Chapter Text
"Woo, look who's here!"
A barrage of ahjussis stormed into Jung Hee's bar. Although it was only Wednesday night, it seemed like they're ready to have a weekend drink fest.
Lee Ji An greeted them from behind the counter, busy helping Jung Hee preparing foods and drinks.
"Lee Ji An ssi, how come you rarely come here anymore...?"
"Sorry, I..."
"She's not like you losers!" Jung Hee cut her off to berate the ahjussis. "She's got a real job. Respectable, good paying job."
"What? You say being a cleaner is not a real job now Jung Hee-ya? How about a bar owner? Just give me some soju okay..." Park Sang Hoon waving his hand, while Jung Hee just chuckled.
"If she got such a great job, what is she doing here, playing barmaid?" Asked Je Cheol, already in his second glass of soju.
"My apartment have a pipe leak, so I have to move out while they're fixing the problem," she answered. "Jung Hee eonni let me stay in the upstairs room for a night or two..."
He's not here...
"Jung Hee, you're so mean! Why do you gave her that dusty room? Why not invite her to stay at your house..."
"It's okay... It's only for a while. And I don't want to bother Eonni..."
"Ooo, you got a man waiting for you now, Jung Hee?"
"Haha, that last one or a new one?"
"A lady never tell," Jung Hee winked at them, who laughed raucously.
While exchanging small talk with the ahjussis, she couldn't help but surreptitiously glancing at the door. Jung Hee caught her doing it once, and gave her an understanding smile. Was she really that obvious?
A couple of hours later, Jung Hee started to kick her costumers out.
"Whyyy? It's still early...," whined the ahjussis.
"Ji An-nie have to work tomorrow. If you guys stay too late, she wouldn't be able to rest."
"Just say you're already impatient to meet your man," teased Park Sang Hoon.
"So? What about your wife? She's been calling you for the last hour right? What did you do this time?"
"I didn't do any-"
Suddenly, the door opened and a slightly panting Park Dong Hoon entered. Her heart skipped a beat.
"Uri Daepyoniiim...!" The ahjussis cheered.
He smiled at them and went to Park Ki Hoon, who had been uncharacteristically quite all evening, just sitting at the corner writing in his notepad. She heard the younger brother had started a writing career, besides working the flourishing cleaning company.
She couldn't stop staring at Park Dong Hoon who's patting Park Ki Hoon in the back. She haven't seen him in quite a while. Then he turned and their eyes met. Her heart stopped altogether.
"Ji An ssi...," he nodded.
"Ahjussi...," she greeted back.
"Who's this, Jung Hee? A new employee?" He sat at the bar, bantering with the others while pouring himself a glass of soju.
"Yes, I needed a pretty young thing to lure the costumers, you know. And, it's very effective! Look, even the CEO of a huge company comes here to have a drink!"
"He's a snob, that's what he is. Rarely come here again, refuses to drink more that one bottle of soju... I hate you, Park Dong Hoon!" Je Cheol punch him in the shoulder playfully. They played punch and laughed together.
She was still amazed by his laughs. Not just a chuckle, but a full blown laughter that showed his white teeth, made the corner of his eyes wrinkled with laugh lines and a cute dimple emerged from his left cheek. The laugh that made her happy and sad at the same time.
"What time will you go home Ji An ssi?" He asked. "I'll call you a cab..."
"She's staying here tonight," said Park Sang Hoon.
"Oh?"
She then proceed to explain her situation to him.
"I see... Jung Hee, why don't you asked her to stay at your house?"
"She's got a man waiting there...," Park Sang Hoon whispered loudly.
"Please, don't be so hard on eonni. She's been kind enough to let me use the room... I am very grateful to her..."
"See, you guys. Ji An-nie has better manners compared to you all... Now, finish your drinks and get out. My precious Ji An needs her beauty sleep."
Everyone grumbled but obeyed her. Soon everybody was outside ready to go home.
"Ji An-nie, please don't do any cleaning okay? I'll do it in the morning," Jung Hee hugged her. "Rest well."
They all said goodbye. Park Dong Hoon gave her a nod and a smile before strolling away with his brothers.