Ji Hoo never considered himself a heavy drinker nor a lightweight. If anything, Ji Hoo thought he could handle his liquor better than Jun Pyo or Yi-Jeong. Woo Bin obviously outranked him in drinking, but Ji Hoo could hold his own. But as the night dragged on, so did Ji Hoo's careful nature. The beers soon turned into shots, relieving Ji Hoo slightly of his concerns. His focus shifted from his new enemy to Woo Bin who charmed countless women in the bar.
"You should come by my place sometime baby," Woo Bin said, emphasizing the word baby in English. He shot a grin to the woman who had approached him carelessly. This attempt worked once out of every three women, Ji Hoo observed. But then again, he lost track of the statistics with each drink he took.
Ji Hoo rubbed his forehead, shifting his gaze from Woo Bin as he was rejected. By now, Ji Hoo didn't have a clear mind. His thoughts ran from one idea to the next, never fully thinking through each said idea.
"Yo, Ji Hoo, you doing okay?" asked Woo Bin, snapping him out of his thoughts. He peered over at Ji Hoo, eyes filled with slight concern. "If you wanna go home, I can give you a ride—"
"I'm fine," Ji Hoo said, dismissing Woo Bin's offer. "I'm not ready to go back.."
"What about Jan Di? Shouldn't you try giving her a call?" Woo Bin asked, taking another shot. "You don't want it to be like last night.."
Ji Hoo screwed his eyes shut and rested his forehead against the palms of his hands, his elbows resting on the bar counter. "No." He wasn't ready to speak with her. "Why do I have to tell her everything? Everything I do.. Does she have to know?"
Woo Bin fell silent after Ji Hoo commented on his suggestion. At the silence, Ji Hoo let out a small sad laugh, and he sat up straight, staring directly ahead of him.
Finally, Woo Bin spoke up, "What's gotten into you, Ji Hoo? You've been acting weird since yesterday.."
"How is wanting to be alone weird?" Ji Hoo retorted, requesting another shot. His thoughts were scattered and his chest burned. He wasn't sure if it was the intake of alcohol or the frustration he felt. "I've always been this way. I've always wanted to be isolated from others. How is this any different?"
"Well, that is true.. You have always avoided others.." Woo Bin replied quietly. "But ever since you met Jan Di, you've always wanted to be near her. No.." He paused briefly, turning his head to look at his friend. "You've always put her first."
"So what?" Ji Hoo replied, not fully following the conversation. "Do I always have to?"
"No one will make you do anything. If I know anything, it's that you can't be forced to do something you don't want. But I just.. I just don't know where this is coming from." Woo Bin shrugged, averting his gaze. "You did everything you could to make sure she was happy."
"And I still will," Ji Hoo began defensively, furrowing his brows. "Just because I'm thinking about myself tonight doesn't mean I don't want her to be happy—"
"Then what's the issue, Ji Hoo? Why are you avoiding her now?" Woo Bin interrupted. "You took a bullet for her. That's...the scariest thing you could do for her. So what's on your mind that's worse than that? What are you two arguing about that is worse than that?"
He fell silent. Ji Hoo couldn't find an answer to that question. It was practically a year ago when Ji Hoo took the bullet to his chest, all for Jan Di who he wanted to protect. And while it wasn't always true, Woo Bin was right in this case. So what was it that prevented Ji Hoo from seeing Jan Di or telling her the truth? The secret he kept inside him was eating him up alive, he could hardly take it. Isolation was much easier when he was used to it, but by now he had grown used to being with someone.
With her.
"I.." Ji Hoo sputtered, shaking his head. "I don't know.."
Woo Bin didn't press any further, but instead reached inside Ji Hoo's jacket. He pulled out Ji Hoo's phone with one hand, grabbed Ji Hoo's hand with his other and placed the phone in his hand. "Call her." Ji Hoo glanced up at his friend, noticing the smile that formed on his lips. "I've been waiting for this chance to grab drinks with you, but not at the expense of your relationship. When you're better, give me a call, and we can all grab a drink."
"Woo Bin," Ji Hoo murmured, sighing. He dipped his head in submission, but as he lifted his gaze to meet his friend's, Ji Hoo smiled faintly. "Since when have you been good at giving advice? You've always been one to act first.."
Woo Bin laughed a little, playfully bumping Ji Hoo's shoulder. "I could say the same about you. You usually think first, but here you are...taking shots like it's nothing. I mean, it is for me. But it looks like you'll be having a rough time tomorrow morning."
Once again, his friend was right. "I suppose I will. But I'm fortunate.." Ji Hoo glanced at the phone in his hand. "I have Jan Di."
"That you do. A doctor in training, isn't she?" Woo Bin teased, "Maybe you both can play hospital. She'll play the doctor, you can be the patient.."
Ji Hoo shoved him playfully. "Don't start. Besides, we haven't really done anything like that.."
"You haven't?" replied Woo Bin with an expression of surprise. "Not that there's anything wrong with that. But I thought you would've made some moves by now, Ji Hoo."
"We're just...not ready for that yet," Ji Hoo replied, grinning partly to himself. "We haven't been able to go on many dates either.. We're both pretty busy."
"Isn't winter break coming up? You'll have plenty of time then," Woo Bin replied. "Just think about it: a couple more weeks, and you can be with Jan Di for as long as you want. So it's best you make up with her as soon as you can."
"You're right. Give me a moment," said Ji Hoo, unlocking his phone. He tapped on Jan Di's contact, which had a cute photo of her with a cat-ear filter. He couldn't help but smile at the image, which reduced his current frustrations. If anything, he was never really mad at her. He thought he was frustrated with her, but it was really with the current threat in their lives. He tapped once more on her number, which then began to ring. He held his phone up to his ear, waiting for her to pick up. However, the longer he waited, the more heavy his heart felt. The concern weighed on him heavily, he wasn't sure why she wasn't answering her phone.
When her phone went to voicemail, he tried giving her another call, only to be met with her voicemail again. Jan Di wasn't the most attentive with her phone, but it was rather odd that each time he called her, he went straight to voicemail. It was what worried him the most. People didn't answer the phone for good reasons but also bad ones. That was what made him more anxious. With a heavy sigh, he locked his phone and slipped it back into his pocket.
Woo Bin must have noticed his distress because he turned his attention back to Ji Hoo instead of the attractive woman beside him. "Everything good?"
"She's not answering her phone," replied Ji Hoo, staring down into his empty shot glass. He came up with the simplest rational. "She's probably still mad.."
"Jan Di is good at holding grudges," Woo Bin agreed, nodding his head. "Well, what do you want to do? I can drive, if ya want.." He was getting up from the stool at the bar when he tipped to the side and barely caught himself. Woo Bin blinked slowly as he leaned against the bar counter, giving a small shake of the head. "On second thought.. I might have had a couple drinks too many.. But if you're still sober, you can take my ride—as long as you take me with."
Ji Hoo didn't need to stand to know he definitely wasn't sober. He could feel it in his body, how he felt lighter than air. He wouldn't even try after the amount of alcohol he drank. Accidents were more likely due to drunk driving. He turned his gaze away as a bad memory came to mind, like a flash. "No—I can't drive like this. But I need to get home.."
"Why not call Jan Di's parents or harabeoji?" Woo Bin replied as he sat back down. "I'm sure they wouldn't mind—"
Ji Hoo cut his friend off. "I can't call either of them." First, her parents would never trust Ji Hoo again if they found out he was drinking the night away and not taking care of their daughter. He hadn't even met them properly, so that would definitely be a bad first-impression. Secondly, if he called his grandfather, he would just be berated by him for being irresponsible and—again—leaving Jan Di by herself. Both options were just plain bad. "I'm going to walk home," Ji Hoo said suddenly.
"Walk home?" repeated Woo Bin. He frowned at the suggestion. "I don't think it's safe to be walking home like this.."
"What choice do I have? I could walk home and make up with her, or I can just sit here and make her feel awful," mumbled Ji Hoo, glancing over at his friend. "I'm not going to call my grandfather or her parents. I...I know I'm not always responsible, and I make stupid decisions, but I don't want to make the situation worse. Surely you understand where I'm coming from.."
Woo Bin sighed half to himself. "I guess I get where you're coming from. I might not be in a serious relationship like you, but I get not wanting to be a disappointment. Just make sure you stay safe, yeah? I don't want you to end up in the hospital again.."
Ji Hoo smiled at his friend, patting him on the shoulder. "Thank you, Woo Bin. Don't worry, I won't get into another accident. I'll see you later." He pulled on his jacket.
"Yeah, catch me when you're not being reckless. That's my job," said Woo Bin, returning the smile to his friend.
Ji Hoo simply laughed a little at his comment before turning to leave. As he exited the doors of the bars, he stood still, taking in a breath of the chilly winter air. He pulled his hands out of his coat pockets, along with them a pair of white gloves to which he put on. After all the drinking, Ji Hoo felt a little off, as though he were swaying back and forth. He probably was. After making sure he was warm, he began strolling down the sidewalk, focusing his gaze on the ground in front of him and focusing on keeping his balance. He ignored the passersby, which included lovebirds on romantic dates. Despite this, Ji Hoo couldn't help but feel a tinge of jealousy and guilt, both of which were his own fault. As he kept strolling, a familiar voice rang inside his ears.
"Well look who it is."
The voice unfortunately caught Ji Hoo's attention. He wished he didn't hear anything and kept moving forward, but he noticed a pair of red heels in front of him. Remaining silent, Ji Hoo finally shifted his gaze upward to the hazy image of a familiar woman before him. She smiled at him. Similarly to last time, she was all fancied up: her blond hair was in a neat bun, with a couple strands framing her face, and she wore a white heavy fur coat. In her hand was a scarlet purse.
"You're so quiet this time around. What? No snarky remarks this time?" Her smile turned into a mocking grin. "Are you stunned? Shocked? By my beauty?"
"Quite the contrary," Ji Hoo muttered under his breath, glancing away from her. "I can't stick around to chat."
"Oh, but I think you should reconsider," she replied, reaching out to grab his chin with her bare hands. With a firm hold, she turned his head back into her direction so that they could look eye-to-eye. "Remember who has the upper hand here—."
"I'm not afraid of you." Ji Hoo's interruption was swift and cold as he brushed her hand away. He had no reason to be kind or generous towards the woman who threatened the love of his life. "Now, if you'll excuse me." He was ready to leave when she stepped in front of him once more.
"I see you haven't considered my proposal at all." She looked a little saddened, but Ji Hoo knew better than to feel sorry for her.
"Why would I? You've done nothing but hurt my girlfriend and threaten her," Ji Hoo said.
"Because, if I wasn't clear then, I am now." She leaned in close and whispered in his ear, "If you want to protect Geum Jan Di, you will keep in contact with me."
In his current state, Ji Hoo was a little more worked up than usual. He tensed easily at the mention of his girlfriend's name. "Who are you?"
She pulled back, smiling innocently at him. "It's about time you've asked. My name is Min Ji. Park Min Ji. Now.." She took him by his hand, pulling him in the direction of the bar he came from. "Let's go grab a drink."
Ji Hoo pulled his hand out from her grip, backing away from her. "I've already had a couple drinks. I don't need anymore—"
His voice dropped when she gestured to a black van parked down the street. "Let's grab a drink," Min Ji insisted, reaching for his hand once more.
He looked over at the van once more before glancing back at her. This time when she took his hand, he complied without a word. The last thing he wanted to do was do something irrational, like send a pack of dangerous individuals Jan Di's way. Instead, he followed Min Ji back into the darkness of the bar. Multi-colored lights flashed around the room like it did earlier. It was almost as if he didn't leave, except instead of being with a close friend, he was stuck with an enemy.
He needed a way to get home.
Fast.
As Min Ji lead him to one of the tables near the window, his eyes scanned the bar for a familiar face—a friend. Then he spotted him: Song Woo Bin. Like before, he was having a grand old time, flirting with numerous women and laughing along with them.
Now if only I could get his attention.
"What are you looking at? Something caught your eye?" she asked.
Ji Hoo rested his arms on the table, glancing back over at Min Ji without so much a smile. "Nothing."
"Doesn't seem like nothing." She cocked her head to the side, gazing at the things going on in the background. He winced internally, hoping she wouldn't catch sight of Woo Bin; he knew that she would surely recognize him. "Wow, shame on you," she scoffed, glancing back at him. Ji Hoo avoided her gaze. "I can't believe you would even dare, especially with me right in front of you and your girlfriend at home."
At her words, Ji Hoo froze. The last thing he needed was to get caught mid-plan.
Jan Di sighed sadly at the textbook in front of her. She was sitting on her bed, flipping mindlessly through the chapter she was supposed to have studied for her upcoming exam, but she couldn't find any way to focus. Not when she was in the middle of a fight with Ji Hoo.
Was it a fight? Were they fighting? Or was she overthinking it? Maybe she was underthinking it.
She scowled to herself and fell back onto her bed, arms sprawled out with her legs criss-crossed. There was no way she would get an ounce of studying at this rate. All she wanted to do was at least make up with her boyfriend.
She kicked her textbook off the bed out of frustration, immediately feeling guilty for doing so. Quickly, she sat up and picked up the book from the floor, setting it on her lap. Her fingers brushed across the smooth cover, recalling how Ji Hoo lent her his books this semester since she couldn't afford it. It was such a kind gesture, but here she was trashing his possessions.
Invaluable possessions, she noted silently to herself.
But the last thing she wanted to do was mope around. That was such a sorry and pathetic state to be seen in.
How could I be so hung over a guy? Jan Di cursed at herself silently, feeling a mixed array of emotions all at once: frustration, sadness, loneliness, annoyance. And most of it was—surprise!—at herself. Could she really blame Ji Hoo for feeling under pressure by her interrogation? Jan Di absolutely hated being interrogated herself; how could she do that to him?
That's enough. I need some fresh air.
She got up and got dressed. If she was going to feel upset, then she wasn't going to stay inside this lonely house. She would go out for a walk, get fresh air, maybe buy something to eat. After all, she was likely going to be eating dinner alone, again. The other night she had Woo Bin, and while it was fun to see him, it didn't feel as genuine. She knew he had only come out of Ji Hoo's request to help ease her loneliness during his absence, which didn't help at all. In fact, it made her feel worse. She felt like a dog that had to be cared for appropriately and that Woo Bin was just coming by to make sure she was fed. She felt terrible.
Absentmindedly, she pulled on her dark jacket and scarf, and left the house. Only she realized she forgot her gloves as soon as she closed and locked the door. Cursing at herself once more, she decided to leave without them.
"I'll be fine," she mumbled to herself as she breathed in the chilly winter air.
She decided to walk to the porridge shop, where she planned to see her former boss and maybe get a free meal from him. She doubted he would give anything free to her, especially now that he knew she was living with a wealthy man—no, scratch that, the grandson of the former president of South Korea. Jan Di would absolutely get no hand-outs and rightfully so.
She slowed her steps as she patted herself down, wincing when she realized she didn't bring her wallet. With a heavy sigh, she moved to the side of the sidewalk, sitting on the edge with her knees against her chest. She rested her chin atop her knees, staring sadly at the road in front of her; she could practically hear her stomach growling.
"I'm sorry stomach," she mumbled, "I failed you again."
"I understand your struggle," a voice said behind her.
Jan Di whipped her head around, spooked by the sudden interruption. Her eyes settled on a figure with blond hair. He offered a friendly smile and a wave. Almost instantly, she recognized him. "Y..Young Jae?" she asked. The kind server from the other day.
He looked startled at the mention of his name. "You remember?" He rubbed his shoulders, glancing away briefly before looking back at her. "Color me surprised. I thought I was some nobody, especially to the lot of you."
"A nobody? What makes you think that?" replied Jan Di, blinking slowly as if she didn't fully understand. "You took on an impressive amount of work at the diner. That's unforgettable. You left an impression on my.." her voice trailed off. She cleared her throat, shaking her head. "On Ji Hoo. He was very impressed."
"Really?" Young Jae looked even more surprised now at her comment. "I figured you'd forget. I mean, everyone usually does." He took a seat beside her on the cold cement. "I'm just...a worker. I cater to people's needs and they are grateful at first, but they usually forget. I'm on the bottom of the barrel, as they say."
Jan Di frowned, but she understood. "I know where you're coming from," she murmured. "I was in a similar position. Underappreciated by those I catered to." Her thoughts drifted off to the previous year, in which she had to find different jobs. She catered to the lives of the wealthy, which included F4; Ji Hoo seemed to appreciate the working class, but Jun Pyo? Woo Bin? Yi-Jeong? At one point before meeting her, they likely would have never batted an eye.
Young Jae tilted his head to one side. "I'm...surprised. You surprise me, Jan Di."
Spoken like Ji Hoo, she thought.
"Seeing you with him, I would have never guessed it. But I suppose you found a way to survive without working yourself to the bone," he continued. "That's really fortunate."
"What do you mean?" Jan Di asked, a little puzzled by his statement. I found a way to survive without working? He doesn't mean my relationship with Ji Hoo, does he? She paled at the thought. Did she really come off as a leech?
"Well, you are dating him, right?" Young Jae said. "I just figured that someone that high up in status would never let you work a day in your life. I mean, can you imagine it? Working at a restaurant like me and dating the former president's grandson? That would look bad. Almost like he's not able to provide for you. He did pay the bill, after all, and left me with an extravagant tip."
"I.. I never thought of it that way," murmured Jan Di, lowering her gaze. A brittle wind swept by, blowing strands of hair in her face. She brushed them aside, feeling a lump form in her throat.
"Not...not that it's a bad thing!" Young Jae quickly added, laughing a little to improve the mood. "I'm happy for you. At least some of us are able to escape this terrible cycle." Jan Di didn't reply. He cleared his throat loudly, as if to catch her attention. "Well, are you hungry still?"
"..Starving," Jan Di replied, shrugging off his earlier comments. "But I'll probably just go home since I didn't bring any money."
"Well, why don't I treat you to a meal?" Young Jae replied, smiling at her.
Jan Di shook her head. "I couldn't possibly—"
"No need. Your boyfriend gave me a hefty tip. I'm not feeling particularly good about keeping it all to myself. I mean, it's kinda like I owe him. So let me treat you. Unless you need to go home to him—"
"No," Jan Di interrupted. "I don't need to go home." I'd rather not. "If you're really okay with it.. I'll find a way to pay you back."
"Don't worry about it," Young Jae said, standing up. He extended his palm out to her. "Just come by the restaurant again. I'd like to see you both sometime."
Jan Di stared up at him. With a smile, she took his hand.