Jinu had spent quite a bit of time in the kitchen that evening.
It wasn't something he usually did, but today felt different. After what happened earlier, he knew Jia was still upset with him. And if there was one thing that could soften her mood, it was the one dish she loved the most.
Spicy noodles.
He carefully stirred the noodles in the pan, adding the exact spices Jia liked.
The rich aroma slowly filled the kitchen before drifting through the hallway and creeping toward Jia's room.
The moment the smell reached her door, Jia instantly recognized it.
She was sitting on her bed with her legs folded, holding her sketchbook.
Her nose twitched slightly.
"That smell…" she muttered quietly.
Her mouth watered immediately.
But the moment she remembered why she was angry, she puffed her cheeks in annoyance.
"No. I'm not forgiving him that easily."
She grabbed her pencil and pretended to focus intensely on her sketch, even though her attention kept drifting toward the delicious smell coming from the kitchen.
A few moments later—
Knock. Knock.
Before she could react, the door slowly opened.
Jinu stepped inside.
He immediately noticed Jia sitting on the bed, pretending to be extremely focused on her sketchbook.
Her brows were furrowed as if she were working on the most important artwork of her life.
Jinu couldn't help but smile.
He slowly walked closer to the bed and spoke softly.
"So… how much longer are you planning to stay mad at me?"
Jia didn't look up.
Her pencil kept moving across the paper.
Jinu scratched the back of his head awkwardly.
"I'm sorry, okay?" he continued. "I should've told you earlier that I was joining the swimming team. I didn't mean to hide it from you."
Still no response.
Jinu sighed lightly.
"I promise I won't keep things like that from you again."
Jia's heart softened a little.
There was something honest about the way he was speaking. His voice didn't sound like someone making excuses—
it sounded sincere.
But her pride wasn't ready to give up yet.
Without lifting her head, she replied stubbornly,
"You should just go eat. I'm not hungry."
Jinu raised an eyebrow.
"Really?" he asked, a playful smile forming on his face. "You're not hungry?"
Jia tightened her grip on the pencil.
"No."
Jinu leaned slightly closer.
"That's strange," he said casually.
"Because the smell of the noodles seems pretty amazing."
Jia's ears turned slightly red.
"I said I'm not hungry!"
Jinu chuckled quietly.
"Alright… alright."
He decided maybe getting a little closer might help convince her.
But as he took a step toward the bed, he didn't notice something lying on the floor.
A pencil.
The moment his foot landed on it—
It rolled.
Jinu's balance instantly collapsed.
"Whoa—!"
Before he could stop himself, his body tilted forward.
The next second—
He fell directly onto the bed.
Right on top of Jia.
Jia gasped in shock as the sketchbook slipped from her hands.
Both of them froze.
Jinu had instinctively placed one hand beside her shoulder to stop himself from crashing into her completely, but their faces were now incredibly close.
Too close.
Jia could feel the warmth of his breath.
Her heart suddenly began beating wildly in her chest.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
The room fell completely silent.
Outside, the evening air drifted softly through the window.
Inside—
The only sound was the rapid rhythm of two racing heartbeats.
The spicy aroma of the noodles still lingered in the air.
But somehow, neither of them was thinking about food anymore.
Time itself seemed to pause.
And for a brief, confusing moment—
Neither Jia nor Jinu knew who should move first.