[FIC] A Leader's Love, CH3
A/N: Because I wanted to finish this fic - since it’s nearing its finale, I just had to update again! Just below are Super Junior hilarity and Eeteuk’s fail-but-cute attempts. Oh, you just gotta love him.
Disclaimer: I own nothing. Yeah, rub it in, will you?
Warning: OFF-CHARA-ness. And crazy recipes.
I exited the kitchen wearing this big grin - so wide that it reached my ears - on my face. On my hands was the tray of silver pot and 14 sets of bowl and spoons; carefully holding them as I slowly trudged my way to the elevators. Visitors of the hotel cast curious glances at me; I could feel their stares burning on my back but I didn’t dare look behind and continued fumbling with the elevator’s buttons.
“C’mon… c’mon…” I mumbled, still in the process of fumbling with the switches. Then my eyes unconsciously fell at the silver pot and my mouth couldn’t help but crack a smile.
Actually, it was months, maybe years, since I last cooked for the members. I could clearly remember that one fine summer afternoon inside the dorm when I decided to cook for the boys since I had nothing better to do. Everyone was so busy with their own agendas that only after a while that Eunhyuk noticed me circusing around the kitchen.
“Hyung, what are you cooking?” He curiously peeked at the stove and tried comprehending the ingredients. “Wait, are those carrots and butter?” But even before I could explain my new Teukie Secret Lunch Recipe, he continued. “…and Vanilla extracts and vegetable oil and ginger… AND WHAT IS THE BAKING POWDER DOING IN THERE?”
“What’s going on?” I glanced at the door and saw Siwon entering, not long after Hankyung. Siwon stared at my direction and blinked, then he averted his gaze to Eunhyuk, who I noticed, had this foul look on his face.
“Kitchen’s quite a mess…” The Chinese member commented, gingerly fingering the opened cans and jars and noting quietly the spilled milk and sliced onions everywhere. “Hey, is something burning?”
We all sniffed.
Something REALLY was burning. And in just three seconds that it dawned to me…
“OH CRAP! MY BAKED KETCHUP POTATOES AND SQUASH!!” Quickly sprinting towards the oven, I pulled it open and a black, thick, burning smoke puff escaped, covering my face at the process “ACK!”
I was expecting the three boys to assist their poor leader but instead, they stood on their places and had that I-can’t-believe-it look.
“Did Hyung just say-
“B-b-baked ketchup potatoes and WHAT?”
“Oh, dear god of china…”
Unexpectedly, the fire alarm went off very harshly, ringing through out the dorm and not long after, the water sprinklers on the ceiling activated. I cringed at the surprised screams and yells of the unsuspected members who were innocently nestling at their rooms.
“YAHHH!!”
“MY GUITAR!”
“THE COMPUTER!! COVER IT!”
“HEEBUM! YAH! I’M NOT THE WHO TURNED ON THE WATER!”
Not long after, thundering foot-steps echoed across the hallway, slowly coming closer and closer and-
“EETEUK?! HYUNG?! WHAT THE HELL?!”
And that was the very last time everyone allowed me to use the kitchen of our dormitory. Even manager-hyung prohibited me to touch the stupid stove, reasoning, “You might murder every soul here with the way you cook and with your FOOD.”
But now, unfortunately for them, I had returned with my cooking - insert victory grin here - and perhaps improved without undergoing experiences for the last years. How was that possible? Even I knew nothing.
PING!
The elevator door once again opened and I made my exit to the reserved floor. In snail-pace, I walked towards Heechul’s room, opened the door and expected to see the male where I last saw him but to my surprise - “Chul! I got the sou-Huh?” - his bed was empty.
Then I trudged to Kangin’s room next, only to find it unoccupied as well. And Hankyung’s. And Yesung’s. And Zhou Mi’s.
I stood still in the middle of the hallway with the tray of hot soup and 14 matching utensils still on my hands; dumbfounded and clueless. Five members were already missing. What more of the remaining others? “WHERE IN THE WORLD IS EVERYONE??”
Just like heaven-sent, I saw Kibum just as he was exiting his room, still looking pretty strength-drained. Finally, his gaze turned to my direction. “Ah, Teukie-hyung. Good morning.” Then he looked at me like there was something off. “Why are you standing alone there?”
I was about to explain my quest-to-cook-and-feed-members when he added after coughing, “Everyone’s at your room. Dunno why though. Heechul-hyung just messaged us to gather there.”
Then it hit me. “Oh, so that was why.”
Kibum went up to me and weakly placed his hand on the tray’s edge. “Here, let me help. You look like you were lost, hyung.”
“Ah, thanks, Kibummie.” I stifled an embarrassed laugh. “I kinda was.”
“Oh, god. I remember Hyung’s cooking.” Eunhyuk squinted his already squinted eyes and held the bowl like it was a hazardous science experiment. He sniffed at the hot soup but didn’t flinch like I thought he would. Still, he had the doubt look on his face.
“No complaining! I’ll have you know that this time, the food will taste awesome!” I defended as I poured a bowl for Henry who excitedly took it. “Here you go.”
“Thank you.” Henry replied in English and finally sat next to Donghae, who sat beside Sungmin on the floor.
“Alright then, kids. Bottoms up!” I happily announced like a mother who had just given her children a delicious beverage to drink. The statement was kind of inappropriate for the situation but nevertheless, the members held their bowls near them - some were planning to gulp it down in one swing while the others held spoons on their hands. All together, they took a big, willing taste.
“…”
“………………”
I just had to cut off the silence out of sheer eagerness. “So? Delicious, huh? I know all of you are too stunned to speak! Even your tongues are dancing for joy!” I smirked as I put my hands on my waist, exuding this overdue aura of accomplishment and pride. Instead of hearing various praises and approval - how I expected it to be, I heard Kangin’s grumbling and grunts.
“The hell? It tastes just like water.”
“Yeah. I thought I was the only who thinks that.” Siwon chimed in. Then it was followed with similar remarks from the members. I just shook my head and held a hand up.
“People, people. You’re probably tasting it funny since your taste-buds aren’t working being sick and all. But I’m 100% positive that the soup is made of my awesomeness and love!”
Ryeowook - the honest and sweet Wookie whom I knew wouldn’t let me down just glanced up my way and whispered in heartfelt but regretting voice, “No, really, it tastes like water.”
I looked at everyone; them nodding together. There was just no way it tasted like water, I quietly told myself. “…And I dumped a lot of nutritious ingredients and stuff in there! How come?!”
So I finally took a spoonful from Shindong’s bowl and in seconds stuffed the soup inside my mouth.
“…”
Then I smiled awkwardly at my members - their lips were almost tugging upward obviously - and sheepishly laughed.
“Ohhh… it does, doesn’t it?”
I honestly wanted the floor the eat me up without them knowing it. Or perhaps disappear like a bubble due to over-embarrassment for the second time. ARGH. Cooking and me - not a match made in heaven at all.
A/N: Eeteuk’s cooking is failer than fail. But that’s what makes our leader so adorable and lovable, yeah? Review, my pretties! Perhaps the next chapter would be the last one for this fic.