[ Present ]
[Mital's home]
Tring... Tring...
The door bell rang..
Charlie opened the door.
Suga and Minase were standing outside. The moment the door swung open, they rushed inside.
"Charlie!!"
They screamed with excitement and went straight to Geone's room.
"Geone! Idiot, you're still sleeping!"
Suga said and jumped onto the bed and sat down hard.
"Geone, wake up-
GeOne!! GeeOne..!!"
He grabbed the blanket and started pulling. From inside, Geone clutched it stubbornly.
"Suga... let me sleep. Just a little... just a little..."
Minase sat down on the chair beside them, arms crossed.
"Geone, it's twelve o'clock. Get up."His voice was quieter than Suga's.
At last, Geone gave up. He loosened his grip and crawled out from under the blanket.
Mr. and Mrs. Mital had already left to attend a wedding invitation.
At exactly 1:00, Minase, Suga, Geone, and Charlie turned on their favourite weekend show together.
Laughter filled the room. Everyone watched, relaxed-except Suga, who alone finished almost half the chips and popcorn.
Midway through the show, Charlie stood up and headed toward the kitchen to make lunch.
With practiced ease, he held the knife, sliced the fish, seasoned it carefully, and slid it into the oven.
When Geone noticed Charlie was gone, he got up and followed him to the kitchen.
He took a cold drink from the fridge, looked at Charlie and said,
"You really love to cook, Charlie."
Charlie glanced at him and answered,
"Hm."
Geone stepped closer and took a sip. Some of the cold drink spilled down the corner of his mouth, sliding slowly along his throat.
The sight held Charlie's eyes for a brief moment.
He immediately looked away and began chopping carrots faster.
From behind, Geone took another step and rested his chin lightly on Charlie's shoulder and leaned in close to his ear.
"Teach me too... Charlie."He whispered.
Charlie's chopping sped up even more, dangerously fast-as if his hand might slip any second.
Sweat trickled down his neck, his Adam's apple moving sharply as he swallowed.
Suga appeared behind them.
"Teach me... teach me too..."
Geone turned and tugged at the strings of Suga's hoodie.
"You cook everyone without skills anyway-what are you even going to learn?"
Suga snatched the cold drink from Geone's hand and took a long gulp.
"You won't understand. Charlie, teach me Charlie. Not Geone."
Charlie turned to face them, then firmly pushed both of them out of the kitchen.
"No one needs to learn anything. Let me work. Go... go!"
Suga walked away a few steps-then came back again.
"Okay, then what are you making now? I'll help."
"Suga." Charlie's voice was calm, controlled.
Suga pressed his palms together dramatically.
"Please, please."
Charlie shook his head for a moment, then sighed.
"Fine. Just heat the water."
Suga grinned proudly.
"Hey, is that even a job?"
Geone grabbed Minase's shoulder and pushed him lightly.
"Minase... Suga... making water... ha... ha..."
Minase laughed and glanced at Suga.
"Careful, Suga. Don't burn the house ..."
"Oh hooo," Suga shot back.
"You can't even turn on the gas yourself-he... he... he!"
"He!.. he!.. Nice joke," Minase added, mocking him.
"Hey, Suga-take some water," Charlie said while working.
Geone dropped onto the seat beside Minase and draped an arm over his shoulder.
"Hey, dude. Don't feel bad , that you really can't turn on the gas ."
Minase looked at him sharply.
"Why would I feel ...bad? Are you making fun of me?"
Geone swallowed his laughter.
"No, dude. I'm serious."
"Seriously, GeOne?!"
Geone straightened his face.
"Serious. DAMN serious. No more funn."
They turned their attention back to the show.
Suga glanced toward the kitchen. Charlie pointed at the stove.
"Just turn it in a circle."
Suga hesitated, then carefully turned the knob. The flame ignited.
His eyes lit up, bright with triumph-as if he had conquered the world.
He set the pot down and began heating the water.
Minase was talking on the phone.
Geone wandered back into the kitchen to check on the water.
"What are you doing?!"
Suga lifted the hot pot carefully, moving toward Charlie.
His hand slipped...
Geone was standing right in front.
In one swift motion, Charlie shoved Geone aside.
The boiling water splashed onto Charlie's body instead.
Geone crashed into the rack behind him and fell to the floor.
They both screamed.
"ChaRlieee!!!!"
Continues...