“Seeing how fully equipped this place is, I guess you enjoy drinking too, sunbae.”
“I do enjoy it, but I wouldn’t call myself a connoisseur. This place… When I moved in, I had too many spare rooms, so I figured I’d do something with them. Jooho needed a space where he could drink comfortably without worrying about other people.”
“That makes sense.”
So he actually built a bar inside his home just to drink comfortably.
That’s on another level.
As I stirred the ice with a bar spoon to chill the glass, I glanced over at Director Bang sitting across the table.
“Do your friends come over to drink here sometimes too?”
“Friends?”
“It seems like a space where several people could drink together.”
“Ah… Sometimes Jooho brings his juniors, seniors, or colleagues here for a second or third round. Not often, though.”
Then maybe Jin hyung has been here too.
But when Jin hyung and Yoon Jooho hang out, it always seems like just the two of them, never with a group.
I drained the melted ice water, then began measuring and pouring each ingredient into the glass spirits, sweet and sour mix, and orange liqueur one after another, keeping the conversation going.
“The Han River view must be beautiful at night. If you brought someone here, I bet it’d be pretty easy to impress them.”
Just as I opened the drawer-style fridge to get the cola for the final touch, Director Bang chuckled and said,
“Jooho doesn’t even need to bring anyone all the way here to impress them.”
“……”
Midway through opening the fridge, my hand froze for a second.
Then slowly, I took out the cola.
It is Yoon Jooho we’re talking about.
If he wanted to, of course he could impress anyone.
Sure, yes.
No doubt about it.
That’s absolutely true, and I agree.
But why did my mood suddenly plummet?
Is it jealousy because I haven’t had a proper relationship in years and get brushed off by Jeongho, while Jooho can get anyone with ease?
I don’t usually get petty about stuff like this…
After pouring the cola, I stirred thoroughly, making sure the drink mixed well even beneath the ice.
But some of it spilled over the rim.
What’s going on with me?
I don’t usually make mistakes like this.
I wiped the glass clean with a towel and focused on finishing the drink.
Garnished it with a lemon slice and a sprig of lemon thyme, placed a coaster on the bar counter, and set the cocktail gently on top.
And just like that, the drink was ready.
“Your Long Island Iced Tea is served.”
Director Bang got up from his seat and walked over to the bar.
“Wow, just the presentation alone looks like something straight out of a real bar.”
“It’s the glass that makes everything look fancier.”
He took a few photos of the cocktail with his phone, then carefully lifted the glass to his lips, making sure not to spill it.
After the first sip, his already large, double-lidded eyes grew even wider.
“Oh, Hyunsoo, this is amazing!”
“Glad it’s to your taste.”
“With how much alcohol you were pouring in, I thought it’d be strong but it’s not at all!”
“I cut the alcohol content by about half compared to the standard Long Island recipe.”
“It’s better than regular cola. Like, cola for grown-ups.”
“I’m glad you like it.”
This— this is why I fell in love with making cocktails.
When a customer frowned at a standard recipe, I’d ask what didn’t work for them.
Then I’d tweak the drink, make a new version tailored just for them.
And nine times out of ten, I’d get reactions like Director Bang’s.
I loved that.
In those moments, I actually felt like a useful human being.
“It should pair nicely with the Chinese food too.”
“Yeah, I can see that!”
Right on cue, the food arrived.
I had no idea which restaurant it was from, but as Director Bang had said, the delivery was lightning fast.
Barely twenty minutes after ordering, steaming hot dishes were laid out on the table.
I hadn’t thought I was that hungry, but even before unwrapping the packaging, the smell alone had my appetite roaring.
The glossy seafood black bean noodles and crispy, fragrant tangsuyuk looked delicious even before the first bite.
“Wow, this place is amazing, Director. This is my first time trying beef tangsuyuk. It’s like a whole new world!”
“Right? I told you this place is good. Eat up.”
“Wow… and this jjajangmyeon is insane! I can’t believe the ground beef in the sauce is this flavorful!”
“Why are you reacting so enthusiastically? Just watching you enjoy the food makes me happy even though I didn’t even cook it.”
“Guess Jooho sunbae isn’t like that?”
Lifting a huge bite of jajangmyeon with his chopsticks, Song Hyunsoo glanced at Director Bang and asked.
“Jooho grew up only going to the best places and eating the best stuff. No matter what he eats, his reaction is always the same, just meh.”
“……”
“He’s a picky eater, too.”
It was hard to imagine Yoon Jooho happily scarfing down whatever was placed in front of him.
To Hyunsoo, the idea of not being moved by such delicious food just sounded like something only a spoiled person would say.
As if the ramen he’d had around 11 never happened, Song Hyunsoo plowed through the jajangmyeon and tangsuyuk.
“Director, what’s the name of this Chinese place? Can you tell me?”
“It’s pretty famous around here. Daheunggak. Their jjamppong is amazing too.”
“Ah, man, that’s such a shame. If this was in my neighborhood, I’d totally order their jjamppong for a hangover.”
Just as he dipped a slice of onion in chunjang and shoved it into his mouth, his phone rang.Â
Glancing at the screen out of the corner of his eye, he continued chewing.
Okay okay okay.
It was Yoon Jooho.
His first ever call to him.Â
He hurriedly swallowed his food and picked up.
“…Hello—”
[Are you out of your mind??]
Before the phone had even fully reached his ear, Jooho’s sharp voice cut him off.Â
He sounded like he’d just woken up, his voice was lower than usual, husky. Sexy.
Gulp.
Even with nothing in his mouth, Hyunsoo swallowed dryly.
“What do you mean?”
[Do you even know what time it is? Where are you?]
“I’m at your place, sunbae. I came on time, you’re the one who was sleeping.”
There was silence on the line.
He hadn’t hung up, but there was no response.
…What the hell?
Hyunsoo shrugged, set the phone down, and went back to stuffing his face with jajangmyeon.Â
That’s when the door left open just a hand’s width suddenly slammed wide open.
Still facing his bowl, Hyunsoo rolled only his eyes toward the doorway.Â
There stood Yoon Jooho, breathing hard, phone still in hand.
“Yrrmmmmmmmgh. Aghhhrghghh.”
Hyunsoo let out a string of incomprehensible alien sounds, prompting a scowl from Jooho.
“What are you even saying? Swallow before you talk.”
He gave the noodles a few hurried chews and gulped them down, then urgently pointed at Director Bang across the table.
“He said not to wake you! Don’t be mad at me!”
Jooho’s glare shifted toward Director Bang, who remained perfectly calm.
“He obviously didn’t sleep last night either. He was finally out cold. How could I wake him?”
Jooho grumbled to himself and roughly pushed his hair back, clearly frustrated.
Watching him nervously, Hyunsoo quietly set his chopsticks down.
“Should we stop eating and start practicing?”
“Oh, don’t mind me. Finish your feast first.”
Look at him… clenching his jaw like that while he talks.
But Hyunsoo was used to Jooho’s little tantrums by now.
He calmly picked up his chopsticks again, grabbed a piece of beef tangsuyuk, and held it out toward him.
“Want some? It’s crazy good, crispy and clean, like they used really fresh oil.”
“Help yourself.”
“Jooho, want a cocktail? Hyunsoo made me one, it’s totally my style. Ask him to make you one too.”
For once, Jooho didn’t shoot it down right away.
Instead, he glanced at the glass in Bang’s hand.Â
But of course, his reply still came with a side of snark.
“Drinking in the middle of the day now?”
“You’re the one who always says a drink or two is practically medicine.”
“You two getting cozy all of a sudden or what, huh?”
Jooho threw the words out with a scowl, then stormed off down the hallway.
But far from looking hurt or offended, Hyunsoo just chuckled and dug back into his noodles.
“Looks like he’s jealous ‘cause we’re getting along so well.”
No way.
“Don’t let it get to you. Jooho may talk rough, but he’s not actually like that. It just takes a while to see it…”
“I know. If he were really pissed, he would’ve told me to drop the chopsticks and get over there immediately.”
“Exactly! That’s classic Jooho speak. You’re catching on fast, Hyunsoo.”
Dipping a piece of tangsuyuk deep into the sauce, Hyunsoo smiled silently.
That’s just how tsundere types are.