Read 'em and Weep! {NA JAEMIN}

ONE

The knock on your car window made you jump, and with a panicked expression you saw your cousins laughing face.

"You're the worst," you opened the car door, glaring at Hendery who was holding his belly as he laughed loudly.

"You looked so angry, I just wanted to make sure you were okay!" he choked out as his laughter died down. He was holding a large dish in his hand and you raised an eyebrow.

"Oh God, was I supposed to bring something?"

"Oh no, my Mom asked me to go out and get it from her car. She got bored and made some quinoa salad to bring tonight."

"Oh good, that really scared me."

"Also, Sungchan is here tonight so we can play board games afterwards," Hendery noted. You nodded, thankful for your cousin's humor and ability to break down the information you'd need to get by on evenings like these.

Opening the door, you let your cousin go in ahead of you before following closely after, the door shutting behind you. The front door opened to the living room which was currently abuzz with life and several parents chatting over different cocktails your father decided to make for the night.

"Oh there's our darling daughter!" your Mom called, rushing to where you were placing your shoes to wrap you in a bear hug.

"Hi Mom," you sputtered out as she squeezed you tightly despite you having visited exactly two weeks ago. After greeting everyone in the living room, you moved to the kitchen where Hendery and Sungchan had perched themselves by the center island. They were staring at the food, likely waiting for everyone in the living room to get hungry and allow you all to eat.

"Look who decided to grace us with his presence," you teased, lightly punching Sungchan's arm.

"This Literature Masters has been kicking my ass, cut me some slack," Sungchan whined.

"That's what you guys get for not just going to work right after undergrad," Hendery gloated, leaning back on the stool as you stood across from him.

"Some of us are trying to build connections by building student debt so then we can work," Sungchan countered dryly, earning a saddened laugh from you.

"If you guys hadn't dated already I would comment on how cute you two are," Hendery taunted. You rolled your eyes, both you and Sungchan groaning at his comment.

"It was one date in high school, please get over it," you cried, rubbing your temples.

"Our parents were talking about it again," Sungchan pointed.

"I need to be drunk for this shit."

"Here," Sungchan dipped onto his knees, opening the cabinet under the sink to reveal your parents Vodka.

"I can't believe you know where the alcohol is," you sighed. You moved to collect three glasses from the cabinet and quickly made the three of you Screwdrivers.

"This is pretty good," Hendery noted.

"It's just orange juice and vodka. You should see what my roommates can do."

"I wish my roommates were bartenders. Ones in Sports Medicine and the others in Journalism," Sungchan grumbled. You knew Sungchan's roommate was in Journalism as well, but you figured they likely were in a different cohort from you.

"Yeah, I don't miss having roommates."

"Okay we get it Hendery you're successful," Sungchan sighed, taking a heavy sip of his drink. Shortly thereafter you were all seated at the dining room table, the three of you sitting in the middle in a single row, quiet for the most part unless someone invited you all into the conversation.