Her love for the kitchen was a deep-seated passion that fueled her every day. Cooking and baking for her family brought her immense joy, so she decided to turn her passion into a business. Following in her mother's footsteps, she embraced the trait of finding happiness in the kitchen and continued to pursue her love for creating delicious meals and treats for others.
Jisoo's family never failed to point out the striking resemblance she shared with her late mother, a sentiment that always warmed her heart. She cherished her mother deeply, finding inspiration in her every day. Though her mother was no longer physically present, Jisoo held onto her memory with love and admiration.
The passing of her mother at the tender age of fifteen remained a difficult reality for Jisoo to comprehend even now. It was a turning point in her life that she struggled to accept, an event that felt unstoppable and inevitable.
Life's uncertainties became painfully clear to Jisoo when she witnessed her mother's sudden and unexpected passing. As she chopped vegetables on the kitchen counter, her movements were both swift and steady, mirroring the mix of emotions swirling within her.
As dinner time approached, Jisoo found herself running a bit behind schedule after a busy day at the bakery. The increasing number of tourists flocking to her shop was a pleasant surprise, but it also meant longer hours for her. Lost in her thoughts while chopping vegetables, Jisoo was suddenly startled by JongSuk's unexpected presence in the kitchen.
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"Where were you today that you're now late with dinner?" JongSuk questioned sternly. Jisoo furrowed her brow and halted the movement of the knife with her hand, a hint of tension in the air.
"What? Where was I? Why are you even asking that?" Jisoo responded in bewilderment to his blunt questioning. JongSuk scoffed and cast a quick glance at the stove, hunger evident in his eyes. Jisoo observed his hunger and couldn't help but smile slightly.
"You're hungry... just give me ten more minutes and it will be ready. I'm almost done, baby," Jisoo said softly, resuming her chopping of the remaining vegetables. JongSuk pursed his lips and settled into a seat at the table, watching his mother deftly prepare their meal. A small smile tugged at his lips as he remained captivated by the scene unfolding before him.
A sudden memory flooded JongSuk's mind, reminiscent of a sweet dream. In the recollection, he witnessed his father assisting his mother in the kitchen, a heartwarming scene that brought a sense of nostalgia.
"Siwon, love! That's not how you're supposed to be cutting the vegetables. Look, the pieces are too big!" She chuckled at the oversized chunks of veggies he was slicing. Siwon's face broke into a wide smile, a hint of confusion in his expression at her playful critique.
"What do you mean? This is how we usually eat them!" Siwon joked, presenting the oversized chunk of vegetables to her. Jisoo burst into laughter, clutching the edge of the table as she found his defense of his knife skills utterly amusing.
"Don't make me cry, please...!" Jisoo laughed uncontrollably, struggling to keep herself upright. Siwon joined in with a hearty laugh at her reaction, setting down the knife as he was overcome with amusement.
"Then teach me... teach me how to do it properly!" Siwon exclaimed, pulling her closer to him. Jisoo grinned broadly and nodded in agreement. Taking the knife in her hand, she began to demonstrate the correct way to chop the vegetables, guiding Siwon through the process with patience and laughter.
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"See, you have to move your hand like this. Pinch the sides of the blade right in front of the handle with your thumb and forefinger. Let your other three fingers wrap under the handle," Jisoo instructed, moving the blade in a steady and precise manner to demonstrate the proper technique.
Impressed, as always, by her culinary skills, Siwon wrapped his arms around Jisoo from behind. He nuzzled her jaw up to her cheek, his warm breath tickling her neck and sending a shiver of goosebumps across her body.
"Exceptional woman! You're such an exceptional woman... and I won't get tired of reminding you how good you are!" Siwon whispered affectionately in Jisoo's ear, his words filled with admiration and love.
"I married the best of the best," Siwon said softly, taking both of Jisoo's hands in his own. She paused in her vegetable chopping and turned to face him, their eyes locking as they gazed deeply into each other's souls, completely absorbed in the moment.
"I love you!" Siwon declared, closing the space between them with a quick, heartfelt kiss.
A tear trickled down JongSuk's cheek as he fondly recalled a scene from his childhood. At eleven years old, he sat at the table doing his homework while his parents joyfully cooked together in front of him.
"Dad... I miss you so much," JongSuk thought to himself as he wiped away the tear from his face. A few minutes later, Jisoo sat at the table with her son, noticing his distant expression. She looked up at his face and saw his droopy eyes fixed on his plate.
"Is there something wrong with the food, my love?" Jisoo asked, her expression filled with concern. JongSuk slowly lifted his gaze to his mother and shook his head, reassuring her that the food was not the issue.
"Nothing! It tastes delicious, as always, mom!" JongSuk muttered back. The corners of Jisoo's mouth lifted in a small smile at his words.
"I'm so glad you liked it... but why the long face, baby?" She asked, taking a sip of her water. JongSuk let out a sigh and set down his fork, contemplating how to express his feelings.
"What have you done to try to get more information about Dad?" JongSuk asked, his tone serious. Jisoo was taken aback by his question, her hand instinctively moving to her throat as she processed his words.
"What?... Why?" Jisoo muttered nervously, her heart racing.
"Well, because I still can't believe you!" JongSuk declared without hesitation. Jisoo cleared her throat, sensing the tension that was about to unfurl.
"JongSuk... please... I-" Jisoo began, but he cut her off mid-sentence, a habit he had when feeling overwhelmed or frustrated.
"I WANT TO KNOW! WHY ARE YOU LYING TO ME?! WHY DON'T YOU JUST TELL ME THAT YOU'RE TIRED OF LOOKING FOR MY FATHER? THAT YOU'VE GIVEN UP?" JongSuk shouted at his mother, his frustration boiling over. Jisoo felt tears welling up in her eyes, the ache in her chest growing stronger than ever.
"JONGSUUKKKK! PLEASE! DON'T SAY THAT!" Jisoo cried out, her voice filled with anguish as she attempted to meet his eyes, but the intensity of the raging flames in his gaze only added to her pain.
"JUST ADMIT IT... YOU WANTED HIM TO LEAVE! YOU WANTED HIM TO LEAVE AND NEVER COME BACK HOME! I HATE YOU! I WILL NEVER FORGIVE YOU!! NEVER!!" JongSuk yelled, his words filled with a mix of anger and hurt. In a fit of emotion, he shoved everything off the table, the breaking sound of glass echoing through the house, amplifying the emptiness that had settled in both the physical space and Jisoo's soul.