The midday sun shone brightly over Seoul as Jihoon stepped out of the cab, his earlier drowsiness long gone after the sheer embarrassment of his encounter with BOA.
He still couldn't believe he had casually patted her head and called her "Little Pea." The mere thought made him cringe so hard that he considered changing his identity and moving to another country. But for now, his main concern was much simpler—food.
As soon as his feet hit the pavement in Dongdaemun, his stomach let out a loud, dramatic growl. He winced, glancing around as if someone might have heard.
Fortunately, the bustling shopping district was too noisy for anyone to notice.
Dongdaemun was a paradise for shopaholics, operating 24 hours a day, filled with endless shops, vendors, and food stalls that created a vibrant, never-sleeping atmosphere. While Jihoon wasn't here to shop, he decided to take a short stroll and absorb the energy of the place before finding a meal.
The walk helped him cool down after the earlier catastrophe, though it wasn't enough to erase the residual awkwardness.
After wandering through the maze of stores, his nose caught the rich aroma of sizzling meat. He followed the scent like a man possessed until he found himself in front of a Korean BBQ restaurant.
"Hmm... BBQ might be a bit much for lunch, but whatever, I deserve it after today's disaster," he mumbled to himself.
Without much thought, he stepped inside and was immediately greeted by the comforting warmth of the grill-filled air.
The restaurant was relatively empty, given that it was just past noon, making it a perfect spot for a quiet meal.
Jihoon picked a table by the window, plopped down, and quickly placed his order—two servings of premium pork belly, soybean paste stew, and a bottle of soda.
As he waited for his food, he lazily gazed out the window, watching the lively streets of Dongdaemun.
People bustled about, carrying shopping bags, haggling at stalls, and enjoying their day. Just then, a familiar figure walking along the sidewalk caught his eye.
Jihoon squinted. The petite frame, the casual yet stylish outfit, the silky black hair peeking out from under a cap—
"Wait a minute... is that... Taeyeon?"
His brain took a second to process before his eyes widened in realization.
"Oh crap, it is Taeyeon. What is she doing here alone?"
Jihoon leaned forward, watching as she casually browsed through a street vendor's display. She picked up a pair of sunglasses, tried them on, then pouted slightly before putting them back.
"Is she... shopping alone?" he muttered.
Jihoon glanced at the sizzling grill on his table. His food hadn't arrived yet, so technically, he had time. A mischievous smirk appeared on his face.
"Hehe.. Should I go say hi? Or... should I mess with her a little?"
He leaned back in his seat, contemplating his next move.
Without much thought, Jihoon stepped out of the restaurant and carefully approached Taeyeon from behind.
As he got closer, he swiftly extended his hand, catching her off guard. Before she could react, he covered her eyes with his palms and altered his voice slightly to make it harder to recognize.
"Hey, sweet girl, want to have a nice time with oppa?" he teased, sounding like a random street hooligan harassing a passerby.
Taeyeon froze, her mind still processing what had just happened. Though the voice was different, there was something oddly familiar about it. Initially startled, she quickly realized it was a prank from someone she knew.
Without hesitation, she grabbed one of the hands covering her eyes and took a sharp bite.
Jihoon, still thinking he had pulled off a successful prank, suddenly felt a sharp jolt of pain shoot through his hand.
"Ouch! That hurts!" he yelped. "Ya! Kim Taeyeon! Are you a dog? Why are you biting people randomly?!"
Taeyeon spun around, confirming it was indeed Jihoon. She showed no remorse for her actions. Instead, she arrogantly touched her nose and smirked.
"Hmph! That should teach you a lesson not to mess with girls!"
Jihoon, realizing she was just playing around, wasn't offended. He pouted dramatically.
"Ya! Kim Doggy! I was just joking with you! You didn't have to bite me for that! Now I need to go get a rabies vaccine!"
Taeyeon stuck out her tongue playfully and made a 'bleh' face before quickly changing the subject.
"What are you doing here?" she asked.
Still rubbing his sore hand, Jihoon glanced at the bite mark that now resembled a rabbit's teeth imprint.
"I was having lunch here and thought about surprising you. I was even going to invite you to eat together, but now I think I'd rather eat alone," he grumbled.
The moment Taeyeon heard the words 'free lunch', her eyes sparkled with excitement.
"Ya! You don't have to be so petty!" she retorted. Then, without giving him a chance to refuse, she grabbed his unbitten hand and eagerly asked, "Which restaurant is it? I'm starving!"
Jihoon let out a sigh as he shook his head, letting Taeyeon drag him back toward the restaurant. "You really have no shame when it comes to food, huh?" he teased, watching as her eyes twinkled with excitement at the thought of eating.
Taeyeon simply grinned. "You were already eating, so why not let me join? Besides, I did you a favor by testing your pain tolerance. What if some crazy fan tried to grab you? At least now you know how to react."
"Oh, so biting people is your fan treatment huh?" Jihoon raised an eyebrow.
Taeyeon giggled, tapping her chin as if seriously considering it. "Maybe. You should be careful, Jihoon-ah."
"I'll Pass on that. I'd rather be someone else fan than being yours."
By the time their banter ended, they had reached the restaurant, and Jihoon led Taeyeon to the table he had originally occupied. The sizzling sound of pork belly cooking on the grill filled the air, and the rich aroma made Taeyeon hum in delight.
"Oh, this place looks nice," she said as she took a seat across from Jihoon. "What did you order?"
"Two servings of premium pork belly, soybean paste stew, and a soda. You can order more if you want," Jihoon said, eyeing her suspiciously. "But don't overdo it just because I'm paying."
Taeyeon scoffed, waving him off. "I'm not that greedy! I'll just add some marinated beef. Oh, and maybe some steamed egg." She signaled the waiter and placed her order without hesitation.
Jihoon sighed again. "I knew it. This is why I usually eat alone."
Taeyeon smirked. "What's the point of being rich if you don't spend a little on your friends?"
Jihoon shook his head with a chuckle but didn't argue further. As the food arrived, Taeyeon wasted no time grabbing the tongs and flipping the meat expertly.
"You're surprisingly good at this," Jihoon remarked, watching her work.
"Of course! I grew up grilling meat with my members. You think being an idol means I don't know how to survive?" Taeyeon said proudly.
Jihoon laughed. "Alright, alright. I'll admit you're impressive. Just don't burn my lunch."
As they savored their meal, laughter and the clinking of utensils filled the air, but in the back of Jihoon's mind, a sudden realization struck—he had a recording session tomorrow to compose and produce the OST for '200 Pounds Beauty'.
And what better voice to bring his vision to life than the very girl sitting in front of him, happily devouring her food without a care in the world?
Without wasting a second, he leaned forward, a smirk playing on his lips. "Hey, Kim Singer, since you so graciously helped yourself to my food today, I'm cashing in a favor tomorrow."
Taeyeon, mid-bite, froze.
Her eyes narrowed as she scrutinized his expression.
Something about the mischievous glint in his eyes screamed trouble.
Instinctively, she threw her arms across her chest in an exaggerated motion, gasping dramatically.
"YA! I'm your noona! Don't even think about doing anything despicable to me!"
Jihoon facepalmed, letting out an exasperated sigh. "Ya… Taeyeon… do you even hear yourself?"
"Your chest is flatter than an airport runway. There's nothing remotely despicable I could even attempt on those 'broadways'."
Taeyeon's face instantly turned scarlet.
Her jaw dropped in shock before fury took over.
With the speed of a viper, she reached out and latched onto Jihoon's ear, twisting it viciously.
"YA! Who are you calling flat-chested?! Within the group, I rank above Yoona and Sooyoung!!"
Jihoon winced, swatting her hand away and rubbing his throbbing ear. "Okay, okay! Fine! Just listen to me for a second! I'm not joking around. I need your help. I'm composing a new OST for an upcoming film, and I want you to sing it."
He spoke with the desperation of someone trying to communicate with a fourth-dimensional being, a unique trait within the SNSD group.
"Oppa! You're the best! Saranghae, oppa!" she squealed, scooting closer in excitement.
Before Jihoon could react, she grabbed his hand, gazing up at him with wide, sparkling eyes, her entire being radiating pure joy—like a rabbit from Zootopia pleading for a carrot.
Jihoon, on the other hand, suddenly felt something soft and jelly-like brushing against his arm. He instinctively glanced down and saw Taeyeon's chest pressing against him as she excitedly moved side to side.
It wasn't much, but the unfamiliar sensation sent a jolt through his system. His face heated up instantly.
He had never experienced anything like this before, and panic seized him.
In a flash, he scooted his chair backward, putting much-needed distance between them.
"Stop messing around! Just answer—will you sing it or not?!"
Realizing what had just happened, Taeyeon's own face turned a shade of pink. Embarrassed, she quickly retreated to her seat, trying her best to play it cool.
"Y-Yeah… I'll sing it," she mumbled, avoiding his gaze.
And just like that, the once-lively atmosphere shifted into something thick with unspoken tension.
As they continued eating, the air between them carried a strange, lingering warmth—one neither of them could quite put into words.
[Author's Note: Heartfelt thanks to Wandererlithe for bestowing the power stone!]