Day -1
I was walking back and forth in the still-not-opened restaurant. There were onlookers passing by, peering at me, probably wondering what I was even doing in front of a restaurant that still had time to open.
Minjae kept giving a bow or awkward smiles to people passing by. As it was day one, he wanted to accompany me to collect some information about Joohwan. He said Taekwang would be there today bringing the details.
"Yah, stop bowing to every person who is staring at us," I said, letting out an annoyed hiss. "They will get the wrong idea."
He turned to look at me, raising his one eyebrow. "Look who's speaking. You have been pacing here for the past twenty minutes like a caged animal, hyung," he said, pointing at me with an amused little smile. "People are staring at you, not me. I'm just trying to make them feel less uncomfortable."
I stopped at a mid-step. He had a point. Unfortunately.
I narrowed my eyes at him. "You don't have to look so pleased with yourself."
"I'm not pleased, hyung."
I scoffed, "Then why are you smiling?"
"That's because you're funny when you are nervous."
I gritted my teeth. "I'm not nervous."
Minjae's smile widened, which only fuelled my annoyance. Then he ever so sweetly called me, "Hyung."
"What?"
"Are you really that nervous?"
I got anxious for a second, because yes, I am nervous, too nervous. I was all brave and confident yesterday about my decision, but now, in action, that confidence and bravery aren't working. All I could see was Joohwan's cold gaze, dim face, and pushy attitude.
And now, a question has arisen within me…
Am I really going to get him with us? Am I being selfish? What if I'm risking nothing but listening to another gut-wrenching 'no'?
I sighed and rubbed my forehead, dragging my palm down my face.
"Get yourself together, Han Sungmin. You have handled worse than this?" I muttered to myself.
"Are you giving a motivational speech now?"
I immediately dropped my hand and glared at Minjae.
He was leaning against the wall behind us, arms folded loosely across his chest. His lips were curled into that irritatingly amused smile, and there was that faint sparkle in his eyes that told me he had been enjoying my suffering for the past five minutes.
"I am just talking to myself."
"I know."
"Then why are you answering?"
"Because you – I have asked you a question; you didn't even answer it, but I guess I don't need it." He said, pushing himself off the wall with a huff.
I shook my head and turned away from him, looking toward the restaurant again. The sign above the entrance was still turned to CLOSED. The windows had been cleaned recently, but the inside remained dim.
This place looked completely different from the first time I had visited. The little potted plants beside the door. With no handwritten menu taped against the window. It was all quite without any noise, like…Joohwan.
"Oh, he's here," Minjae announced with a bright smile.
I turned around to see a familiar figure walking towards us, carrying a canvas tote bag over one shoulder. He was so calm, with one hand wrapped around the strap. His chestnut hair was slightly messy from the breeze, and his eyes were already scanning the area as if searching for us, and then they landed on us.
The moment he spotted Minjae, his face changed. The tension around his eyes that I missed noticing from afar now eased. And Minjae's entire face brightened just seeing his best friend. I narrowed my eyes.
"Why are you both standing outside the restaurant like suspicious loan sharks?" Taekwang asked, stopping a few feet away.
"Come on, Taekwang-ah, you know how many hours we've been standing here?" Minjae whined, which almost made me cringe.
Taekwang noticed my face change the moment Minjae whined. I turned my head toward Minjae. I twisted my lips to the side and let out a heavy sigh, letting my face fall into a look of pure embarrassment for him, more than his best friend had to.
Minjae did not even notice, but Taekwang caught the whole thing. He looked at them, at his best friend, and let out a chuckle.
"Don't mind him; he always acts like that if I am around," he said so casually that I almost missed the tiny smile pulling at the corner of his lips.
Oh yes, I can see that.
Minjae, however, immediately looked offended. Now I don't have to see his drama; we only have a week, and I can't waste the running time.
"You brought the files, right?" I asked Taekwang; that made Minjae's open mouth close.
Taekwang nodded, reaching into his tote bag. He pulled out a yellow folder that had soft edges and a cute sunflower winking at the corner. I pressed my lips together, trying not to be distracted by that, and extended my hand to take the folder.
"Everything I could find: his training, his certification, the places he worked before everything," he said, dropping to something more serious.
"He worked before?" I asked, a bit surprised to hear that. But I shouldn't be that shocked, right? I don't know about more.
Taekwang's lips curved into a bitter smile. "He did maybe for three years like that; later he quit that job."
I nodded my head, listening to Taekwang attentively, before opening the folder and taking out the papers. Minjae peeked into the papers over my shoulder. His qualifications are surprisingly well aligned: culinary education at Hoosung University and specialised training, probably the one where his father must have kept him busy.
He has experience with traditional Korean cuisine. And food preservation and large-scale kitchen management experience.
The paper rustled softly as I turned it, my eyes scanning the details that I hadn't expected from the man who never wanted to live for himself.
"These are impressive," I murmured to myself.
"Hyung, are you going to read this whole thing standing here like this?" Minjae asked, and I could hear his complaining tone.
I sighed and kept the folder in his hand, which quickly came forward to hold the folder, as he wasn't expecting my move.
"Careful, hyung!"
I turned to face Taekwang, ignoring his protest. "Can you tell me more about his work? The places he was at, specifically."
Taekwang nodded his head, pressing his lips into a firm line, remembering what he had known. "He started at a small restaurant in Gangnam right after graduation," he said slowly, thinking through the timeline properly. "Worked there for about a year. The owner trained him personally and said he had a gift for balancing flavour that most chefs spent years developing."
I wanted to ask him if he graduated before our accident…no, no, it must be after the accident. Well, I shouldn't be asking that now when I am here for work.
"What happened then?" I asked.
"He moved to a larger place. A hotel kitchen in Johannesburg. That's where he learnt large-scale production." Taekwang paused with a bitter sigh. "He was good there. Really good that they wanted to promote him to head chef within two years."
I heard the 'but' coming before he said it.
"But he got worse day by day; they sent him back to rest, but he quit the job and is now working here at our own restaurant." His voice flattered slightly at the end; there was that weight I could feel in him.
"He either keeps himself working all the time or isolates himself. If not…" he trailed off, looking at me as if I had already got what he meant.
And of course I did …if not, the past starts eating him out until death comes to his mind.
Minaje placed his hand on Taekwang's shoulder, giving it a comforting squeeze as if helping him not break down.
"He opens up in about an hour or two; before that, he's alone in there prepping and cleaning." He said.
"Thank you for trusting us with this," I said, pointing at the folder in Minjae's hand.
Taekwang let out a bitter laugh again. "I still don't know how you thought of convincing him, Hyung, but I wish you success. I trust you but not Joohwan hyung. Don't stress too much."
"Well, you don't know about Sungmin hyung; if he had decided, he would do or die," Minjae said with a cheerful tone, trying to dispel the unknown air of sadness around us.
I rubbed the back of my neck with an embarrassed smile. "You're talking too much; now please keep that mouth of yours quiet, Tim-jang-nim," I said, gritting my teeth.
Minaje shook his head, as if missing my words. "I am just praising our assistant manager, hyung. Shouldn't I?"
Taekwang's gaze flickered between us, something like amusement softening the exhaustion in his eyes. "Are you always like this?"
"Well, we work together after all," Minjae said brightly.
"We tolerate each other," I corrected.
"Same, same."
"Well, I tolerated him and managed his absence when he acted like Romeo meeting his girlfriend," I said, more like my tongue slipped.
Taekwang's smile suddenly went from something to something I couldn't quite name. Minjae's eyes widened as if he weren't expecting that comeback. But he quickly asked it with a laugh, and not making it awkward, I laughed.
Does he hide that he has a girlfriend from his best friend? I thought.
"Hyung, that's what we call working?" he said with a big laugh that almost scared him.
But not replying to him, I turned to Taekwang, totally changing the subject. "How did you even get them? I know it's not that easy to ask your brother and get them."
Taekwang's pupils widened at the sudden change, and he let out a breathy laugh. "Well…"
Taekwang's POV
I was walking back and forth in our living room, biting my nails, thinking hard about how to get those details of Joohwan hyung. He is my hyung. I know where he studied and where he worked, but Minjae asked about certifications.
As I walked, my toe got dashed against the leg of the coffee table, making me groan. My mother, who had just entered, came hurriedly to me, hearing my painful groan.
"Kwang-ah, are you okay?" she asked, her hand already reaching for me.
I waved her off, hopping on one foot. "I'm fine, eomma. Just a little clumsy."
"Yeah, I can see that," she said, maintaining that straight, concerned face, which was a contradiction to what she said.
I clicked my tongue, not trying to bother, and smoothed my toe. She stared with those kind yet sharp eyes as if trying to read what was going on even before asking. Then she asked, "You've been pacing for the past hour. "What's wrong?"
I hesitated but didn't stop my hand from smoothing my toe, as I was already expecting that. But how could I explain her? That I need to dig into Joohwan hyung's academic and work history, which is hard to get? That too is helping strangers who wanted to pull him out of his shell?
Minjae might not be a stranger, but Sungmin hyung is a stranger whom she has only met a very few times. So how could I?
"Nn-nothing," I said.
My mother's eyes narrowed. She didn't believe me; of course she wouldn't, and she never knew not to push someone and let them come themselves to address it.
"You need some documents, don't you?" She said, which surprised me.
"Eomma, how do you know that I need Joohwan Hyung's documents?"
My mother let out a laugh as if I had just made jokes or something. Said, "I just thought you were pacing for some document that might be lost, but now I get who you wanted."
I shook my head, rolling my eyes.
She chuckled, then her face softened. "Kwang-ah, I know you worry about him. All of us do."
I looked up at her, nodding my head. "Well, Minjae's team needs them, so…" I trailed off, ruffling my messy hair in frustration that I was babbling.
"They are really very stubborn," my mother chuckled, shaking her head. "Well, your father keeps everything; it's in the study, but unfortunately he cleaned that room. I guess you have to go to Joohwan's room."
"Eomma, you said it as if Father had documents," I said, slumping my shoulders that had risen with hope when I heard my father kept them.
"Well, you could say it for something like, you know, verification like that." My mother suggested sitting on the old couch with a groan out of habit.
"Eomma!" I shouted in excitement, which made my mother flinch.
"Oh my, you scared me." My mother said, hitting me over the shoulder.
I didn't mind that. "You really are, genius Eomma. Why didn't I think of it?" I said, tilting my head.
"That's because you got your father's side genes more than your mother," my mother said in pure disappointment. "Your brother is like you, Baekbu; you like your appa," she continued, rolling her eyes.
I pouted, raising my brows. "Well, thanks though", I said and walked to the stairs.
"All the best," my mother chimed.
I stood in front of his door. "Hyung," I called out once I could see his shadow moving on the white Jangji paper panels.
Since he didn't respond, I continued… Hyung, I need some of your documents. "I said, waiting for his answer.'
He stood up and walked to the door, sliding it open. I flashed a big grin, which I knew he wouldn't give back.
"What documents?" he asked; his eyes were hollow as ever.
"Well, study work, like that," I said hesitantly.
He raised his brows, his face contorted now with emotion that I used to know. He asked, "Why them?"
I almost panicked but didn't let that show on my face. I have had many situations at school where I had to hide my temper. I am most vexed by now.
"Um…You know there's some verification running in our government…" I trailed off. I could see the slight suspicion there, so I quickly added, "Eomma told me to get yours too."
He sighed tiredly and moved a little, giving me space to enter. "They would be in the desk or in that closet." He said and walked out, leaving me in his room alone.
I sighed in relief. I searched his desk, finding them neatly stacked as they were. I shook my head. "You really keep organised except for your head, hyung; when will you?" I said it out loud, talking to myself since he wasn't in his room.
I took them and went to my room, drew out the drawer of my desk where the folder and files were kept, and placed them neatly in the folder.
Sungmin Pov
I almost laughed when hearing how he had lied to get these documents. His mother is very thoughtful, though. "Well, sorry for the trouble you had to go through," I said, and pressed my lips, suppressing my laugh.
Taekwang shyly glanced down before looking up. "It's okay, hyung." His cheeks burnt, painted with crimson.
"Why are you shy now?" Minaje said, getting our attention. His tone was quite different from the one I always hear.
What's wrong with him? Isn't he good all the time? I thought, frowning.
"Oh my god!" Taekwang gasped, looking behind us.
"W-what?"
"Joohwan hyung." Taekwang pointed behind us; I followed his pointing hand, and my eyes widened.
"Oh my god!" Minjae gasped.
"Oh my god!" I gasped.
Three of us looked at each other; Joohwan hadn't seen us yet. I could see Taekwang's eyes darting and Minjae pacing.
"Hyung, we will go; handle him," Minjae said and caught Taekwang's wrist.
I looked at their hands and then back at them, then back at Joohwan, who was just a way from us. "W-what? Where are you going?!"
"Hyung, my work is done. I collected the data. I'll go submit it to Junwoo, and if Taekwang is here, Joohwan hyung will definitely doubt him, so understand." He talked too quickly for me to process in my head.
"Y-Yah, Minjae-ah."
"No, hyung, all the best."
"Y-yah, P-Park Minjae…Yah!" I whispered-yelled as he dragged Taekwang with him before Joohwan got near the restaurant. I quickly glanced here and there and hid behind the wall before he could look up. 'God, don't let him see me,' I prayed internally.
"Minjae, when I catch you, Minjae, you'll be dead meat."
I took a deep breath, calming myself down. Well, this is what I am here for: on a mission to convince Joohwan – no, to make friends. Yes, first I should gain trust. I know it's not that easy, but I'll try; after all, he ate the tteokbokki I ordered on that drunken night.
"Yah, do you think that eating tteokbokki and trusting you is the same? Grow up, Han Sungmin."
I shook my head, clearing my thoughts. Minjae is right. If I decide, I will either just go for it or
Do or die.