Living in the new apartment made Yeo Ri feel as if she was detached from the outside world.
She neither went out nor felt like going out. Even when Hyuk or Gun left the house for one reason or another, she never asked them where they were going. She simply wished them a safe trip with a smile.
Yeo Ri was contented with just staying inside the whole time. At some point, she even started to wish that the winter break would never end so that she wouldn't need to leave.
"Yeo Ri, what are you cooking?" Hyuk wrapped his arms around her.
Yeo Ri flinched from the contact, but reminded herself that she no longer needed to feel so scared. She smiled up at Hyuk, putting down the spatula she was holding.
Hyuk noticed her reaction, and instead of commenting on it, he simply tightened his hug. He laid his chin on her head, sighing inaudibly.
They stood in the small kitchen together, enjoying the peaceful moment. Since he didn't have many workbooks or reference books with him, Gun went to the public library to study, so the two had the house to themselves.
"I'm making pajeon," she replied. Gun had bought some scallions when he went grocery shopping so she used it to make some Korean pancakes.
"That sounds tasty," he bootlicked.
"I know," she smirked. "Does Oppa want to eat it?"
Hyuk tried to suppress his smile, "I do." He nodded, rubbing his chin on her head lightly.
"Too bad, I won't give them for free," she stuck her tongue out playfully, "What will Oppa give me in exchange?"
Since Hyuk had been much gentler to her lately as compared to the past, she was no longer afraid of bantering with him like this. It felt as if the wall between them had disappeared.
"What do you want?" He chuckled. He had every intention of indulging Yeo Ri with all her wants.
"Hmm..." Yeo Ri thought deeply as she flipped the pancake in the pan. "I'll tell you when I think of something, Oppa."
"So do I get to eat it?"
Yeo Ri laughed, "Sure."
Once she finished frying all of the batter, she stacked the pancakes on a plate and cut them in half. Then, she brought it to the portable table and invited Hyuk to eat them.
Hyuk was actually not particularly hungry, but since Yeo Ri had painstakingly made them, he still gobbled them up. Yeo Ri's cooking skills were good, so he enjoyed them.
"Let's leave some for Gun-oppa," Yeo Ri says as she watched Hyuk pick up one pancake after another. She had originally made plenty, but thanks to Hyuk, the size of the stack was quickly dwindling. She had to stop him before he ate all of them, lest Gun would not be able to get a taste.
Hyuk obediently put down his chopsticks and watched her as she put away the leftovers.
The two were very free; one was recuperating while the other was on break from school.
Yeo Ri peered at Hyuk who was sitting on the floor and leaning against the two-seat couch curiously. He was looking at his phone again. After she finished wrapping up the leftovers and washing the dishes, she sneaked up on him.
Without a word, she snuggled into his arms, putting herself between him and the phone. "What are you looking at, Oppa?"
Hyuk was surprised by her spoiled behaviour, but happily accepted it. He made some space for her so that they can cuddle more comfortably. "Nothing much," he replied nonchalantly. As if it was natural, he wrapped his arm around her waist.
Yeo Ri leaned on his chest as she watched him change from one app to another and from one website to another. After going through the same apps and websites at least thrice, he finally placed down his phone.
Now that her only source of entertainment was gone, Yeo Ri cuddled up to Hyuk even closer than before. It was as if they were stuck together with superglue.
"Yeo Ri-ah, can you let go for a bit?" Hyuk asked, trying to pry her off. She was too close for comfort. Although he wanted to cuddle with her, the girl was oblivious to where certain body parts of hers were touching him.
"Why?" Yeo Ri propped her chin up with a defenceless and innocent gaze.
"...Isn't it kind of hot in here?" He replied with difficulty.
Yeo Ri furrowed her eyebrows. "What are you talking about, Oppa? It's so cold that I wish we had ten heaters instead of one."
"..." Hyuk pursed his lips. 'That's true,' he thought. The temperature was beyond freezing, and even the weatherman from the morning news said that it would be snowing heavily later. He cursed himself for the terrible lie.
"Oppa always kisses me but won't cuddle with me. What's wrong with you?" She pouted.
"Didn't I just hug you earlier?" He defended.
Yeo Ri glowered at him. "That was then, this is now," she huffed.
"I'm sorry...?" Hyuk apologised confusedly. He didn't even know what he did wrong but still apologised anyway since she seemed angry. Girls were simply too confusing for him.
Yeo Ri seemed unsatisfied with his half-hearted apology, so she ended up sulking for some time. Hyuk himself did not really know how to coax someone, so he simply remedied her mood by letting her hug him all she wanted and peppering her with kisses throughout the whole day.