>Evening<
A small sigh escapes my lips as I glance at the clock. The house is finally quiet after the chaotic day, but of course, that peace doesn't last for long. Soonim comes bouncing back from her errands, the sound of her footsteps echoing through the hallway as she approaches the living room.
Yuna, already lounging lazily on the couch, perks up as Soonim walks in, a wide grin plastered on her face. "So, did you see him?" she asks, eyes twinkling.
Soonim, still holding a shopping bag, flops onto the nearest chair. "Ugh, unnie, I didn't get to see Joon-Soo today, but everyone's buzzing about him! They say he's super smart and all mysterious. What's he like, Yuna? You've seen him, right?"
Yuna nods, all too eager to dive into the gossip. "Oh, he's definitely something. Mysterious and good-looking, right, Aerum?"
I roll my eyes, already sensing where this convo's headed. "Don't drag me into this."
"Come on, unnie! Spill the tea!" Soonim leans in, way too excited. "Do you think he's hot or what?"
Before Yuna can take it any further, I've had enough. "Okay, that's it. Soonim, you gotta go. This is a seniors-only sleepover, not a freshman gossip session."
Soonim gasps, clearly offended. "What? But I'm not even done yet!"
"You'll live," I say, pushing her toward the door. "Go chill in your room, and I'll call you when we need you."
She huffs, giving me the biggest pout ever. "Fine, unnie! But you better give me the deets later!" With that, she finally leaves, footsteps fading upstairs.
I crash back onto the couch next to Yuna, letting out a big sigh. "Honestly, that girl talks way too much."
Yuna giggles, giving me a playful nudge. "She's just nosy, like the rest of us. But hey, forget her! You know what we should do? We should totally become celebrities."
I raise an eyebrow at her sudden shift. "Celebrities? Seriously, why?"
"Why not? We've got the looks, the vibes, and you know everyone already loves you at school. Imagine us on TV, living it up. We'd be killing it at fancy parties, traveling all over. We could totally live that high-class life," Yuna says, eyes lighting up.
I give her a sly smirk. "I could definitely pull it off. But you? Girl, you'd need a miracle."
Yuna gasps, all dramatic. "Oh, that's how it is, huh?"
Without a second thought, she grabs a pillow and chucks it at me. I dodge easily, grinning. "You sure you wanna go there?"
"Oh, I'm coming for you!" Yuna laughs, grabbing another pillow. "Let's see how cocky you are now!"
And just like that, it's on.
Yuna charges at me with everything she's got, but I'm already in the zone. I dodge left, duck right, and weave between every single one of her wild swings like it's nothing. Pillows are flying, but I'm dodging like a pro, barely breaking a sweat.
"You gotta try harder than that!" I tease, dancing around her attacks. "Come on, this all you got?"
"You're so dead, Aerum!" Yuna shouts, swinging a pillow like her life depends on it.
I sidestep again, quick as lightning, and land a light tap on her shoulder with my own pillow. "Boom. One point."
"Not fair!" she cries, swinging wildly again.
But it's no use. I'm in full-on ninja mode, pulling off insane combos like I'm straight out of an action movie. I'm flipping and twisting, dodging everything Yuna throws at me, and she's barely keeping up. "Stop dodging, you cheater!" she yells, but I just laugh, sidestepping her again.
With one final move, I dodge her last wild swing, spin around, and hit her with a triple combo: one tap to her arm, one to her back, and the last one right on top of her head.
"Game over!" I declare, throwing my pillow in victory.
Yuna collapses onto the couch, groaning. "Ugh, fine! You win. But only 'cause you're some kind of pillow-fighting genius or something!"
I flop down next to her, both of us still catching our breath from the chaos. "Told ya. Can't mess with me."
Yuna laughs, tossing her pillow aside. "Okay, okay, you got me. But one of these days, I swear I'm gonna get you back."
"Yeah, good luck with that." I grin, stretching out. "You'll need years of training."
"Or I could just cheat," Yuna teases, sticking out her tongue.
We both burst out laughing again, sinking into the cushions. After a few moments, the laughter dies down, and Yuna glances over at me, still grinning.
"You know, Aerum, with moves like that, you could totally be an action star. Imagine all the fight scenes you'd be in. You'd kill it," she says, nudging me.
I shake my head, smiling. "Yeah, maybe. But for now, I think I'll stick to keeping you in line."
Yuna smirks. "You say that like it's a full-time job or something."
"Well, it kinda is." I laugh, tossing a pillow at her. "But yeah, maybe one day we'll be the ones living the celeb life. Who knows?"
Yuna lounges back on the couch, still catching her breath from our ridiculous pillow fight. "You know, you weren't just awesome with the pillows. That fight earlier today? You were straight up insane, Aerum. Like, who even knew you could move like that? It was like something out of a martial arts movie."
I tense up, remembering the fight with the group of guys. It wasn't just about winning; it was about how easily those moves came to me. Moves I never even learned in this life. "I dunno, I just… reacted, I guess."
"Reacted? Girl, you were on fire! You made those guys look like complete noobs. It was like some secret training kicked in. I need you to teach me! Please, Aerum, be my mentor!" Yuna is practically bouncing on the couch again, excitement shining in her eyes.
"Mentor? Me?" I laugh awkwardly, scratching my head. "You do realize I have no idea how I did any of that, right?"
"That's even better!" Yuna claps her hands together, not even fazed by my reluctance. "You've got that natural talent, and I can be your apprentice. I don't need to become a pro or anything, just enough to hold my own. I'm tired of being the weak one, y'know?"
I pause for a second. It's true—Yuna always looks up to me, even though she never says it directly. Part of me knows that if I could teach her, it'd be great for her confidence. But I actually don't know how I pulled it off—I just know that it was probably my instinct from the past life I had being transferred over in the moment of the heat.
"I dunno, Yuna," I say, trying to sound casual. "It's not like I've got some secret fighting manual. And besides, you saw how freaked out I was afterward."
"Pssh, you always say that, but you're a natural!" Yuna's excitement only seems to grow. "Come on, you've gotta teach me at least the basics. You were like a martial arts master out there, and I need to learn how to be that demure and cutesy."
I glance at Yuna, who's practically bouncing with excitement. Her enthusiasm is catching, but it makes me feel even more uneasy. "Yuna, seriously, I'm not some martial arts pro or anything. I really don't know how I pulled off those moves. It's not like I've been secretly training."
Yuna's eyes narrow, and she looks at me with a mix of curiosity and disbelief. "But that's just it! During that fight earlier, you were like a freakin' whirlwind. I've never seen anyone move that fast or hit that hard. And then in the pillow fight? You were dodging and hitting like some kind of action hero. It was like a whole new level."
I shrug, trying to play it cool. "Oh, come on. You're making a big deal out of nothing. Maybe it's just adrenaline or something. I don't have any special skills."
Yuna's gaze is intense, almost like she's trying to figure out a mystery. "Adrenaline doesn't explain how you were moving. It's like you've got some hidden power or something. I mean, I know you're strong, but this was next level."
I laugh, feeling a bit awkward. "You're reading way too much into it. I'm not some fantasy character from an action novel. I just reacted in the moment, that's all."
Yuna pouts a little but looks intrigued. "Alright, alright. If you say so."
I give her a reassuring smile. "Yeah, it's getting pretty late. Let's hit the hay. We've had a long day and we both need some rest."
As we head toward my room, Yuna hesitates and then grins. "Hey, since it's a sleepover and all, can I crash in your bed? I'm a guest, right?"
I laugh, shaking my head. "Oh, really? You're gonna pull the 'guest' card now? You've already been taking advantage of that all day!"
Yuna smirks, sticking her tongue out playfully. "Come on, it's just for tonight!"
Before she can protest, I give her a playful bonk on the head. "Alright, alright, but don't think you're getting away with treating my place like a five-star hotel! You're lucky I'm in a good mood."
Yuna giggles and nudges me. "So, how about we both sleep in the bed? It's more fun that way, and we've done it tons of times before."
I raise an eyebrow, feigning reluctance. "I dunno, Yuna. We are not a little kid anymore. This might get a bit cramped."
Yuna gives me a look that's a mix of pleading and mischief. "Come on, Aerum. We've shared beds since kindergarten. It's not like it's a big deal."
I sigh, realizing she has a point. "Fine, fine. I suppose it'll be just like old times."
We head to my room, and I get ready for bed while Yuna makes herself comfortable. As I settle in next to her, I can't help but reflect on how long we've been friends. From kindergarten to now, Yuna has always been a big part of my life. Despite the weirdness and the changes, some things never really change.
I turn off the lights and snuggle into the bed, feeling a sense of warmth and familiarity. With Yuna beside me, I drift off to sleep, grateful for the deep bond we share.
The next morning, the sun streams through the curtains, and I slowly wake up, stretching out and blinking sleepily. To my surprise, Yuna isn't still in bed. I hear sounds coming from the kitchen, and my curiosity gets the better of me.
I shuffle into the kitchen to find Yuna standing over the stove, cooking up a storm. The delicious aroma of kimchi fried rice fills the air.
"Morning, sleepyhead!" Yuna calls out cheerfully, not even looking up from the stove. "I decided to make breakfast today."
I rub my eyes, still in shock. "Wait, you're cooking? And serving me? This is new."
Yuna grins as she stirs the fried rice in the pan. "Yep! Kimchi fried rice. Thought I'd surprise you."
Soonim bounds into the kitchen, her eyes wide with excitement. "Wow, Yuna! What's cooking?"
Yuna smiles and continues to stir the rice. "I'm making kimchi fried rice. Let me show you how. First, we need cold, day-old rice. Fresh rice doesn't work as well. Break it up a bit if it's clumped together."
Soonim nods and watches closely. "Got it. What's next?"
"Next, chop up some kimchi into small pieces," Yuna says, showing Soonim the kimchi she's preparing. "You'll also want some diced vegetables like carrots and green onions. And if you're adding protein, you can use diced pork or tofu."
"Okay, I see. What do we do with the kimchi?" Soonim asks.
"Heat some oil in a pan over medium heat," Yuna explains, adding oil to the pan. "Then add the kimchi and cook it until it starts to caramelize and get a bit crispy. That's the flavor base."
Soonim leans in, intrigued. "And then?"
"Throw in your diced vegetables," Yuna continues as she adds the vegetables to the pan. "Cook them until they're tender. If you're using meat or tofu, add it now and cook it through."
"Got it. And after that?" Soonim asks.
"Add the rice," Yuna says, adding the cold rice to the pan. "Break up any clumps and stir everything together. Cook it until the rice is heated through and well mixed with the kimchi and veggies."
Soonim watches intently. "How do we season it?"
"Season with soy sauce and a bit of sesame oil," Yuna instructs, adding the soy sauce and sesame oil. "You can also add a splash of rice vinegar for a bit of tang."
"Looks delicious!" Soonim says, clearly impressed. "Anything else?"
"Garnish with chopped green onions and sesame seeds," Yuna says, sprinkling the final touches. "You can also top it with a fried egg if you want."
Soonim's eyes light up. "This is amazing, Yuna! Thanks for showing me."
Yuna grins as she plates up the kimchi fried rice and hands me a plate. "No problem. Breakfast is served!"
source: https://vikalinka.com/easy-kimchi-fried-rice/
When the food is finally ready and served, I take a bite, and my taste buds are immediately delighted. The rice is perfectly cooked, the kimchi adds a tangy kick, and the seasoning is spot-on. This is hands down some of the best kimchi fried rice I've ever had. I mentally give Yuna a huge thumbs up for her cooking skills.
Soonim takes a bite and her eyes widen with appreciation. "Wow, Yuna, this is seriously amazing! You've outdone yourself."
Yuna beams with pride. "Thanks! I'm glad you like it. I've been practicing a bit."
Soonim continues, "It's definitely paying off. This kimchi fried rice is way better than anything I've had in ages."
I nod in agreement, savoring another bite. "Yeah, Yuna, this is incredible. You've really nailed it."
After breakfast, Yuna and Soonim chill on the couch while I clean up. Yuna brings up Minho, and I know what's coming.
"So, Aerum, where's your brother? I was hoping to see him while I'm here."
I sit down with a sigh. "Minho was actually home for my first day of school. It was great catching up, but he's back in the military now. He won't be around for a while."
Yuna's face falls a bit. "Oh, that's a bummer. I was looking forward to seeing him."
Soonim chimes in. "Yeah, Minho was always fun to hang out with. Is he coming back soon?"
I shake my head. "Not for a while. His schedule's pretty packed with his duties."
Yuna nods, a little disappointed. "Got it. Guess I'll have to wait until next time."
Soonim suggests, "We should plan something when he's back. It'd be fun to all hang out."
I smile. "Definitely. I'll keep you posted when he's back."
Yuna's mood lifts. "Sounds good. Can't wait to catch up with him."
After we finish discussing Minho, Yuna tilts her head slightly, a curious expression on her face. "So, what about your parents? Where are they? I haven't heard anything about them lately."
I glance at Soonim before answering. "Oh, they're actually out of the country right now. They're doing some business over there and decided to tack on a vacation while they're at it."
Yuna raises her eyebrows in surprise. "Wow, that sounds like a pretty sweet deal for them. So, who's been handling things here?"
I nod toward Soonim. "Well, I've been tasked with taking care of the house and Soonim while they're away. It's been a bit of a juggling act, but I manage."
Soonim chimes in, looking a little sheepish. "Yeah, I've been trying not to be too much of a hassle. Aerum's been handling everything pretty well, though."
Yuna's eyes widen in admiration. "That's pretty impressive. Taking care of the house and your little sister must be a lot of work."
I shrug, trying to downplay it. "It's not too bad. Just a lot of responsibility. But it's all good. Keeps me busy."
Yuna nods, clearly impressed. "Well, you're doing an awesome job. Props to you for managing it all."
Soonim adds with a grin, "Yeah, Aerum's been a total champ. We've got everything under control."
After discussing about our parents, we all start preparing for the day ahead. Yuna and Soonim help with the last bits of tidying up while I get my school bag ready. Soonim heads upstairs to grab her stuff, and Yuna gives me a hand with the final touches.
"Hey, thanks for the awesome breakfast, Yuna. Seriously, it was the best," I say as I toss a few books into my bag.
Yuna smiles, clearly pleased. "No problem! I'm glad you liked it."
Once we're all set, we head out the door together. The walk to school is filled with casual chatter and laughter, the kind of morning I always look forward to.
Chap 5 end