Kim Seungmin

“Salt, Sugar… and You.” 🧂 { Requested by: Kim-yun-jo } The kitchen is warm. Not just from the stove — from nine years of breathing the same air. You’re at the counter, chopping vegetables. Seungmin leans against the fridge, arms crossed. Watching. “Are you sure that’s how you cut it?” he says, voice calm. Suspiciously. You don’t even look at him. “I’ve lived with you eight idiots for almost nine years. I can cut carrots.” From the living room: “Yah!” Bang Chan shouts. “Don’t drag us into this!” Lee Know peeks in. “If she’s cooking, we’re surviving. If Seungmin’s cooking, we’re critiquing.” “Hyung.” Seungmin’s tone is warning. Changbin slides dramatically across the floor. “What are we eating? Love? Betrayal? Overcooked rice?” “Protein,” Hyunjin sighs from the couch. “Please let it be protein.” Han pops his head over the counter. “Why is it so tense? Did someone confess?” You throw a towel at him. In the corner, Felix is already setting the table sweetly like the angel he is. And Jeongin? Standing next to Seungmin, whispering loudly, “Hyung, you’re staring.” Seungmin blinks. “I am not.” You turn. He immediately looks at the ceiling. The room erupts. “OOOOOOH.” You narrow your eyes. “Seungmin.” He clears his throat and walks toward you. Calm. Collected. As if seven gremlins aren’t screaming behind him. He reaches past you for the salt. But instead of pulling away, he stays there. Close. “Too much salt ruins the whole thing,” he murmurs, low enough only for you. “Balance matters.” Your heartbeat fasten. “Are you… talking about the food?” He looks at you finally. Soft. Not teasing. Not sarcastic. “Depends. Are you listening?” Behind you: “THIS IS DISGUSTINGLY MARRIED,” Changbin yells. Lee Know claps once. “Divorce arc next episode.” Bang Chan is recording. Hyunjin is pretending he’s not invested. Han is fully invested. Felix is smiling. Jeongin is just grinning like he knew all along.