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Some time ago, Lee Soo Hyuk and Choi Jung Soo kept bothering Kim Rook Soo into making a feast for them. From the three of them, he was the one who cooked the best.
Well, that didn't mean much considering that Choi Jung Soo was always banned from any kitchen, while Lee Soo Hyuk had cooking abilities barely enough to survive.
However, Kim Rook Soo just had an insanely good seasoning that made his dishes be special. He wasn't at the level of a professional chef or a grandmother cooking for the holidays, of course, but his skills were something to be proud of.
Both hyungs greatly cherished the times in which their dongsaeng cooked something for them. Even the simplest of the dishes was enough to please them.
Kim Rook Soo wasn't very confident in his cooking skills. He thought it was on the level of a university student who just moved out and learnt the bad way that you shouldn't mix hot oil with water because they didn't listen to their mother telling them how to cook.
He thought all the compliments Jung Soo and Soo Hyuk gave him were just empty flattery to make him feel better.
Still, after some thought, he decided to make a feast in his birthday. He would cook everything his family liked to thank them for all the things they gave him.
Giving food was sure a weird way of showing affection, but he clearly understood way it was significant.
Food was precious, after all.
It was surprisingly common as well. The amount of people who showed their fondness that way was absurdly high.
The percentage of tsundere people on the world was so high that it was funny. Such a shame that most of them only showed their dere side once every blue moon.
After making the decision, he moved fast. He saved money for three months, only buying the necessary. He even offered to work extra hours, demanding of course to be well payed. The extraordinary event startled not only his department, but the whole company.
The same man that always refused to work more than necessary, almost of the point of threatening whoever caused the increase of work, but always ended working more than necessary, willingly accepted to work extra hours?
If it weren't for the fact that he managed to get a huge payment for it, they would have thought he was replaced by someone else.
His hyungs, who accidentally discovered his plans, got worried of the health of his dongsaeng. Kim Rook Soo tended to overwork himself so much. They couldn't stop him at all, but they did everything that were on their hands to help him.
His parents were worried as well. How could they not when their child was such a fool at times. They couldn't do anything to correct him on taking care of himself at this point. The only thing they could do was taking care of him themselves, even if it was on a limited way.
Three months went on the blink of an eye and November arrived. The weather, windy and cold, screamed autumn in it's fullest.
Kim Rook Soo supplied with everything he needed on the following days, leaving the things that needed to be fresh at the end of the list to buy them on the same day.
He selected spices and aromatic herbs the first day, canned food that he wouldn't find otherwise the next day, long lasting vegetables the next and so on.
Finally, it was November 8th.
He got up early to buy the last things he needed. Walking on a cold morning was refreshing, even if he knew it would soon become hell as he had to carry a lot of things back home.
He kept visiting grocery stores, one after another as some didn't have this or that thing he needed. It was tiring, but he kept moving.
When everything was ready, he started to cook.
Washing ingredients, cutting vegetables, frying ingredients. No matter what he did, his moves were swift and skilled. He didn't practice with his mother's recipe book in the last three months for nothing.
He didn't slow down even when the cursed onions made his eyes sting so much. He did when he almost cut himself, though.
Lee Soo Hyuk was waiting on the living room alongside Choi Jung Soo and Kim Rook Soo's parents. The smell spreading from the kitchen was making them hungry. Their youngest sure was giving his all.
Kim Rook Soo's mother looked down. She stared at her bandaged arm. Her husband catched what was on her mind almost instantly.
"You know we can only wait, honey."
"I know. Even if I could help, I don't think Rook Soo-ya would even let me help."
"Hahaha, don't worry auntie, the last time I tried helping him, he kicked me out after just two seconds.
"You have a record of burning plain water, of course you'll be denied entrance for the kitchen. I'm sure our dongsaeng would love to cook with you, ma'am."
The lady smiled warmly.
"I hope so, but our kid can be so stubborn at times. I wonder who did he toke it from."
The conversation kept moving, but never having a topic unrelated to Kim Rook Soo. Discussions about who knew him the best, what was his cutest feature or anecdotes from their time together were warmly talked. Laughs filled the room at times, while other silent sobs due to teary memories were the loudest sound. Some times bitter times were the main focus, impregnating the room in silence.
But no matter what, their love for their cherished kid never left the room.
It was evening when Kim Rook Soo finished. Different dishes were displayed on the table.
He took some plates and served the food.
With care and delicacy, he placed the dishes in the altar.
Photos of four people were the only things that could welcome the act.
When he thought it was fine, he took a chair and sat there for a while. He didn't have much photos of them, but the ones he had were full of warmth, similar to that they had. That may be the reason the room felt cold in comparison.
He grabbed the recipe book his late mother had. It was one of the few things he managed to stop his relatives from selling or throwing away.
Fingers passed page after page. All their favorite dishes were marked with stars. All the recipes had notes of how he and his father preferred it.
He found funny how his dislike to spicy food changed so quickly, while his hate for sour things remained the same after all those years.
After closing the book, he saw the cover. It was drawn by his father. A little child was hugged by a couple. His mother was the one who asked his father to draw them.
‘These are the recipes for the family’ is what she said.
He got up and placed the book in the drawer of his parents things. It had all sort of odd things, each with its own story. It took a long time for him to unbox them.
It was so painful just to see them, but he still kept them with him.
As the time passed, the pain subdued little by little. It was no longer painful when he met Lee Soo Hyuk and Choi Jung Soo.
And that was the very same reason he couldn't open their drawer. It hasn't been even a year since they left. It wasn't even three seasons since their laughs, their teasing and their warmth faded away.
He wasn't ready.
Not to open that drawer, nor to open his heart.
He sat on the empty room. He was surprised to find that it wasn't cold. The heat of the kitchen must have spread to that room. They were next each other, after all.
He saw all the food he just made.
... Maybe he went a bit overboard.
Tomorrow he'll go to that refuge near the station to give them all this food. Even if he freezed some, it was still too much for only one person.
He also needed to wash the dishes, finish those papers for tomorrow...
But first, he'll eat.
He served himself some soup. Just with one spoon, he felt all the warmth embrace his body, as if someone were hugging him.
He was surprised to find that one tear fell on his hand.
Shit, maybe he still felt something while watching his parents belongings.
He kept eating. The warmth embracing him made it so easy for his tears to fall, but his face remained stoic.
What was the point of crying now when he didn't eight months ago? He didn't understand why he was crying, but he couldn't stop.
He didn't try to stop.
He ate there, silent, in the empty room.
But for some reason, he felt full.
"Dad, what do you want as present?"
"We'll buy it, nya!"
"We saved lots of money to buy anything, nya!"
Kim Rook Soo putted down his book.
These kids weren't indifferent to money. They knew very well what was a huge amount of money, so they were serious when they said that.
But no matter how much he gave them as allowance, it wasn't enough to get to those amounts. He only had the payment of a normal employee, after all.
Even if his line of work was better rewarded, it wasn't that much.
Where did they got the money from?
"I gave them it."
Kim Rook Soo now had an idea of what happened. A very clear and detailed idea.
"I payed them for working with me."
"We scammed some bad guys!"
"We got money from them as well, nya!"
Cale Henituse, the chabeol that stuck with him for some reason after saving him from a monster, had the same expression as the kids that he started to take care of after finding out they were being used in a guild.
On, the older one, gave a reassuring smile to him.
"It wasn't anything dangerous. Choi Han and the prince helped us as well."
Now Kim Rook Soo had someone to nag. He was happy the kids were getting fun using the things they learned from him, but it was still too early for them to be that exposed to that ambient.
"Also, Rosalyn noona was there."
Now that was reassuring. He needed to thank her next time.
Raon, the youngest if the group, got near him, asking to be carried on his legs.
"Hyung was the one who did the most! He really paid attention to all the things you taught us, human."
The little kid said while Kim Rook Soo put him on his legs.
The older glanced towards Cale. He was using a book to hide his face, but the tips of his ears were clearly red.
Sigh.
"At least you're all fine. But let me know the next time you want money, I'll give it to you. Children shouldn't work."
The kids pouted a little, but soon enough On and Hong, the middle one, went to sit besides him to hug him like Raon was doing already.
"Okay!"
He pat their heads. He then directed his gaze to the red haired kid.
Noticing it, Cale returned the stare and said with a calmed voice.
"I'm not a kid."
"You're only 15, of course you are a kid. Just promise that you won't do anything dangerous. I can help if you want to scam someone."
"I can do it myself. I'm pretty much an adult."
Cale mumbled the last part, but it was loud enough for the rest to hear. Kim Rook Soo was going to say something but Raon was faster.
"Do you want to stop being a kid? But if you're an adult you won't get pat on the head nor bedtime stories!"
"You won't get to know the adventures of Soo's squad!"
Hong was quick to add at the realization of such a horror.
Kim Rook Soo have told them some stories of his hyungs and for some reason they called them with that name.
Big worried eyes stared at Cale, who couldn't go against his dongsaengs.
"D-Don't worry, I'm still a kid- Aaahhg, fine. I promise, uncle."
"Good."
Kim Rook Soo sighed. Just how did he got surrounded by kids?
It's been almost six years since his hyungs passed away, but just two years since he met these rascals.
Not even once in those three years before their meeting did he thought his days would become like this.
"A diamond ring?"
"A gold necklace!"
"We gave him that last year."
"Cookies!"
"Maybe some bracelets? I saw some really cool ones while shopping with Ron."
"The one we went to last time?"
"Oh! There were some good desserts in there."
Kim Rook Soo was feeling odd. What kind of image did the kids have from him? They were suggesting jewelry and desserts only. They weren't completely wrong, but still...
"Why don't you help me cook something for everyone?"
Four heads focused on him. They had sparks on their eyes.
"We'll buy the ingredients together and make everything from scratch. You can help me make Alberu pay for them and later on we cook whatever we want. How does it sound?"
"Yesyesyeayesyes!"
The agreement didn't take any long to appear. The kids were completely delighted. He had to cover his eyes as they were shining on happiness.
Kim Rook Soo sighed, but he couldn't help the small smile growing in his face. How could he not seeing them like this?
He wondered what would be their reaction when he showed them the recipe book he was making full of their favorite dishes.
There were a lot of things he had to prepare for this year, huh?
Lot of things happened in just five years, lots of changes have come to his life. He may as well open both drawers this year.
"Lock hyung and the rest like meat a lot. So that is a must!"
"We also need to add lots of vegetables! Grandpa Ron said that a balanced diet is important."
"Let's decide what we'll do as main dish and then see the rest. We need a cake as well."
"I'll ask Beacrox to make a huge cake."
The kids were cheerfully deciding what to do. He need to intervene before they added something weird to the menu.
It seems this year the room will be at its fullest. How much food would they need to make?
He was busy dealing with the children, not noticing the same warmth that was there for the longest time leaving the room. They could leave without worries as their kid was in good hands.
He had enough people at his side to warmth the room.