55-1

"Jaewook," I say into my phone as I walk along the street. Sunny is beside me, laughing at Zen about something. "Yes Noona?" "Are you done work now?" "Yeah, what's wrong?" I can hear the anxiety through the speaker. "Nothing baby, everything's fine. Can you meet me at the bar Zen works at? My friend wants to see you and Zen I think wants to apologize." "Oh. Okay, I'll head over now." Once in the familiar watering hole, we take our preferred spot in the corner of the building. Zen goes off to order some food personally, going behind the counter despite not being in uniform just to get scolded by his boss, who he just waves off haphazardly "You okay?" Sunny asks with an uncharacteristically serious tone. "I haven't heard from you in so long, and you seem... different. Is everything okay?" I take a deep sigh. "Now everything is fine." "Now?" The conversation is cut off by Jaewook approaching us. Dashing in all black attire, hands in the pockets of his leather jacket, he somewhat cautiously approaches us. I can instantly tell that he's nervous so I reach out to him. "Sit here," I softly say as I hold onto his arm. He gives me the flash of a hesitant smile before lowering his head at Sunny and looking up at her from beneath his raised brows. "I remember you," she simply says and it's enough to make him visibly break a sweat. "You're not as... confident as I remember." A few bottles of beer arrive at that moment and Sunny swiftly opens hers all while still watching Jaewook with observant eyes. "Y-yeah," he mutters with a laugh. "Sunny don't interrogate him please." "Aw why not?" She pouts at me. "I need to find out as much as I can since it's so hard to get anything outta you." She opens a second bottle and slides it over to him. He sits back in the booth a bit and eyes it with unease. "You don't have to drink," I say to him while running a hand down his back. "He doesn't drink?" "Not usually," I softly say before focusing back on him. Luckily Zen returns to distract the fireball in front of us. "Jaewook, relax baby." His lips slightly part, shallow breath leaving the space between as his eyes dance between mine. This past month's events have made Jaewook a tense, anxious man. The relaxation of our trip to Okinawa only lasted so long. "Sorry, it was just, just busy at work and I think it got to my nerves or something I don't know," he rambles as I continue to lightly rub his back in reassurance. "I think I should drink, just a little to relax, but I'm s-scared." He whispers his last words. "Jaewook," I grab his cold hands. "You know I'll never make you do something you don't want, but remember what I said before. You are NOT him and you never will be. Remember the first time you drank? You didn't hurt a fly. You have nothing to be scared of, but I can get you some water instead." He presses his lips together as he looks at me silently. "No, you're right. I'm not him." And so with feigned bravery, he grabs the bottle and takes a gulp. "Oh, I thought he didn't—?" Zen puts a hand on Sunny's arm, stopping her words. "Jaewook," he says as he focuses on the once again terrified boy beside me. "Y-yes?" "I'm sorry. Really. I was being unfair to you before." It takes a moment for Jaewook to register what he said. "No, not at all, you weren't being unfair—" "No, I was. I've always liked you, you know that. I know you're a good kid. Just, just take care of her okay? She's not as tough as she seems." Sunny watches in uncomfortable silence as the mood around the table grows sentimental. "Of course I will hyung." "Of course he will," Sunny interrupts. "He's gonna be a police officer." The way she says the words and the wiggling of her eyebrows makes me immediately grimace. "He'll protect her alright, won't you?" "Uh, sure?" Jaewook responds in question, not understanding her undertones simply since he doesn't know Sunny enough yet. "So," Sunny leans over the table, eyes sparkling in mischievous curiosity as she zones in on Jaewook. "Do you get your own personal set of handcuffs when you get in?" The blush the covers Jaewook's face is priceless. "Okay Sunny that's enough, I don't want to hear—" Zen tries to pull her back but her Cheshire Cat smile only grows. "Oh he's a shy one, maybe it'll be the other way around huh? I know this girl, she's a strong one if you know what I mean," she winks at Jaewook and he nearly chokes on his incoming swallow of beer. "Sunny shut up I swear to god." "And I'm not even buzzed yet!" She exclaims with a chuckle. "How, how did this even happen again?" I motion between my brother and Sunny in complete shock. "Uh, we've been kind of getting closer for a while now." "Months," Sunny adds in. "Months?!" Zen continues. "But just as friends. I mean we've known each other since we were kids Dee, we're bound to become friends too." "Okay fine but you're not just friends now." "I couldn't have you so I settled on him instead," Sunny half-jokes as she elbows Zen. I can see Jaewook's doe eyes widen drastically at the suggestion of my friend wanting to date me. "She's crazy don't listen to a word she says," I say to him while grasping his arm. "I'm not crazy I'm just honest." "Can you keep your honesty to yourself sometimes babe?" Zen says and I find myself gagging in disgust at the use of "babe." "Nope, I don't like this anymore." "Aw come on, this is perfect! If it works out you will become my sister! Wasn't that always the dream growing up?" Sunny beams at me. "That's when we were young and naive," I mumble, deciding its time for myself to drink. . . . A few beers in I can feel Jaewook finally relax into himself. His arm lays behind my shoulders, his head often leaning into me to whisper nonsense in my ear. It appears that despite his lack of confidence lately, Mr. Casanova was still hiding inside of him.