Chapter 28: Should I Kick Him Out?
by GideonHe moved with the ease of a regular, his steps confident and natural.
“Smoking area’s this way.”
A small but well-equipped smoking lounge was tucked into a corner of the rooftop. Do Ji-on had already smoked enough before arriving, so he just took a quick look at its location.
“Got it. Thanks for showing me.”
As they stepped back inside, the atmosphere shifted, becoming more subdued and refined. The soft strains of jazz mingled with the low murmur of conversation, lending the space an air of sophisticated elegance.
“Shall we find a table?”
“I prefer the bar.”
Sitting near the bartender was always more interesting—you got a front-row seat to the action and could overhear the latest gossip.
“Let’s sit here.”
They took the farthest seats at the bar. The bartender recognized Do Zion and greeted him warmly. “Welcome back, Zion.”
“Meet my senior co-star,” Zion said, introducing Jubin to the bartender.
Jubin bowed politely. “Hello. I’m Cha Jubin.”
“I’ve heard so much about you,” the bartender replied. “Zion-ssi has been talking my ear off about how he was definitely bringing you here.”
Jubin glanced at Zion, his eyes asking, Really?
Zion met his gaze and added, “He’s the real deal. He just won first place in a bartender competition in Europe.”
“Is that so? I’m looking forward to it.”
Curious about what a drink from the world’s best bartender would taste like, Jubin ordered whatever the man recommended.
The bartender asked Cha Jubin about his usual drink preferences, his preferred alcohol content, and the aromas he liked. Then, with a confident smile, he promised to craft something special.
“The usual for you, Zion?”
“Yes, please.”
The fact that the bartender knew Zion’s usual order meant he was a regular here.
“You come here often?”
“Lately, yes. With CEO Park.”
CEO Park Ji-bun was a well-known connoisseur of fine spirits. Zion, who didn’t care for alcohol, must have come here to discuss important matters with him—most likely the kind of headache-inducing topics involving work or contracts.
I want to ask how the contract renewal is going, I thought, but that would be rude. I’ll hold back.
“Here’s the first signature cocktail you ordered.”
The signature drink he’d recommended to Cha Jubin was a cocktail blending a 12-year-old single malt whiskey, a fine red wine, and a rich pour-over brew from a coffee brand based in Oakland, California.
“They must have served it in a mug so we could fully enjoy the coffee aroma,” he said, offering it gently. “Try it. Tell me what you think.”
As I took a sip, the two spirits blended perfectly, and the bitter coffee notes that lingered at the end tied everything together in a harmonious flavor.
“…It’s delicious.”
Sipping it from a coffee mug felt strangely right.
“Is it okay?”
“Yeah. Want a taste?”
It was so good that I offered it to him without a second thought. This was a flavor too fresh and unique not to share.
He reached out, his large hand hooking the mug by its handle with his ring finger, and took a sip.
“Is it okay?”
Contrary to his hopes, Zion’s brow furrowed slightly, the strong scent of alcohol apparently overpowering him.
“This is way too strong.”
So typical of Do Zion, Jubin thought.
“Pfft, you’ve tasted enough of life’s bitterness by now. Still can’t handle the taste of alcohol?”
A memory of Zion’s own words flashed through Jubin’s mind, and he burst into a short laugh.
“Stop treating me like a kid. We’re not even that far apart in age,” Zion grumbled, averting his gaze.
Ah, so cute.
Jubin reached out and gently stroked Zion’s cheek with his fingertips. “Alright, alright. Our Zion has grown up a lot, hasn’t he?”
“You’re going to tease me to the very end…”
The tips of Zion’s ears seemed to be tinged with red. Aren’t you the one being cute until the very end? Jubin’s lips twitched into a smirk.
“Your ears are turning red.”
“It’s the lighting.”
“Can I touch them?”
Zion flinched, quickly covering his ears with his hands. “Seriously… stop teasing me.”
He tried to pull away, but not quite, looking completely flustered. Jubin wanted to keep pushing his buttons, but decided to call it a day.
Zion remembered every word of their conversation from that day—six years ago, in front of the convenience store, their very last meeting. The fact that he still cherished the memory so dearly touched Jubin’s heart.
Just then, the signature cocktail Zion had ordered arrived.
Jubin watched in mild shock as Zion downed the drink in one go. How can someone drink alcohol as if it were water?
“Hey, slow down,” Jubin said, but Zion had already finished half the glass.
“Don’t worry,” Zion replied, casually bringing up another old memory. “I won’t be crawling home on all fours this time.”
“You still remember that?”
“Do you know how traumatizing that was? How is a person with two perfectly good legs supposed to crawl home?”
He shook his head as if the idea itself were absurd. But thinking about it, Jubin felt this whole situation was even more ridiculous.
I feel like we were just sharing beers at a convenience store the other day, yet here we are at an expensive bar…
Cha Jubin downed the rest of his dark cocktail in one gulp. The heavy, full-bodied liquid slid down his throat, and he felt a genuine buzz from drinking for the first time in ages.
“This is the real deal. It’s delicious.”
“You told me to take my time, but you’re chugging yours like it’s coffee, sunbae.”
Jubin lightly ignored Do Zion’s remark and asked the bartender for another round.
Fine, let’s go all out tonight.
“Sunbae.”
He called out softly. That voice, that smile, that gaze—it was all unfair.
“Why are you looking at me like that again?”
“Have you ever wondered what it would be like to film a romance with me?”
Jubin toyed with his cocktail glass, letting out a low, thoughtful “Hmm.”
“Why do you want to film one with me?”
“Because I think I could show you my true self.”
“You’d show me all of your true self?”
His true self… The thought was intriguing, a tantalizing lure, yet it also sparked a warning bell of fear.
Whether it was the alcohol talking or not, Zion rested his chin in one hand, his gaze softening into that signature romantic intensity as he stared steadily at Jubin.
“You’re curious about my true self, aren’t you?”
There he goes again with that damn smooth-talking flirtation.
Maybe it was the drinks, but today he seemed to be viewed through a filter, his image more idealized and special than ever. How can he look this sexy in a full suit?
This is all because of that unsettling dream I had this morning.
“I’m not going to tell you, because you’ll only get hurt if you know,” I said.
“You’re always so cautious, aren’t you?” he replied.
I was about to miss my chance to respond, not knowing what to say, when the bartender perfectly timed the arrival of our drinks.
“Here is the recommended cocktail you ordered.”
The interruption broke the tension.
The drink he’d prepared this time was a classic whiskey cocktail made with bourbon, sugar, and bitters. Its rich flavor was superb, and the bartender had suggested pairing it with dark chocolate. I poured all my effort into my fingertips, trying to tear open the wrapper.
Ah, why won’t this…
Dammit. I must have applied too much hand cream before coming here.
He watched my clumsy attempts, then reached out. “Let me.”
“It’s slippery,” I muttered.
He casually wiped the chocolate wrapper against his clothes a few times before tearing it open with a single, powerful tug—not with skill, but sheer force.
“I could have done it myself…”
Jubin blurted out the words, his face flushing with embarrassment.
“But I wanted to do it for you.”
Zion said that line all the while—as if trying to make up for the times he’d treated Jubin like a child in the past.
Doesn’t he want to do too many things for me?
Just as Jubin popped a piece of chocolate into his mouth and was about to take a drink, he glanced toward the entrance. His eyes landed on a familiar face, and he whipped his body around.
It was Na Hyeon-mo.
The chocolate melted on his tongue, but Jubin’s flustered heart showed no sign of melting.
Zion, always quick to read the room, caught the awkward expression on Jubin’s face and followed his gaze to the entrance.
“Do you know him?”
Na Hyeon-mo walked into the bar with a tall man, and they took a seat at a table near the entrance.
It wasn’t that things had ended badly between them, or that Jubin still had lingering feelings. He was just blindsided by the timing—running into Na Hyeon-mo while he was with Do Zion.
“It’s just…” Jubin trailed off, forcing an awkward smile.
Zion’s gaze was sharper than usual, and a strange tension crackled between them. His eyes, a mesmerizing blend of red and green, peered over Jubin’s shoulder, intently observing the scene.
“An ex?” he asked, his voice dropping to a low, dangerous rumble.
“We never dated,” Jubin replied, his tone calm but firm, drawing a clear line.
“Ah…”
He let out a late sigh, as if finally understanding.
“Which one are you? The short one?”
Jubin gave a slight nod.
He felt Zion staring blatantly, so he deliberately turned his gaze toward him. “Why do you keep staring?”
“I’m just curious.”
“He probably didn’t recognize me.”
“I’m not so sure about that,” Zion countered, his gaze lingering with a slow, relaxed intensity.
“…What?”
“Come over here.”
Is he really coming? The sound of dress shoes approaching at a steady, unwavering pace grew closer.
“Should I…”
Finally, a word escaped Zion’s lips, his tone laced with annoyance. A question followed, one that was anything but gentle.
“…kick him out for you?”
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