“What’s got you in such a good mood Dong Hoon Ah? You keep smiling” Jae Chul asks late one night at Jung Hee’s bar.
“Nothing” he had been quick to reply taking a swig of his drink.
Jae Chul gives him the once over tsking as he says,
“I don’t know, you really are acting strange today”
He didn’t think he was too different, I mean yeah he had been seeing Ji An since the day they ran into each other a few weeks ago. But he was trying to keep that private for the time being. They had just had a particularly spectacular date and he couldn’t stop thinking about her. The flashes in his mind of her lips on his and her hands tangled in his hair were making him flushed. Luckily he could use alchohol as a cover. He thought the conversation would move on but instead he was startled with a loud,
Park Dong Hoon choked on his drink hard. All eyebrows in Jung Hee’s bar rose at his reaction.
Ki Hoon who had been studying him is quick to say,
He doesn’t reply instead busying himself with cleaning his clothes. He finds that Ki hoon would not be easily discouraged by feigning ignorance.
"I bet you that’s it. You’re seeing her” he stated, clearly pleased with himself for having figured it out.
“Seeing who?” He could hear from the group.
“Ya, you bastard”, he warns. He really doesn’t want to share this just yet. It’s too new, too exciting and terrifying at the same time.
Ki Hoon says and pats his brother on the shoulder signaling he should follow him outside. He takes this chance to get away, since the questions from everyone have not stopped yet. He figures if he is to have this conversation, his younger brother would be at least understanding. Lighting a cigarette, Ki Hoon ponders and after taking a long puff he says,
“I already told you once to be careful, but I feel like I dont have to worry about that with that girl right? It’s clear she loves you. I could see that…we all could”
Park Dong Hoon is taken aback. The nature of their relationship had been blurry from the start. He had struggled with his feelings for her for so long. Only willing to accept them fully once she was gone. While hers had always been out in the open for everyone to see.
“Are you happy?” Ki Hoon asks,
“Hyung, you know you are allowed to be happy right?”
After a long pause and a defeated sigh he replies,
“Yes, I am happy” And that is all he is willing to say.
Ki Hoon chuckles, patting him on the back,
“I knew it! Well, then that’s all that matters isn’t it. Bring her by when you are ready. I’m sure everyone here would love to see her. She was a good fit, the last time she was here.”
And that she was, he thought. While his ex wife had just wanted to isolate him with her form of affection, Ji An had accepted him whole. He had always been Park Dong Hoon +family +neighborhood. He was a loyal caring friend, and in turn people loved him as well.
Two weeks later be brings her by. They are holding hands as they leisurely walk the road that saw them together long ago. He can tell she’s nervous, and he’d be lying if he said he wasn’t as well. They had talked about their new relationship status. Unable to keep dodging questions, he had come out clean about them last week. And while some were puzzled by their pairing, most had known this was coming. They had also all been equally excited for him, for them.
As Jung Hee’s bar gets closer, he asks her if she’s ready. Her big beautiful eyes meet his and she nods. He kisses the hand that he was holding, smiling at each other as he gets ready to open the door.
The jingle of the bells announces their arrival. They are met with the lively bunch all cheering for them. He laughs and she’s a little startled when she’s almost yanked out of his side, plopped into a chair, given food and drinks, and congratulatory pats on the back. She looks back at him still standing there taking it all in. He beams at her, pleased that she is so welcomed. Jung Hee approaches him and says quietly
“I’m glad for you Dong Hoon Ah. She’s a lovely girl, and has a big heart…just like you”
He smiles at her fondly and thanks her. He knows how much Jung Hee adores her.
He marvels at his life now. It most certainly wasn’t what he had expected. But like Gyeomduk had once told him he had to live the life he wanted, and he ultimately was. She had been instrumental in that development. Everything that happened led them both here. Even though he had missed her desperately when she was gone their separation was a time much needed to sort everything out. Life had brought them together again as better versions of themselves. And here she was, finally, with him. His friends treating her as if she had never left, as one of their own.
Ji An smiles back at him, joy shinning in her eyes. She is soon distracted though by Jae Chul merrily handing her another drink. Park Dong Hoon finally comes in and takes the seat next to her. In that small neighborhood bar the warmth that surrounds them is not because of the changing seasons. It’s because of the people who inhabit it, and for that he is very grateful.
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