“you,” and he’s pointing the ladle at her to emphasis his point, spilling some soup everywhere on the counter but that’s to be expected. he’s still a little sleepy and he’s not too sure why he’s up or attempting soup at ungodly hours.
it should be noted it’s a little past noon. that’s ungodly when he has the day off. all that matters is that sleep still pulls at the corners of his eyes when he tries too hard to seem awake. so he votes for looking out half-closed lids and answering in small slurs and yawns. it’s not too different from daily haneul, but he’s trying right?
“you must be asking the wrong people for snuggles my friend.” because she’s a friend and that must be why he’s awake, or why he’s opened the door. why his apartment looks some sort of decent and isn’t carrying that too much laundry smell. the one where he runs around with half a sock on spraying air freshener around the living room.
he’s actually been decent today, actually brushed his teeth when everything around him didn’t melt into one. when he could smell that his apartment’s state wasn’t appropriate for anyone, not even a friend. ladies too but haneul isn’t too sure of the etiquette for that.
“what’s the struggles this time hmm?” the end comes out as a full yawn, one that almost ends with the ladle smacking him in the face, but he recovers. “angry customers, scary new professors? woke up and had a baby duckling follow you because it hatched in your laundry basket?” point is, he’s trying. smiling too so that’s a plus.
Warm liquid spilled about splashed on herself, having her wipe away the minor mess with her fingers before using her own shirt as a napkin. It was gross, but at that moment it wasn’t the time to be focus elsewhere when she had a problem of her own. Why did she go to Haneul in the first place again?
A tiny bit of soup remained on her hair, going completely unnoticed by the petite girl. Instead, she leans onto the counter, taking a tiny peek of his soup before looking away when caught. A inaudible mumble escapes from her chapped lips, caused by its enemy being winter itself.
“Oh no, that’s not my problem.” Her elbows rest upon the counter to support her chin in hand. A certain person came to mind, memories of warm cuddling coming into play. She attempts to shake off her thoughts. “I’m getting all the snuggles in the world lately, believe me. In fact, the snuggles itself help me forget the problems I’ve been having.”
Another memory from literally minutes ago crossed her mind, the moment she arrived to Haneul’s door. It was the closest area she could find when out and about that morning; why not go to a friend when in need of something?
“That’s not it, either.” A pout is formed, pink colored nose (caused by the common cold) sniffing the air around her like a curious puppy. She couldn’t smell a thing. Not the soup, not the air freshener spotted behind a box of cereal, nothing. A deep sigh heaves from her lips along with quiet words, “How great.”
“The thing is... I feel like I’m becoming a burden to everyone I know. My father, brothers, close friends-- you, too.” A tiny sniffle from her runny nose could be heard amongst silence between them. “Maybe I’m still insecure about myself. I try so hard to be a good influence on everyone I meet, but it’s not working anymore. Maybe everyone’s already bored on ordinary Eunjin.”