ALL HE CAN GIVE.

DID I CROSS A LINE?

Song Ju-Ha's POV

'What in the world do you bring when visiting someone's house for the first time?' I thought, standing in the kitchen on a Saturday morning with a cup of coffee. It was 8:30, so I still had time to figure it out.

"Are you going out on a date or something?" Joo Hee, my sister, asked half-heartedly as she opened the fridge and pulled out some orange juice.

"No... why would you think that?" I replied, handing her a glass.

"You're dressed up," she said, taking the glass and leisurely pouring the juice.

I looked down at my outfit-just a white shirt and cargo pants. "I'm wearing a white shirt and cargo pants. How is that dressing up?"

"Says the guy who's always in shorts. Plus, you don't have any friends," she scoffed.

"Shut up! Anyway, what would you bring if you were going to a friend's house for the first time, to watch a movie?" I asked, trying to be subtle, but failing miserably because her expression completely changed. Her eyes widened, and her mouth opened as if I'd just confessed to a crime.

"Oh god, you got some poor kid to invite you to their house? Who's the unlucky guy that can handle your nasty attitude? Are they cute? If they can deal with you, they must be nice. Introduce them to me. What's their name?" she rambled on.

"If you're not going to help, then move out of my way," I interrupted, emptying the last bit of coffee from my mug into the sink and walking out of the kitchen. She followed me, persistent as always.

"Bring snacks they like. If you don't know what they like, just get something conventional, like a bag of chips. Buy a few different flavors," she suggested. Not a bad idea for a change; maybe she wasn't completely useless.

"Thanks, I'll keep that in mind," I said, heading out the door, feeling a mix of nerves and excitement.

Standing outside Yoon's house, I felt a cold sweat trickle down my back. I wiped my hands on my pants before reaching out to ring the doorbell. My finger hovered for a moment before I finally pressed the button. I was glad my tall frame let me peek over the gate because the little skip in his step as he rushed to open it was adorable. Was he that excited to see me?

"Hey," I greeted him when we were finally face to face.

He was wearing a gray tank top with black sweats; his hair wasn't styled, so he held it up with a blue headband. He looked comfortable, and his smile was inviting.

"Hello, come in. Let me help you with those," he offered, reaching for the two bags in my hands.

"No need," I replied, heading inside.

The front yard wasn't huge, but it wasn't small either. The well-tended lawn had a tree at the far end with a bench beneath it. I imagined lying there on a hot afternoon and how serene it would be, but I continued to follow him inside. As soon as I walked in, a refreshing cedar scent greeted me, instantly calming me. The living room had a dark theme, with only dark furniture arranged in the typical sofa-and-coffee-table setup. It looked like something you'd find in a high-end furniture store display. But what caught my attention wasn't the elegant décor; it was the absence of a television in the living room.

"Let's put those away first. This way to the kitchen," his voice broke my train of thought before I could dwell on it.

We walked past the living room to the kitchen. Again, everything was organized-more like arranged. A granite island took up most of the space, and I placed my bags on it.