Season two, chapter seventy-two

"I miss my brother"

UPON THE ARRIVAL of the young boy, who appeared to be acquainted with Hana, the atmosphere was filled with exuberance as everyone extended warm greetings. Despite the cheerful reception, Thea discreetly averted her gaze from the boy who bore a remarkable resemblance to her brother. The striking similarity between the two individuals was so profound that it momentarily rendered Thea speechless, evoking a sense of nostalgia as if she had been transported back in time to reunite with Jun-seo. This encounter reignited the painful memories that Thea had long suppressed within the depths of her heart.

Despite the fact that she couldn't meet his gaze, it gave the impression of discourtesy and rudeness on her part. But the idea of looking into his eyes was too painful for her, reminding her of her beloved late brother. The similarity between the two was so uncanny that Thea felt her hands tremble upon hearing the boy, who coincidentally shared the name Jun-seo, speak with an identical voice. Still, Thea was certain that although this boy bore a resemblance to her deceased brother, it could not possibly be him as she had personally witnessed his passing.

Ms. Chu beamed as she exclaimed "Here. Eat up" while placing meat on Jun-seo's plate. He responded with a smile and a gracious bow of his head

"By the way, about your father..." Mo-tak inquired as he poured soju into Jun-seo's clear glass with a tone of seriousness, as if he were discussing a real father figure. He asked "What does he do?"

"Come on. Don't be so old-fashioned" Jangmul exclaimed playfully as he held a bottle of soju in his hands ready to start drinking "Please understand. This is the first time Hana introduced a guy to us"

"It's not like that" Hana sought to defend herself, seeking validation from Thea to prevent further scrutiny regarding the issue of boys. Despite her efforts, she noticed that Thea appeared distant and uninvolved, causing her some discomfort as she was aware of Thea's usual carefree demeanor

"Sure, whatever you say" Mun expressed his disbelief by nodding his head without conviction, as indicated by his tone of voice, prompting Hana to glare at him while he maintained an innocent and amused smile. Despite Jun-seo likely having already consumed enough soju, Mun continued to pour more into his empty glass, knowing Jun-seo would not refuse and would accept the drink graciously

"This is tasty"

"May I ask what your relationship with Hana is?" Jun-seo inquired while grasping the delicate glass, his raised eyebrows betraying his curiosity. His unexpected inquiry momentarily silenced the group, prompting them to carefully consider their response

"We're her... family" Thea spoke up upon observing the uncomfortable quietude permeating the space  "We're her family" Despite concealing her unease with a gentle tone, she proceeded to empty her glass of soju. Surrounded by scrutinizing gazes, she couldn't help but feel diminutive, especially under the weight of Jun-seo's penetrating stare

"Family" they all burst into hearty laughter to ease the awkward and silent atmosphere surrounding them. Jangmul pointed with a bright smile of happiness on his face as he echoed the same words spoken by Thea, stating, "We're her family"

"Of course. Were the epitome of a family" Mo-tak laughed, showing his approval of Thea's sentiments. Hana, on the other hand, quietly expressed joy through a faint smile "Right? We're her family" he said

"We're family"Ms. Chu concurred with a nod, her eyes closing fully as she responded to the wide grin displaying on her face

"Family" Jun-seo restated, diverting his eyes towards Thea as she poured soju into her glass without acknowledging his presence. He longed to embrace her and reveal the truth of their relationship: that he is her lost brother who miraculously survived the same tragic incident and endured a coma due to severe injuries just like her

I can't

It's not time

"Yes"

"Drink up" Mun gestured as he carefully placed a spoon into an empty soju bottle. He then turned to Jun-seo with a solemn expression, indicating the gravity of the impending message he was about to deliver "Speaking of which, what do you..." However, his façade did not last long as he burst into a hearty laugh, chuckling before he could even ask "What do you like so much about her?" Mun presented the bottle and spoon to Jun-seo in a manner reminiscent of a microphone, with a smile adorning his countenance

"Goodness! Come on"

"First, she's kind" Jun-seo's assured declaration elicited hearty laughter from the group, leaving them incredulous. Thea couldn't suppress a smile, finding his humor reminiscent of her brother's, only for it to quickly fade as she downed the contents of her glass

"She is. Hana is kind. Of course" Mo-tak made a point to emphasize this fact, clearing his throat as if trying to convince himself and others of Hana's genuinely amiable nature. However, those who knew her true character found it difficult to believe

"What else?" Jangmul asked with enthusiasm, curious to hear more from the young man

"And..." Jun-seo took a moment to observe Hana again, seemingly searching for another quality to admire about her. He then concluded "She's warmhearted" before turning his gaze back to the group, visibly proud and confident in his assessment

"Warmhearted!" They laughed once again, this time with greater exaggeration, prompting Mo-tak to laugh so hard that he lifted his feet in the air, almost tipping backwards

"Gosh"

"Come on"

"Jun-seo, let's go" Hana exclaimed with annoyance, growing tired of being embarrassed by their childish behavior

"No!" Mun quickly interjected, removing the smile from his face and raising his hand in a gesture to prevent her from departing if needed

"Fine, we'll stop. All right" The rest of the group quickly asserted in a serious manner. However, Thea and Jeok-bong seemed disinterested in the group's camaraderie, preferring to eat silently

"We're just playing around"

Thea flinched in surprise when Jeok-bong, seated next to her, forcefully slammed his chopsticks on the table in annoyance. He maintained a composed yet serious expression, with a hint of jealousy in his eyes. This spectacle immediately drew the focus of all present, leading to a hushed atmosphere as they anticipated Jeok-bong's next words.

"Forget it" declared Jeok-bong with a furrowed brow, his eyes sternly fixed on the group

"What?" Mun asked with puzzlement in reaction to Jeok-bong's unusual actions, as he had unexpectedly decided to break his silence during the entirety of the discussion, a detail that had escaped the notice of all those present

"I'll leave instead" Jeok-bong turned towards Hana, his eyes gazing at her with a mixture of pain and jealousy "Hana, don't feel sorry for me"

"Me?" With a sense of confusion, Hana gestured towards herself, struggling to comprehend the situation involving him and his peculiar behavior

"You don't need to avoid him because of me" Jeok-bong stated as he rose from the ground, his mouth full of food, yet his lips displaying a subtle pout "Mun"

"Yes?"

"Don't stop me. I said, don't stop me!" Jeok-bong exclaimed loudly, closing his eyes, prompting everyone to regard him with bewilderment, likely assuming he was irrational or similar

"I didn't" Mun's brows furrowed in disbelief as he gazed up at Jeok-bong, genuinely convinced that Jeok-bong had gone completely insane

"I need some time" Jeok-bong let out a whimper before promptly exiting the restaurant without glancing back, leaving everyone feeling confused

"Are you crying?" Mun inquired with astonishment upon observing Jeok-bong's tendency to sniffle while walking away. Thea released a deep exhalation, noting that he often displayed outbursts akin to those of a juvenile trapped in a mature guise

"Whats wrong with him?" Jangmul inquired with confusion, furrowing his brow

"Am I supposed to stop him?" Mun inquired, his gaze fixed on Thea in search of some kind of guidance that would help him comprehend the situation

"He will get over it" Thea shook her head, offering solace to Mun, who visibly eased his demeanor in reaction to her words

"Did I do something?" Hana's perplexed query prompted a hush to fall over the room, with Jeok-bong once more making a notable impact on the atmosphere

"He left because he's full" Jangmul pointed to the bones scattered across Jeok-bong's plate "He's just full. Eat up"

"You were handsome then and still are" remarked Ms. Chu gently, looking at Jun-seo with a wide smile "Have some food too"

"He's throwing up. He seems pretty drunk" Mun said, as he shut the bathroom door, then stood outside, attentively listening Jun-seo's audible retching. Hana, beset with worry, maintained her unwavering gaze on the door of the communal restroom

"He must've felt uncomfortable while eating. Why did you make him drink so much?" Ms. Chu expressed displeasure as she chastised Jangmul brusquely and forcefully "You're not Hana's dad"

"It wasn't my fault. Mo-tak was the one who spewed nonsense" Jangmul slurred drunkenly, stumbling over his own feet as he tried to defend himself with coherent and precise explanations

"Come on"

"Honey" Jangmul exclaimed sweetly as he threw himself into the arms of Ms. Chu, who furrowed her brow with disdain, horror, and astonishment as she took steps back in an attempt to distance herself

"No, let me explain. This is all Jeok-bong's fault. He was eating just fine" Mo-tak swiftly intervened between them to stop Jangmul from approaching Ms. Chu in his current state, while Mun held him firmly by the shoulders "But then decided to get all melodramatic for no reason"

"Where is he by the way?"

"What should we do? Should we take him to the hospital?" Ms. Chu inquired with concern, pondering the course of action in light of Jeok-bong's complete disappearance and absence of any trace of his whereabouts

"I'll go then" Mun announced, but was promptly intercepted by Mo-tak, who appeared to have a plan in mind

"Hey"

"What is it?"

"Wait. Hana, you should wait for him. We'll go first" Mo-tak exclaimed, his hand resting on Mun's shoulder, a playful smile instantly appearing on both men's faces

"I'll stay with her!" Thea theatrically lifted her hand into the air, gently swaying as she was enveloped by the sun's rays, resulting in a blush on her cheeks that unmistakably revealed her inebriation to everyone in the distance "Eonnie!" With a broad smile adorning her face, she outstretched her arms in a gesture of affection towards Hana. However, in her haste, she tripped over her own feet, falling to the ground before Mun or Mo-tak could intervene. The unfortunate mishap caused Thea to emit a pained groan as she landed face-first on the floor

There was a collective display of unease, evident as everyone crinkled their noses in response to the situation. As Hana observed Thea's embarrassing behavior, she reacted by placing her palm against her face in a gesture of disbelief. Despite feeling embarrassed for Thea, Hana couldn't help but find amusement in witnessing her friend in such an intoxicated state, as this was a side of her she had never before seen.

In a tone conveying worry, Mun cried out, "Thea!" as he hurried towards the girl who was sprawled on the floor, delicately grasping her arm to check on her condition. While others were tempted to chuckle at the situation, Mun's focus remained on his girlfriend's well-being, sincerely inquiring, "Are you okay..."

"I'm fine!" Thea exclaimed with fervor as she raised her head and rose to her feet with the support of her partner, whose eyes displayed surprise upon catching sight of Thea's countenance

"Your nose...!" Mun expressed with horror as he swiftly reached out to tend to Thea's bleeding nostrils, showing genuine concern. In response, Thea let out a soft, childlike laughter, seemingly unaffected by the pain and finding the situation amusing "This is serious, Thea," he stated, but his expression softened when Thea leaned her head against his chest, causing him to fall silent and stirring a range of intense feelings within him in that instant

"Come on!" Mo-tak gestured urgently for the couple to expedite their movements, prompting Mun to deftly and swiftly scoop up Thea in a princess-style carry, mindful of the possibility of her stumbling again if made to walk

"No!" Hana expressed with great distress as she chased after Mun in an attempt to convince him to remain with her and not depart, leaving her alone with Jun-seo. Nevertheless, her efforts were thwarted when Mo-tak obstructed her path with a sinister smile, allowing Mun to make his getaway with Thea in his embrace

"Just go!" Mo-tak deftly pivoted Hana by her shoulders and forcefully directed her away in order to create a diversion, allowing the couple to flee and leaving her isolated with Jun-seo

"No!"

"Good luck!" Mun jovially exclaimed while playfully waving Thea's hand in the air, eliciting a smile from Thea who struggled to fully grasp the situation due to the fog of alcohol impairing her cognitive abilities. The effects of intoxication hindered her from accurately processing information

"Go!"

"Where are you guys going!?" Hana exclaimed upon observing what seemed like a betrayal, Hana's eyebrows furrowed, her gaze unwavering on Mo-tak as he peeked out from behind the fence with a sly grin. Nevertheless, he then proceeded to coax Jangmul, who appeared eager to reunite with Hana

"Come on!"

Hana found herself once again feeling abandoned, grappling with conflicting emotions and developing apprehensions, specifically in relation to a certain girl who had been behaving peculiarly in the presence of Jun-seo. It appeared that there was a familiarity between them, but they were intentionally concealing it. She pondered over the situation, questioning why she had failed to observe the underlying dynamics at play.

However, upon reflection, she realizes that she was unable to fully discern Jun-seo's memories, suggesting a barrier preventing her from accessing them, perhaps due to his resistance. This particular issue had not concerned her previously, until now.

What is going on?

Author's note;

I truly fell in love with this chapter, not only for the way I expressed Thea's feelings but also for the way I was able to empathize with her and imagine myself in her position to accurately convey her emotions at that moment 😭✨

Question of the day: Billie Eilish or Ariana Grande? 👀

In my opinion, I am not a big fan of either, but if I had to choose, it would be Billie because I can relate more to her songs than to Ariana's 🤷‍♀️ See you in the next chapter!💗