Chapter 12
Showcase #1
Ongoing
Entering the kitchen, Na Pd-nim motions for the crew to turn off the camera as they discuss.
“Jin-woo, although what you did was amazing, aren’t you worried about the police?” Woo-shik asks, his tone filled with genuine concern. The group shares his worry. After all, they’re in a foreign country, and they’re celebrities, this could escalate into a massive issue.
Leaning against the kitchen counter, faces everyone, completely unfazed. “Don’t worry about it. They’re already gone, and besides, I think people online will take this positively. It's gonna get way more likes than dislikes.”
The group exchanges uncertain looks before glancing out the pass. Sure enough, the goons on the ground are nowhere to be seen. They turn back to Jin-woo, their confusion growing.
“The person I had Eunchae call is very important,” Jin-woo explains, his tone casual. “She owes me a favor. Pretty useful, huh?”
“How did we not notice this?” Yumi asks, blinking in confusion, completely thrown off by Jin-woo's calm demeanor.
“Well, we were talking, and you guys probably weren’t paying attention,” Jin-woo responds with a shrug, clearly unbothered. “Besides, I’ve got connections. You should know that by now.”
“Anyways,” Jin-woo continues, clearly shifting to work mode, “we should probably finish up lunch service so we can prep for dinner. We’re not done yet, people.”
Reluctantly, the group nods, still processing the whirlwind of events. They return to their tasks, but the unanswered questions linger, the tension still thick in the air.
As the others get back to work, Jin-woo pulls Yujin aside, his voice quieter now. “You okay, honey?”
Yujin sighs, crossing her arms as she looks up at him.
“What do you think?”
“Yes?” said Jin-woo in a hopeful tone.
“No, I’m not,” she says, voice tinged with concern. “But it’s not like I’m getting an answer from you anytime soon, huh?”
Jin-woo grins, leaning closer, his voice lowering. “I’ll tell you everything soon, I promise. But for now, how about you give me a quick kiss? I think I’ve earned it.”
Yujin rolls her eyes but can’t suppress a small smile. “You really think you can just smile your way out of this?”
“Of course,” Jin-woo replies confidently, his eyes twinkling with mischief.
Yujin shakes her head, but there’s affection in her expression as she leans in to give him a quick kiss on the lips. Pulling away, she spins on her heel with a playful flourish, heading back to the front with a smile. “You’re impossible.”
Jin-woo watches her go, his grin widening as he whispers to himself, “But you love it.”
With a last lingering look at her, he heads back to the kitchen, ready to continue the lunch service, still wearing that carefree, unbothered smile.
Timeskip
As the last few customers finish their meals and start leaving, several of them stop by to speak with Jin-woo, their faces full of admiration.
“You were amazing, man,” a young guy says, shaking Jin-woo’s hand. “I’ve never seen someone move like that outside of an action movie. Seriously, respect.”
An older gentleman nods in agreement. “Most people would’ve just called the cops and backed away, but you handled it yourself. Takes guts, son.”
Jin-woo grins, rubbing the back of his neck portraying a seemingly humble appearance but is truly relishing in the compliments. “Ah, it was nothing. Just didn’t want anyone getting hurt.”
“Oh, but you looked so cool doing it,” a young woman chimes in, her eyes practically sparkling. “The way you look when dodging those knives. That was hot.”
Another girl giggles, stepping a little closer. “Are you, like, a secret agent or something? Because that was unreal, seriously, so attractive.”
“Right? If guys like you existed in my life, I wouldn’t need to watch dramas to fulfill my fantasy.” Another woman flirts, winking at him.
Jin-woo chuckles, clearly entertained, but before he can respond, a very distinct thud echoes through the space.
Everyone turns to see Yujin aggressively stacking plates, her expression blank but her movements just a little too forceful. “Lunch service is over,” she says with an overly sweet smile, though her voice carries an unmistakable edge. “If you’re done swooning over him and inflating his ego for doing something dangerous, please let us clean up.”
The flirty customers exchange amusing glances, picking up on her irritation. One of them smirks, leaning in slightly toward Yujin. “Ooooh, is someone jealous?”
Yujin’s smile remains frozen. “No- please leave. Thank you.”
Jin-woo, sensing danger, quickly steps in with a lighthearted laugh. “Alright, alright, ladies, thank you for the compliments, but I really should get back to work before my very lovely coworker here throws a plate at my head.” He gestures toward Yujin playfully.
“Pity,” one of the girls pouts. “But if you ever want a break from work, I’d love to take you out for coffee.” She says as she brings her phone in front of her.
Before Jin-woo can even react, Yujin smoothly steps in front of him, crossing her arms. “He doesn’t drink coffee.”
Jin-woo blinks. “Uh, I do, though”
Yujin stomps on his foot lightly, not enough to hurt, but enough to send a message. “No. you don’t”
The customers giggle before finally leaving, still casting lingering looks at Jin-woo. Once they’re gone, he sighs, turning to Yujin with a teasing smirk. “Honey, if you’re upset, you could just say so.”
Yujin scoffs, grabbing the last of the plates. “Upset? Please. I just can’t stand watching people throw themselves at an idiot. I’m doing them a favor”
Jin-woo leans down, whispering just beside her ear, his voice dripping with amusement. “Aw, don’t worry, honey. You’re the only one who gets to take me out for coffee.”
Yujin huffs, but her ears turn slightly pink as she storms off toward the kitchen mumbling.
“What is wrong with me?”
Eunchae, who had been watching the whole thing, snickers under her breath. “Oppa, you really like to live dangerously, huh?”
Jin-woo grins, watching Yujin disappear behind the kitchen doors. “What’s life without a little risk?”
“You won’t find out when Yujin-unnie kills you.” Giggles Eunchae.
With the last of the customers gone, Seojin claps his hands together. “Alright, we’ve cleaned up enough. Let’s take a break before dinner service.”
The group nods, making their way to their usual large table. As soon as they sit down, the atmosphere shifts, all eyes locking onto Jin-woo.
“Alright, what are we ordering? I heard there,” Jin-woo starts, but as he looks up, he notices everyone staring at him. He leans back in his chair with a lazy grin. “Okay, okay, I know that look. Go ahead, let’s hear it.”
And just like that, the interrogation begins.
“How were you able to take them down like that?” Yumi asks, genuine curiosity in her voice.
“Did you take martial arts or something?” BM follows up.
Jin-woo crosses his arms, his expression relaxed. “Well, first of all, they weren’t exactly fighters, fast nor smart, so it was pretty simple, especially when they came at me one by one. Secondly, I did take some martial arts classes, but honestly, I didn’t really need it.”
“But weren’t you scared? They had knives,” Woo-shik points out.
“What’s there to be scared of?” Jin-woo replies with a slight tilt of his head. “To me, they were just a bunch of idiots.”
“Not everyone is as fearless as you,” Eunseo says, taken aback by his nonchalant attitude.
“Well, I guess I’m just special.” Jin-woo grins, causing the others to shake their heads in disbelief.
Having stayed quiet the whole time, Seojin finally speaks up. “How are you going to deal with the media? They won’t stay quiet, and I’m sure reporters are already drafting their articles.”
Jin-woo shrugs, unfazed. “Eh, I’m not too worried about that. Besides, it wouldn’t be the first time.”
Which was true. After the Lotte World incident, a video of Jin-woo taking down a group of troublemakers had gone viral. The media blew it out of proportion, and the news even spread to America because of his background. Headlines like ‘Sentinels Star Jin-woo Takes Down Wannabe Gangsters to Protect LE SSERAFIM’s Yunjin and Eunchae’ and ‘15-Year-Old Korean Prodigy Returns from America to Protect Sister and LE SSERAFIM Members’ flooded the internet. Other articles followed, with titles such as ‘FPS Pro? More Like an Action Movie Hero, Jin-woo’s Impressive Combat Skills Stun Fans’ and ‘From the Books to the Screens, to the Streets: Jin-woo Proves He’s More Than Just an academic and gaming prodigy’.
That whole situation had given him a massive headache, with calls coming in nonstop from friends and loved ones. Most netizens supported him, praising how well he handled the wannabe gangsters and even sharing their own bad experiences with them. It got so bad that the parents of the troublemakers, who turned out to be high-level executives at Lotte World, had to issue a public apology, which only made netizens cheer louder. Of course, there were some negative comments, but they were mostly from trolls or jealous nobodies.
“Oppa, even if netizens agreed with you last time, won’t this be worse?” Eunchae asks, her worry evident.
“This time, you beat them up in public, on one of the busiest streets in Madrid. And they had knives,” Yujin adds, her arms crossed as she gives him a hard look. The others nod in agreement, knowing this incident won’t blow over as easily. There could be serious legal and media repercussions.
“As I said, it’ll be fine,” Jin-woo reassures them. “My friend will handle any potential legal issues. As for the internet, it’s just going to be another round of netizens arguing with each other.”
“You’re way too calm about this,” Seojoon says, narrowing his eyes. He had been watching Jin-woo closely since the incident, noting how his emotions barely wavers. From the moment the fight broke out to now, Jin-woo remained composed, if anything, he enjoyed it. Any normal human would be worried, nervous, anger, irritation or fear but Jin-woo showed none of those.
“I just don’t see anything to worry about,” Jin-woo replies, locking eyes with Seojoon, as if reading his thoughts. After a silent staring contest, Seojoon can only sigh and let it go.
“Anyway, let’s get some food before we have to prep,” Jin-woo says, switching topics effortlessly. He pulls out his phone and hands it to Eunchae. “Here, find something online and order for us.”
“Okay!” Eunchae grins, snatching the phone eagerly, already planning to order as much as she wants, completely forgetting everything.
And just like that, the interrogation and tension ends. As the group gets distracted discussing what to eat, Jin-woo turns to Yujin, who is staring at the table with a mix of frustration and concern lost in her thoughts.
Leaning in slightly, Jin-woo nudges her with his elbow. “Hey, what’s up? You’re quiet.”
Yujin blinks, as if snapped out of her thoughts, and looks at him. “Nothing. Just tired,” she says, but the way she avoids his gaze makes it obvious that’s not the whole truth.
Jin-woo tilts his head, studying her. “You sure? You were fine earlier. Pretty energetic if you ask me, You mad at me?”
Yujin lets out a soft sigh and shakes her head. “No, I’m not mad. Just… uneasy.”
Jin-woo raises an eyebrow. “Because of what happened outside? You don’t have to worry, I already told you it’s handled.”
“I know,” she murmurs, glancing toward the window as if expecting something….or someone to be there. “It’s not that.”
Jin-woo follows her gaze, then looks back at her. “Then what?”
She hesitates, biting her lip. She wants to say it, and wants to tell him that ever since yesterday, she hasn’t been able to shake the feeling that something is wrong. That being watched, the feeling of eyes on them, the mysterious figure that she swore she saw, wasn’t just paranoia. But she also knows Jin-woo. If she tells him, he’ll brush it off or, worse, throw himself into it alone.
So instead, she exhales and forces a small smile. “It’s stupid. Forget it.”
Not convinced at all, he keeps his gaze locked onto her. “Yujin.” His tone is softer now. “You know I can tell when something’s bothering you, right?”
She stays quiet.
“Is it about yesterday?” he pressed.
Yujin’s breath catches, just for a second, but it’s enough for Jin-woo to notice.
His eyes narrow slightly. “You’re still thinking about it, aren’t you?”
Yujin finally meets his gaze, debating whether or not to tell him. After a moment, she sighs again. “It’s just… I don’t know. It’s just that ever since we left the market, I keep getting the feeling of being watched and the fact that I swear I saw someone watching us at Go karting, but they suddenly disappear. It’s just unsettling.”
Jin-woo leans back, running a hand through his hair. “You thought you saw someone at the go kart track?”
“I don’t know what I think,” she admits. “It’s just this feeling I have. And I hate that I can’t explain it.”
Jin-woo watches her for a long moment before smirking slightly. “Well, if you truly think something is wrong then I’ll trust you”
Yujin blinks, caught off guard by his response. “Wait, really?”
Jin-woo shrugs. “Yeah. If you’ve got a bad feeling, I’ll keep my eyes open. Not that I wasn’t already, but I’ll be extra careful.” He grins. “And I’ll make sure you don’t have to worry about anything, honey.”
Yujin scoffs, but there’s a flicker of relief in her expression. “You’re annoying.”
“And yet, you love me.”
She rolls her eyes but doesn’t deny it. Instead, she reaches for his hand under the table, giving it a light squeeze before pulling away. “Just don’t do anything reckless, okay?”
Jin-woo chuckles. “No promises.”
Yujin glares at him.
“Alright, alright,” he relents with a laugh. “I’ll try and trust me there wasn’t anyone at the track that you should worry about.”
She sighs, but this time, there’s the smallest hint of a smile tugging at her lips and a small weight inside of her disappears from her body. Even if he drives her crazy, at least she knows he’s listening.
As the conversation between Jin-woo and Yujin settles, NA Pd-nim clears his throat, drawing everyone’s attention. “Alright, enough about Jin-woo being some kind of action star,” he says, shaking his head. “Have you guys picked the songs you’re performing tonight?”
They all nodded their heads, as they’ve already prepared for the performance in the evening.
“How about for the last day?” ask Na Pd-nim
Eunchae perks up immediately. “Oh! We are still deciding, but I think I’m going to perform Good Parts.”
Na-Pd-Nim nods his head “Something slow and calm, that’s good.”
Yujin nods. “I might perform a cover or something, maybe ‘Issues’ by Julias Michaels.”
Na PD-nim hums in approval. “Good choices. BM, what about you?”
BM leans back in his chair, rubbing his chin. “I was thinking of doing ‘Broken Me’ for a bit of that rock vibe, and maybe something more hyped, like ‘LIE’ or ‘Strangers.’”
“Oooh, that’d be cool!” Eunchae chimes in. “A mix of intense and fun!”
Na Pd-nim nods before turning to Jin-woo. “And you? You’re performing too, right?”
Jin-woo smirks. “Maybe. Depends on how I feel.”
Yujin smacks his arm. “Jin-woo!”
“Alright, alright,” he laughs. “I’ll sing something special. Gotta give the people a show, right?”
Seojin sighs but chuckles. “Just don’t steal the whole spotlight.”
Jin-woo grins. “No promises.”
Timeskip to Showtime
Once again, the stage was set for the idols' performance. Just like before, the venue was packed with fans, customers, and curious onlookers drawn by the excitement of a live showcase featuring Korean idols.
This time, the stage was arranged with a row of chairs facing the audience, each accompanied by a microphone stand. At both ends, a guitar rested on its stand, flanked by speakers. Soft yet radiant yellow lighting cast a warm glow over the setup, creating a soothing atmosphere.
The arrangement allowed each idol, including Jin-woo, to perform live while seated, offering an intimate experience. With the guitars readily available, they also had the opportunity to incorporate live instruments into their performance.
As the sound of applause filled the air, Seojoon and Woo-shik strode onto the stage, each holding a microphone. They stopped at the center, letting the cheers settle before flashing warm smiles at the audience.
“Good evening, everyone! We hope you’re all having a great time and enjoying your meals,” Seojoon greeted, his voice carrying through the venue. “I’m Park Seojoon.”
“And I’m Choi Woo-shik,” his co-host chimed in with a grin.
“Welcome to Jinny’s Kitchen: Day 3 Performances!” Seojoon announced enthusiastically, clapping his hands together. The audience quickly joined in; their excitement palpable.
“Tonight, we have something a little different for you,” Woo-shik continued. “Our performers will be delivering a more intimate and soothing set, singing their songs live right here on stage.”
“And that’s not all,” Seojoon added with a teasing smile. “Stick around until the end because we have a special announcement in store for you!”
With a dramatic pause, he exchanged a look with Woo-shik before gesturing toward the stage wings.
“Now, without further ado, let’s give a warm welcome to our performers for tonight!”
“BM from KARD”
The crowd erupted as BM confidently strode onto the stage, exuding effortless charisma. He rocked a bold black patent leather jacket with a sleek zipper detail, layered over a fitted black tank top. His shredded, two-tone jeans with intricate distressing and a statement pearl-buckled belt added an edgy touch to his look. Silver chains and hoop earrings completed the aesthetic.
“Hong Eunchae from Lesserafim”
The cheers grew even louder as Eunchae bounced onto the stage, radiating her usual bright energy. She looked ethereal in a delicate pastel pink off-shoulder dress with soft ruffles and a layered white skirt. The fitted bodice complemented her playful yet elegant look, while her long black hair cascaded down in soft waves, adorned with a small pink ribbon clip. She completed the look with white knee-high socks, giving off a sweet and graceful visual.
“Ahn Yujin from IVE”
The moment Yujin stepped onto the stage, the cheers intensified. She carried her usual upbeat energy, striding forward with an easygoing smile. She wore a sleek black mini dress under a stylish camel-colored oversized jacket, effortlessly blending chic and casual. Paired with cream-colored ruffled socks and statement brown lace-up combat boots, she exuded a perfect mix of elegance and street-style edge.
“And most importantly the most handsome person of today HONG Jin-woo! Aish can’t believe you made me say that.”
The crowd erupted into deafening cheers as Jin-woo walked onto the stage with an air of effortless confidence. Dressed in a crisp white dress shirt under a sharp black blazer and fitted black jeans, he looked every bit the star. With a smirk, he ran a hand through his hair and waved to the crowd like he owned the stage.
"Wow, wow, wow," Jin-woo chuckles into the mic, clearly enjoying the attention. "I see the audience has great taste. Let’s make tonight unforgettable, shall we?"
While the others laugh at his entrance, Yujin couldn’t help but roll her eyes in annoyance knowing that this would feed his ego.
“Alright Everybody, as you know I’m BM and I’ll be rapping Nectar which features my good friend Jay Park. Although he isn’t here with us right now, we will have Jin-woo to fill in.” announce BM
Hearing this Eunchae and Yujin were a little bit surprised hearing this as although they heard Jin-woo sing, they never heard him rap before. Jin-woo glances at Yujin, his smirk widening, before his fingers move effortlessly to the neck of the guitar. He starts with a few slow, deliberate strums, getting a feel for the instrument. But then, his hands pick up speed, and the soft hum of the guitar quickly turns into a rapid, fiery shred. His fingers fly across the strings with remarkable skill, each note sharp and precise, building into a dazzling display of talent.
“You ready?” Jin-woo asks the audience with his signature smirk
“YEA!” replies the crowd.
“Lets get It!” announce BM
[Jin-woo] [BM]
Ooh, yeah
Yeah
Hop out of the red eye
Seen her one time, can't forget her
Make a man turn into a beggar
Give me one taste of your nectar
Yeah-eh-eh-eh-eh
Take you down, down, make it spread wide
Give me one taste of your nectar
Remove everything you don't need
Push out all the low standards
Looking at the appearance, collector
I'm tryna get get close to you, bae
The obvious conversation
I already know before I can talk to you
Wanna show you something different
If you let me, yeah
See it in eyes, she with it
Jiggy, we can get lost in the city
She ain't like 'em other lil biddies
She the one, not one of too many
Hop out of the red-eye
Seen her one time, can't forget her
Make a man turn into a beggar
Give me one taste of your nectar
Yeah-eh-eh-eh-eh
Take you down, down, make it spread wide
Give me one taste of your nectar
Yeah-eh-eh-eh-eh
Take you down, down, make it spread wide
Give me one taste of your nectar
As Jin-woo gets ready to rap his part, he pulls his mic stand closer, faces towards Yujin who is sitting right beside him and raps.
Oh, baby, I want it
Will you give it to me?
The way that you flaunt it
You got me saying, "Ooh-wee"
You make me wanna put it down, down
A beautiful sound, sound
Wanna take you round town
Just way your body movin'
Just way you got me groovin'
I don't need nobody else, baby, baby
I will only give you pleasure, baby
Baby, baby
I want you to lead the night
I want you to lead the night
Girl, I am ready for the ride
Finishing his part with a smile before turning back towards the audience. Although she wasn’t showing it, she is trying very hard to keep herself composed by staring at the audience and interacting with them.
Hop out of the red-eye
Seen her one time, can't forget her
Make a man turn into a beggar
Give me one taste of your nectar
Yeah-eh-eh-eh-eh
Take you down, down, make it spread wide
Give me one taste of your nectar
Yeah-eh-eh-eh-eh
Take you down, down, make it spread wide
Give me one taste of your nectar
Take you down, down, make it spread wide
Give me one taste of your nectar
Take you down, down, make it spread wide
Give me one taste of your nectar
Finishing the song, a rain of applause showers them from the audience who all thoroughly enjoyed listening to them rap.
“Thank you guys for listening, now how about we slow it down a bit. Are you up for the job Eunchae?” asks BM, turning towards Eunchae.
Clearing her throat, she stares out at the audience and speaks through the Mic.
“Yup, I’m ready! I’ll be singing a song made by my bandmate called I ain’t a doll. Yunjin-unnie if you see this I hope you enjoy it and think I did your song justice.” Said Eunchae as she bows at the end.
Turning towards Jin-woo, she receives a nod which she reciprocates before the music from the guitar plays, signaling the beginning of the song.
난 뭘 입어도 죄다 입힌 옷이라며 손가락질
내가 뱉은 말도 외운 대본이면 이 말 하겠니?
어서 챙겨 이미지, 시작 전에도 이미 진
이 게임은 왜 이리 어려워, oh-oh-oh-oh, oh
'Cause if I had a choice
I'd put my opinions first
애써 트집 잡아도 여유롭게 I go
내 멋대로 하는 멋
무시마 my voice
내 목소리 volume up
Idol doesn't mean your doll to fuck with
난 이쁜이 얼굴밖에 못 해
싸가지 없어 보이고 싶기도 해
I'm more than just your pretty face
넌 모르지 어제는 인형 같고
오늘은 이년이라 해
When all they see is vanity
They pick apart my body
And throw the rest away
Go idolize your idle life, then criticize me
어차피 일상 반복일 텐데 얼마나 재미있겠니?
"쪘네" "안 빼고 뭐 해?" "보여지는 직업인데"
내면은 결국 희미한 뒷전이 돼, yeah, yeah
한순간으로 박제해버린 the headlines
그다지 없던 관심을 원해 on my mind
They love when I'm a mess, damsel in distress
같은 사람인데
내 멋대로 하는 멋
무시마 my voice
내 목소리 volume up
Idol doesn't mean your doll to fuck with
난 이쁜이 얼굴밖에 못 해
싸가지 없어 보이고 싶기도 해
I'm more than just your pretty face
넌 모르지 어제는 인형 같고
오늘은 이년이라 해
When all they see is vanity
They pick apart my body
And throw the rеst away
Once again, a rain of applause showers the restaurant from both inside the restaurant and audience members standing outside listening. Jin-woo being Jin-woo, stands up and starts clapping loudly cheering for her.
“That’s my sister everyone!” shouts Jin-woo towards the audience members causing everyone to laugh, making Eunchae hide her face in embarrassment.
“Ya Oppa! You’re embarrassing me!” says Eunchae, playfully staring at him.
“I’m just so proud of your growth and I can’t help it.” Replies Jin-woo
“Alright, you two calm down. It’s time for both of you to listen to the master.” Brags Yujin as she sits up properly.
“This song is called ‘Dreaming’ which is a song created for a webtoon called ‘The Great’. Hope you enjoy it!” announce Yujin
Dreaming Away, Dreaming Away, Oh
Dreaming Away, Dreaming Away, Yeah
기억해 날 위해 달리던 그대와
수줍게 그대만을 바라보던 나
구름처럼 포근히 내려든 Love, Ooh
이리 와요 내 품에 그대 더는 울지 않게
쓸쓸한 그대 따스하게 안아 줄게
떨리는 입술에 온기를 전해 그댄 나의 꿈
읽어봐요 그대 편지
온통 내 행복을 바라고 있죠
숨 쉬는 모든 순간을
With You 같은 맘 전할게요
(Dreaming Away, Dreaming Away)
그대 곁에서 언제나
(Dreaming Away, Dreaming Away, Yeah)
들리나요 그대 Oh
늘 같이 걷던 거리 이젠 덩그러니 홀로
그대가 끼워 준 그 반지 내 손엔 더 이상 없지만
우리의 기운찬 하루 끝의 여운 지켜내보일게요
적어 봐요 나의 하루
온통 그대만을 그리고 있죠
꿈꾸던 모든 순간을
With You 스쳐간 시간들이
(Dreaming Away, Dreaming Away)
나의 곁에서 맴돌아
(Dreaming Away, Dreaming Away, Yeah)
기적 같던 우리의 사랑
괜찮아요 그걸로도 충분한걸요
I Will Always Dream Of You
읽어봐요 그대 편지
온통 내 행복을 바라고 있죠
(숨 쉬는 모든 순간을)
With You 같은 맘 전할게요
(Dreaming Away, Dreaming Away)
그대 곁에서 언제나
(Dreaming Away, Dreaming Away, Yeah)
This time the crowd cheers and applause even louder than before showing that they enjoyed the performance from Yujin. Yujin takes a sip of water before speaking.
“Thank you everyone, now to finish it off, Jin-woo will sing something for us. But make sure you don’t over enjoy it because we don’t want his ego to inflate more than it already is.” Jokes Yujin, which causes the audience to laugh and the cast members to snicker.
“Well Yujin, thanks for such an amazing introduction.” Says Jin-woo in a sarcastic voice staring at Yujin, which she just shrugs. Turning back to the audience. “Well, we save the best for last so lets make this last song memorable Shall we.”
Jin-woo stands up with the guitar and positions himself in front of everyone at the front of the stage. The others stare at him, wondering what trouble he is gonna cause.
“This song is a song that I wrote when I was 14 but never performed this in front of anyone before so this would be the first time. This song is called ‘Beautiful Thing’, I’m sure everyone has cherished someone or something before and was scared to lose them. This song is the embodiment of that feeling. Alright, let's get this started.”
Jin-woo strums the opening chords of the song on his guitar, immediately captivating the audience and pulling them into a trance.
For a while there, it was rough
But lately, I've been doin' better
Than the last four cold Decembers
I recall
And I see my family every month
I found a girl my parents love
She'll come and stay the night
And I think I might have it all
And I thank God every day
For the girl He sent my way
But I know the things He gives me
He can take away
And I hold you every night
And that's a feeling I wanna get used to
But there's no man as terrified
As the man who stands to lose you
Oh, I hope I don't lose you Mm
Please stay I want you, I need you, oh God
Don't take
As the song builds, Jin-woo suddenly grabs the mic from the stand and leaps off the stage, executing a flawless front flip before landing smoothly on his feet. The crowd gasps in shock before erupting into cheers. Still holding his guitar, he belts out:
These beautiful things that I've got!
Oh Ooh Please don't take
He weaves through the audience, engaging with them, creating an atmosphere filled with joy, laughter, and excitement.
I found my mind, I'm feelin' sane
It's been a while, but I'm finding my faith
If everything's good and it's great
Why do I sit and wait 'til it's gone?
Oh, I'll tell ya, I know I've got enough
I've got peace and I've got love
But I'm up at night thinkin'
I just might lose it all
Please stay
I want you, I need you, oh God
Don't take
These beautiful things that I've got
Oh
Ooh
Please stay
I want you, I need you, oh God
I need
These beautiful things that I've got
Jin-woo climbs back onto the stage, gesturing for the others to join him at the front. Once everyone is in place, he smiles at the crowd and speaks into the mic.
"Thank you, everyone, for coming to our performance and enjoying our food. There's much more to come, especially with our final day just around the corner. Our MC will share more details shortly. But before that” he pauses with a grin. "My name is Jin-woo Hong, from the best esports team, Sentinels."
He glances at the others beside him, cueing them to introduce themselves.
"Yujin Ahn, from IVE." "Eunchae Hong, from LE SSERAFIM." "BM, from KARD."
Jin-woo raises his hand dramatically before announcing, "And we are the crew members of JINNY’S KITCHEN!"
At that moment, the spotlight flashes onto Seojin, who stands frozen by the bar. Laughter erupts from Yumi, Seojoon, Woo-shik, and Eunseo as they watch his reaction.
The group exits the stage, making way for MCs Seojoon and Woo-shik to return.
"Wow! That was incredible, wasn’t it?" Woo-shik exclaims.
"Yeah, absolutely amazing," Seojoon agrees. "Now, for the grand finale of Jinny’s Kitchen, we’ll be holding a special event on Saturday evening, featuring one big final performance and a raffle draw with multiple prizes including a grand prize!"
The crowd erupts in applause at the announcement.
"Starting this evening, every guest will receive a raffle ticket after paying. So, be sure to hold onto it and come back on Saturday for the draw," Woo-shik adds.
"That’s all for now! Please enjoy your food, everyone!" Seojoon says before both MCs bow and exit the stage.
Home
“Front flipping off the stage was amazing dude! Can’t believe you did that.” Said BM eating a samgyeopsal wrap in lettuce.
“Thanks, it was something I always wanted to do.” Answers Jin-woo, munching on his food, before placing some food onto Eunchae’s plate which she immediately puts it in her mouth.
“Front flip aside, the song you made is really good! Are you sure you made it?” said Yujin, stealing food from his plate.
“Of course I did. I produced it and everything.” Answers Jin-woo, moving his plate to the right, before realizing that Eunchae is sitting there so he moves it back a bit to the left, making direct eye contact with her. Seeing this, Eunchae scrunches her face before continuing to make more wraps.
“Oh snap! We should collab! I’ll be busy with KARD for the next couple of months, but I can some time.” said BM
“Sure, it's not like I have anything else to do soon.” Said Jin-woo
“ What can you not do?” Asks Yumi before taking a sip of water.
“Nothing probably.” Said Woo-shik as he looks at Jin-woo with his chopsticks in the air. “He probably knows everything.”
“Haha, maybe.” Said Jin-woo
“Don’t you have work soon? Don’t you need to return to the states?” ask Seojin, leaning back of his chair with his arms folded. Unlike the others, cough Eunchae cough, he was taking his time to eat.
“Well, I’m planning to retire so I might stay in Korea.” Answers Jin-woo, shocking everyone but Yujin, who chuckle at their expression.
“What oppa! Are you really planning to stay in Korea!” ask Eunchae spitting bits and pieces of food from her mouth, showing her excitement.
“Didn’t you just turn pro this year?” ask Seojoon, who is completely confused.
“Yea, honestly this was just a phase, and a promise. My teammates already knew when the year started but nothing was really confirmed. I’m pretty sure they are trialing people already.” Said Jin-woo
“Then what are you planning to do then? I remember you had graduated from M.I.T, right? So, are you going to join a tech company?” ask Seojin
“You can also always become an actor; you have the personality to and the looks.” Said NA-PD Nim earning nods from all the actors and staff in the room.
“Hmm, not sure yet. I’ll probably take a few months to decide, and money isn’t an issue at all. I’m not opposed to starring in variety shows, but for films and dramas, it’ll depend on the genre and cast. Currently, I’m just gonna focus on family and friends that I haven’t seen in a while.” Answers Jin-woo after some thought.
“Why don’t you join HYBE as a songwriter or something? You can help our group.” Ask Eunchae, staring at him with her round eyes.
“He should join Starship, not HYBE. HYBE has enough producers, Starship needs them. Plus, I can get him a job with a snap of my finger.” Said Yujin, ticking off Eunchae who quickly retorts back at her.
“PFFFPP, of course you need a producer. Your company is tiny compared to HYBE. Nor can he get more money and opportunities. He can spend time with the person he loves the most.” Retorts Eunchae point at herself
“Yea me.” Says Yujin, staring right at Eunchae
“okok girls, First of all, I’m not gonna join any of your companies or any entertainment company. I’m not gonna be tied down by a corporation, I like being free.” Answers causing Yujin and Eunchae to dim down but understand what he was talking about. Everyone there understands how it feels to be restricted and tied down by their company for even the littlest of things.
“I’m just gonna spend my time with two of my favorite girls here and we shall see what will happen in the future.” Said Jin-woo as he wraps his arms around their shoulders and brings them closer together.
“Besides, I need to try Korea’s new sweets.” Said Jin-woo causing everyone to laugh and chuckle.
In the Bedroom
Already lying on the bed, with his hands under his head as he stares up at the sky through the skylight sucking a lollipop in his mouth.
“I’m sure your teeth hates you for the amount of sweets you eat.” says a voice beside him
“I like to think they love me.” Jokes Jin-woo, turning his eyes towards the voice
“You just brush your teeth and now you’re eating a lollipop. That’s detrimental to your teeth.” Said Yujin as she sits on the bed staring at Jin-woo who is leisurely sucking on the lollipop without any care.
“What can I say, I can’t live without sweets.” Says Jin-woo with a shrug
With a tilt of her head, Yujin asks with a sweet smile “Uh huh, are sweets the only thing you can live without?”
Trying not to stare at Yujin, Jin-woo answers cautiously “Of course not…..I can’t live without Aespa. OW”
Yujin slaps his leg causing Jin-woo to yelp in pain clutching his leg with a pout. “Being on this bed made you more of an idiot than you already are, so why don’t you return to your natural habitat. The floor.”
Letting go a puff; Yujin jumps onto the other side of the bed and tries to kick Jin-woo off the bed but he doesn't budge at all. Yujin continues to struggle before giving up and just snuggle under the bed and face the wall.
Putting a hand on her shoulder, he shakes it back and forth saying “Come on Puppy, don’t be like that.”
“Nope, go to Aespa since you can’t live without them.” Complains Yujin, as she blocks Jin-woo’s attempt to move her.
“Aish, fine maybe I should? Winter and Ningning have been catching my attention recently though I can't forget about Karina and Giselle. Sheesh. Maybe I should get Eunchae to introduce them to me.” Says Jin-woo, completely turning the table around on Yujin.
“OOFF”
With a swift move, she turns and slams herself on top of Jin-woo, straddling him, taking the breath out of him.
“You're mine, and I don’t share.” Warned Yujin staring straight at his blue eyes with fire burning in her eyes. “Besides I’ll just warn Karina-Unnie to be careful of sunglasses wearing idiot when I see her for practice.”
“Oh, practice huh for what?” questions Jin-woo curious as he puts his hands on her legs.
“We will be performing at Gayo Daejeon festival together, we just started practicing last week. God she’s so pretty.” Answers Yujin, lying herself against him as she listens to his heartbeat and playing with his shirt.
“Seems to me you like her huh.” Said Jin-woo with a smile
“Of course, she’s practically my wife.” Yujin's head perked up from his chest, staring right at him.
With a grin Jin-woo says “If she’s your wife then wouldn’t I also be in a relationship with her as well? Which means it gives me an excuse to get to meet Winter, Ningning and Giselle. With my good charms maybe, I could get them to fall in love with me?”
“Ya, that’s not how it works. Is Aespa all you care about? What would Eunchae think about this. Her Big Brother doesn’t even care about her at all nor love her. Poor girl.” Acts Yujin with a fake sad tone.
At that moment, Eunchae leaves the bathroom after her night routine to see Yujin and Jin-woo together. Seeing this Yujin grins grows bigger as she opens her mouth “Eunchae” before a hand covers her mouth.
“Eunchae-ah, come join us. Let’s sleep together and watch some drama.” Says Jin-woo patting the spot beside them. Yujin gets off of Jin-woo and lies beside Jin-woo making sure to leave a small space between them for Eunchae. Staring at the two a little longer, Eunchae agrees and joins them on the bed right between them.
“Oppa, how are we gonna watch it?” Eunchae asks as she snuggles under the blanket, gripping both Jin-woo and Yujin’s arm together.
“Well, I recently got this gift from a friend, it’s a small portable projector so we can just set it somewhere so it can be projected at the ceiling.” Says Jin-woo. “Puppy, can you go to my suitcase, it should be in one of the pockets.”
Doing what he asked, she slowly gets off the bed and walks towards his suitcase, opens it and puts her hand into the pocket and grabs a small dark silver cube. Walking back to the bed she hands it over and lays back first on him, putting the blanket back on her.
“Really Unnie? You let him call you puppy?” chuckles Eunchae at Yujin before getting pinched by her.
“Shush, You smiling potato.” Retorts Yujin
Jin-woo connects the projector on his phone and places it on the table beside their beds, perfectly aligning the projected image on the ceiling above them but under the skylight area.
“Where can I get this? I need one at home.” Asks Yujin, as she wanted a projector for a while, so she doesn’t have to sit on her bed to see her computer, but all the projectors were too big and expensive for her to logically explain the purchase.
“It’s just a prototype that a friend built. 4k ultra-HD and laser projection, all in this small this here. It’s the best projector you’ll ever see.” Answers Jin-woo
“Oppa, get me one. I can use it and brag to Chaewon and Yunjin unnie.” Said Eunchae tugging on his arm.
“Sure, sure. I’ll try to get both of you one. Now, what do you both want to watch?” Jin-woo asks as he wraps his free arm around Yujin’s waist, handing her his phone before resting it on her stomach.
Yujin scrolls through the streaming apps, biting her lip in thought. “Something fun? Or should we go for a classic drama?”
“Action! Something with fights and cool stunts,” Eunchae suggests, her eyes sparkling.
“Of course, you’d say that” Yujin teases. “You just want to see people flipping around and kicking each other.”
“That’s the best part!” Eunchae grins, punching the air twice. Turning towards Jin-woo, she asks “Right, oppa?”
Jin-woo chuckles. “I don’t mind action, but I was thinking of something more relaxing tonight. Maybe a rom com?”
Eunchae makes a scrunch up face. “Ugh, all that lovey-dovey stuff? I’ve witness enough of that for a year from the past couple hours”
Yujin smirks, nudging her. “You’re the one who gets the most invested in the couples.”
“That’s different! That’s when they’re actually cute.” Complains Eunchae
Jin-woo raises a brow. “So, what’s your criteria for ‘actually cute’? cause I believe I fit everyone’s criteria.”
Eunchae huffs. “I’ll know it when I see it.”
Yujin laughs and finally selects a K-drama, The Judge from Hell. “Alright, let’s just watch this. It’s a mix of everything.”
As the movie plays, the three of them get comfortable on the bed, snuggling under the sheets. At some point, Eunchae shifts closer as she focuses on the screen.
Halfway through the drama, a quiet question slips from her lips.
“Yujin unnie?”
“Hmm? Yes, aegi?”
Eunchae hesitates for a second, then tightens her hold on their arms. “Do you really love oppa?”
Jin-woo, who has been lazily watching the screen, turns his gaze toward her, his attention fully caught by the unexpected question.
“Mhm, I do,” Yujin answers without hesitation.
Jin-woo blinks momentarily, caught off guard. His lips twitch into a small smile as he glances at her, but before he can say anything, Eunchae lets out an exaggerated gasp.
“Oh my god, you admitted it so easily! No hesitation? No dramatic pause? You love him already?”
Yujin rolls her eyes. “Why would I need a dramatic pause? It’s not a secret.”
Eunchae groans, dramatically flopping against them. “You’re no fun, unnie. At least make it exciting! He can be such a pain in the ass, you know!”
Jin-woo chuckles. “You’re really treating this like a drama, huh?”
“Of course! This is my entertainment,” Eunchae says, grinning. “Now kiss for the full experience.”
Yujin snorts, but instead of brushing it off, she shifts slightly, resting her head against Jin-woo’s shoulder. “If you really want to know, aegi, it’s not something I need to think that hard about.”
Eunchae raises a brow. “Oh?”
Yujin exhales, playing with the fabric of her sleeve. “It hasn’t been that long since we met, but… somehow, he always understands me. Even when I don’t say anything, even when I don’t even know what I need, he just… gets it.”
Jin-woo stays quiet, listening.
“It’s like he can solve all my problems without even trying,” Yujin continues, voice softer now. “Not in some big, dramatic way. Just, he’s there. He listens, he notices things, and even when I think I’m handling everything on my own, he always makes it easier.”
She glances up at Jin-woo then, her lips curling into the smallest smile. “And he never makes me feel like I have to explain myself. He just knows. Even with his arrogant and smug personality and idiotic face, I still want to be with him.”
For once, Eunchae doesn’t have an immediate comeback. She stares at Yujin for a second before turning to Jin-woo, puffing out her chest slightly.
“Of course, he does! He’s my brother, after all.” She grins, nudging him. “I guess I have to admit, it’s kind of cool having an oppa like this.”
“Don’t say anymore, we’re already inflating his ego. To be honest, with the amount of crap I have to deal with I’m also surprised with how much I can put up with.” Retorts Yujin
Jin-woo finally speaks, his tone light but warm. “She’s adorable when she’s mad.”
Eunchae groans. “Ugh, you guys are disgusting.”
“Ya Eunchae, only Jin-woo.” Yujin says, lightly flicking Eunchae’s forehead. “Just watch the show, aegi. Unless you have more questions to ask.”
“Stop calling me aegi. I’m a big girl.” Eunchae pouts but settles down a thought passing through her mind.
“Are you going to keep it a secret?" she asks
Taking a moment, she puts her thoughts together and was about to speak before Jin-woo interrupts
"Yes, we’ll keep it a secret.” He says
“Really? How are you going to hide it?” Eunchae asks, looking at him curiously.
Yujin looks at him as well, curious about his answer.
“Who said I’m going to hide it? That’s Yujin’s job, I’ll keep doing me and it's up for the public to figure it out, if they do.” He says leaving Yujin’s jaw to drop. Flabbergasted, her mouth keeps opening and closing not knowing what to say.
“Come on, let's focus back on the show, we got stuff to do tomorrow.” Says Jin-woo with a smile, getting them to turn their attention back to the show.
Feeling his gaze and hand rubbing on her waist, she turns towards him, seeing his gaze and smile. Smiling back
“keep your attention on the show. Honey.” Whispers Yujin using her free hand to point up towards the drama.
Mouthing, he says “It’ll be hard, but I’ll try.” Ending it with a wink.
“Ya, I’m still here. If you want to be Lovey Dovey, do it when I’m not here.” Grunts Eunchae in disgusts.
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