I dashed into my room, grabbed a worn-out cloth, then rushed back and started fanning the fire like I'd seen in movies.
Please… movies, don't fail me now.
"What are you doing?" Minho asked, his voice laced with confusion.
"I'm worshipping the flames, can't you see?" I snapped.
"I really don't want this to trigger the fire alarm…" I muttered under my breath. "Oh God… please help me."
I stared at the pan, my eyes widening.
"Is it me, or is the fire getting bigger?"
"What do you think?" he replied flatly.
"This is not the time to be sarcastic!"
"What are you even doing?" he asked again.
"I'm fanning the flames—like in the movies!"
"I'm… what?"
Then—
Beep. Beep.
My entire body froze.
"No, no, no…" I whispered. "What's that beeping sound?"
"It's the fire alarm."
"You have a fire alarm?" he asked.
I shot him a look. "Why? To listen to music?"
I groaned, dragging a hand down my face. "I can't believe my movies failed me… What have I even been watching them for?"
The beeping grew louder. Louder. Louder.
Then—
A knock on the door.
Could today get any worse?
I spun toward Minho. "Go to my room. Stay there. Don't come out until I tell you to."
"Okay," he said simply before disappearing down the hallway.
"Soheon! Soheon, open up!"
I rushed to the door and pulled it open.
Aunty Nica burst in, her husband right behind her, already holding a fire extinguisher. Without wasting a second, he located the fire and put it out.
"Are you okay?" she asked, hurrying over to me.
"Yes, I'm fine. No need to worry," I said quickly.
"No need to worry? What if something had happened to you?"
Aunty Nica lives right across from me. Ever since her daughter left to study far away, she's treated me like family. Whenever she gets lonely, I keep her company.
"Aunty, I'm fine," I reassured her with a small smile. "See? Not even a scratch."
Her husband returned from the kitchen, dusting his hands lightly.
"Don't worry," he said. "No major damage. You'll just need a new pan."
"Yes, sir," I nodded obediently.
I'm not buying it. Minho will.
"Were you trying to cook lunch?" he asked. "If so, come join us. We're eating late today too."
"No, no—it's fine," I said quickly. "I can just make something else."
"Really, I insist," Aunty Nica said warmly.
I hesitated.
What about Minho? If I go, what will he eat?
…But I'm so hungry.
"It's just lunch," her husband added. "Come join us."
Now I really didn't have an excuse.
"Uncle, Aunty… I really don't want to eat," I said weakly.
Then—
A sound came from my room.
"Oh?" Aunty Nica turned to me, eyes narrowing. "Are you alone?"
My heart skipped.
"Maybe it's Yuna," her husband suggested.
Phew.
"Oh really?" Aunty Nica brightened. "Yuna, darling, come out! Let's have lunch!"
She was already walking toward my room.
"Yuna, come! Luckily, I made your favorite!"
Ahh… what am I going to do?!
She reached for the door.
No, no, no… please don't open it…
Then—
The door slowly creaked open.