𝑩𝒂𝒃𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆, 𝑰'𝒍𝒍 𝒏𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒍𝒆𝒕 𝒊𝒕 𝒅𝒊𝒆

[5]

Sooheon let off Chanmi near her house and saying goodbye, he drove off.

He came home, sat down and closed his eyes. After minutes, his phone started ringing.
He quickly picked up.

"SON!" Mr. Choi yelled.

Sooheon was confused. He checked the contact again. It was his father, but another person was on the phone.

"He-hello?"
"Son! Say hi to my best friend!" Mr. Ji joined.
"Hi, umm- uncle?"

No response.

"Hello, dad? Are you drunk?"
"I'm not! I'm not drunk at all." Mr. Ji said in a tipsy voice.
"Where are you?"
"I'm at home. COME HOME QUICKLY! It's not good to stay out so late."
"Tell me the location."

Sooheon got off the car and rushed to the snack bar.

Who would've thought, two super successful businessmen of Seoul, in a local snack bar, is laughing their hearts out?

Sooheon stood a few steps away from them, watching the dad's laughing and drinking. It's the 3rd time he'd seen his dad this happy.

The first time, in a picture. There was a woman wearing a white wedding dress standing beside his father, arm to arm, smiling. He believed it was his mother, who died peacefully when he was 6.

Second time, after almost 12 years of Mrs. Ji's death. It was when he finally moved in with him. He smiled so bright that day, although Sooheon was sad for letting everything go, it made up for it.

Now, he tried to call his dad out of it. He turned to look at the other man, who turned out to be Mr. Choi, her dad.

"Excuse me, sir? Aren't you going home?"

He was sure in an awkward position. He tries to reach Mr. Choi's phone, but the battery was dead. He sighed, blaming his luck.

That left him no choice.

The next day, Sooheon ate breakfast quickly to avoid his dad at all cost. He peeked through the door, his dad and Mr. Choi sleeping. The smell of alcohol is heavy, he held his breath.

He grabbed his motorcycle keys and the wallet and left. It's Friday today, the gathering day.

Namra woke up to find herself messy. Her hair, her dress, her face and her voice- everything is messy. Her hairs look broken, her pajama looks wrinkled, her face looks skinny, not to mention her eye bags. Her throat is sore. It stings as well.

Namra remembered Onjo invited her to join the gathering.

"I can't go like this."

Except Joonyoung and Hyoryung, everyone is at Cheongsan Chicken.
They'll be here later.

Jimin is eating some chips and being herself. Minji is quietly sitting down in a chair responding to others. Onjo and Cheongsan being lovey-dovey and Woojin and Daesu side eyeing them. While I-Sak and Gyeongsu is clicking pictures for Instagram. Sooheon is sitting along with them. He kept glancing at Onjo nervously.

"Make space, kids. The chicken's ready!" Mrs. Lee came rushing with the bowl of fried chicken.
"Thanks for the delicious food!" Everyone said as they jumped upon the food.

"Hey, Sooheon. You're not eating, why?"
Woojin pointed.

Everyone turned to look at him. Sooheon met everyone's eyes as they stared at him suspiciously. Onjo smirked and stood up holding a chicken leg.

"So.." Onjo looked at everyone. "I have something to tell you."
"Go on." Daesu said as he chewed on chicken. Jimin, who was busy eating gestured Onjo to speak.
"We have someone joining us." She nervously said.
"And who's that?" Cheongsan raised an eyebrow.
"It's...Prez, I mean Namra, Choi Namra." She admitted.

Daesu's chicken breast fell from his hand. Woojin stopped chewing, Mijin paused. Jimin started coughing and Cheongsan froze. Sooheon kept eating.

"Why aren't you eating?" He said while chewing.
"YOU KNEW ABOUT THIS, DIDN'T YOU?" All of them said.
"Why are you so angry? Is inviting her a crime?" Sooheon's defensive side kicked in.
"Hey, that's not it. You could've told us. Now it's going to be awkward." Jimin explained.
"Just be your normal self. She is a human, not a robot, guys." Onjo said. "She'll feel uncomfortable if you walk on eggshells around her."
"Still, you should've told us. I would've dressed up." Daesu defended Sooheon.
"Why would you dress up around her?" Sooheon brought up the matter.
"He's jealous!" They laughed.

"So, I was dumbfounded?" Cheongsan stared at Onjo, dramatically mocking heartbreak. "And you, you bastard. I thought you were my best friend." He pointed at Sooheon.

"Hey, shut up. It's not a big deal." Woojin said.

Namra told the driver to let her off a few stores away from Cheongsan Chicken. She checked her mirror. She applied a lot of concealer under her eye, did warm toned makeup, did her hair differently and added her favorite strawberry perfume.

She's wearing a light blue cardigan with a white shirt underneath and flared pants. She's wearing white heels.

Namra entered Cheongsan Chicken awkwardly. Onjo stood up and ran to her.

"You made it." Onjo chuckles. "You look pretty."
"Thanks."
"Come and sit."

Namra smiled and nodded.

"Hi, Prez. How've you been?" Daesu blurted out.
"Good. What about you, Daesu?"
"As you can see, I'm great as long as I have chicken." He pointed at the chicken bowl. That caused Namra to smile.
"Hey, Prez. Nice to see you." Minji said.
"Nice to see you, too."

"I didn't knew you were coming. It's nice to see you, Prez." Cheongsan smiled.
"It's great to be here. Thanks to Onjo, she invited me." She looked at Onjo.

Namra looked at Jimin who avoided eye contacts with her at all costs and was busy eating.

Meanwhile, Sooheon who sat opposite to Namra kept stealing glances at her. She looked different, good different. When did she change so much? And not to mention...

She looked pretty.

"Hey, Prez. Don't you think it's unfair?" Woojin stopped eating and bursted out. Namra looked at him, surprised.

"You talked to everyone except me and Sooheon."
Sooheon who was stuffing his mouth in silence, turned to look at his friend who was clowning himself.

"I'm really hurt, but this boy over there is more hur-"

Before Woojin could finish, he earned himself a punch in the back. Sooheon grabbed his hand and forced him to sit down.

"What the hell are you doing?" Sooheon whispered.

Namra can't help but burst out laughing at their stupidity.

He's so precious.