Chapter Text
Kimchi-jjigae 김치찌개
stew-like Korean dish, made with kimchi and other ingredients,
such as pork or seafood, scallions, onions, and diced tofu.
Chapter 5
‘NKyummy Eats! liked your comment.’
“Is this real life?”
Seungho stared at his work computer, his golden yellow eyes widen comically with his mouth opened. He hadn't checked his phone since last night, he was too exhausted from work and he immediately passed out when he arrived home. His morning was even worse since he was almost late for work, it didn’t give him a chance to check on his cellphone. Now, in his office with his co-workers and staff busy finishing up their monthly reports, the end of the months in the finance department is a whirlwind roller coaster. Despite the hectic atmosphere, Seungho has a gut feeling of something good about to happen today.
And holy shit - the god of luck just bestowed on Seungho.
NKyummy Eats! (Seungho’s lifeblood and the reason for his joy and happiness in his awfully boring life) never ever liked a comment on his videos. Ever . Not even once.
Seungho quickly opened his personal email, long and behold - today could be the greatest day of his life.
What a time to be alive.
On his personal email, a message from NKyummy Eats! Seungho's entire body is shaking with excitement - is this what he was praying diligently for?
‘ NKyummy Eats! sent you a message.’
It was so thrilling and filled with suspense as Seungho hovers the arrow cursor on the email and clicks it. Seungho’s golden yellow eyes read the email so quickly - the smile on his lips is getting bigger and brighter, his cheeks and jaw almost hurt because he rarely smiles for anyone.
‘ Dear SH ️ ❤ NKyummy4ever:
Hello! Congratulations on winning my 500,000 subscriber special! I’ve noticed your comments and I want to sincerely extend my gratitude towards you and your endless support and dedication for my small mukbang channel. I want to do something special and it would be nice if we can meet and share a meal together - if you want I can make you a home-cooked meal, similar to the dishes I make in my mukbang videos. I hope you don’t mind if I ask what’s your favorite food? I want to make something special for you since you're my lucky subscriber...’
Words are a blur in Seungho’s eyes, he could be experiencing palpitations (or some cardiac arrest but he refuses to die - before he dies he needs to share a meal with his beloved NKyummy Eats! - nope Seungho still claims he’s totally not creepy.) With so much vigor and bountiful jubilance Seungho (who is usually a composed, cool, ‘mature’ adult) suddenly jumped up, the metallic sound of his chair scraping on the floor can’t be heard because of his thundering and booming voice of joyful shouting,
“FUCK YES!”
All heads turn and look at Seungho, his employees extremely shocked to see their financial manager happily shout on top of his lungs in the office.
Everyone’s reaction was painful and extremely cringe-worthy silence.
Seungho’s wide idiotic grin slowly melted away as he awkwardly coughs and adjusted his necktie - trying to compose himself. He sat back down on his chair and moved his jaw and lips, trying to have a neutral passive expression. Then he barks out a command to the employees lurking in curiosity towards him,
“What are you doing? Get back to work.”
The employees scurry away frightened to see their manager looking so fierce - he can almost cut their heads off, it's their first time seeing Seungho so happy and jubilant. It was such a rare sight.
Seungho places his hand to cover his mouth, he couldn’t control his wide smile. This is way better than winning the lottery (100 times better than a lottery Seungho affirms) his entire body feels so giddy and excited, his legs are shaking in anticipation. He and NKyummy Eats! will have their first meal together and to make things better NKyummy Eats! will give him the world’s best home-cooked meal.
Seungho cracks his knuckles and stretches his neck, his fingers are itching to respond immediately to NKyummy Eats! and this time he will send an extensive and well detailed three-paragraph response (with the extreme declaration of gratitude and loyalty - work emails? Seungho gives zero shit about it. He only cares about NKyummys! email)
This is certainly the happiest day of Seungho’s life.
It might be the happiest and also the worst day of his life.
Yoon Seungho, 29 years old, overworked financial manager. Wet from the rain. Forgot his umbrella. Overtime again. Due to the rain, train stations are flooded with people. No train means spending a shit ton of money for a taxi. Starving. 7/11 closed for maintenance and cleaning.
Fuck his life.
Seungho mentally lists down the shitty things that happened after his happy morning email. He rubs his temples trying to ease his migraine, riding the train is another hassle since the station will be flooded with employees trying to go home during the rush hour.
He was forced to work overtime since one of his interns messed up the printing causing delay in the paperwork. Now, it’s late at night and he couldn’t even have a decent and hot meal since 7/11 is closed for maintenance and cleaning (and Seungho damn knows, he can’t cook a meal. He would much rather starve than eat the food he cooks.) Due to stress, Seungho couldn’t control himself but grabbed his cigarette and lit it - trying to smoke his woes away.
“Sir? Is that you?”
Angelic and melodic voices rung to Seungho’s ears like angle’s chimes. Seungho turned around and gave a grim and tired wave towards Nakyum. It’s strange to see the smaller man not wearing his 7/11 uniform - instead, he’s dressed in simple dark washed denim jeans, a light blue cotton sweater, and a brown knitted cardigan over it. He looks cozy and cuddly (mental images of Seungho cuddling Nakyum after sex- nope, he swears he’s not creepy. )
“Nakyum? Why are you still here? Isn’t the store closed for tonight?”
Seungho inhales and puffs the smoke out his thin lips as Nakyum grinning sheepishly, “Ah, I forgot. I rushed here since I thought I’m going to be late for my shift. Turns out the store is closed.” Seungho continued smoking and staring at the raindrops, it was a peaceful silence between them.
But Seungho may look cool and an ‘effortless’ ‘ I’m-smoking-adult ’ vibe his stomach does not know how to read the fucking room and growls so loudly - it was a national embarrassment.
Seungho closed his eyes and wishing the ground would swallow him, Nakyum snorted out attractively and giggled. Tucking his long bangs to his ear as he digs through his backpack.
“You must be starving, I have some leftover Kimchi-jjigae and Kimbap . You can have it.” Nakyum handed him an insulated lunch box with the soup and kimbap inside, Seungho refuse to accept it due to embarrassment and said “No, you must be hungry too you should eat the meal you prepared-“ Nakyum forcefully pushes the lunch box onto Seungho’s hand and smiles, the smaller man opened his umbrella and stepped out towards the pavement and exclaims
“You looked like you needed it more than I do. A warm, hearty soup can make anyone’s day ten times brighter. Enjoy the meal, Seungho.”
Nakyum waves his hand, his round plump cheeks lifted into a blooming smile - despite the grey and dreary weather Nakyum never fails to light up the world. Seungho carefully places the tightly sealed lunchbox inside his bag and calls for a taxi. He’s looking forward to this delicious meal once he gets home.
Seungho has never eaten home-cooked meals for so long - he spent so many years living alone and surviving off of take-out meals and convenience store microwavable dishes that he forgot the taste of home-cooked food.
He opened the bright yellow insulated lunch box with tiny hand-painted bunny designs on the side. The scent of fermented kimchi, soft tofu, chili powder, and beef makes up the perfect Kimchi-jjigae and paired with mouth-watering Kimbap , rice wrapped in seaweed and stuffed with various vegetables and tuna. He takes a sip of the soup and his heart blossoms with the delicious bursting of rich and deep flavors.
It was like a warm embrace after a long cold day.
Seungho truly believes the power and the comfort food can impact your life, Nakyum’s food is so simple yet it blooms deeply into Seungho’s heart. As if it was made with so much love and care, his phone notified for a new email. It reads:
‘Dear SH ❤NKyummy4ever,
Thank you for sending me a quick email, sorry for my delayed response. I had work earlier. Would Saturday next week be good for you? I can’t wait to see my lucky subscriber! Please email me on that day, I’m excited to cook your favorite dish. See you!
Sincerely,
NKyummy Eats!’
The mixture of the warm hearty soup the image of Nakyum standing in the middle of the rain with a smile so bright - Seungho could be blinded with wonder, and the lovely email from NKyummy Eats! is one of the reasons why Seungho is genuinely happy right now.