Ji-ho led Zoya into the kitchen, where three chefs were already present.
"Mrs. Lee Mina (이 미나), Kim Minho (김민호), Park Joon (박준)," he introduced warmly.
At Ji-ho's introduction, the three chefs bowed politely in a traditional Korean manner. Zoya, slightly startled but composed, placed her hand gently over her heart, bowed her head a little, and returned the greeting with a soft, respectful smile.
"Zoya, Mrs. Lee Mina, and Park Joon are our main chefs," Ji-ho explained proudly. "If White Bowl Kitchen is running this well, a huge part of the credit goes to these two. Their hands carry real flavor. Even what I know today, I learned from them."
He smiled as he spoke.
"And Kim Minho assists both of them. From today, you'll be working with them as well."
Then, turning toward the chefs, he added, "This is Zoya — our guest. She is interested in working in a restaurant, so we invited her. As long as she's in Seoul, she'll be working here."
"We'll be happy to work with Ji-ho's guest," Mrs. Lee Mina replied kindly."Best of luck," Park Joon added.
Ji-ho smiled once more before stepping out of the kitchen.
The moment he left, Kim Minho stepped forward dramatically.
"I'm actually happy," he said playfully. "Now I'll finally get to work with someone young. Otherwise, working with these two elders… I could feel my soul aging."
Kim Minho was cheerful and mischievous — about Ji-ho's age — with bright, playful eyes. Zoya couldn't help but smile at his comment.
"What?. So we're old now?" Mrs. Lee Mina said, narrowing her eyes at him.
"And what else?" Minho continued innocently. "They don't even let me step outside. My entire duty time is spent here!"
Zoya laughed softly at his dramatic complaint.
"That's because the moment you step outside, you forget your work," Park Joon said calmly. "You suddenly feel an urge to 'help' those poor girls outside."
Zoya instinctively glanced toward the outside area, curious, but didn't see anyone in particular. Mrs. Lee Mina burst into laughter at Park Joon's remark.
"Alright, enough. Let's start working," Park Joon said, clapping his hands lightly. "It's going to be a busy day."
"Not just today," Mrs. Lee Mina added. "The next three days will be busy — day and night."
Zoya blinked. "Why?"
"You arrived at the perfect time," Mrs. Lee Mina smiled.
"Why?" Zoya asked again, confused.
"Easter starts today at twelve," Minho explained excitedly. "Because of the festival, the restaurant gets crowded. And near the Han River, there are only two main places people prefer — White Bowl Kitchen and Riverlane Table. People love coming to the riverside and eating here. That's why both restaurants get extremely busy."
"And the home deliveries increase a lot too," he added. "Sometimes it gets so hectic that Ji-ho himself goes out for deliveries."
The three of them laughed at that image.
"Alright, enough talking," Mrs. Lee Mina said, putting on her gloves. "We need to start seasoning many dishes in advance. Zoya, what can you do?"
"I can do fine cutting," Zoya replied hesitantly. "If you'd like, I can handle the cutting work."
"Wow, well done!" Mrs. Lee Mina's eyes lit up. "That's perfect. We have a lot of cutting work since we use so many vegetables."
Zoya nodded — but then her expression changed slightly.
"There's… one thing I want to say," she said carefully, looking at all three of them.
Mrs. Lee Mina paused while adjusting her gloves. Park Joon and Minho also turned toward her.
"I can cut vegetables. I can handle meat too… whatever you ask," she said, her voice tightening slightly. She remembered having once lost a job because of this. Taking a breath, she continued quickly, "But I can't touch pork."
She said it in one breath and then looked at their faces anxiously, waiting for their reaction.
For a brief second, there was silence.
Then Mrs. Lee Mina walked toward her and smiled gently.
"Zoya, that meat isn't used here. White Bowl Kitchen is a halal restaurant. Pork is served at Riverlane Table next door — it's actually their main dish. So you can work comfortably."
The tension in Zoya's shoulders disappeared instantly. Relief softened her expression, and she smiled — a genuine, grateful smile.
"Thank you," she whispered.
And then, standing beside Kim Minho, she began preparing the vegetables — the rhythmic sound of knives against the cutting board slowly blending her into the heartbeat of White Bowl Kitchen.
.......
Finally, everything was done.
"Exactly at twelve, the song will be released," Kim Joon said, scrolling through his phone while finishing breakfast. "And the live session starts at twelve sharp too."
"Okay, that's all settled for the work side," Minjo said, resting her chin on his hand. "But what's the plan for tomorrow? We haven't even done shopping. Yesterday went by like this, and today's busy too. At least we should buy something for decorations."
"Why don't we celebrate at my place?" Jeon.J suggested calmly between bites. "Instead of arranging something outside, we'll do it at my house. After the live session, we can go shopping."
"I'll go out for a while," Teahun said, pushing his chair back as he stood up — clearly done with breakfast. "I'll join Minji's group."
"With them?" Hosu raised an eyebrow.
Teahun sighed lightly and explained, more seriously this time. "When we go together, security comes with us. It draws RAMY's attention. I'm not saying it's bad — they love us — but we end up disturbing everyone around us. If we go separately, it's easier. And even if someone recognizes us, we can handle it. But when we go as a group, it becomes a crowd. Malls are already full because of the festival. People come to shop peacefully — we shouldn't make it chaotic for them."
There was a brief pause.
"You have a point," Yomin nodded. Then he smirked. "But if RAMY sees you roaming around with girls, make sure you stay calm."
"Minji and her friends are fine," Teahun waved it off. "Minji is social, her friends too. But no one should see me with Zoya. If something happened there, she'll literally break my bones. She keeps saying it — 'Teahun, I'll break your bones one day.' She doesn't understand I'm an idol. She insults me in seconds."
He said it with a mix of fake anger and dramatic innocence.
"What?" Jinhun stared at him in disbelief. "What does she say exactly?"
"Don't start replaying my record," Teahun muttered.
"Say it again," Jinhun insisted.
Teahun lowered his voice dramatically. "She says, 'Teahun, I'll break your bones.'"
The way he whispered it made everyone burst into laughter — everyone except Jeon.J, who was trying very hard not to smile.
Teahun glared at them.
"Imagine Zoya actually breaking your bones," Hosu teased.
"I'll shave her kids bald!" Teahun shot back immediately.
"Why her kids? Why not her husband?" Yomin asked.
"No, no," Teahun shook his head seriously. "What if her husband is a bodybuilder? Zoya will already break my bones, and then he'll finish the rest. So it's safer to shave her kids. They'll be small. Easier to catch."
He said it so confidently, as if the imaginary children were already standing in front of him while he held a shaving machine.
The table collapsed into uncontrollable laughter. Even Jeon.J couldn't hold it anymore.
"Teahun," Yomin gasped between laughs, "have you imagined what Zoya would do if she saw her bald kids?"
"I'll tell you," Kim Joon jumped in, eyes sparkling with mischief. "She'd tie your boneless body to a wall like a statue. Then she'd make her own kids shave your head. Take a picture. Post it online. And that would be Zoya's first post about a TBS member."
Everyone leaned in, already picturing it.
"And she'd write," Kim Joon continued dramatically, "'Does anyone recognize this person? If yes, please collect him from this address.'"
For a moment, they could all see the scene vividly in their heads.
Teahun is tied to a wall. Bald. Expressionless. Kids holding clippers. Zoya was standing proudly beside them.
Teahun was the first to snap back to reality. He shuddered and glared at Kim Joon.
That was it.
The entire room exploded again.
They laughed so hard some of them nearly slipped from their chairs.
"Poor Teahun," someone muttered through tears of laughter.
It took several minutes for them to recover.
"Honestly," Teahun said dramatically once he could breathe again, "I feel sorry for whoever marries her."
"Why?" Minjo asked, still chuckling.
"If she can do this to me, imagine her partner. She'll break his bones daily because of a small mistake. Before the first bone even heals, she'll break it again. Instead of going to the hospital every day, she'll hire a personal doctor. Bones will break at home and get fixed at home."
He said it with such tragic sincerity that they lost control again.
They were practically falling over each other laughing.
Jeon.J shook his head, running a hand down his face. Jinhun looked at him and copied the gesture dramatically.
"Honestly," Minjo added once the laughter softened, "we don't matter much to her. She barely talks to us. But Teahun? She doesn't take him seriously at all."
That triggered another wave of laughter.
A few minutes later, when things finally settled, Yomin leaned back thoughtfully.
"What if we invite Minji's group for dinner tomorrow?"
"Absolutely not!" Teahun reacted instantly, grabbing his arms as if checking whether his bones were still intact.
"Why not?" Hosu teased. "Did you do something wrong that you're scared of her?"
Everyone started laughing again.
Teahun looked at them helplessly.
"Why is everyone on her side?" he muttered dramatically.
And just like that, the breakfast table turned into chaos once more — laughter echoing through the room, festival excitement in the air, and somewhere between jokes and teasing threats of broken bones, the countdown to twelve quietly continued.
Slowly, one by one, everyone left for their own homes.
Jinhun's house, which had been loud with laughter just minutes ago, suddenly felt empty. The echoes of teasing and jokes still seemed to linger in the air — but the room itself was quiet now.
All except for Jeon.J.
He was still lying on the sofa exactly the way Jinhun had left him earlier — one arm folded behind his head, the other holding his phone above his face, scrolling endlessly.
Jinhun came out of his room after freshening up. His hair was still slightly damp. He stopped when he saw Jeon.J in the same position.
He walked closer.
"Jeon.J," he said calmly, "what's the meaning of lying like this? Go freshen up."
"Jinhun… listen," Jeon.J said without looking at him, still scrolling through his phone.
Jinhun, who had turned toward the kitchen, stopped at the tone of his voice and looked back.
"You didn't call Minji," Jeon.J continued, eyes still fixed on the screen. "To invite her and her friends."
He knew exactly what kind of reaction that sentence would bring. That's why he didn't look up.
Jinhun let out a short breath.
"Why?" he said sharply. "Is there something left unsaid? You want to invite so you can speak freely in your own house? Or… like you made get out of the car that day, you want to throw out of your house too?"
His words carried a clear edge.
Jeon.J immediately sat upright, lowering his phone, finally looking at Jinhun with surprise.
"What?" he said. "You were the one telling me I should fix what I did wrong myself. And now you're taunting me?"
"And what should I say?" Jinhun shot back, irritation rising. "That Jeon.J, sit comfortably — everything you did was perfect? Best of luck?"
The sarcasm in his voice was impossible to miss.
The room, which had been filled with laughter earlier, now felt tight — heavy with something unspoken.
Jeon.J ran a hand through his hair, frustration flickering across his face.
"I know I was wrong," he said more quietly. "That's why I'm saying we should invite them."
"Invite them?" Jinhun replied. "Or invite her?"
Silence.
Jeon.J didn't answer immediately.
Because they both knew the real answer.
For a few long minutes, Jinhun just stood there, staring at Jeon.J.
Jeon.J sat on the sofa, enduring the intense gaze without blinking — arms folded now, phone resting loosely in his hand.
"Okay, that's enough," Jeon.J finally muttered. "It's not like I insulted her in front of everyone. Whatever I said, I said in private. So stop staring at me like that."
Jinhun's lips curved slowly.
"You don't think," he said casually, "that her life got worse after she saw you?"
Jeon.J frowned. "What does that even mean?"
Jinhun began counting on his fingers dramatically.
"First time she saw you? Her friends forgot her. Second time? Her phone fell. Third time? That lunch disaster. Fourth time? You turned rude."
He leaned closer, teeth clenched in fake seriousness.
"And now if we invite her again, I'm just worried something else might happen."
Jeon.J rolled his eyes. "Then tell her not to look at my face. Nothing will happen."
Jinhun burst out laughing.
"Fine. Give me the phone."
Without hesitation, Jeon.J handed it over. Jinhun quickly dialed.
Across the city, Hana glanced at Minji's phone screen and widened her eyes.
"Minji! It's Jeon.J calling!"
Minji, who was downstairs in the kitchen with Ruhi, paused mid-task.
"Come down and bring the phone," she called out.
Back at the house, Jeon.J leaned forward slightly.
"What happened?" he whispered to Jinhun.
Jinhun shot him a look — as if to say wait.
The call connected.
"Hello, Minji."
"Yes, jeon.j"
I'm Jinhun
"How are you?" Jinhun asked, while Jeon.J subtly shifted closer, trying to overhear every word.
Oh jinhun you and"I'm fine."
"What are you doing? And by the way, you invited Teahun for shopping — why not us?" Jinhun complained dramatically.
"Jinhun," Minji replied calmly, "has anyone ever needed to invite Teahun?"
Jinhun blinked. "So he's going with you without an invitation?"
"Exactly. And he himself said not to bring any of you."
Jinhun's mouth fell open. Slowly, he turned his head and glared at imaginary Teahun in his mind.
"Oh, I'll deal with him later," he muttered. Then he refocused. "Anyway — do you have any dinner plans tomorrow?"
"Not really. We'll be home. Maybe we'll go out."
"Good. Then tomorrow's dinner is at Jeon.J's place. All of us together."
There was a small pause.
"Hm. Okay. We'll come," Minji said, adjusting the phone between her shoulder and ear while marinating meat. "But I'll bring one dish. I'm already preparing something that I planned for tomorrow."
"Perfect. Tell Hana, Ruhi, Zoya, and Sophia, too."
"I'll tell the others," Minji said while washing her hands. "But I can't confirm about Zoya."
"Why? What will she do alone? She can have dinner with us. I know what happened last time at lunch… but we should've been more careful. We shouldn't hurt someone's values."
Jinhun's tone softened slightly.
"No, no, it's not because of that," Minji explained. She joined a restaurant. As long as she's here, she wants to work and learn something. She said she'll be going there. So I'll have to ask her."
Jinhun glanced sideways at Jeon.J — who was now making nonstop hand gestures.
Ask this. Say that. What did she say? Ask properly.
Jinhun sighed internally.
"Send me her number," he said finally. "I'll call her myself."
"Okay. I'll send it."
The call ended.
Silence.
Jinhun slowly turned toward Jeon.J, who was pretending to look calm but was clearly restless.
"What is your problem?" Jinhun said, narrowing his eyes. "If you're this worried about her, why did you say things that hurt her? Now you're stressed — and you're stressing me too."
Jeon.J didn't respond immediately.
Outside, the afternoon light filtered through the windows. Inside, the house felt quieter than before — heavier.
Everyone else had gone home, planning their own shopping and celebrations.
But here, on this sofa, something far more complicated than dinner plans was being
decided.
To be continued.....
Regards
ZK💌