"You always make the best japchae," Somi sighed around her chopsticks, cheeks bulging like she was sixteen again instead of a runaway wife. Tae's fingers trembled as she passed another plate—the same celadon dishware Somi had picked out for her wedding registry. "And kimchi pancakes! Mom, did you remember these were my—"

"Of course." Tae's smile felt stapled on. Across the table, Jungkook's knuckles whitened around his beer bottle. Ggukie fussed in his highchair, stretching sticky hands toward Tae's untouched food. "*Shh*, sweetheart," she soothed automatically, spooning mashed sweet potato between his gums. The baby cooed, milk-scented fingers tangling in her hair.