A stream of warm light poured out onto the sidewalk from the open door, the once muted sounds from inside the restaurant coming alive. Chatter, laughter and the clinking of silverware harmoniously rung out, mingling with the smell of grilled meat. Jaehee closed the door behind him, thankful for the cool night air. The kids from the media department had decided to host a night out after finishing a film project and he had been invited to tag along. While he had a feeling he was invited because he always paid, he didn't mind treating the underclassmen. More importantly, it was Haneul who had asked him to come. He wasn't sure if Minji had put her up to it, but even if he didn't have feelings for her it would have been tough to turn her down, her wide eyes staring up at him expectantly. He smiled, remembering her flushed cheeks and excited jog at his answer as she ran off to her next class. I'm such a fool.

Though he was good at holding his liquor, the same didn't seem to be true for the underclassmen who were already flushed and rowdy from drinking games, caps of soju bottles strewn across the table. Each time a twisted scrap of metal went flying, a loud holler would erupt from the group as they sloshed soju into shot glasses (and onto the table) before urging their classmates to drink up.

He tapped the cigarette box against his palm, preparing to light up when the sound of the front door bell rang out behind him.

"Oh good, you're here"

Minji stood backlit by the door, she looked frazzled, her unzipped coat hastily draped over her body. She blew a loose strand of hair away from her face, her hands occupied as she held Haneul awkwardly against her body like an unruly toddler. Hanuel swayed in her arms, a dazed look on her face as she groaned and protested to return to the restaurant.

Jaehee took in the scene, a chuckle escaping his lips as he shook his head in amazement. "Somebody can't hold their liquor"

"Are you just going to stand there or are you going to help?" Minji stumbled forward fighting against Haneul. She alternated between shooting daggers at Jaehee and offering sweet platitudes to Haneul, brushing hair from her face and adjusting the hem of her skirt. Haneul on the other hand, was clearly not in the mood to be helped. She struggled against her friend's grasp and drunkenly complained about her protective nature. "I want to go baaaack" she slurred in protest.

Jaehee pocketed the cigarette box and stepped forward to offer a hand to Haneul. "Here, let me take her"

Haneul languidly slumped against him, his body involuntarily stiffening as she gripped at his forearm and rested her head on his shoulder. Minji sighed and reached a hand out to tuck hair behind Haneul's ear, who responded in annoyance by swatting her away.

"Can you watch her while I go get her bag?" She asked, exasperated, already half turned towards the door. Jaehee nodded and shifted his stance to balance as a wobbly Haneul dangled from him. Her small frame tucked perfectly under his arm, he could feel her warmth as she pressed against his body. In another world this could have been a dream scenario. They stood in silence for what felt like an eternity, his eyes doing their best to look anywhere but down at the girl leaning on him.

After some time, Haneul sniffed loudly and wrinkled her nose. "You smell like cigarettes" A grin tugged at his lips, a sideways smile gleaming down at her. "And you smell like alcohol"

A frown twisted at her features before she lifted her hand up to grip at his jacket collar, she tugged, the weight of her inebriated arm pulling his face towards her. Jaehee paused, choking down a dry swallow. Her cheeks were tinged pink from the alcohol, her eyelids heavy. Even in her disheveled state he couldn't help but think how beautiful she looked.

"Sunbae… you're so warm" her heavy eyes closed, and she slowly tiled her face up to his in anticipation.

It felt like everything was moving in slow motion, the world stopped around them as he held her in his arms. He stared down at her long eyelashes, the small curve of her nose, her rosebud lips slightly parted. This girl is gonna be the end of me.

He shook his head, reason returning to him. He pulled back, his large hand wrapping around her wrist before gently tugging it away from his collar.

"You're drunk" he muttered, backing away "I thought you wanted your first kiss to be special" he forced a smile, trying to make his words sound upbeat.

Haneul recoiled, her face cast down in a shadow as her hand slumped down to her side. "Well it wasn't"

The bell rang out behind them. He turned, instinctively taking half a step away from Haneul. Minji rushed out, bag in tow before fussing over her friend. He watched as she glanced over her, bending down to zip up her jacket as you would a child. Her frenzied care reminded him of a first time mother, he internally chuckled at the thought. After she was satisfied with her preening, she glanced over at Jaehee "Thanks for keeping an eye on her" she offered up a genuine smile and a sigh of relief.

Jaehee smiled back, a hand brushing at the back of his head "No problem, do you think you can make it back okay?" He watched as she considered his words, struggling with the implications. By now, he knew how stubborn she was when it came to Haneul.

"I think… I might need some help" She admitted, resigned to the reality of carrying her drunk, unruly friend across campus on her own.

Haneul had been surprisingly obedient as they half dragged, half carried her back to Minji's dorm despite her ongoing complaints at being torn away from soju. Though carrying her up the stairs had required a feat of both strength and coordination, they mostly made it up without a hitch. Haneul wasn't going down without a fight though, she kicked her feet in protest as he and Minji struggled to take off her shoes before finally hauling her into bed. It wasn't long before she was softly snoring, a puddle of drool already forming on Minji's pillow. Jaehee smiled, the scene reminiscent of the times he had taken care of his niece.

He stood leaning against the open door frame, only the glow of the hallway light illuminating the small dorm. Minji leaned over the bed, draping a blanket over her friend's body, attentive as ever. A sense of admiration settled over him, watching her care for her friend all night, he could sense how much she cared for her. For some reason, a sense of sadness soon washed over him.

Minji walked over to him, her hand resting on the door handle, a weary smile on her lips. "Thanks for helping out tonight" her eyes were cast down, a hand tucking a long strand behind her ear. He looked down at her, a worried expression etched on his face.

"You're a good friend Minji, you're always looking out for her."

She offered up a shrug as if to say she couldn't imagine doing anything else.

"Who's taking care of you?"

He sensed her body stiffen, and he watched her smile narrow into a hard line. She glanced up at him before offering dryly "I can take care of myself"