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Wonwoo loves Mingyu's ramen, he thinks he can't remember when was the first time he ate food made by his groupmate, but he knows that it has a special seasoning, a unique flavor that has given a new meaning to this dish. Won had always liked it, the ramen at home was always delicious.
But Gyu's had a special place in his heart. Maybe the first time he ate it was that one time, it was 3 AM, Won was hungy, so he got out of his bedroom and went to the kitchen where he found Mingyu.
"What are you doing awake?" Wonu asked, getting a little closer to Gyu who was cooking something on the stove.
"I was hungry." Mingyu answered, both were speaking in whispers since the other members were already sleeping. "What are you doing awake?"
"I was playing videogames. I'm hungry too." Wonwoo said, he had been playing online with some of his friends since the afternoon, the LoL matches had lasted for more than ten hours.
"Since when have you been playing?" The tallest man questioned, Gyu was still preparing some noodles with broth.
"It was three in the afternoon when I started?" Wonwoo wasn't sure what time he had joined his League Of Legends team, he only remembered that it was hot and the sun was at its highest point, now he had spent too much time in his bedroom in front of the lights of his computer. He lost track of time.
"Haven't you eaten anything since then?" Mingyu was really surprised, he turned to look at Wonwoo and he just shook his head. "Do you want ramen?" Won just nodded before Mingyu returned his attention to the pot where the noodles were boiling.
Gyu finished preparing the ramen and served quite a bit on two bowls, the two boys sat at the table and ate in silence since they had to let the rest of the group sleep. Wonwoo was so happy to have found Mingyu cooking that night and was now sure that this was his new favorite late night snack.
Since he had entered the kitchen, the delicious smell of this soup had invaded Wonwoo's senses, the aroma was exquisite and his nose did not lie to him because when he tasted the ramen that Mingyu had prepared, Won knew that it was the best flavor in the world. . He couldn't stop eating, he slurped the noodles and his groupmate looked satisfied with his reaction.
The taste of Mingyu's ramen was great, Won had eaten this same kind of food hundreds of times at home, he knew how to make himself this simple dish. He thought there was no great science in boiling noodles and adding seasonings, but it seemed like Gyu did it in some special way.
Besides the fact that it was a spicy ramen that Wonu just loved, he couldn't complain about this food, it was better than what he expected to find when he left his bedroom to eat something.
"Why haven't you eaten anything since the afternoon?" Gyu asked before they both finished eating.
"I can't, I need both hands to play." Wonu said with a smile on his mouth, Mingyu just shook his head.
Mingyu arrived at the dorm, he was so tired and hungry after a photo shoot, Gyu was sad because the driver didn't take him to eat after work. But he remembered that there were some packets of ramen at home and he thought he could make himself one before going to sleep.
He entered the house, it was after 8 PM and to his surprise the place was quiet, it didn't seem like this apartment was shared by 13 guys. Gyu headed straight to the kitchen after leaving his things in his room and taking off his sweatshirt. He began his task of preparing ramen for dinner. While the noodles were cooking, S.Coups entered the kitchen too, he went to the fridge to get some orange juice.
"MMM, it smells good." Cheol said before taking a sip of his drink.
"Thank you, do you know where Wonwoo hyung is?" Mingyu asked.
"Oh, I think he's playing videogames in his room." Seungcheol told him before leaving the kitchen. Gyu actually got worried, if Won was playing videogames, since when had he not eaten? Mingyu didn't question it twice and served his ramen on two bowls as soon as the food was ready.
With both bowls in his hands he went to Wonwoo's room and placed the two bowls on the wide table where Won's gaming computer was. Wonwoo didn't even flinch, he was using his headphones, very concentrated on winning the game so he didn't notice Mingyu at all, he even had time to go back to the kitchen and bring a couple drinks, a chair and sit next to his hyung.
Gyu was very hungry, so he slurped some noodles from his bowl of ramen, then started feeding Wonwoo while he played, Mingyu brought the noodles to his mouth so he could eat while he continued playing.
Wonu's smile when being fed was so cute, and he couldn't believe how thoughtful Gyu was, he only told him once about why he wouldn't have eaten while playing for Mingyu to voluntarily prepare his delicious ramen and literally feed him.
Mingyu even brought him the juice bottle close to his mouth so Won could drink, Gyu was too careful. Despite being so tired, he didn't leave until Wonu had finished eating and was still playing.
"Thank you, Gyu, your ramen is delicious." Wonwoo took the opportunity to praise Mingyu's cooking, he was being sincere, Mingyu's ramen was the best.
The youngest one picked up the dishes and garbage, washed the bowls they had used to eat and went to sleep with a smile on his face.
It had been some years since Wonwoo had first eaten Mingyu's ramen but for him, this was still the best. There was none that matched it in flavor and Won didn't really understand what Gyu added when he prepared it that made it have that special flavor. Even though Wonu ate this dish made by Mingyu up to three times a week, he was always happy when his roommate prepared it.
Wonwoo even compared the taste of the ramen he ate at his parent's home or other places and there was nothing that could beat it. Maybe it was also Gyu's trap, that he knew exactly how Wonu liked this dish and that made it even better.
Sometimes when he had a little broth left over from the soup, Won would heat up some rice and add it to continue enjoying Mingyu's seasoning, he really wouldn't get tired of eating this food even though it was something simple for others.
It was particular day in which Wonwoo wanted to eat ramen but Mingyu wasn't home. He had been invited to a Cartier event, he had already walked the red carpet and now Gyu was at the brand's party. Won wasn't going to lie, on these occasions he really missed his roommate.
Not only because he knew how to prepare the perfect ramen for Wonu, but because everything was always better with his company, the house felt quite lonely when Mingyu was not there. And although Won also liked silence and solitude, he was now used to the presence of the other.
It was getting dark and Wonwoo thought that he could make himself some ramen for the night, in the cupboard he had a lot of packages since Mingyu always made soup for both of them. He took one of the envelopes of ramen out of the cabinet, put water in a small saucepan, and then placed it on the fire.
Wonu tried to remember the way Gyu made ramen, but it wasn't that easy; sometimes he was there helping him with some things, cutting some of the extra ingredients that Mingyu added to the dish. Other times he would just sit at the counter and the two of them would talk about anything while Mingyu made on the food on the stove.
The water began to boil and for Wonwoo it was the signal to throw the noodles and it would begin to cook. Then he looked in the fridge for some chives and found some other things that would work. Maybe he couldn't match Mingyu's ramen, but he would do his best to cook himself something decent.
Wonwoo even searched for a special ramen recipe on Naver, he found several options but he was nervous, what if experimenting went wrong? He tried to keep the recipe as simple as possible, so it wouldn't be too much of an effort for him either.
When the ramen was ready, Wonu realized that he had made a mess in the kitchen, he didn't even know how he managed to get so many things scattered next to the stove and on the counter. He lowered the intensity of the fire a little and began to clean, soon his dinner would be ready.
Won looked at the clock, it was still too early for Mingyu to come home, but he decided to ask anyway.
Will it take you long to get home?
Mingyu answered him quickly.
Maybe a couple more hours
It was 10 PM, maybe Mingyu would arrive after midnight, he seemed to be having a lot of fun at the party, so Won decided to eat his ramen alone. The taste wasn't perfect, but it was good. Of course, as always he ended up comparing his own dish with Mingyu's and it was never the same.
♡
Mingyu came home a little later than expected and was actually hungry, the party only served a few tiny snacks which didn't satisfy Gyu's hunger. He got home and the house was warm, he quickly took off his red jacket and entered without making a sound, thinking that Wonwoo would be asleep.
But he was in his gamer bedroom, playing online video games with some friends. As soon as Mingyu entered, Won came out into the living room.
"I'm sorry, did I wake you up?" Gyu asked with his kind voice, soft and warm as always.
"No, I wasn't sleeping, I was playing video games." Won answered as he pointed his head to the room where his computer was. "How was the party?"
"Well, it was fun, and I met with Song Kang. But now I'm hungry and it's too late to order anything." Mingyu said while he arranged his jewelry on the small table next to the entrance.
"Oh, actually I prepared something but... But maybe it's not that good." Wonu answered, he was referring to his ramen which was not as perfect as Mingyu's.
"Did you cook something?" Mingyu was so surprised, he didn't remember seeing Wonwoo cooking alone, he always helped or washed the dishes but he had never prepared anything.
Won just nodded, pursing his lips, he felt a little embarrassed by Gyu's surprise, surely his ramen was going to be a fail and maybe he had liked it because he was the one who prepared it.
"I made ramen, but it might not be as good as yours." Wonu declared, still embarrassed.
Mingyu smiled and started walking towards the kitchen trying to find the dish that Wonwoo had cooked, it was still on the stove, so the younger turned it on so that the soup would warm up.
"It smells good." Mingyu praised. "I'll eat it, I'm really hungry, hyung." He said while looking for a bowl and chopsticks to eat what Wonu had prepared.
When the dish was served, both of them in the kitchen dining room, Mingyu looked like the judge of some cooking show while Won looked at him expectantly. He was nervous, how was he going to satisfy the ramen god? There was nothing as good as what Gyu prepared.
Mingyu rolled some noodles on his chopsticks and took the first bite. And well, it was pretty good, he didn't know if it was because he was really hungry but seriously he had liked Wonwoo's ramen too.
"Mmmh, it's so good." Mingyu said still with his mouth a little full, chewing the noodles and tasting the flavors that Wonu had added to his dish. "Your ramen is the best, Won." Gyu was really enjoying what Wonu had cooked, it wasn't as bad as Wonwoo himself believed.
The best thing for Wonwoo was on those times when he came home from work and Mingyu surprised him with his favorite food. This time, Won was invited to the presentation of a new perfume from the Acqua Di Parma brand, he left home early and met with Jeonghan and Jun who had also been at the event with him. The stylists had white outfits so that the three idols looked like angels.
Sadly, due to aesthetics, Wonu couldn't wear his glasses, which made his activities at the event a little difficult, but he still did his best and enjoyed the time he shared with his other groupmates and fans at the event.
Lately, when Wonu strained his eyes it gave him a headache, and even though he was now going home with his glasses on, he had to deal with the pain.
Meanwhile, Mingyu had stayed home that day. He had no scheduled activities so he took the opportunity to rest a little, do some housework and little else. At some point, Gyu logged onto Twitter only to notice that Wonwoo was trending.
Mingyu smiled like a fool at the screen as he admired more photos and videos of Wonu at the event. Gyu wondered if Wonwoo would go to eat with Jun and Jeonghan when they were done with their activities, so he asked Won.
Hyung, will you do anything after the event?
The answer took a long time to come, and of course, Wonu was still busy in front of the fans and the press, he couldn't look at his cell phone. It was just when he was going home that he was able to answer Gyu's message.
No, I'm on my way home.
When Mingyu received the answer, he quickly got to work. He started with his common process of preparing ramen, he thought that maybe Wonu would arrive tired and hungry so the noodles would help a lot. He made the broth, boiled the noodles, and even cooked some rice knowing that Wonwoo also liked to eat it with the ramen broth.
The best thing about this dish is how easily and quickly it is prepared, it didn't take Mingyu long to have everything on the stove by the time Won arrived. Gyu knew how much they both enjoyed this meal.
The ramen was almost ready, Mingyu let the last boil happen while he took two bowls and chopsticks to the little table they had in the living room where they normally ate. He adjusted the couch and turned on the house projector, maybe they could watch a movie while they ate.
Mingyu did not forget to increase the temperature of the heater because he knew that his roommate was sensitive to the cold and it was best to receive him with the house in a warm temperature. The ramen was ready, exactly when the door opened.
Gyu returned to the room again with the ramen pot in hand as well as a small wooden board to place the hot container on the table.
As soon as Wonwoo opened the door, his nostrils were filled with a familiar smell, that of his favorite dish mixed with the characteristic scent of the house he shared with Mingyu.
Although Won's headache did not disappear immediately, his tension was released knowing that he would get to eat Mingyu's ramen once again at home, he looked at how his roommate had already arranged everything in the living room and that Gyu came with another small casserole in hand. Min smiled as he looked at him, with the apron on over his sports clothes, so casual.
"You're back, Hyung." Mingyu said with a smile, placing the bowl of rice under another wooden board so that its heat would not damage the table in the living room.
Wonwoo just nodded, smiling softly.
"Are you hungry? Let's eat!" Gyu spoke again, as cheerful as always. Won didn't hesitate for a second, they both sat together in front of the table and Mingyu began to pour the ramen into both of their bowls.
The first bite always tasted heavenly, the taste of Mingyu's ramen was addictive for Wonwoo and with just one taste he couldn't stop eating. Gyu put on some Netflix series that they had both agreed to continue watching together while they ate in silence.
Mingyu's ramen was definitely the best, even if sometimes he'd won't be that willing to make it even when his Wonwoo hyung asked for it. But, definitely this flavor would always transport Wonwoo home, it would always make him feel like he was at his house, a warm place, with a warm person who cared about him and cooked for him.