I greet the staff as they each arrive. I even take a moment and pull Dasom aside to let her know about how Yoongi didn't show up for breakfast. "I guess he has been holed up in there since last night. I was curious if you might take something down to him for lunchtime. I don't want to bother him this early if he still happens to be asleep. Oh, and maybe mention to him I was considering cooking out on the grill tonight for supper. I'm kind of hoping that will entice my Bear to come out of his cave."
She chuckles at that comment. "I'll even send Choon-hee out to get the ingredients needed for lamb skewers. I know my youngest daughter won't mind running the errand. She was telling me that her sister has been monopolizing the chores and leaving her with little to do. I also happen to know that lamb skewers, in particular, are a weakness for Min-nim."
It's probably accurate although I don't actually know it for fact. I chuckle at the fact that I do know though before uttering it out loud. "Food, especially meat, is a weakness for him."
"Okay, that's definitely fair to say." Dasom's chuckle softly echoes my own.
I pause for a second as I go over what else she told me in my head. I'm the woman of the house. Does that mean I need to handle any complications with the house staff? "Would you like me to talk with Mae Byeol regarding her work ethic?"
Dasom shakes her head. "No, no. Choon-hee wasn't complaining about it. She still finds plenty to work on herself. Besides, as their mother, I could do that if I deemed it really necessary."
I nod. "Okay then." I look at the clock. It's approaching 9:30 am, and I had already mentally calculated the best time to text my friends would be 10:30 am because that would make it 8:30 pm in Chicago, and even if Rebecca ended up with a longer shift she never worked past seven. Which meant it would probably be the best time to get a hold of both of them. I had already told Dasom I wouldn't be helping this morning, but I didn't tell her how little I would be helping. "I'm probably going to miss preparing lunch with you today. I planned on having a conversation with my friends in the U.S."
After I stated that she shoos me away. "Go on then. I've told you before I appreciate your help, but you don't have to help me every day that I am here." She smiles warmly at me.
I take that as my cue to go upstairs. But, I choose to plant myself in the upstairs game room instead of my bedroom this time. I'm not sure why, but I chalk it up to simply wanting a different atmosphere. Looking at the same walls all the time can get a bit stale after a while. After I plant myself on the couch I pull open the group chat window and shoot off the first text, mentally crossing my fingers that both of them respond.
Me: Hey, you two! So sorry that I haven't been in contact lately. Every time I would consider texting you both, I noticed it would be late into the night over there. So obviously, the time just wouldn't work out, and I really didn't want to bother either of you.
Candace: No sweat. I think we can both understand how having seven exceptionally handsome soulmates would be distracting.
Rebecca: Definitely. I mean I am happy to talk to you whenever. But, your focus should be on your soulmates.
I literally find myself bouncing on the cushion when her text comes through.
Me: Rebecca!!! I've missed you!! I feel like we haven't really talked since I left the U.S.
Rebecca: Yeah. Sorry. I've not been doing too well honestly. I keep getting this cold that I can't quite seem to shake. It will be gone for like a week, and then I will be laid up with it again.
She's been sick? I guess that would explain her absence from the conversations.
Me: :( That stinks. I'm sorry about that. How is Joshua?
Rebecca: He's good. I mean I'm annoyed with this illness, because of it I haven't been able to do anything regarding the music stuff. I just haven't been getting the hours I need to pay for anything extra. On the good side though, he somehow hasn't managed to catch this bug that I have.
Rebecca keeps getting sick, but Joshua doesn't? I can never remember which fact is true. That kids are more susceptible to viruses and colds, or if the opposite is true and they are more resilient to them. My brain wants to convince me it's the former though, that kids are more susceptible to illnesses than adults. Does that mean whatever this illness is that it's not contagious? Or am I just completely wrong and they are actually more resilient against viruses and colds? No matter what I am definitely thankful that Joshua hasn't caught this cold that is plaguing Rebecca.
Me: That's good I suppose. Damn I am really sorry you are sick, though. Have you seen a doctor about it?
Rebecca: *sigh* Between being busy with work and Joshua I just haven't really had the time honestly. Not to mention when I do feel ill it's all I have in me to motivate myself to take care of him.
Candace: I quit the cafe. I have all the time in the world to help. Hell I'll even move in with you if you have the room. Or better yet I can find a place for all of us together. I'll even hire movers to do all the heavy lifting.
Um, say what now?
Me: You quit your job? How are you supporting yourself now?
Candace: Um. I'm living off my allowance actually.
Me: Allowance?
Candace: Yeah, uh, so my parents are pretty well off. I didn't really need to work at the cafe, actually. I chose to.
Well, I had suspected something like that honestly. But having it confirmed doesn't make me any less shook about finding it out for certain. I had thought she would tell me about a new job she had gotten instead or something.
Rebecca: That's really generous of you Candace. I'm not sure it's a good time to just rearrange our lives though. I mean I will take the support to help with Joshua so I can see a doctor though. That would definitely be helpful.
Candace: So, now that, that part of the conversation is out of the way. Tell us how you and your soulmates are doing.
I relay to them both everything going on with my life over here. Well everything I am willing to share with them. I let them know about the dates we have had. The letters Jimin has sent. I briefly talk about who I have been with in any kind of sexual capacity, but I don't go into any kind of elaborate details about it. Not only because I am uncomfortable doing so, but also because I feel like that should be something that I keep between myself and my soulmates.
Not long after I finish my conversation with them my phone rings. I check the caller ID and immediately smile.
"Hello."
"Hello sister, mine." I find myself smiling wider at how Jiwoo greets me. "I haven't talked with you since the club really and wanted to catch up with you."
I frown as I realize she is right. We haven't talked since the night at the club. I quickly ask her for her version of what happened and accept that what she tells me clicks with the other information I have personally gathered of the night. Not that I thought my soulmates would lie to me, but it is a bit of a relief to hear the same from a third party.
"Okay, moving past all that shit. What else has been going on with you?"
I think for a second about what else I might be willing to share with her. "Jk informed me that I will be meeting the maknae line's families this weekend." I hear something fall on the other end, and I can't help but to ask. "What was that? Is everything okay?"
"Um. Yeah, I just knocked something over. What day will you be meeting them?"
"I will be meeting them this Sunday. The two Sundays following that I will be meeting the others' parents. I just don't know what order it will be going in." I shrug my shoulders expressing my lack of knowledge regarding the situation despite the fact that she can't see me.
I hear a couple of clicks which I am guessing might be the buttons of a mouse. "Hoseokie hasn't told me about it yet, but not to worry. I am making sure that I am free the next three Sundays. I'll be there for every meeting with them."
I'm honestly confused more than thankful, but I choose not to voice that confusion. "Oh good. It will be nice to have someone there that I know outside of my soulmates."
Not long after we hang up with each other. I lean back into the couch for a few moments before I hear footsteps in the hallway. I look up as Jk walks into the room with a plate in his hand. "You missed lunch, Daisy. We weren't really sure where you had gone, but I didn't want you to go hungry so I made you a plate and went to search for you."
I smile up at my bunny. "And how long did it take you to find me?"
He grins widely at me. "After your bedroom this was the first place I looked."
"Well sit beside me and keep me company while I eat."
"Sure." His eyes dance around the room for a few moments before they settle on the pool table nearby. "Hey, did you want to play pool after? I can teach you if you don't know how."
I bite down the smirk that wants to grow on my face. "Sure, we can play after I eat, Bunny."
So, once I am finished he rinses my dishes off at the sink nearby. I guess that is one thing convenient about the kitchenette in here I suppose. Then we both head over and grab a pool stick. "Did you need me to show you how to play, Daisy?"
Do I need him to? No. But, why would I pass up the opportunity to encourage having his hands on me? "I don't mind the help." That's when I get a clever idea in my head, and I decide to hustle my bunny. Unsurprisingly he knocks in three balls when he breaks. Then proceeds to sink in another two. When he misses for the first time I intentionally only tap the cue ball as if I don't actually know what I am doing. He sighs and helps me by wrapping his arms around me and guiding the proper way to hold the pool stick. Having his arms around me solidifies the idea I have in mind. I continue to intentionally mess up to progress this particular game to go faster, after he wins he turns to me and frowns. "Sorry Daisy."
I shake my head. "It's okay, Bunny." I pause again as if thinking something over. "Did you want to play again? Only this time why don't we make the game more interesting?" I very briefly find myself worried over the fact that I had denied Hobi this morning. But, honestly, I am sure he won't be too unhappy about it; since I am strictly acting impulsively.
"How so?" He asks in obvious confusion.
"What if we play a game where when either of us end up on a streak of sinking two balls the other person has to remove an article of clothing?"
Jk's eyes glaze over with desire as I imagine he immediately conjures up ideas of my clothes becoming scattered around us. But then his expression changes to one filled with confusion and concern. He looks over at the entranceway to the room. "Daisy, this seems like a bad idea. There is no door to this room."
"Then, I guess it's lucky that the gameroom downstairs also has a pool table too. Isn't it?"
Before he has a chance to respond I lead the way out of the room. I intentionally add a bit more hip movement to my walk when I feel his eyes tracing all over me. Probably anticipating being able to see my curves all over again. I chance a glance over my shoulder and see my bunny has zeroed his gaze directly on my ass. I turn around grinning.
I'm thankful we don't end up bumping into my other soulmates. After all I want this to be a one on one moment with my bunny. Then I find myself lingering over the possibility of Jk sharing my body with another. I literally go through the many different faces of my soulmates wondering if he were up for that idea. The concept alone has liquid heat pooling within me.