NOTAKING
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Chapter 49
🕑 Added 2025-03-04 20:57:52 +0000 UTCThey continued cooking together, the kitchen filled with the comforting aroma of sizzling ingredients. Their conversation flowed effortlessly, laughter occasionally breaking through as they shared stories and playful banter. The warmth from the stove and the closeness between them made the moment feel intimate in a way neither of them acknowledged out loud.
After an hour, their work was done. The last dish was placed on the counter, and Travis let out a deep sigh, wiping the thin layer of sweat from his forehead.
“Well, that’s it for now,” he said, exhaling in relief.
“Hmmh,” she hummed, stretching her arms above her head. “I need a bath. Look how sweaty I am.” She playfully lifted her arms, exposing her armpits with a teasing grin.
Travis chuckled at her antics. “Same here. I should go ahead and do that too. I also need to tidy up my place before you all arrive,” he said, rolling his shoulders.
She stepped closer, a soft expression settling on her face. “Oh, that’s alright. Also… thank you very much, Travis.” Without hesitation, she wrapped her arms around him, pressing herself into his chest.
Travis instinctively placed his hands on her waist, the warmth of her body catching him off guard. He felt her tense slightly at the touch, her body reacting in a way she likely didn’t expect.
“I really appreciate what you’ve done for me,” she murmured against him. “I’ll make sure to give you a better reward next time.”
His smirk was instant. “It’s no biggie. See ya then, Noona,” he said, releasing her from the hug and stepping back.
She watched him leave with a small smile, her fingers briefly touching her waist where his hands had been.
As Travis exited her apartment, the smirk lingered on his lips.
‘I know exactly what she’ll be doing as soon as I leave,’ he thought, amused.
Once inside his own place, he immediately moved to open all the windows. The evening breeze swept in, carrying the crisp scent of the outside world. He had no fear of mosquitoes—every window was covered with a fine net to keep them out. He also slid open the balcony door, leaving only the mesh screen in place to let the fresh air flow freely.
A deep breath filled his lungs, the cool air refreshing against his slightly overheated skin. A satisfied smile played on his lips.
He turned on the TV, letting the calming melody of soft, instrumental music fill the apartment. The atmosphere instantly felt more relaxing.
Heading to the fridge, he opened it and frowned. The inside was practically barren—no drinks, barely any food.
‘Guess I have to go shopping… I also need some new clothes now that I think about it,’ he mused, closing the fridge door with a sigh.
With that in mind, he grabbed his phone, checking the time. He had a few things to take care of before the night truly began.
Travis grabbed his car keys from the counter and headed downstairs, stepping out into the crisp evening air. Sliding into the driver’s seat of his car, he started the engine and pulled out onto the road, heading toward the nearest supermarket. The drive was smooth, the city lights casting a warm glow over the streets as he cruised along, lost in thought.
Once inside the supermarket, he grabbed a cart and moved through the aisles, methodically picking out everything he needed. Canned goods, fresh produce, snacks, frozen meals—he stocked up on enough supplies to last for weeks. By the time he was done, his cart was overflowing.
As he pushed his way toward the checkout, he noticed a clothing section within the store. Since he was already here, he decided to browse. A few new shirts, some comfortable joggers, and even a sleek jacket caught his eye. Without thinking too much about it, he added them to his haul.
At the checkout, he realized there was no way all of this would fit in his car. The store attendants, seeing his predicament, arranged for a van to transport everything. By the time he got home, the vehicle was already parked outside, waiting for him to unload.
Bringing everything inside took a while, but he made sure to put everything in its proper place—groceries in the fridge and pantry, clothes neatly folded into his wardrobe. When he finally finished, he exhaled, stretching his arms as he checked the time.
Just then, his phone rang. Soo-Yeon.
"Yo," Travis answered, leaning against the counter.
"Are we doing it? Tonight?" Her voice had a teasing edge to it.
"Um… sure, if you want," he replied, smirking slightly.
"Oh, okay. Then come over around ten. I have a surprise for you," she said playfully.
That piqued his interest. "That makes me excited. Alright, I'll make sure to come. See ya then."
He hung up, a grin still lingering on his face as he set his phone down on the table.
‘I can never get bored with women,’ he thought, sinking into the couch. He grabbed a lighter and flicked it, lighting the candle on his coffee table. A soft, soothing scent filled the room, something fresh and slightly sweet. He inhaled deeply, letting the aroma settle over him.
"Everything is ready," he murmured to himself, already looking forward to the night ahead.
....
An hour later, the doorbell rang, breaking the comfortable silence of the room. Travis stretched his arms before pushing himself up from the couch, making his way to the door. As he pulled it open, the first person he saw was Yeon-Ah, standing there with a casual smile. But as he opened it wider, his eyes landed on Shin Na-Yeon and Ha-Seong standing behind her.
‘Thought they wouldn’t come,’ he mused, raising an eyebrow slightly. But then again, maybe this was a chance to make Na-Yeon warm up to him—at least a little. Out of everyone, she was the most distant, showing zero interest in him beyond surface-level politeness. It was almost like he didn’t exist in her world.
Still, he stepped aside and let them in. Yeon-Ah carried a bag of food straight to the kitchen while Ha-Seong and Na-Yeon took in the place. Their eyes moved over the sleek furniture, dim mood lighting, and the clean, modern aesthetic.
“Man, this place looks like heaven,” Ha-Seong said, clearly impressed as he turned in a slow circle, taking in the vibe.
Na-Yeon, on the other hand, crossed her arms, tilting her head slightly as she assessed the space. “Just needs some workout equipment, and it’d be a 100 for me. Right now, it’s a 94.”
Travis kept his expression neutral, but inside, he was already frowning.
‘Bitch,’ he thought.
Of course, she had to find something to critique. But whatever. He wasn’t about to let her get under his skin. Instead, he smirked slightly and shut the door behind them.
They all moved to the dining room, settling into their seats as Travis went to grab some drinks from the fridge. He returned with a mix of soda, beer, and soju, setting them down on the table.
“Alright, take your pick,” he said, cracking open a can for himself.
Ha-Seong grabbed a beer without hesitation. “You already know what I’m going for.”
Yeon-Ah reached for a soda, while Na-Yeon, after a brief moment of consideration, poured herself a glass of soju.
“Whoa, Na-Yeon drinking?” Ha-Seong teased. “Are we witnessing history?”
She rolled her eyes. “Shut up. I drink when I feel like it.”
Travis smirked at their dynamic but didn’t comment. Instead, he leaned back in his chair, watching as they all started to relax.
Soon, the atmosphere became lively. They played a few games—starting with a light drinking game, which led to wild laughter and a few competitive moments. Jokes flew around the room, some at each other’s expense, but always in good fun.
At one point, Yeon-Ah grabbed the remote and pulled up karaoke on the TV.
“Oh, hell no,” Travis muttered, but before he could escape, Ha-Seong slung an arm around his shoulders.
“Oh, hell yes,” he said with a grin. “You’re not running from this.”
One by one, they took turns singing—or, in some cases, absolutely butchering—their chosen songs. Yeon-Ah was surprisingly decent, though Ha-Seong’s dramatic performances had everyone crying with laughter. Na-Yeon, on the other hand, refused to sing until they all pressured her into it.
Her voice was surprisingly good, and as soon as she finished, Travis gave her a nod. “Alright, I’ll give you that. You actually sound decent.”
“I know,” she said simply, flipping her hair before taking a sip of her drink.
After the chaos of karaoke, they finally sat down for dinner. As Yeon-Ah brought out the food, Travis leaned back, watching her with admiration, even though he had helped with the meal.
When everyone took their first bite, the room fell into silence.
Ha-Seong was the first to react, his eyes widening. “Wait… this is actually good.”
Na-Yeon blinked, staring at her plate. “No way.”
Even Travis raised an eyebrow, pretending to be surprised. “Damn, Noona, did you have a secret chef mode we didn’t know about?”
Yeon-Ah beamed, clearly proud of herself. “Told you I could cook.”
“Liar,” Na-Yeon said flatly. “You literally burn water Mom "
“I do not—okay, maybe sometimes.” Yeon-Ah laughed.
Ha-Seong pointed his chopsticks at her. “No, but for real, what happened? Did someone swap this out with actual food?”
“Hey!” Yeon-Ah pouted. “Can’t a woman have a redemption arc?”
Travis chuckled, shaking his head. He wasn’t going to ruin her moment by pointing out his help. “Well, guess we should enjoy it while it lasts.”
The night carried on with more laughter and easy conversation, the energy in the room warm and familiar.
TO BE CONTINUED
