Chapter Text
I woke up to the sound of an alarm. It couldn’t be mine as I didn’t have a class today, it was probably Joobin’s. But nonetheless, it woke me up. I sat up in my bed grumpily and take a look at my phone. It was 6:30! I thought for a minute to either go back to sleep or wake up completely. In the end, I decided to wake up completely. I throw the cover to the side and got up, dragged my feet out of my room to come across a very sleepy Joobin.
“Hi,” she said sleepily. “Did I wake you up?”
“Yes,” I said grumpily.
“Sorry,” she said as she hugged me tightly.
“It’s fine. I was going to wake up early to study for the midterms anyway.”
She clapped her hands. “Let’s have breakfast! I’ll make some coffee.” She walked to the kitchen happily— and noisily.
“Slow down, you’ll wake up your brother. You know how he is when he wakes up early.”
She huffed. “He should’ve gone to sleep earlier instead of playing games until midnight, then.”
“True,” I laughed. “He was so noisy I had a hard time falling asleep.”
As she started to brew the coffee, I took some eggs from the fridge to make an omelette.
“Do you have classes today?” she asked me as she took a sip from her coffee. I shook my head no. “Oh, I’m so sorry you woke up early then!”
“I said it’s fine.”
“Still, I’m sorry,” she scrunched her nose.
“Come on, eat your breakfast. You’ll be late!” I said as I put the omelette down.
“Thank you! You’re the best!”
I smiled at her as she eats her breakfast as fast as she can. She was so cute like a child, which makes one wonder how can she be a lawyer in the future? She was smart, like there’s no doubt for that but with that cuteness and innocence, will the judge believe her when she defends a client? It was a tough field, though I’m more than sure that she could handle it.
She went back to her room to get ready after she was done with her breakfast and ran out of her room as she got ready quickly.
“Bye, see you later!” she exclaimed as she waved at me and got out of the door.
I smiled at myself and looked around, trying to find what to do for the rest of the day. Or before I start to study for the midterms. My eyes stopped at the door of Hongbin’s room. I knew he wanted to wake up early -not this early- to study with me. He should be waking up in an hour or so, maybe I could prepare him a breakfast. He would be thankful— he sucks at cooking.
I made my way towards the kitchen again, cleaned up after Joobin and put some rice in the rice cooker. As the rice cooks, I took some eggs again from the fridge and put them aside. First, I made some soup. When the rice cooker started to signal me that the rice is cooked, I fried the eggs and lastly, I took out the side dishes mom sent. His breakfast was ready.
Now, it was time to wake him up…
I slowly opened his door; his room was dark as he had black curtains. I walked slowly towards the window and opened the curtains to let the sunlight in. He grimaced in his sleep and groaned as he turned to the other side to avoid the sudden light hitting his face. I giggled a bit and walked towards his bed.
Five minutes. Should I just watch him for five minutes before waking him up or was it creepy? He looked… angelic. I sighed, what if he wakes up as I watch him? That would be more than embarrassing…
I took another deep breath before I slightly touched him on the shoulder and called his name. He groaned again.
“Come on, I made breakfast.”
As if touched by a magic wand, his eyes flung open and looked at me like I was a deity. “Really?” he asked— my God, his already deep voice was even deeper in the morning.
“Yes, silly. Get up now, we have to study!”
“Don’t remind me,” he said as he pressed his face into his pillow. “Why do exams exist?”
“Because they have to test our knowledge, now come on Hongbin, the soup is getting cold!”
“Okay, leave. I’m half-naked,” he said as he looked at my seriously. I couldn’t help but started to blush at the thought of seeing his naked body.
“O-okay,” I stuttered. “Hurry up!” I said as I left his room.
I was sure my whole body was red. I took a deep breath at the door, grabbing the door handle with all my might, trembling as I do so. I shouldn’t let things get to me, I should be careful. Or I will get hurt.
I stepped away in case he gets out of his room right at this second and walked towards the kitchen. Like I predicted, minutes after I stepped away, he opened the door, made his way to the kitchen and sat on the table.
“Woah,” he exclaimed. “It looks amazing! Thank you so much Sowonie!”
“Bon appetite!” I said smiling from ear to ear, very satisfied with his reaction. As I started to walk towards my room to get the textbooks and my notes, he called my name. “Yes?” I turned to him.
“You’re not going to eat?” he asked.
I shook my head no. “I already ate with Joobin,” I lied.
The truth is, as much as I know how wrong it is, I was on a diet. Being on a diet, skipping meals during exam times is wrong, I know but I cannot help it. That’s how I gained this much weight in the first place. And I know myself, once I start making excuses I will not stop. All the struggle I have been through by losing half the weight I put on since the entrance exam will go down the drain if I start to gain it all again.
He stared at me, more like right into my soul. Of course he didn’t buy it, we’ve been together since forever, he could tell whenever I lie… “Sowon.”
“I’m telling the truth!” I lied again. “But if it will make you happy,” I walked back towards the kitchen, opened the fridge and took out an apple. “I’m going to eat this. Okay?”
He blinked a few times and figured out he won’t be able to win over me, he sighed in defeat. “Whatever. I just-”
I raised my eyebrows and tilted my head in confusion. He just what? “What?” I asked as he didn’t continue.
“Never mind.”
I bit my lower lip. He looked irritated so I didn’t protest. I walked back towards my room, biting the apple as I did.
I grabbed my textbooks, notes and my laptop before I made my way to the living room. I set up the coffee table and waited until Hongbin finished his breakfast and joined me with his own materials.
He took a deep breath. “Are you ready?” he asked.
I let out a laugh. “Are you?”
I rolled his eyes in response and sighed again. “Of course you are, smarty pants. Help me please,” he whined as he pouted his lips.
Our Lord in Heaven, let me have strength. How can I focus when he is cute like this?
“Tut tut,” I tried my best to keep it under control. “I wonder if the people in our school see you behaving like this, would they still be a carpet under your feet?”
“I show this side of me only to you, baby.”
I felt my heart skip a beat. Baby? Baby? I blow air out of my nose and smiled. “Concentrate!”
We spent almost three hours studying, for three different classes. We were so focused that we didn’t even hear Joobin and Sanghyuk when they came.
“How was the exam?” I asked, stretching as I have been sitting in the same position for hours.
“Good,” Sanghyuk replied. “I managed to answer a lot of questions thanks to Joobin.” He bowed to her jokingly.
“Did you cheat?” Hongbin asked innocently.
“I’m going to be a prosecutor, Hongbin. Do you think I would cheat?” he answered. “I mean I totally would but no, I didn’t. She helped me study.”
We all laughed.
“How was your studying?” Joobin asked this time.
“Well, thanks to Sowon I think I’m going to pass all my classes.”
“Our girls are so smart, aren’t they?” Sanghyuk said.
“Ah, stop fluttering us,” Joobin jokingly pushed Sanghyuk slightly. “So, what are we ordering?”
“Jjajangmyeon!” Hongbin said excitedly.
“Don’t order for me Joobin, I’m going to make a salad.” I said.
“Jung Sowon!” They all screamed at me in unison.
“Okay,” I sighed in defeat. Just one time…