Today's Chicken Mukbang W 40 - Hyacinth in Bloom

#40

The schedule that had continued from yesterday seemed to have been more grueling than expected. He’d meant to take a quick nap, but several hours had already passed.

I wanted to visit M Tower. Looking out at the darkening streets through the hotel window, he clicked his tongue in regret. While debating whether to go out even now, he suddenly felt hungry.

[Hyung, can you talk now?]

[Yeah of course]

After replying to Imun and just as he was flipping through the hotel guidebook, his phone rang loudly. Why is he in such a hurry? Imagining an impatient Imun made him smile. He flopped onto the bed, holding the guidebook in one hand and his phone in the other.

“What are you doing?”

“Thinking about getting some food. But this place doesn’t seem to have room service. There’s no menu…”

“You said you’re at the □□ Hotel near the station, right?”

“Yeah, why?”

When Hajun questioned this abrupt inquiry about his hotel, Imun laughed softly.

“Why? I told you I’d treat you to delicious food when you came to Korea.”

“…Say that two more times.”

“Why?”

“If you say it three times, it becomes true.”

It was quite embarrassing to be treated by someone he should be treating instead. As he was thinking about how unfunny his own joke was and smiling awkwardly, Imun suddenly burst into laughter.

“I’ll buy you everything, everything! Why would I lie about something like this? I’ll buy you whatever you want, so quickly tell me what you’d like to eat.”

“It’s really fine… Okay. Then… chicken! Get me chicken! I’m tired of always going to Koreatown to eat it.”

“They don’t deliver chicken there.” Unless he persuaded the reluctant Mari to go on an expedition, chicken was a difficult food to get. He swallowed the saliva that was already pooling in his mouth, while Imun muttered, “Hmm, chicken,” as if he wasn’t too pleased.

Was it just empty words? While rolling around on the bed waiting for his now quiet response, a small sigh escaped from the speaker.

“I wanted to buy you something better, but alright. I’ll send a delivery right away. When it arrives, I’ll call you, so you can go down to the lobby.”

“Ooh, so I just need to wait with my mouth open? One chicken might not be enough though.”

“Puhh, I’ll order plenty for you.”

“Wow, great! I’m going to go crazy tonight!”

“…I’ll order five chickens for you. Go for a pentakill.”

He seemed to have understood that Imun was imitating the Legend of Legend kill announcement. “Ch-chicken pentakill!” After laughing so hard his stomach hurt while hitting the mattress, Hajun adjusted his grip on the phone.

“I’ll enjoy it, thanks.”

“Don’t mention it. By the way, about the message you sent this afternoon-“

“Oh, my battery’s dying!”

He hung up abruptly and stretched out his limbs. It was a bit emotional earlier. Although he felt sorry for Imun, there was no way he could bring himself to discuss the embarrassing content of that message. He tugged at his hair, resolving to keep it a secret for a while longer.

Around the time Hajun finished showering and was drying his hair, he received a call saying the chicken had arrived. It hadn’t even been 30 minutes since he’d spoken with Imun.

Chicken in Korea! He couldn’t hide his excitement at the thought of tasting food he hadn’t had in a long time. He hastily put on his outer clothes and headed to the lobby.

Imun’s promise to order five chickens wasn’t empty words. He had to stay in the lobby longer than expected as delivery riders kept calling one after another.

I should have worn proper shoes. While endlessly wiggling his toes that peeked out from his slippers, the last rider stopped his motorcycle in front of the main entrance. Finally, with all the chicken bags dangling from his arms, he took vigorous steps but accidentally made eye contact with the front desk employee.

“Sir, are you perhaps the victim of a malicious prank? Like receiving food deliveries you didn’t order or-“

“No, of course not!”

Why did you order five chickens! He mentally shouted at Imun while quickly escaping towards the elevator.

As soon as he returned to his room, he placed the deliveries on the table. After briefly examining the familiar seasoned chicken, fried chicken, and some unfamiliar varieties, he arranged them to look as appetizing as possible.

[(Collection of photos)]

[They arrived!ㅋㅋㅋ]

[That was fast ㅎㅎ Enjoy your meal ㅎㅎ]

[How can I eat five chickens ㅠㅠ Just eating the legs would fill me up]

[If you like chicken legs, I should have ordered ones with just legs]

After a brief chat with Imun, who seemed to be on break judging by his quick replies, Hajun sat down in earnest. The rich aroma characteristic of chicken had been stimulating his sense of smell, and it was hard to resist any longer. He picked up a steaming chicken leg as a test.

“Wow, it tastes like cheese!”

Marveling at the pale yellow powder, he tore into the chicken like someone possessed. Next, he boldly bit into a chicken piece covered in dark red sauce. Despite the sweet initial taste, an unbearable spiciness followed.

After gulping down water and panting for a while, he suspiciously eyed the last unknown chicken. That one shouldn’t be spicy. The moment he bit into the brown chicken sprinkled with parsley powder, an amazingly crispy and savory texture unfolded in his mouth.

Whether it was because Imun had carefully selected them or not, all five chickens were delicious without exception. Around the time his face was flushed with euphoria after tasting the classic fried and seasoned chicken:

[I’ll order dessert for you too]

[Since you need to sleep, no coffee]

[Is there anything you’d like?]

[I can’t even finish this, what dessert? ㅋㅋ I’m dying ㅠㅠ Really, it’s fine]

[ㅎㅎㅎ You can eat just a little and leave the rest]

[You get punished for wasting food, just order a little]

[ㅎㅎㅎ]

No way, really? He continued his meal, dismissing Imun’s suspicious laughter. The hot leg meat that melted softly on his tongue as soon as he chewed was always the best.

Around the time he had eaten to his limit and was sprawled on the sofa, Hajun narrowed his brows when he received a call from an unfamiliar number.

“This is the delivery rider…” He really did order dessert. Hajun couldn’t even guess what or how much the big spender Seo Imun had ordered. He swallowed dryly and grabbed his outer clothes.

“Haah… really.”

Sipping a warm decaffeinated tea, he glanced at the table with tired eyes. The cakes, which looked obviously sweet, were more than 10 varieties just by rough counting.

After taking verification photos and sending them to Imun, he made a half-crying face. His stomach felt like it was about to burst, but he couldn’t bring himself to throw away what Imun had bought. After tasting a bite of each type, he compromised with reality and put down the fork.

“The rest… I’ll eat for breakfast tomorrow.”

He’d just have to give up the hotel breakfast. Having made a neat conclusion, he tidied up the table. It seemed better to go to bed early if he was going to return home tomorrow.

He turned off all the lights in the room and lay down on the bed. The feeling of fullness was so intense that his mind felt hazy. Stroking his upper abdomen, which was more bulging than usual, he reflected on the short two nights and three days.

Many things had happened, but the late evening spent with Imun was by far the most impressive. It would probably be a pleasant memory that would last a lifetime. He closed his eyes gently, vaguely recalling Imun’s wistful smile just before they parted.

Being full and warm was heaven. Kimchi and doenjang from the mart, and the seaweed his grandmother asked for… Hajun pulled up the blanket while roughly organizing the list of gifts he needed to buy tomorrow.

***

The regional shooting that had taken place over two days was over. Led by Saha, who was staggering like a zombie, the On The Sky members got into the van one by one.

Imun, the last to step into the vehicle, suddenly turned his head. I wonder if hyung got back safely. After staring blankly at the sky filled with sunset light, he entered the car, giving in to the members’ urging to get in quickly.

“I really thought I was going to die of exhaustion. No waiting room and cat naps in the van for two days straight. It’s tough.”

Saha was clinging to Sura and lamenting. The other two members seemed too tired to respond to Saha’s words. Imun completely understood the state of Sura and Rai, who had become one with their seats like deflated squids.

A rare overnight shoot following consecutive schedules. He was just as tired. Was the photo shoot next? He habitually picked up his phone while enduring the fatigue that seemed to gnaw at his mind.

[Finally finished eating all of it! ㅠㅠ]

[I enjoyed it, thanks ㅎㅎ]

[Next time, order a little less… I really thought I was going to die ㅋㅋㅠㅠ]

[(Photo)]

[I’ve arrived at the airport now!]

Imun narrowed his brows as he looked at the photo showing chicken bones picked clean of meat and empty cake packaging. He definitely hadn’t sent the food with the expectation that Hajun would eat it all. Although he knew it was an act of consideration for him, he couldn’t be completely happy because he was worried about Hajun overeating.

The flow of time was palpable in the messages, as if Hajun had sent KaTok messages every time he changed locations. Imun’s face was softening at the encouragement and support interspersed throughout when Sura, lying on his seat, turned only his head to speak.

“By the way, you must be disappointed too. You only got to see Gangha-nim briefly, right? Of all days, why did it have to be the day before yesterday.”

“Yeah… I’m sorry, guys, you all put in a lot of effort-“

“What are you sorry for! Don’t suddenly change your attitude like that, don’t be so down!”

Sura was alarmed and serious, while Saha nodded his head dramatically beside him. Imun smiled wryly at the two who were like dumb and dumber, sighed, and reclined his seat.