CHAPTER 7: THE RAMEN MOMENT
309 Words
The evening was quiet, except for the soft hum of the city outside Anaya’s apartment.
Namjin sat on the couch, scrolling through his phone while Anaya searched her small kitchen cabinets.
She turned around and said, “I can’t cook anything fancy, but I can make ramen.”
Namjin looked up, pretending to be offended.
“Ramen? I’m an idol, Anaya. If I eat things like that, how will girls stay attracted to me?”
She rolled her eyes. “Oh, please. You act like eating noodles will destroy your fanbase. Fine then, order something for yourself.”
Namjin smirked. “Don’t challenge me. I might actually do it.”
But when the smell of freshly cooked ramen filled the room, his confidence started to fade.
He peeked over her shoulder. “It smells… really good.”
Anaya smiled. “Of course it does. It’s Indian-style ramen — spicy and full of attitude. Like me.”
She sat on the floor with her bowl, slurping happily.
Namjin watched her for a moment, then sighed dramatically. “Okay, maybe just one bite.”
“Two bites,” she said teasingly, handing him her chopsticks.
He tasted it — and his eyes widened. “Wow. This is actually amazing.”
“Told you,” she said with a grin. “Now stop acting like you’re too fancy for instant noodles.”
Namjin laughed — a real laugh, not the polished smile he gave to cameras.
In that small, warm moment, the idol and the ordinary girl weren’t from different worlds anymore.
As Anaya watched him eat, she thought, He’s not what I expected at all.
And when he caught her staring, he smiled, that familiar dimple returning.
“What?” he asked softly.
“Nothing,” she said quickly, looking away — but her heart was beating just a little faster.
- Writer
