➴ mansion

@❅ zhu zhengting ʰᵘᵐᵃⁿ /transferring the omelet onto a plate, I pass the plate to you along with a fork.
Here you go.
/begin to feel a bit nervous to have you try my cooking again.

@✶ kim youngdae Worse? Making an omelet??? *raises a brow and judges you yet again now thats the incident is off my mind and as if Im any better cook than you are. Stepping closer to you, I lean against the counter next to the oven to watch the omelet in the making, supervising how well cooked it is and if its up to my liking*
That we'll find out in a bit

@❅ zhu zhengting ʰᵘᵐᵃⁿ I’m good. I believe I had it worse before.
/I took hold of the handle, tilting it to spread the butter evenly around the surface.
Hope you have insurance.
/I joked in a serious manner before slowly pouring the contents into the pan, stirring it with chopstick so that the egg doesn’t stick to the pan. Mentally counting the duration so that I don’t undercook or overcook the omelet, I use the spatula to flip over the egg once one side has formed its shape.
Oh, it doesn’t look perfect but it should be edible.

@✶ kim youngdae *raises a brow at the fake and sarcastic eyesmile you give me and I roll my eyes then I cant help but notice your body language despite being the one offering to cook and seemingly being confident in preparing everything. Though, now when you are nearing the real deal and jump away when you add butter, I blink and fight back a snort*
....you sure you good there? You wont burn us all down for an omelet, will you? *subconsciously, my bottom is off from resting against the counter, now standing straighter, totally not remembering any details of the last time we cooked*

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@❅ zhu zhengting ʰᵘᵐᵃⁿ Hmmm, I see.
/Didn’t exactly think you would reply to my rhetorical question.
Yes.
/hearing your question, I whipped my head back up towards you before replying with a sarcastic smile on my face, completing with crescent eyes before I glanced back down at the task I’m doing. Eyeing at the frying pan for a moment, remembering the chaos created the last time I used one, I opt to use butter this time to oil up the pan. Lowering the heat before scooping out an amount, my moves were as awkward as previously as I didn’t want to hurt myself again, cooking a simple dish. Quickly jumping into the safety zone after putting the butter into the pan, I looked back towards you as if trying to get you to compliment me for not hurting myself with oil this time round.

@✶ kim youngdae Senior, junior, I would judge any if they are questionable. *with unapologetic attitude, I shrug a shoulder sassily and cross my arms over my chest while watching you take out the ingredients. Soon I blink couple of times at your boldness and I quietly snort but shake my head*
I could be quite handful as boy/s/ but nope. You arent getting me.
Yes? Is it your turn to judge now? *raises a brow when you seem to question my choices, tilting my head when I can see you mumbling but cant decipher what you are saying*

@❅ zhu zhengting ʰᵘᵐᵃⁿ Are you judging senior interns?
/I shook my head at you, disapprovingly your reaction.
I was studying the same course for this slav- job.
/taking a pause when I see you scoffing, I purse my lips lightly before taking a couple of ingredients from the fridge.
Oh? Are you the /boys/ I’m getting?
/I glanced towards you with a raise of my brows, enunciating on the ‘s’ before walking over to the stove. Placing the ingredients on the counter and searching for a frying pan, a small bowl and chopsticks.
Plain?
/I questioned your choices before mumbling the next sentence under my breath.
Someone used to make me chop up other things into his omelet.
/Cracking three eggs into the bowl, I pick up the chopsticks to whisk and combine the eggs into the same consistency after turning the stove on to heat up the frying pan.

@✶ kim youngdae ....Isnt that a bit old for internship? What were you doing before that? *eyeing you silently for a moment with a raised brow before I cant control my judgmental tongue and comment after all*
You have someone you wann- does that someone know you coming here to get some boys? *scoffs and rolls my eyes as I shake my head in disbelief, not buying your romantic words when Im obviously questioning your loyalty*
Omelet? As long as it's plain. I dont like vegetables. *interests peak when you mention cooking for me, I pretend to think it through first before indirectly agreeing*

@❅ zhu zhengting ʰᵘᵐᵃⁿ I’m 28.
/returning the gaze as I see you judging me, I listen to your words before shaking my head, taking a peek at you properly before looking down to my hands.
Not really, I now have someone I want to work hard for.
/nods at your latter sentence, I got the sensing of your lonely lifestyle, being not much different from the first time I met you.
Well, since you’re here, do you want to have some omelet?
/walks to the fridge to check out what ingredients are there.

@✶ kim youngdae Internship- how old are you again? *eyes you down judgementally obviously I dont see you looking that young to be an intern*
You seem quite enslaved. But thats just me. Kudos to you. *shrugs a shoulder and leans my against the counter*
Hmm, not really. I always think of food and sleep. I like those. All what I live for in this enclosed space really.

@❅ zhu zhengting ʰᵘᵐᵃⁿ /considers my answer to your next set of questions as I walk with you.
I guess it’s a long term internship? Until the boss retires? Trapped there for life, really.
/halt my track when I see you pausing, looking at the all too familiar kitchen.
Ah, I see. Thank you.
/steps into the kitchen area after you, pretending to look around as if it’s my first time.
We usually don’t think about basic needs until we need it. That’s why humans tend to do, no?

@✶ kim youngdae *oblivious about your hurt reaction to me setting boundaries of contact between us, I continue toward the kitchen as we chat*
But you didnt deny being unemployed. What kinda job doesn't pay you? Why you staying if no salary?
Well, maybe you should've thought that over before coming here, no? *pauses at the entrance of the kitchen, raising a brow at you, not seeing any reason to pity you*
Here. *nods toward the kitchen and get inside first*

@❅ zhu zhengting ʰᵘᵐᵃⁿ /noticed your action before pursing my lips for a moment, feeling a little hurt but trying not to show. Follow closely behind you as I let you navigate, replying to your questions.
Well, I don’t receive a salary, if that’s what you’re curious about. And since I’m already here, can’t I just grab a bite? You know that it takes a long while to get out to the city from here, right?

@✶ kim youngdae I know what you just said, I meant are you /unemployed/? Cant you afford food? Is this a charity?
*glances down when you nudge my arm and I simply bring my arm closer to my body and wordlessly walk ahead toward the kitchen, feeling nice enough for that*

@❅ zhu zhengting ʰᵘᵐᵃⁿ Did you forgot what I said? I’m very free.
/gets up from the couch, approaching you and reaching my palm towards the back of your elbow to nudge you to the doorway.
Sheesh, don’t be so stingy with food. Now, where’s the kitchen?

@✶ kim youngdae Nah, I'll pass. *raises hand dismissively, I stand up and take couple of steps toward the exit before I pause at your words*
Are you here feasting on our food too? Dont you have a job or food at home? Do they let in here just about anyone?

@❅ zhu zhengting ʰᵘᵐᵃⁿ /shrugs my shoulders at your questions, deciding to keep it short as you probably wouldn't believe me if I were to explain.
You can ask around if you are curious enough.
/watches you seemingly preparing to leave, wonders what I could do to spend a little more time with you.
Well, I'd let you be but I'm getting a little hungry. Anything to eat or drink around here?

@✶ kim youngdae *raises a brow when I see you covering your mouth and fighting back a laughter which rather irritates me, wondering whats so funny about what I just said*
Eh? How come you are allowed here then? And awwh the higher ups are worried about me? Last time I checked they were worried for their customers. *snickers and settles with a lopsided smirk, recalling couple of moments where they were worried of my behavior and attitude with customers, telling you indirectly Im no easy catch nor to with*
Not necessarily. *shuts down your advances(?), I casually reply and swing my legs off the couch ready to stand up and leave*

@❅ zhu zhengting ʰᵘᵐᵃⁿ /looking at how adorably funny you look when your face scrunches up into the look of sourness, I cover my laugh with my palm, as if finding your words funny. Remembering the staff’s words to not force a memory, I decided towards making you curious to find things out yourself.
As if it’s easy to verbally shut that door. Unfortunately or fortunately for you, I’m such a /bad/ customer that the higher up won’t allow me to trial you (anymore).
/with my head tilting against my palm once again to look at how serious you look next while you seem to be thinking, I took the time to consider my words.
If you need space, I can provide that. But leaving you alone? I’m afraid that’s not possible.
/pausing again, wanting to end with something romantic to disgust you even more but choose another route. I lean back and slouch against the couch.
Because I’m waaaaaay too free. And with how you’re secretly not doing your job, you must be free too. So two available people should spent time together.
/leaving it as a statement rather than a question, feeling proud of myself for adding a double meaning before I peek up at you for your facial expression.

@✶ kim youngdae *cant help but scrunch up my face in disgust at your words and exaggerate a shudder of my shoulders to display my cringe*
How hopeless and pathetically romantic. But yeah, if your eyes o h only at me why didnt you put some effort into it and trial me? *pauses the judgement to snicker out a cheekily*
Ah right, I shut that door on you. *smirking, I refer to how I told you to find other boyfriends to trial*
Awwh, are you? Sorry, not my intention. I dont care that much to purposefully hurt you. *shrugs a shoulder sassily then listens to your question and I purse my lips in doubt*
Whats beneficial to me is leaving me alone. *nods at that but keeps within my chest my longing for my last lover (jongsuk)- or at least a closure from them. As thats where my memory stops currently*

@❅ zhu zhengting ʰᵘᵐᵃⁿ True. Doubt you’d believe me if I were to say that these eyes of mine have been looking only at you for quite some time now.
/glances down to your shrug as I hear you giving a vague response, my gaze went up to your facial expressions to hear the next sentence. Pausing to form my reply, my gaze left your face towards the environment before me.
Such overgeneralisation. I feel hurt by your words.
/briefly brings my palm over my chest to clutch on my attire.
Then what if one day you meet someone whose motive towards you is beneficial to you. For example, what you have always been looking for. What happens next?
/asking to gauge how jaded you were to get a sensing of what approach I should adopt.

@✶ kim youngdae You know yourself, im not to dictate you what you are thinking. *leaves my own thoughts of your thoughts ambiguous, I shrug a shoulder sassily then pause at your words that hit a spot but I roll my eye and chuckle instead*
People are selfish with ulterior motives Im afraid. Unfortunate you are people as well. *indirectly refers to how you have ulterior motives and I dont trust you*

@❅ zhu zhengting ʰᵘᵐᵃⁿ What kinda look am I giving?
/questions you with a raised brow before hearing your latter statement. Chuckling at your words, I directed a couple other questions to you.
What if it’s a curious concern? Has no one ever been curious about how you truly felt before?

Not me, but you. They expose you. *despite my confident words like usual, Im still far away from knowing/remembering the look of love in your eyes instead of usual lust in customers eye*
Hmmm, not really. That question is usually meaningless and if anything is out of politeness and Im not interested in small talks.

My eyes? What were my eyes exposing you to?
/rolls my eyes, feeling a sense of nostalgia to the action when I see you shrugging your shoulder.
Why? Would you rather some other questions?
/props my elbow on the armrest and rest my chin on my palm.

You not making any single effort to deny it and your eyes kinda expose you too. *shrugs sassily and uncross my legs, stretching them on the couch instead*
Are we starting normal pleasantries now?

/settles back down on the couch I’m leaning against.
You are free to interpret however you like.
/peeking back at you, still concerned about the previous state I saw you in.
How are you feeling?

All I hear is you are confirming you are one of those customers, Mister. *holding your gaze with amused smirk of my own but my brow goes higher when you suddenly let go of the intense eye contact*

Someone as smart as yourself would know how customers would think, no?
/attempts to challenge you and look straight into your eyes but adverted my gaze at the last moment, looking away instead.