The infected

Chapter 11- Who's going to do the dishes?

Walking out of the room with Seungcheol, Chan found himself greeted by the sight of at least eight boys crowded into a small lounge room. The space was cramped but lived-in, filled with mismatched furniture and the warmth of quiet chatter. A large couch took up most of the area, with an armchair positioned beside it. A small TV sat on a stand, a PlayStation resting beneath it, its controllers tangled in a mess of wires.

The glass coffee table in the center was cluttered with plates and cups, remnants of past meals scattered across its surface. The kitchen, tucked away in the corner, was modest, with basic appliances and a sink overflowing with dishes. A small round dining table stood nearby, equally covered in used plates and utensils. Behind it, a bookshelf was crammed with an assortment of comics and books, their spines worn from frequent use. There was a lot going on, with some boys bickering, some sleeping, and others just trying to enjoy a movie."

"I don't get why you can't do the dishes. You never complain," Seungkwan grumbled from the couch, a blanket draped over his head, leaning against a boy who looked about his age. The boy's eyes were glued to the movie playing on the TV.

"That's because I did the dishes the night before, and the night before that. I also made dinner for your lazy asses," Mingyu, the tall guy who had been crying earlier, retorted, standing over Seungkwan with an unimpressed look.

"Watch your mouth, young sir," Jeonghan muttered sleepily from his spot sprawled out on half the couch, his legs resting on Joshua, who looked mildly annoyed at the situation.

"I'm, like, two years younger than you," Mingyu said, still standing over him.

"Meaning you're still young and thriving and should be doing the dishes," Jeonghan replied with a yawn, stretching out lazily.

"Actually, I'm tired and sore from being chased by a fucking tiger," Mingyu said, pointing to Soonyoung, who was sleeping on the hard floor. Mingyu kicked him lightly, making Soonyoung grunt but not wake up.

"Hyung, you're blocking the TV," the boy sitting next to Seungkwan said, causing Mingyu to sigh in annoyance.

Looking around, Mingyu's eyes landed on Seungcheol and Chan, who were both watching the scene unfold. He blinked, surprised, before bowing toward Chan. "Oh, hello!" Mingyu greeted, walking over to Chan, but tripping over Soonyoung as he did. He fell flat on his face, which finally woke Soonyoung up, making a lot of noise in the process.

Everyone in the room turned their eyes to the new arrival, studying Chan curiously. Chan recognized most of them but noticed three new faces. The boy next to Seungkwan gave him a friendly smile before turning back to the movie. There was a boy on the armchair wearing thick black glasses, his intellectual vibe matched by the focused way he typed away on his laptop, glancing up briefly at Chan. And then there was the last boy, who had been poking at Soonyoung, now staring at Chan with a big, bright smile, his eyes wide with interest.

Joshua was the first to speak up. "You can sit next to me, Chan." He pushed Jeonghan's feet off of him, causing the sleepy man to sit up with a disgruntled "Hey!" Joshua then waved Chan over, motioning for him to join him on the couch.

Feeling a bit anxious from the attention, Chan glanced back at Seungcheol, who gave him a reassuring smile. Chan tried to return it but felt out of place surrounded by so many unfamiliar faces. Still, he slowly made his way over to Joshua and sat down.

He couldn't help but notice Mingyu, who had just gotten up from his fall. Chan was amazed to see the bruise that had formed on Mingyu's head suddenly disappear. Mingyu caught him staring and gave him a sheepish smile before heading toward the kitchen. He pulled something from the microwave and returned to Chan. "I hope you like Kimchi Jjigae," he said, passing the steaming bowl to Chan. The spicy, sweet smell immediately filled Chan's senses, and he realized that the gimbap Joshua had given him earlier wasn't nearly enough.