"I wonder, why do you ask?" I smirk, trying to appear as nonchalant as I can, leaning against my worktable.

"Stop being pointy like a nib and tell me." He fakes an eye-roll.

"Do you have any evidence I came home with a guy?" I bite my lip, enjoying the sequence of events as I irritate Taehyung.

A brief scowl, and he replies. "My eyes are evidence enough." 

"That does not count. No face, no case." I start clearing up the stuff on my table, as if nothing had surmised between us two.

"Will you tell me, or should I-"

"What will you do? I am dying to know." I push him further off the edge. How far can he go before he breaks?

"He was staring at you. I saw it." His voice is calmer this time. A hand reaches out to gently nudge my shoulder. "Is everything alright at school?"

"Everything is the best it can be, at school." I flick my hair right at his face. This time, he actually rolls his eyes.

"Would you stop acting like a bad b and spill it already?"

"What's a b?"

He makes a face. "I know you know."

"You know I don't know." I challenge him.

"I lose, bitch!" He laughs out loud, a cute grin spreading over his warm face. I smile, too. "But, being your elder brother, I gotta know!"

"Why will I not tell you? He is Namjoon. Kim Namjoon."

"May I know who he is?"

"A classmate. An intelligent one at that. He excels in all subjects, specially at math." I shake my head.

"He must have got many hoes lining up..." Taehyung remarks.

"I don't know about that. You know I remain aloof, mostly."

"So, is he your new best friend?" He probes further.

"No...! I mean, I don't know, actually. He bought me lunch today, by the way."

The events of the morning hit me. 

***

Smoke coming out of the ajar kitchen door, in loads of black. The oven entirely on fire. The air having a nauseating tinge to it. Taehyung all tucked inside his bed, ignorant in his deep sleep of the fact that he literally left the kitchen fires burning when he came downstairs looking for a midnight snack. 

I am reminded of my frantic actions when the sickening smell of the smoke reaches upstairs, past the unbolted door to my room and waking me up, me sensing danger. I run down the stairs, on my way kicking at my brother's door to wake him up as well, and rush into the kitchen. 

In a sudden burst of energy (that everyone seems to get high on, the moment they are in grave danger) I cut off the electric supply, push all the windows open, and donning a mask, I run over to the oven, despite the smoke causing my chest to ache badly. Filling handfuls with water from the kitchen sink, I splash it with all of my strength onto the oven. 

The smell of overly burnt bread, none the less asphyxiating, wafts into our noses as Taehyung pulls on his kitchen mittens and springs to action, yanking the oven door open. He takes, or rather, rescues the plate with the dead bread (RIP) and then shrieks.

"Shit motherfucking goddamning shit my hands are BURNING!" 

I shove the plate off of his grip as he sighs in relief. I run to the refrigerator and pull out the tray of ice lying stowed away in the deep freeze, and run back into the kitchen. "Here!" He dunks his hand in it.

A quick glance at his hands simmering with heat, and I get he is bruised. Bad.

"Gosh, Tae. You need to go see the doctor." I point at his burns. 

"I guess so." He affirms. 

He is the one that glances at the clock. "Oh, Lord! It's 6.45 already!" 

"Shit!" One of the rare occasions actually when both of us cursed in the open, together. 

"How will I prepare your lunch? The oven's gone!" He faces me, eyes laden with guilt.

I lick my lips, anxiety taking over me. "I'll see. Don't worry, you go get your bruises checked." 

***

Another slight nudge of my shoulder later, I get snapped back to the present. "Sorry for what happened in the morning..." Two large tear droplets trace their way down his cheeks. 

"That's not a problem at all any longer." I eye his vulnerable hand wrapped in bandage. "It never was, to be honest. Anyone can get forgetful at times, however what I don't know is how we're going to source a new oven, considering you get your allowance next month." I wipe the tears off his soft cheeks.

He smiles slightly. "You can claim my pocket money, for now." 

"No!" How can I do that?

"Yes." He says. "In return, you tell me more about this Namjoon guy. I'm interested."