Author's POV
After shopping for their groceries and for Aya's gifts to her friend, they finally decided to go home and rest. Aya is currently at the kitchen, preparing the ingredients on making a peach-mango pie for her pregnant friend, whom she will visit later before dinner. Her friend loves mangoes and she told Aya that she is craving for a mango pie, so Aya promised her that she will bring her a mango pie. Meanwhile, Namjoon is just at the living room, thinking if he should go to the kitchen and watch her or if he should just stay put. Their shopping awhile ago wasn't as bad as it is, but Namjoon felt a bit sad that she didn't looked as happy as he thought she will be.
"She seems a little lonely today, should I do something to make her happy? But how?" He mumbled to himself as he scratch his head, glancing at the open space between the living room and the kitchen.
Namjoon then rest his elbow on the arm of the sofa and placed his chin on his knuckles, as he quietly watch Aya's back while she does her tasks. Seeing her that way made Namjoon to think, that hugging her from the back as she cooks must be so comfortable and nice. It made him smile softly as he daydream on doing that, giving him the urge to just go there and hug her. But unfortunately, he doesn't have the courage to do so, because he still feels ashamed on how he treated her for the two years of their marriage. On the other hand, Aya felt through her senses that someone is staring at her, so after washing her hands, she moved to the side, where the kitchen tissues are, and casually wiped her hands. Glancing with her peripheral view, Aya saw Namjoon gazing at her as if he is in another dimension. Wanting to make sure, she went on the kitchen island that faces the open space between the living room and kitchen, then looked directly at Namjoon. Namjoon noticed her looking at him, so he immediately looked away and pretended to fix his posture while sitting on the sofa. Seeing him startled with what she did, it caused for Aya to smile faintly as she shook her head. Deciding to test his behavior, Aya called Namjoon's attention.
"Love?" She called in a loud way, but enough for him to hear, making Namjoon look back at her with his expecting eyes.
"Yes?" He asked, secretly fidgeting his fingers as he waits for her answer.
"I'm running out of time on making this pie. Won't you mind lending me a hand?" She queried, and it made Namjoon to scream internally from joy yet he kept a straight face. "I mean, if only you're okay—"
"Yes!" He immediately exclaimed, stopping Aya, but he realized that he sounded so obvious, so he coughed. "I-I was saying, yeah. Like, why not? I don't have things to do, so it's okay." He stated as he nods, trying to sound a little uninterested on her request.
"Alright," Aya shrugged before turning around.
Namjoon then checked if she is still looking before celebrating silently, then going to the kitchen with a smile on his face. When he reached the kitchen, he saw Aya walking towards him with an extra apron in her hands.
"You will need this, so that your clothes won't get dirty." She uttered as she hands the apron to him, while Namjoon hummed as he took it from her.
He inspected it first and tried to guess on how to wear it. Aya is just watching him and she finds it cute that he is struggling with just an apron. Later on, she took the apron from Namjoon and asked him to lower his head so that she could hand the strap around his neck. After that, Aya then took the straps and made it into a ribbon. Namjoon is just watching her and noticed how close their proximity is. It felt hard for him to stop the urge to just kiss her right now.
"There, it's okay now." She informed and smiled at him before turning around to check what help Namjoon could give.
Knowing his clumsy nature, she thought of letting him do the pastry dough. So, she took the mixing bowl, the wet and dry ingredients, and the wire whisk. She placed them on the kitchen island, before facing Namjoon.
"Love, here's what you're going to do. You just have to put these dry ingredients inside this mixing bowl, then little by little add the wet ingredients as you mix it with the whisk. Do you get it?" Aya instructed as she demonstrate it.
"Yeah, I got it." Namjoon assured, so Aya nodded before proceeding to the other corner of the kitchen to prepare the peaches and mangoes.
Before she peels them, she first asked permission to Namjoon if it's okay to play some songs while they work. When he allowed her, she played her ABBA playlist and the first song immediately made her smile. Their songs are her favorites when it comes to old female band. On the other hand, it made Namjoon bit his lip to prevent the smile creeping on his face as he hears Aya sing softly while peeling the mangoes.
"I was sick and tired of everything
When I called you last night from Glasgow
All I do is eat and sleep and sing
Wishing every show was the last show (wishing every show was the last show)
So imagine I was glad to hear you're coming (glad to hear you're coming)
Suddenly I feel all right
(And suddenly it's gonna be)
And it's gonna be so different
When I'm on the stage tonight
Tonight the super trouper lights are gonna find me
Shining like the sun (sup-p-per troup-p-per)
Smiling, having fun (sup-p-per troup-p-per)
Feeling like a number one
Tonight the super trouper beams are gonna blind me
But I won't feel blue (sup-p-per troup-p-per)
Like I always do (sup-p-per troup-p-per)
'Cause somewhere in the crowd there's you"
Namjoon almost lost it after hearing her do the second voices. She's too adorable that Namjoon's mind just kept on telling him to leave the dough and cuddle her. But of course, he can't do that all of a sudden. She might think he is being a creep. So, he just focused on doing his task while happily listening to his wife's voice as she sings. On the other hand, Aya never noticed his glances since she was so immense on peeling the peaches, and she thought that Namjoon doesn't hear her so she kept on singing.
"So I'll be there when you arrive
The sight of you will prove to me I'm still alive
And when you take me in your arms
And hold me tight
I know it's gonna mean so much tonight
Tonight the super trouper lights are gonna find me
Shining like the sun (sup-p-per troup-p-per)
Smiling, having fun (sup-p-per troup-p-per)
Feeling like a number one
Tonight the super trouper beams are gonna blind me
But I won't feel blue (sup-p-per troup-p-per)
Like I always do (sup-p-per troup-p-per)
'Cause somewhere in the crowd there's you"
When the song ended, Aya is almost done with the peaches too. The second song played and it made her grin as she can't help but to sway subtly with the beat, because it's her favorite. She quickly took the chopping board and and knife after washing her hands, then immediately sang along.
"I've been cheated by you since I don't know when
Though I made up my mind it must come to an end
Look at me now will I ever learn
I don't know how but I suddenly lose control
Well there's a fire within my soul
Just one look and I can hear a bell ring
One more look and I forget everything, oh
Mamma Mia here I go again
My, my how can I resist you?
Mamma Mia does it show again
My, my just how much I've missed you
Yes I've been brokenhearted
Blue since the day we parted
Why? Why? Did I ever let you go?
Mamma Mia now I really know
My, my I could never let you go"
Since she knows the dance steps, she couldn't stop herself to low-key dance to it. Since she wasn't facing Namjoon, without her notice, she is distracting him so much. But he never see it as something bad, because he is loving her even more with just the sight of her. Aya is now slicing the mangoes and peaches according to the recipe she got from her grandmother. And as the song ends, she is also done with slicing. This is her strategy, why she listens to songs while cooking is because it helps her to move quickly but still enjoying her time. A few seconds later, the next song played and one of her favorite bops played. It's her song when she was still seventeen years old, describing her life as a dancer.
"Ooh
You can dance
You can jive
Having the time of your life
Ooh, see that girl
Watch that scene
Digging the dancing queen
Friday night and the lights are low
Looking out for a place to go
Where they play the right music
Getting in the swing
You come to look for a king
Anybody could be that guy
Night is young and the music's high
With a bit of rock music
Everything is fine
You're in the mood for a dance
And when you get the chance
You are the dancing queen
Young and sweet
Only seventeen
Dancing queen
Feel the beat from the tambourine, oh yeah
You can dance
You can jive
Having the time of your life
Ooh, see that girl
Watch that scene
Digging the dancing queen"
Singing to that song reminds her so much of how fun her teenage life was. She's part of the dance troupe when she was in high school until college, no wonder she loves to sing and dance. And while she was singing along, she then started to mix the peaches and mangoes together, along with her secret ingredients. Sooner, she will be needing the pastry dough. So, after finishing the fruit, she went over Namjoon's spot to see his progress. Expecting a good one, she was surprised to see that Namjoon's station is nearly a disaster with how the dough was made. The flour is almost splattered on the table, with some spills of the wet ingredients.
"Oh my...." She mumbled in astonishment, which brought worry to Namjoon's mind.
"I-I'm almost done, don't worry." He explained and started to knead the dough, double time.
"I think it's better for me to help you." Aya offered and asked Namjoon to scoot a little to give her space.
She then started to join Namjoon's hands on kneading the dough inside the bowl. Her action made Namjoon to stiffen and gulp, noticing how close their proximity is and feeling her hand collide with his. He could already smell her scent, so addictive and sweet for him. In no time, they finished kneading the dough. All that is left, is to cut the dough into half and flatten it with the rolling pin. Aya then moved diligently upon cutting and transferring the dough on the board that is sprinkled with flour, to avoid the dough to stick. She instructed Namjoon on how to use the rolling pin, and he is a fast learner somehow because he easily got the hang of it. Well, he only did it because Aya is teaching and watching him do it. And he won't deny that he felt pressured, yet her praises while he does so made him happy.