That night, the guys had their second session of night drinking. With lesson learnt from the previous night, Hye Won had set a limit on the number of bottles of soju that Rye Il was allowed to drink. She surely had made it a point to check up on him through the hour long video call that she had with Jihyo.
Facing the screen, Rye Il repeatedly nodded his head to her instruction. "One and a half bottles. That's all you can drink."
He sighed and glanced at Jihyo and Gary. "You have two spies here," he remarked, knowing clearly that Hye Won probably had told them to kick him out of the house if he gets drunk.
"Glad that you know." She shot him a smug look before ending the call. Jihyo join them and had a few shots before going into her room, leaving the men to have some time alone.
Rye Il picked up the shot glass and gulped down the soju, then threw some peanuts into his mouth.
"You should be glad that she's concern about you," Gary said as he took a pack of cigarette from the shelf and turned to Rye Il.
"I should be happy, right?" He let out a mock laugh and grabbed a stick from him.
They headed to the balcony, bringing along the shot glasses and the soju bottle. Gary slid the door shut to prevent the cigarette smell from getting into the house.
With a click of the lighter, he lit Rye Il's cigarette then his own. They took a puff together. Gary leaned against the balcony railing with his elbows and blew the smoke out through his nose.
"The company is planning to recruit more designers. Are you interested to join?" Gary asked.
"Are you trying to poach me over?"
Gary let out a small laugh, "don't think so highly of yourself."
Rye Il scowled and turned away. "Save the offer for someone else," he said, and drew a puff on his cigarette. They stood chatting for a few more minutes before Rye Il stubbed out his half-burnt cigarette, much to Gary's surprise.
"You're done?" Rye Il nodded.
"That's not like you," Gary said, "in the past, you can't function without smoking two sticks."
Shaking his head, he grinned ruefully, "that's the old Rye Il."
Gary cocked his head to one side and arched an eyebrow in response.
"Hye Won and I are planning to start a family. I'm trying to quit smoking for good; to set a good example for my future kids." Rye Il continued.
Gary stared at him for a moment. He knew him for six years. During the period in university, they were caught smoking in school countless of time and were issued demerit points because of that but even so, they still continue with their bad habit. Without a doubt, he was shocked although it was the second best decision, in his opinion, that Rye Il has made - the first being getting married to Hye Won.
He drew a final puff from his cigarette, and stubbed it out in an ashtray. "Old habit dies hard. You owe me samgyeolsal if you fail to quit." Gary said while extending his arm towards him with the shot glass in his hand.
Letting out an amused huff, Rye Il picked up his shot glass and clinked it against Gary's, "call!"
***
"You're still awake?" Gary made his way to the bed and lie down.
"I was working on a proposal."
"So are you done with it?"
