|After all|☆KSJ☆

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The kid quickly ran to his mother's side, "Eomma, please stop crying." Daesong is clearly trying so hard not to cry himself.

Jiu wipes her tears as she reassure her son, "Daesong, this is eomma's tears of happiness." She gently stroke his hair, "... so I think you should apologize to Mr. Kim here."

The boy looked surprised and gave his mother a little pout before looking at me.

"I'm sorry Mr. Kim."

I squat in front of him to see him eye to eye, "It's okay, I know you're just protecting your mom as you should." I gave him a little pat on his shoulder.

"Mr. Kim --" I cut her off. It's already akward as it is.

"Seokjin. Call me by my name since you're no stranger." I said as I stood up to face her.

"But you're still my boss." Her stubborness never left her I guess.

I give a quick smirk, "Is that it?"

As soon as she nodded, I called every staff present to the dining floor to start a little meeting.

"Everyone, this is Hong Jiu, she will join us starting tomorrow as a waitress. I hope you'll work hard with her." I stopped and looked at Jiu before continuing, "Oh, and before I forget, I will now forbid anyone who will call me Boss. You can call me Seokjin, Jin, hyung or oppa. Okay?"

The staff looked all puzzled while I spot Jiu gasp. I dismissed my confused staff and went back to their stations.

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The day passed by quickly. Once you get used to the craziness of running a restaurant, I guess it becomes bearable over time.

I picked up my exhausted body to stand up from the counter after auditing today's sale. It was a good day.

Everybody has now left the restaurant since I forcefully encouraged Jaesung to go home early since he is usually stubborn in staying here with me. I checked everything before locking up the store.

"Now its time to rest... Finally!" I said excitedly to myself.

"You still have a habit of talking to yourself." A voice behind me said making me jump backward, almost making me fall down.

"Ya! You scared me!"

Jiu laughed heartily. Something about that laugh made me reminisce our first day as a couple.

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"Seokjinnie..." Jiu teased me further after she saw my ears red when she called me with a nickname.

"Stop it Jiu."

"Hmm?" She tilted her head sideway as if she doesn't know what she's doing to me. "Why? I love to call you that."

"... Because you're too cute when you say it. It makes me..." I stopped talking and hid my face with my hands. I'm still in processing that she just accepted me as her boyfriend.

"Makes you?... Flustered?" She laughed heartily while teasing me. She tried to open up my hands to reveal my very much flushed face.

I held her wrist lightly to stop her but she was leaning on me and lost balance.  Before we both knew it, our lips have touched and my back now on the floor.

She immediately pulled away but stayed close. Just inches away from each other, I can hear heart beat in a quick succession.

At that moment I was just lost in her eyes and I felt she was the same with me too. Not wanting this to end, I was slowly closing the gap waiting for her to signal that she wants it too. She closed her eyes in anticipation and I begin to finally put my lips unto hers once more but this time, it was intentional and more fleeting than the first.

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"Where is Daesong?"

"Oh, he's with Eunji right now. I just had to go and buy some things for us in the convenient store."

She's speaking to me so casually... I hope she finds it easier to talk with me now.

"Let me walk you home." I blurted out without much thinking.

Surprised at my offer, she took a step back from me. "N-no. Uhm..."

"Jiu, this is not entirely a bad neighborhood but its not entirely good either so - wait! Is it bothering you because of your boyfriend?" I immediately regret my actions. Stupid Seokjin! Of course she has a husband!

Jiu shook her head, "No. I... uh... don't have a boyfriend or a partner... Just me and Daesong." She started to take steps and I unknowingly followed her.

I scrunched my forehead, "Then, where is Daesong's father?"

As soon as I finished my question, the blood on her face seemed to escape as she became pale.

"S-sorry. You don't have to answer that."

Right after that sentence, the air between us became heavy. Only our steps can be heard in the empty street. She didn't say anything until we stopped by the house beside the apartment complex.

"This is me. Uhmm... Thank you for walking me home." She didn't want to look at me when she said that.

"No, its perfectly fine. Get some rest."

Those were the only words that came out of my mouth although a thousand questions are still lingering in my mind.

As much as I want to know more, the more I get anxious on what her answers would be.

I watch Jiu get inside before giving an awkward goodbye once more. As she close the door behind her, it reminded me of the last day I saw her... the day she broke up with me.

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