Chapter 11: Midnight Memories

They all went back home late at night, everyone was sleeping in their rooms.

Yn, not able to sleep, decided to go to the yard for some fresh air. As she glanced towards the study room, she noticed that the lights were still on. Curious, she approached and found Jungkook still awake inside.

"Why are you still working?" she asked softly, concern evident in her voice. "Is it because of me? I asked you to come back?

 Jungkook looked up from his books and smiled wearily. "No, it's not because of you, YN. I just have a lot on my mind and couldn't sleep, so I thought I'd work on some office stuff."

YN walked closer, her bare feet making barely a sound on the floor. "Do you want some company? Maybe I can help you," she said, coming towards him, her hand reaching out to touch his shoulder gently. "What happened, Jungkook? If there's anything you can share with me."

Jungkook picked her hand from his shoulder and held it softly with both hands, his eyes fixed on YN. "Really?" YN nodded and settled into the chair beside him. "YN, you know today is my mother's birthday."

"Really? Then we should call her or go to surprise her," YN suggested cheerfully, but her voice trailed off as she noticed the silence that followed. Understanding dawned on her slowly.

 "YN... she... she's gone," Jungkook finally said, his voice barely above a whisper.

Yn's eyes widened in shock, her hand instinctively squeezing Jungkook's. "Oh, Jungkook, I'm so sorry. I had no idea."

Jungkook's eyes welled up, his voice shaking. "It's been a few years, but it still feels like yesterday. I miss her so much, Yn."

Yn's face filled with compassion. "I can't imagine how hard it must be for you. But I'm here, Jungkook. I'm here for you."

Jungkook's gaze met Yn's, his eyes searching for comfort. "You know, my mom always wanted me to be happy. She'd want me to move on, to live my life to the fullest."

Yn's voice was soft. "And you will, Jungkook. You will make her proud. But for now, it's okay to grieve, to remember her, to miss her."

Jungkook immediately wiped away his single tear, a thought flashing through his mind, "Why am I crying in front of her?"

Yn gently changed the subject, "Tell me, what's your favorite dish that your mom used to cook for you?"

Jungkook's guard softened as he felt Yn's genuine care. He asked, "Why do you want to know?"

"Just tell me what it is," Yn insisted gently.

"It was... her homemade kimchi stew," Jungkook revealed with a small smile. "She'd spend hours making it, and the whole house would smell like a Korean kitchen."

Yn's eyes lit up. "That sounds amazing! I can almost smell it now."

Jungkook's smile grew wider, and he looked away, his eyes misting up again. "Yeah... she'd always make it for me when I was feeling down or stressed. It was her way of showing me love and care.

"Okay, let's go to the kitchen. I will personally cook for you," Yn said, grabbing Jungkook's hand.

"Wait, Yn, we already had dinner," Jungkook hesitated.

"It's okay. Nothing will happen to you by eating kimchi stew. I only cook for my close friends, so I'm giving you this offer. Just cherish it, okay?" Yn said, smiling warmly.

"Really? But what if I want more than a close friend...?" Jungkook's cheeks flushed slightly, his heart pounding in his chest.

Yn's cheeks tinted with a blush, but she maintained composure. "Then you have to work harder for it," she teased, before heading to the kitchen.

Jungkook watched Yn's retreating figure, feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness. "Hey, Kook, where's the apron?" she called from the kitchen.

"Kook? Yn, how many nicknames do you want to give me?" Jungkook chuckled, standing up from his chair to fetch the apron. He stood behind Yn, his chest lightly brushing against her back. "Hey, what are you doing?" Yn asked, surprised by his sudden closeness.

"Miss Yn, didn't you ask me to pick up the apron?" Jungkook replied, smoothly draping the apron over Yn's shoulders and tying it securely behind her. He then returned to his chair, a playful glint in his eyes as he watched her.

Yn turned around, her cheeks still flushed, and playfully rolled her eyes at Jungkook's antics. "You're impossible, Kook," she said with a laugh, before getting started on cooking the kimchi stew.

When he saw Yn cooking, Jungkook spoke up softly, "Yn, I forgot to tell you, my mom also wanted me to live a long life."

Yn paused for a moment, turning to look at Jungkook with a gentle smile. "I'm not that bad in cooking, you know," she teased lightly, her eyes sparkling with amusement.

Jungkook's warm chuckle filled the kitchen as he replied, "I'm sure you're not. But I just wanted to give you a reminder."

Yn tilted her head, curious. "A reminder? About what?"

He grinned mischievously. "About the importance of following the recipe. You know, so we don't accidentally turn this into kimchi stew soup."

Yn playfully rolled her eyes. "Oh, please. I've got this under control."

Their banter continued as they worked together in the kitchen, turning what could have been a somber moment into a light-hearted one, filled with laughter and shared camaraderie.

Yn felt a strange mix of happiness and worry. She fells like she is falling for Jungkook, but she knew she shouldn't. He wasn't just a friend; he was her target. Falling for him was risky.

Trying to push her feelings aside, Yn focused on cooking with Jungkook. They laughed and chatted, but inside, Yn felt torn. She couldn't let herself get too close. She had a job to do, and her feelings could mess things up.

As they cooked, Yn couldn't shake the feeling that she was walking on a tightrope. She had to be careful not to let her emotions get in the way. It was hard, but she knew she had to stay focused. Her heart and her mission were at odds, and she had to find a way to balance them both.