“Good. Now bend you knees just a little. And now…” His hand adjusted over yours ever so slightly. “Keep your elbow underneath the ball.”

“And then?”

“Just let the ball go.”

Together you released it and the basketball sailed through the air and it dropped through the net.

Your jaw fell open. “I DID IT!”

You immediately turned around, nearly bumping into him. He laughed, engulfing you into his arms. “You did!” He couldn’t stop smiling at how proud you looked over one successful shot. Then he looked at you for a moment before leaning down just enough to press a quick kiss to your forehead. “I’m proud of you.”

Your smile softened. “Thanks coach.”

He puffed out his chest proudly. “Anything for you.”

You stepped aside with an exaggerated bow. “Now it’s your time.”

As expected he was a lot better than you. But you weren’t as terrible anymore, so you weren’t mad.

Several games later, you found yourselves standing in front of a row of claw machines. Inside one of them sat a chubby cat plushie.

You pointed at it. “He’s cute.”

Changbin followed your gaze. “We’re getting him.”

Then he started working for it. After six failed attempts, the plushie hadn’t moved more than a few centimeters. “Binnie, maybe this is fate. Maybe he just belongs here.”

He inserted another coin. “No. He belongs with us.”

By the twelfth attempt, a small crowd of children had gathered behind the two of you. “Come on!”, one little boy cheered. “You can do it.”

Changbin straightened his shoulders. “Oh, I think I got him now.”

The claw descended one final time. It grabbed the plushie. It lifted it. Everyone collectively held their breath. And then – the cat dropped neatly into the prize chute. The little group erupted into applause and Changbin threw both fists into the air.

“YES!” he picked up the plushie and immediately handed it to you. “There.”

You blinked. “But it’s you birthday, you should keep it.”

“My birthday wish is for you to take this plushie.”

Your expression softened as you hugged the plushie against your chest. “Thank you.”

The afternoon slipped by between racing games, air hockey matches that ended with both of you accusing the other of cheating and far too many photo booth pictures where Changbin insisted on pulling the most ridiculous faces imaginable.

By the time you stepped back outside, the sun had already begun its slow descent, paining the sky in soft shades of orange and pink. He grabbed your hand and pulled you closer to him, so that your shoulders brushed. “Thank you so much, I had a really great time today.”

He smiled at him, leaving a gentle kiss on his shoulder. “I am glad. But we are not done yet.”

His eyebrows rose. “There’s more?”

You nodded. “Come on.”

About twenty minutes later, the familiar scent of grilled meat and garlic greeted you the moment you stepped through the restaurant doors. Changbin stopped in the entrance.

“No way.”

You smiled. “I may or may have not made a reservation.”

He looked around at the cozy interior before turning back to you. “This is my favorite place.” Then he reached for your hand again, intertwining your fingers. “I don’t think today could’ve been any more perfect.”

You smiled, leaning up to press a gentle kiss to his cheek.

Changbin smiled, leaning down until his forehead rested lightly against yours. “I think you’re trying to spoil me rotten.”

“That’s kind of the plan.”

He laughed quietly as a hostess greeted the two of you before leading you to a booth tucked near the window. The evening sun spilled across the wooden table in golden streaks, making everything feel softer somehow.

Dinner passed comfortably, filled with stories that neither of you had managed to tell while he’d been busy with work. He talked about funny moments from rehearsals, about how Seungmin purposely ragebaited him only to be manhandled by him.

“You know”, you said, scooping up the meat with a fork, “I think Seungmin is exactly where he wants to be, when you do that to him. He always looks so happy.” He chewed on his pork belly and bit his lower lip in the process – a cute habit that you adored so much. “He is a menace.”

You chuckled and filled him in on little things he’d missed at home and he listened to every word as if each story mattered. It made your heart ache in the nicest way.

By the time dessert arrived – a slice of chocolate cake with another tiny birthday candle – you were both comfortably full. The waiter placed it in front of a Changbin with a smile, adding a soft Happy birthday, and Changbin looked from the candle to you. “I don’t deserve you.”

You reached across the table and gently flicked his forehead. “Don’t say that. You deserve to be celebrated.”

His playful smile softened. “I just … sometimes I get so caught up working that I forget what days like this feel like.”

Your expression grew gentle. “You don’t always have to be productive, Binnie. You don’t have to earn rest.”

He looked up at you and then reached across the table until his fingers found yours. “You always know exactly what I need to hear.”

You squeezed his hand softly. “I tell you what you deserve to hear.”

Outside the evening air had cooled pleasantly. Streetlights flickered on one by one while the last traces of sunset painted the horizon in bright colors.

Instead of heading straight toward the car, you tugged gently on his sleeve. “Walk with me?”

He looked down at your intertwined hands before smiling. “I’d love that.” The two of you wandered slowly through the quiet streets, neither of you in any way hurry to end the day. Changbin carried the little cat plushie tucked under one arm.

A comfortable silence settled between you.

After a minute, Changbin spoke again.

“You know what my wish this morning actually was?”

“I thought you weren’t supposed to tell people, or else it won’t come true.”

He stopped walking, gently turning you to face him beneath one of the glowing streetlights.

“I already have everything that I wished for.”

Your heart fluttered. He lifted your joined hands and left a kiss on your knuckles. “You’re everything I wished and prayed for”, he added quietly and you could literally feel your heart now busting in your chest. “Are you trying to send me into cardiac arrest?”, you mumbled and now pressed your lips against his fingers, that you almost touched his lips, which curled into a soft smile.

He then held out his pinky. “Promise me that you won’t go into cardiac arrest on my birthday? Or ever? I couldn’t bear living without you.” You pursed your lips before lifting your pinky as well, hooking your finger around his.

“Promise, if you stop trying to kill me with your words.”

He chuckled, nodding in satisfaction. “Good.”

Then he leaned down and kissed you. Slow and warm.

Then you pulled apart, he rested his forehead against yours. “So, should we bring our child to bed now?” He pointed at the cat plushie in his arm and you swatted his chest playfully. “That’s our child now?”

He nodded with a low hum. “Of course, I was fighting for him.”

“Yeah? Then where are you hiding, Sheepie?” Clint asked, knowing the sheep was probably hiding underneath their pj’s or still on the bed. Y/N giggled and made Sheepie's head poke out of their shirt. The worn sheep smiled at Clint, making the man chuckle. “There he is. Keeping my baby safe and happy.” He gently kissed Y/N’s cheek once more before setting them on the kitchen counter. 

“Wanna help Da with the waffles?” Before Clint could even finish that question Y/N started to nod happily and clap their hands. Thumb abandoned from their mouth.

They definitely wanted to help with making the waffles.

Clint smiled and began again with getting everything he needed for the waffle batter.

Flour

Sugar

Eggs

Milk

Butter

Some salt and baking powder

Secret ingredient vanilla extract

He then handed over a wooden spoon to Y/N, they could play with it and help stire later. So With everything ready Clint started on the batter, Y/N helping. Spending the time like this until Steve got back from his run.

After about 15 minutes the batter was almost done and Steve had just gotten back from his run. Y/N was mixing the batter with their spoon with a smile, Clint was helping with holding the bowl in place for them. “Good morning my love.” Steve greeted, slipping an arm around Clint’s waist before kissing his cheek. “And good morning sunshine.” He said to Y/N, giving a gentle kiss on their head. Making Y/N giggle.

“Da and me made the batter all by ourselves.” They said proudly to Steve. To which Steve let out a dramatic gasp. “You did? All by yourselves? How grown up you already are.” He sounded proud of his little one. They were growing up so fast, it made his heart ache a little. Clint smiled and placed a hand on Steve’s shoulder. 

“Want to help me with making the waffles too?” Steve asked, kinda already knowing the answer. “Yes!” Y/N cheered before letting out a yawn. They might be getting a little sleepy again, they had been up for a little while now. Their smile was still there, but the thumb went back into their mouth and their other hand grabbed onto Sheepie's paw. Steve couldn’t resist and gently pick Y/N up, cradling them against his chest. Clint leaning in closer, wanting some of the warmth as well.

“Maybe we wait a little until we start making the waffles.” Steve suggested. Y/N however shook their head, but was already falling asleep. “Honey it’s okay, we’ll make the waffles and wake you up when they are done.” Clinted cooed, already taking them from Steve so they could nap on the couch in the living room.

“Next time you get to help Daddy with the waffles, okay?” 

You even choked on it, which made him halt in his movements as worry flashed across his face. “Hey, you okay?” He stepped forward, one hand already on your back, about to smack it to help you, but you signaled that you were okay. “M okay. Let’s go”, you mumbled.

He raised his eyebrows, but decided to trust you on this.

“Rock. Paper. Scissors.”

Now he was the one who won. “Oh yes.” He swung his fist in victory, while you sprinted off to take a lap. Just as you returned, you saw him hovering over the table. His fist firmly on the surface, while he kneeled down. Even from the back you could see the distress in his body.

“Baby, oh my god, what happened?” You finally swallowed the last bite and kneeled next to him. His whole face including his ears were incredibly red.

The second he heard your voice, he slowly turned his head toward you – his eyes glossy. “…It’s spicy”, he croaked.

You stared at him for a second before bursting into laughter. “Baby, you chose the Buldak!”

He coughed, dramatically placing a hand over his chest. “I thought, it would be okay!”

You kept laughing, reaching over to rub soothing circles between his shoulder blades. “Hey, it’s ok, breathe, here have some milk.” You grabbed the milk, handing it over to him.

After downing half a glass of milk, he groaned again, still suffering. Then his eyes found the camera in front of him. “This whole thing even got recorded”, he sighed and took another sip. You chuckled, stepping behind him and put your head on his shoulder, so you could see the both of you on the display.

“This is gold material. I could actually blackmail you for that”, you smiled and pressed a kiss on his still red ear.

Lee Know

The table was filled with neatly arranged sushi. Salmon. Tuna. Shrimp. Some California rolls. Even your favorite avocado rolls. You were eyeing him and Minho knew exactly that they were you favorite.

Once the camera was recording, you clapped your hands together. “Ready?”

He rolled his shoulders. “Rock. Paper. Scissors.”

You stared at your own hands in horror. “No.”

Across from you Minho slowly looked at his own hand before lifting his gaze to meet yours. Then a dangerous smiled appeared on his face. “Run.”

You had no good feeling about this as you shot him one last glare before you started running.

In the meantime he calmly picked up his chopsticks and his eyes landed on the avocado rolls. He didn’t even want them, he could just already picture look on your face. “Worth it.”

He picked up one and looked straight into the camera. Then he popped the entire thing into his mouth. Then he popped another one. Then the third one. He started stuffing his mouth with those avocado rolls, until his cheeks were nothing but a storage location for those rolls.

Then you finally finished your lap, almost bumping into him. When he turned his head he was still chewing and almost all avocado rolls were gone. Except for one. That was already between his chopsticks.

“You-“

You pointed accusingly. “Why did you do that? You don’t even like them?!”

He swallowed a big bite, now finally being able to form some words. “Because I love ragebaiting you.”

“You little-“, you started and without thinking you lunged at him. He effortlessly leaned back, holding the sushi out of reach, now finally swallowing the remaining content in his mouth.  “Boy if you eat that, you’ll be sleeping on the couch. No wait, you’ll be sleeping outside. Actually no, why should you? I will pack you up and ship you to Canada.”

He blinked a couple of times. “The way that you would actually do that”, he muttered and then he looked at the avocado roll again.

“Of course I would do that. Anything for my beloved avocado roll.”

But then he smiled. You looked at him confused.

“Open.”

You frowned. “What?”

“I said open.”

Suspiciously, you did.

The second you opened your mouth, he leaned forward and placed the avocado roll directly between your lips. “There.”

You blinked. And he started laughing.

You started chewing it, forgetting about his audacity-behavior for a second and just enjoying the flavor melting on your tongue. As soon as you swallowed, you came back to your senses and charged at him again.

He lifted his hands, trying to protect himself from your attack. “I swear, I was always going to give you the last one!”, he laughed, barely managing to dodge your hands. “You are going to buy me more avocado rolls!”

He caught your wrists in his hands and pulled you toward him. “Ok, ok, I had my fun. I will buy you your avocado rolls”, he chuckled and left a kiss on your forehead as a sign of apology.

Changbin

The afternoon sun was pleasantly warm as you placed two bowls of freshly made tteokbokki onto the small garden table. The camera started recording and you turned toward Changbin. “Ready, Bin?”

He rolled his shoulders like he was about do deadlift. “Born ready.”

“Rock, paper, scissors!”

He lost. His eyes widened. The smile on his face wiped off.

You cheered. “YES!”

“Not on my watch”, he mumbled and was already moving across the backyard, before you could even process it. “WHAT?!”

You blinked. He wasn’t jogging. He wasn’t running. He was sprinting, like his life depended on it.

“Oh my god, what the hell?!” You frantically grabbed the chopsticks, trying to shove the food quickly into your mouth. “Ohhhhhh, I have to eat faster!”

The rice cake was hotter than expected and as you shoved it into your mouth, you immediately regretted it. “Oh my, that’s hot!” You fanned your mouth desperately before grabbing another one anyway.

Across the yard Changbin rounded the tree at a full speed.

You squeaked, your fight or flight response being activated. “He is coming back!“, you muttered and barely had time for a another bite before he appeared beside the table again.

You gasped and swallowed the still hot rice cake. “Gosh, that was scary”, you breathed out and looked into his grinning face.

“Again”, he said, already positioning himself for the next round.

“Rock paper, scissors!”

He won. “YES!”

He celebrated by punching the air and you groaned dramatically. “This is so unfair.”

You took off across the grass as fast as you could.

Changbin was quiet, so you knew that he was inhaling the food and this only encouraged you more to increase your speed. You ran so fast, that you almost bumped into him, when you came back. You tapped his shoulder, signaling him to stop.

He turned around, his cheeks as round as a soccer ball.

Then your gaze landed at the plate and you gasped in shock. “How the hell did you empty a whole plate in the short of a timeframe?!”

Changbin quickly covered his mouth with one hand, trying to keep the tteokbokki from escaping while chewing at an almost concerning speed. “Mhm?”

You pointed at the now empty table now. “There were like ten rice cakes on there and now the plate is empty!”

You grabbed the empty plate and held it up for the camera. “Everyone, you’ve all been witnesses of his very selfish behavior, can you believe it?!”

Changbin leaned into the frame. “That was the point of the challenge! And I love winning.”

“So much that you treat this whole thing like HYROX?! Damn, Binnie.”

He giggled and gently patted your back, before picking up a rice cake with a chopstick. “Ok, I am sorry, baby, but you know I get competitive really quick. Here have some”, he cooed and fed you the hot delicatesse.

Hyunjin

The two bowls of japchae sat on the little patio table, still steaming in the afternoon sun. You had carefully arranged to look aesthetically pleasing – even adding little edible flowers, because according to Hyunjin “Food tastes better when it’s pretty”.

He approved with a satisfied nod. “Ten out of ten presentation.”

“I’ll take that.” You adjusted the camera. “Ready?”

He tucked a loose strand of hair behind his ear and dramatically cracked his neck. “Always.”

“Rock, paper, scissors.”

He lost. Silence followed. Hyunjin slowly looked down at his own hand. Then at yours. Then toward the sky.

You tilted your head. “Jinnie?”

He sighed – a log, dramatic, heartbroken sigh.

“I can’t believe you’ve done this.”

You blinked. “Playing rock, paper, scissors?”

“I trusted scissors.”

“You picked them.”

“And they betrayed me.”

You pressed your lips together, already feeling yourself laugh.

“However, you have to run now.”

He looked at the bowl of japchae one last time, in a longing, hurtful way.

“Tell my family I loved them.”

“Oh come on you, you’ll be gone for thirty seconds max.”

“Exactly.”

He finally started jogging. He looked like he was in no rush. Even his hair was bouncing gracefully with every step. “Looking like straight out of a perfume commercial”, you muttered under your breath and picked up your chopsticks to start eating.

The japchae was delicious, so incredibly delicious.

By the time he finally made it back to the table, you had eaten almost half the bowl.

He gasped. “You started without me. You really moved on.”

“The whole point is that I eat while you run! Is it my fault that you turned it into a freaking catwalk?”

He pouted. “I thought what we had was special.” He clutched his chest dramatically before sitting down.

You nudged his side affectionately. “Hey, come on, let’s do it again. Maybe you’ll win?” You held out a hand, trying to get him to engage in that challenge again.

He let out a dramatic sigh. “What is the purpose of all this if I can’t even win a stupid rock, paper, scissors game?”

You light swatted the back of his head. “Oh come on, stop being so dramatic.”

He looked at you in disbelief. “Did you just hit my head? How could you?”

“You can’t really count this as a hit, I barely touched you.”

His jaw fell open as he stood up. “Ok, let’s go, I will redeem myself.”

This time he won. He smiled proudly. “This is what you get for hitting me.”

“I didn’t hit you, I-“, you stopped and took a deep breath. “Whatever, I’ll just run.”

You sprinted around the garden as fast as you could. When you returned, you froze.

Hyunjin was standing exactly where you’d left him. The food untouched.

“You didn’t eat?”

He looked up innocently. Then you noticed. He’d been using the waiting time to perfectly rearrange the noodles into a prettier presentation.

“…Did you just plate the japchae again?!”

“It looked messy.”

You burst out laughing. “I swear you’re the only person who uses the opportunity that he won in a food challenge to just style the food instead of eating it.”

“What can I say? I like beautiful things. Including you.”

You swatted his chest. “Ugh, your flirting won’t distract me from the fact that you somehow made a food challenge aesthetic.”

Han

A giant bucket of fried chicken sat in the middle of the table and Han’s eyes sparkled. He rubbed his hands together, while you set up the camera to record. “Oh, I am so ready for that.”

“Rock, paper, scissors.”

You won. You cheered, already reaching for your chopsticks, while you looked at Han, who couldn’t believe that he had just lost.

“Go!”

He sighed dramatically before taking off across the garden.

You happily started eating. One chicken. Then the second one. Then the third one.

“He’s taking a while.”

You looked up. Nothing. “Jisung?!”

Silence. “Where did he go?”

You walked toward the back of the garden and then you found him. Crouched in the grass. Completely captivated.

“There you are!”

He immediately held up a finger. “Shh.”

You crouched down next to him. “Why are we whispering?”

He pointed at the ground in front of him. “Look.”

A tiny brown lizard was sunbathing on one of the rocks. His eyes were literally sparkling again. More than at the sight of the chicken.

“Isn’t he adorable?”

You blinked. “Yeah he is … but you are aware, that you are in the middle of a challenge?”

“Of what?”

You stared at him for a second before laughing. He looked adorable, admiring the little guy like that.

“I think he likes me.”

You smiled at him. “Yeah, he surely does.”

A few seconds later the lizard darted into a bush and you could literally see Jisung’s heart shattering.

“No!” He stopped up immediately. “Wait, come back.”

It felt like a scene from Titanic.  You laughed as you grabbed him by his shirt.

“Hey, let him. Maybe he’ll come back.”

He pouted, looking after him, at the bush where he just vanished into.

“My heart is broken.” He now looked at you. “Maybe some chicken will cheer me up.”

When you both returned to the table, he froze. Half the bucket was gone.

He slowly turned toward you. “You kept eating?”

“That’s how the challenge words, how am I supposed to know that you’ll get distracted by a lizard, cooking in the sun?”

He pouted again and you couldn’t help but wrapping your arms around him, pulling him into a hug. “Oh my god, I can’t with you today. Can you please stop looking so freaking sad? You know that’s my weak spot”, you mumbled and squeezed him even more. He gave you the worst cuteness aggression ever.

He leaned into that hug, putting his chin on your shoulder. “Please have the rest of the chicken. You don’t even have to work for it. Just eat them, but please don’t ever pull that face again, it literally breaks my heart”, you pleaded and kisses the exposed part of his shoulder, before breaking the hug.

The sad look on his face was gone, replaced by a tiny smile.

He didn’t waste any time before he grabbed the chicken and stuffed his mouth with it.

Felix

The afternoon was sun was warm enough to make the bowl of mango bingsu look even more tempting. Fluffy shaved ice was piled high beneath bright yellow mango cubes, drizzled with condensed milk and topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream that was already beginning to soften.

Felix’ eyes lit up the second you set it on the garden table. He leaned closer, inspecting the dessert. “That looks incredible.”

You grinned as you adjusted the camera.

“Needed some motivation to win this thing”, you murmured as you looked at him. “Ready?”

He nodded eagerly.

“Rock, paper, scissors!”

You lost.

“Aww”, Felix frowned immediately. “I’m sorry.”

You laughed as you prepared yourself to start sprinting. “Don’t apologize, you won!”

“I know, but I still feel bad.”

You shook your head with a smile. “Don’t. I’ll be back.”

You started jogging around the garden.

Felix looked down at the bingsu. Then back at you. Then at the bingsu again.

The scoop of ice cream slowly tilted to one side.

“Oh no.” He looked genuinely concerned. “It’s melting.”

He picked up the spoon, but instead of taking a bite, he gently nudged the melting scoop back into place. “There.”

A few drops of condensed milk ran down the side of the shaved ice. He quickly scooped them back on top.

Halfway through your lap, you glanced toward the table. Felix wasn’t eating. Instead he looked like he was performing emergency surgery on the dessert.

“What the hell are you doing?!”, you called out.

He looked up, clear panic flashing across his face. “It’s melting!”

“Then eat it!”

“I can’t!”

“Why not?”

“You’ll miss out!”

“Felix!”

“I don’t want your half to disappear!”

When you returned, slightly out of breath, you looked at the bowl. And it looked almost exactly the same.

You looked at him. “You really didn’t have one bite.”

“I just couldn’t, I didn’t want to take it away from you.”

You couldn’t stop smiling. “The whole point of this trend is that the winner gets to eat while the loser runs.”

“I know, but …” He looked at the melting bingsu. “I like eating dessert with you.”

Your heart melted much faster than the ice cream. “You’re too sweet.”

He laughed shyly, before you let out a soft breath. “Okay, one more round. But this time, if you win, you will eat ok? I promise you I won’t be sad.”

He nodded. “Okay, let’s do this.”

“Rock, paper, scissor.”

This time Felix lost and he stood up immediately. You grinned, encouragingly patting his head. “Go!”

He took off around the garden and now you looked down at the bingsu. As soon as you picked up your spoon, you slowly put it back down almost immediately. “I can’t, he’ll be sad if I eat without him.”

When Felix came jogging back, he noticed that the bowl was untouched. His eyebrows lifted. “You didn’t eat either?”

You smiled innocently. “I felt guilty.”

His face broke into the brightest smile. “We’re terrible at this trend.”

He got closer, before he picked up a spoon. “I have an idea.” He scooped up a spoonful and then looked at you. “Open.”

You smiled and leaned forward, letting him feed you. He smiled, clearly pleased.

You grabbed the second spoon and scooped up another bite before holding it toward him. “Your turn.”

Seungmin

The bowl of japchae sat neatly in the middle of the table, glistening in the afternoon sun. Sesame seeds sprinkled the top, strips of beef peeked through the glossy noodles and the smell alone was enough to make your stomach growl.

You placed the camera on its tripod – already having a bad feeling about this.

“Why do you look so scared?”, he asked and you looked at him. “You already have that ‘I’m about to become absolutely insufferable smile’ on your face”, you replied and put your hair into a ponytail, like you were about to prepare for war.

“Ready?”

He nodded.

“Rock, paper, scissors.”

You lost. “Oh come on!”

Seungmin looked at you before giving you a faked sympathetic smile. “That’s unfortunate.”

“Don’t pretend like you’re sorry, I know you’re not.”

You took a deep breath. “Don’t eat everyting.”

“I would never.”

You took off across the garden. The second you disappeared past the flower bed, Seungmin calmly turned toward the camera. “Our contestant has a strong start …” He watched you for a second, tilting his head thoughtfully. “Form is questionable.”

You froze mid-run. “I CAN HEAR YOU!”

“So? Doesn’t change the reality.”

“I am running!”

“I’ve seen faster.”

You pointed at him from across the yard. “You’re the worst, oh my gosh.”

He looked back at the camera. “Our contestant appears to be distracted by outside commentary. What a loser.”

You couldn’t hear it as you vanished behind a tree for a second.

He casually picked up his chopsticks. “Notice the lack of arm drive? I’d give it a five.”

You were back in the earshot again and gasped loudly. “Why are you commenting on my running? Shouldn’t you rather eat?!”

Then you arrived back, stopping next to him.

He looked over at you and glanced toward the camera again. “Our contestant has successfully completed the course despite their questionable form.”

You stared at him. “Questionable form?”

“Yes, you should’ve seen yourself.”

“You kept commentating, you distracted me!”

“I was providing constructive feedback.”

“Which I didn’t ask for!”

Then you tried again. “Rock, paper, scissor.”

This time, Seungmin lost. You grinned triumphantly. He just got up nonchalantly and jogged off at a leisurely pace.

You immediately reached for the japchae. Just as you lifted a mouthful –

“That’s an interesting strategy.”

You looked up. Seungmin was still running, but he was still looking at you. “Our opponent has chosen a rather aggressive first bite.”

“Are you really narrating my lunch?!”

“The viewers deserve context.”

“What kind of context could possibly be needed? I am eating!”

You rolled your eyes and finally took a bite.

By the time Seungmin made it back, you’d barely eaten three bites because every time you tried, he’d made another ridiculous comment.  As soon as he came to a stop next to you, you picked up a stray noodle with your chopsticks and flicked it at him. It landed squarely on his shoulder. He looked down at it before meeting your eyes. “Foul.”

You burst into laughter.

He sighed dramatically before brushing the noodle away. “Our contestant has resorted to unsportsmanlike conduct.”

“I’m never doing another trend with you, you are insufferable.”

I.N.

The plate of hotteok sat between the two of you on the table, the golden pancakes still warm with melted brown sugar and cinnamon filling inside.

The camera started recording. “Ready?”

He nodded.

“Rock, paper, scissors.”

You won. Jeongin stared at your hand, then his, then back at yours. “No.”

You laughed.

“Go.”

“Already?”

“That’s how the game works.”

He sighed deeply, standing up. “I can’t believe my own girlfriend would do this to me.”

“You lost in a fair way.”

He sighed and you watched him disappear around the garden.

For a second, you thought he would take it easy. After all, it was Jeongin. He was sweet and polite.

You reached for the hotteok. And as expected he did his lap without any complaints, he even had a smile on his face the whole time. Just like you knew him. He was just happy to be here.

He appeared from behind the tree, already jogging back and joining you again. “Is it good?”, he asked, nodding to the hotteok. You nodded with a full mouth and swallowed the bite. “Very good.”

“Rock, paper, scissor.”

This time Jeongin won. His face immediately changed. The sweet smile disappeared and a dangerous confidence appeared.

You pointed at him. “Why do you look like that?”

“Like what?”

“Like you are about to take over the world.”

“No, I am just looking forward to the hotteok.”

You looked at him suspiciously. “Whatever.”

You started running and the second you disappeared around the corner, Jeongin grabbed the food. One bit. Two bites. Three bites. Four bites. Then he stopped and looked toward where you had disappeared. Then he looked back at the food. He picked up another one. “No.”

He put it back. “I need to be fair.”

A few seconds passed and he reached for it again. “Okay, just one more.”

The camera barely had time to capture what happened. He wasn’t just eating. He was inhaling.

When you came back, you stopped dead. The plate that was once full, was now almost empty. You stared, then looked at him. Then at the plate again.

“Jeongin.”

He froze mid-chew. His cheeks were completely full. “What?”

You pointed at the almost empty plate. “HOW?”

He swallowed quickly. “What?”

“How did you do that?!”

He looked genuinely confused. “I ate.”

“YOU VACUUMED THEM.”

“I was hungry.”

“You ate almost the whole plate in the time it took me to run one lap!”

His eyes found the plate and then your eyes again. “They were really good.” Bless him, he sounded so innocent, that you couldn’t stay mad.

You exhaled. “I should’ve expected this. Every time we eat together, I turn around for two seconds and suddenly half your food is gone.”

He chuckled, shooting you an adorable dimpled smile. Then he quietly pushed the last hotteok toward you. “You can have the last one.”