even the unknowns ; chenji

lunch with the lims

chenle

"So there Jisung is, the middle of prom night, and Nibbles has gone into labour in his backpack."

Everyone at the breakfast table gasps and covers their mouths (except Nanny Park, who sucks serenely on an orange slice). Even the kittens — who've heard the story twenty times before — are listening intently. So intently, it almost looks like they can understand him. Chenle gives them a subtle nudge with his foot, reminding them to blink and roam around.

"Why weren't you there with Jisung?" says Grandma Park.

"I was, uh, dealing with some high school drama." He's trying to tell an honest account of the night, but it's difficult when he has to gloss over any mention of vampires and talking cats and embarrassing rebound attempts. "Jisung texted me and a friend drove us back to his house. Nibbles just needed to be somewhere she felt safe, then things pretty much went smoothly from there."

Mr. Lim hacks a laugh, thumping himself on the chest. "If that was your prom, imagine your graduation!"

Chenle laughs, about to skillfully evade the topic, but then there's a sharp sound from behind him. Nibbles is sitting outside on the balcony, clawing at the glass door. She's got the blank expression of a regular cat, but to Chenle she looks distinctly devious.

"Is that the kittens' mother?" Grandma Park asks. "Let the poor thing in, Chenle, it's sub-zero out there!"

"Oh, I think she's fine, she might track mud in—"

"Has the famous Nibbles come to visit?" Mrs. Lim sets a large slab of butter on the table. She and Jisung have been toiling away in the kitchen for the last hour. "Let her in, I don't mind a mess."

Chenle bites his tongue and gets up to let Nibbles inside. She waltzes in elegantly and sniffs each chair leg before heading toward the kitchen. Chenle follows her, making up something about checking on Jisung. He isn't sure how long she'll tolerate defeat before she's chomping down the kittens' scruffs and dragging them out to the car herself. (He's glad she can't drive.) (At least, he doesn't think...)

Nibbles leaps up to the counter, uncomfortably close to a bowl of Jello salad. Jisung is crouching in front of the oven, staring through the cloudy little window.

"We have a guest," says Chenle.

Jisung looks up at him, then over at Nibbles. "Oh. Hello."

Nibbles' tail stands up and goes frizzy. Jisung looks offended, but he shuts his mouth before he can snap; the kitchen is attached to the rest of the suite, separated only by a little lace curtain. If they want to argue, they'll have to do it in the hallway or the pantry.

They glare at each other for a minute. Chenle can practically see the hackles rolling on both of them.

Then he smells the smoke. "Uh, Jisung—"

"Crap!" Jisung swings the oven open and pulls out a pan of egg bites. They're a bit brown. Bordering on black.

Nibbles makes a huffing sound, a laugh, and Jisung responds with a very catlike screech. Nibbles rears back in affront. Before they can pounce on each other, Mrs. Lim comes in saying, "Oh Jisung, I told you they burned easily!"

"Er, sorry, Mrs. Lim." Jisung shoots another look at Nibbles.

"It should be... fine. Get them out of the pan — and be gentle, they'll fall apart if you're not careful. And Chenle—" Mrs. Lim sticks the bowl of Jello in his hands. "Take this out, will you?"

"Um, yes ma'am." He leaves the kitchen and sets the bowl down on the dining table. Grandma Park is flitting around, distributing napkins, but she stops next to Chenle, suddenly palming his forehead.