horizon; tk

21

The kitchen in the Jeon mansion was a place of organized chaos. The scent of freshly prepared meals filled the air as Taehyung, the chef, orchestrated his team of skilled sous-chefs and assistants. It was a symphony of flavors and textures that resulted in culinary masterpieces every night.

Jeongguk, although rarely seen in the kitchen, had taken an interest in the art of cooking. He occasionally strolled in to observe Taehyung at work, albeit discreetly. Today was one such day.

Taehyung was engrossed in preparing a delicate dessert - a raspberry soufflé, known for its fluffy, sweet perfection. With practiced precision, he carefully folded the egg whites into the raspberry puree, the soft, almost sensual movements of his hands captivating to watch.

Unbeknownst to Taehyung, Jeongguk stood at the kitchen's entrance, his eyes fixed on the omega. His admiration was genuine; Taehyung's dedication to his craft was inspiring.

As Taehyung finished folding the mixture, he reached for the ramekins to prepare them for the oven. However, he misjudged the distance, and in a swift, almost comical motion, his elbow accidentally knocked a container of powdered sugar off the counter.

A cloud of white powder burst into the air, covering Taehyung from head to toe. He blinked in surprise, looking like a snow-covered angel.

Jeongguk couldn't help but chuckle at the sight. It was a rare moment of levity for the usually stoic alpha. He strode forward, grabbing a kitchen towel and approaching Taehyung.

Without a word, Jeongguk began to gently wipe the sugar from Taehyung's cheeks, his touch surprisingly tender. Taehyung's heart skipped a beat as their eyes met, and a faint blush colored his cheeks, mixing with the sugar.

"Sorry about that," Taehyung mumbled, his voice barely above a whisper.

Jeongguk shook his head, his fingers brushing a strand of powdered-sugar-dusted hair from Taehyung's forehead. "No need to apologize. It was an accident."

Their proximity in the small kitchen felt intimate, and for a moment, time seemed to slow down. Taehyung's gaze flickered to Jeongguk's lips, and he swallowed nervously.

Jeongguk's thumb brushed lightly against Taehyung's cheek, making his breath hitch. "You missed a spot," he said in a low voice, his eyes holding an intensity that was impossible to ignore.

Taehyung's heart raced as Jeongguk leaned in, his lips gently brushing against Taehyung's cheek, capturing a trace of powdered sugar. It was a fleeting, innocent kiss, but it sent sparks through Taehyung's entire being.

As Jeongguk pulled away, he wore a small, rare smile. "There you go, all clean."

Taehyung's cheeks were a deeper shade of pink as he stammered, "Th-thank you, Mr. Jeon."

Jeongguk nodded, his gaze lingering on Taehyung for a moment longer before he turned and left the kitchen.

Taehyung stood there, still feeling the ghost of Jeongguk's lips on his cheek.

____

"Taehyung, didn't know you'd cheat on me this early?" Yugyeom says with a teasing tone.

"Look, I'm already tense enough, please just let me live," Taehyung sighs, pacing back and forth in the main hall, waiting for the raven head to arrive.