Sungmin's POV

I just got back from meeting Eomma, the light in the doorway blinked on as soon as I stepped in. I placed my bag on the shoe rack, losing my tie and taking off my shoes. It's so quiet, unlike at my mother's house.

I walked to the bedroom and collapsed on the bed, totally exhausted from the long day, travelling there and back to the office again for the emergency meeting, while having a quiet argument with Eomma about, of course, the usual types like not visiting often enough, not taking care of myself, and all.

Then, back at the office, the exhausting meeting about how the company is getting bad reviews on its products and still hasn't found the chef. The whole time Junwoo stayed quiet, taking all the bashes, but finally spoke up to defend them and our hard work.

It's a whole roller coaster.

If and only if I had just stayed quiet, not speaking about Joohwan's restaurant that day, maybe I would have managed to at least pull Joohwan into the offer, but well, we all got wasted by his single NO.

How could he just say no to an offer from a company like ours? I mean, our products are widely known and have hit the market. The chefs have higher pay than us and it's widely known, and he still chose to refuse.

"Who even says no to that?"

I rolled on the bed in frustration. I have been trying so hard to understand his decision. I mean, it's up to him, but still…

Anyway, I am not in the mood to think about it all and stay all night. I rolled to the other side again, my eye drooping from exhaustion.

****

I woke up with a loud gasp, my heart pounding hard in my chest, my throat dried out. I looked around and realized I was still on my own bed. A dream, the same dream again…that felt so real. My hand ran through my hair.

The sweat on my skin cooled down as I tried to push the thoughts of the nightmare far from my mind.

Why does he always appear in my dreams, and I can never save him?

I turned my head, my gaze falling on the digital clock that was blinking 11:00 pm. I knew I wouldn't be able to fall asleep again. So, I decided to go out for a walk.

When I looked down, I was still in my office clothes. I shook my head and walked towards the closet to change into something comfortable. I wondered how I even managed to sleep in these clothes.

I picked up my phone and some cash just in case I wanted to grab anything. I locked the door and walked out into the cool night. The light pollution filled the sky with a soft glow that made it difficult to see the stars. I took a deep breath as I started to walk.

As I walked down the street, the traffic was no less than usual, but the cars' sounds faded away as I immersed myself in walking through the soft, cool breeze. I finally walked into Pocha Street, the smell of spicy food wafting through the air, which melted into my mouth, and I had it with soju.

My stomach growled at the thought.

So, I walked into one of the pojangmachas (tent bars). The place is quite rushed with people laughing and chatting, glasses clinking together in cheers. I stood there, my heart dropping in disappointment as the place was filled.

"Excuse me, will you move?"

I looked at the person; he is quite taller than I am, what do you eat, bro? was the question I couldn't ask, like, if you look at this man, he would crush you with his biceps. So I gave a quick nod, moving to the side, and that's when I noticed a familiar figure sitting alone in this packed pocha.

The chair across from him is empty, and no one sits there.

And I couldn't believe my eyes; out of all places, I met him here. And worse, I had such a bad dream of him again just a few hours ago. And now, he was sitting right in front of me.

But he looked different from the man I remembered. The noise of the pocha seemed unable to reach him. His gaze stayed fixed on the empty chair across from him, the untouched space looking strangely deliberate.

He looked lonely.

"Joohwan-ssi."

I managed to catch his attention,n and he looked up; his blank eyes slowly focused on my face,ce and that's all that happened now. I could see him sighing too many times to count, and then he reached for the bottle; I quickly grabbed it and poured the last part of the liquinto in his glass.

As I poured soju and leaned back, he didn't pick up the glass but stared at me, which was quite unreadable, which made my smile falter. All I can feel is that he is annoyed by my presence, and I also know why; of course, it would be about the offer.

I sighed, putting the empty bottle down on the table, closing my eyes, and gathering my words; he whispered, "I'm sorry."

He said nothing but stared at me.

"about that sudden offer,"

He picked up the glass, swallowing the last one. "Is that what you came here for?"

I looked at him for a blink of a second. What was he even thinking? Is he thinking I'm following him or something?

I laughed at how he was thinking of me.

"First of all, I didn't expect to see you here. I was back from meeting my mother and tried to sleep but..." I stopped myself before I could say that I had a dream of him at the bridge, but this time I couldn't save him. I cut those thoughts and said, "Anyway, I couldn't sleep,p so here I am."

He scoffed and shook his head, and for some reason, that bothered me more than if he had just ignored me.

"What?" I asked.

"Nothing."

It was definitely nothing. I stared at him for a second before looking away. The pocha was loud around us, people laughing and calling for more drinks, but our table felt strangely quiet.

"You don't believe?"

He let out a dry chuckle. "Should I?"

I opened my mouth, then closed it again. Fair point though, if I were him, I probably wouldn't believe me either. I rubbed the back of my neck.

"You really think I followed you?" I asked not to be able to contain those words in my head.

"You keep appearing wherever I am."

I blinked at hearing the flat answer. Then, despite myself, a laugh cracked out. So am I right that he thinks of me, that I keep following him like he is someone I know or remember, like he was too close to someone we both know, yet I couldn't remember him?

And now he's thinking of me like a crazy stalker.

"Why are you laughing?" he asked.

The question made me laugh to slow down. I looked at him for a moment before shaking my head.

"Nothing"

His face flattened immediately, and he said, "Then stop laughing."

That only made the corner of my mouth twitch. Seriously, how could someone look this offended over a laugh? I cleared my throat and leaned back slightly.

"Sorru. It's just…" I paused, thinking of what to come up with.

What was I supposed to say? Sorry, I laughed because you think I am following you around. That would definitely make him more annoyed.

"…It's just funny."

His eyes narrowed, and he let out another heavy sigh. "What is?"

I pointed between us. "This."

"What about this?"

I sighed, keeping my elbows on the table, folding them. "We've met, what, three times now?"

"You gave me an offer just in between those two meetings?"

I blinked again, then let out another laugh. This man is really unbelievable.

"See?" he muttered.

"What?"

"You are laughing again."

I pressed my lips together immediately, swallowing my laugh. "Okay, okay, I'll stop, but it's your talent that pulled you into this offer," I said, biting my inner cheek.

He looked away first. Then Silence returned. I glanced at the empty bottle between us. So I thought of ordering another bottle.

"Should we order another one?" I suggested it first before going with the order.

"No."

The answer came so fast that it almost made me laugh again. Almost. Instead, I looked at him carefully. His eyes looked tired. Not sleepy but tired, like someone who had been carrying something heavy for too long and forgot what it felt like to put it down.

I looked away before he caught me staring. Now I feel like a fool at this point, as I, a person who is carrying heavy things and alone, quietly and unknowingly invaded his space.

Thankfully, the ajeossi passed by our table and I quickly ordered some tteokbokki before Joohwan could refuse. By the time he realized what I had done, the order was already on its way. His eyebrows twitched.

"You ordered food."

"You've been drinking on an empty stomach."

"How do you know?"

I pointed at the untouched side dishes on the table. His gaze followed mine. Then he clicked his tongue. Annoyed again. I was beginning to think that was his natural state. The thought almost made me smile again, almost. But I didn't because now that I was sitting this close, I could see it.

The redness around his eyes. The way his finger tightened around the glass whenever he drifted into thoughts, there is something he is holding on to,o or the way he kept glancing at me when he thought I wasn't looking. As if I were occupying a seat that belonged to someone else.

For some reason, I wanted to know what it is that's bothering him, though it's not my place to learn.

The food arrived a few minutes later. The steam curled into the air between us. Neither of us touched it immediately. Then, to my surprise, Joohwan picked up his chopsticks first. A small victory smile sat on my lips and vanished before I could notice. I grabbed mine too.

For a while, the only sounds between us were the clicking chopsticks and the chatter of the crowd around us, and strangely enough, it wasn't uncomfortable. Not entirely. It felt like sitting beside a stray cat that had finally stopped hissing long enough to eat.

I nearly laughed at the comparison.

"What?" Joohwan narrowed his eyes at me.

Apparently,tly I had smiled without realizing.

"Nothing." I shook my head innocently.

He looked unconvinced. I looked down at my food. Because there was no way I was telling him I had just compared him to a stary cat.

After a few bottles, Tles Joohwan started losing his balance, so I had to rush over and grab his shoulders to keep him from falling.

"I can balance myself." He said, quite sharply, as he pulled away from my grip very immediately.

My hand froze for a moment. There is a cold sharpness in tone that he doesn't like being helped with. I hesitantly moved back, ed back, but looking at him, he must have reached the limit now, and the time is already past midnight; I can't just leave him here.

Then a thought crossed my mind. I pulled up, scrollede scroll to find the person who could be quite helpful right now, and gave him a ring as soon as I found his number. I know I shouldn't disturb,b but I couldn't help it.

"Hello, hyung? What's the matter?" Minjae's sleepy voice came through the line, which made my heart feel quite guilty.

Then I glanced at Joohwan, who had now leaned his head completely on the table, so I pushed my guilt aside.

"Minjae-ah, do you by any chance have Taekwang-ssi's number?"

I can hear a slight rustle from the other side before he replies, "Of course I do; he's my…best friend, after all."

I sighed in relief. I do know they are best friends, and they will have each other's numbers. It's just that calling someone in the middle of the night to pick up his hyung wasn't exactly how I imagined spending my evening.

"Why do you suddenly need Taekwang's number, hyung?" Minjae asked, his voice sounding a little more awake now.

My eye drifted toward Joohwan again; he's still leaning over the table, one arm folded beneath his head. His eyes weren't exactly open either. Even now and then, his brows would knit together slightly, like even resting wasn't easy for him.

"Joohwan-ssi is drunk," I answered honestly.

There was a pause.

Then another

And then…

"…why are you with him, hyung?"

I was quite caught off guard by his question, but it was a good question, though. A very expectable and very good question.

"I met him here by coincidence," I said it because I couldn't explain the whole thing as if we had time.

There is another silence on the line that almost made me think he cut the call.

Then again…

"Hyung."

"Mm?"

"I don't believe you."

I first let out a breath and then a helpless laugh. Like, what these guys think is that I am a stalker or someone mad that just follows around a chef that rejected our proposal, like it's not me in the first place who gave him the offer; it's that bra,t, and still it's all on me.

"Well, neither does he," I replied, not being able to argue, rubbing my finger over my temple.

Minjae groaned from the other side. "Just wait. I'll send you Taekwang's number and address."

For the first time in my life, I was impressed by Minjae for his thinking.

A few seconds later, my phone vibrated with Taekwang's number and address with a message.

Park Minjae (team leader)—I have already informed hithat m you can drop him off at the address.

I stared at the message dumbfoundedly. I mean, yes, I was grateful for his thought of sending an address, but how can I go with a drunken man who just pushed me away like I'm some rat?

Wait, seriously? Am I calling my slef as rat, ew…

"Yoonsuh-ya…I'm…so…sorr…y…hyun…can't…say…" he slurred, his words dissolving into a soft, frustrated sigh against the flat surface of the table.

I lowered my phone, staring at the top of Joohwan's head. His shoulder trembled slightly under his jacket, his finger twitching against his folded arm as if he were trying to reach for something or someone in his sleep.

"...n't...sa...u..." he breathed out again, the syllables barely escaping his lips. "Yoon…suh-ya…"

My finger tightened around my phone. "Yoonsuh," the name repeated on my tongue as I stared at Joonhwa, and what happened to him? Why is he talking about him now?

I leaned in a fraction closer, my heart doing a strange, uncomfortable flip. It was one thing that I had already heard, that there was an accident that Yoonsuh hyung got in, and I couldn't get the full story,y and this man is now mumbling his name. What could have happened?

"J-Joohwan-ssi," I said softly, leaning over and carefully tapping his shoulder. "Hey. Wake up. We have to go."

He didn't move. He just let out a low, ragged moan, his brow furrowing deeper into a painful knot. I looked around the tent. The ajeossi behind the counter was busy scrubbing down the grill, deliberately looking anywhere but at our table.

The message from Minjae was still glowing on my screen, a literal map to a problem I hadn't asked to solve. Drop him at the address, what the fuck? As if Joohwan were a package and not a drunken man.

What should I do with you, Joohwan-sii?