:　bar

@jeon haeun. Jiho's eyes widened with concern as he noticed the scar on Haeun's hand when she tucked her hair behind her ear. Without hesitation, he reached for her wrist, a mix of disbelief and worry in his gaze. "What is this? Noona, tell me," he urged, his tone reflecting a protective urgency. The sight of scars and wounds stirred a deep unease within him.

His concern escalated as he studied the marks, a furrow forming on his brow. "Who is creating these on you?" Jiho's voice carried a subtle undercurrent of anger, his protective instincts flaring up at the thought of someone causing harm to his sister. "You can't just dismiss it as nothing. Noona, please, tell me what happened," he implored, his grip on her wrist tightening ever so slightly.

Jiho's eyes searched Haeun's face, seeking answers and reassurance. The realization that his sister might be facing troubles that she tried to brush aside unsettled him. "I won't stand by and let someone hurt you. Noona, you can trust me. Tell me who did this, and I'll make sure they never lay a hand on you again," he vowed, a quiet intensity in his gaze.

@jeon jiho. with a warm smile sent his way, she nodded briefly again and leaned backward, watching their first round of beer being served first and she made more space just for the food to arrive later. "Worth considering...? My dear brother, don't think and just do it. Do it for the peace of mind given to our worrywart mother. Even she is trying hard to get me married off as soon as possible all because of my age."

grimacing at the thought of her age being an excuse for a blind date, she couldn't help but to let out a disgruntled sigh and grasped at the nearest mug of beer to take a long sip. At his cheesy words, she spat out a bit of the liquid and coughed with being covered by her hand. "What? What am i to do with a charming brother like you? It is not like having you next to me will bring in guys! You... Sometimes i am so baffled at your crazy confidence."

She quickly clammed up, realising that the other had already caught onto her words which she had tried her best to hush up as possible. Her glance shifted towards the next table of men being chummy and chugging down beer, her hand reaching up to tuck her hair behind her ear. "Ah, it's nothing.. It's nothing to be fretting over. It's in the past, mhm?"

@jeon haeun. jiho felt a soft warmth envelop his calloused fingers as haeun's hand gently found its place. the touch sparked a wave of memories, the tapestry of siblinghood woven from the threads of shared moments. the mention of their father, fellow firefighter, resonated deeply. her support echoed through the quiet acknowledgment of their shared path. jiho's gaze softened, gratitude and a silent promise exchanged in the language of familial bonds.

when haeun suggested blind dates and the prospect of arranged marriage, jiho chuckled, a warm, brotherly laughter. "well, blind dates might be an adventure worth considering," he teased, appreciating the lighthearted gesture. the mention of her lack of friends tugged at a subtle concern, and he reassured, "you're never alone, noona. besides, who needs friends when you have a charming brother like me, right?" the playful banter masked a genuine affection, a flame that burned steadily within the bloodlines they shared.

"but you did mentioned your ex — what happened to him? why do you barely have friends because of him?" asked him as he stares at his sister, somehow he feels uneasy about this.

@jeon jiho. she casually reached out to grasp onto his callous fingers and held it for a minute when she had a flashback to when she was just four years old and he being just a year old. her mother had persuaded her to hold onto her little brother all for a picture and at first she was reluctant and defiant against the idea of having a baby brother. even throughout the one year he was growing, she thought of him as nothing but a gremlin. yet that day on his first birthday, she held his little hand and the way his four-teeth gummy smile mesmerised the younger self in a way only little siblings could; her heart swelled at the sight and held onto his hand firmly yet gently and in the next pose, she bent down just so she could hug her sibling and putting her cheek against his.

"Look at how callous your hands had been...", she mused quietly to herself, her big doe-eyes swelling with tears before onto her teeth and shaking her head to get rid of the nostalgic thoughts. "but you have a choice not to... being careful and cautious isn't everything but if it's truly what make you happy then... i have no other choice but to support you and dad.."

sticking out her tongue at the other, she shrugged her right shoulder nonchalantly. "Well... how about some blind dates? Or maybe mom getting you an arranged marriage eh? friend to introduce... I have none. You know how I have been like. Even in Seoul, I barely have no friends because my ex-", she bit down on her tongue as soon as the word ex slipped out. "Oh well, still..no friends to introduce to you."

@jeon haeun. jiho listened to his sister's nostalgic words, her wistful sigh pulling at his heartstrings. he understood the importance of family, even though he and his father had chosen dangerous professions. the memories of the four of them together were precious.

jiho can only chuckles at his sister's remarks about his job and responsibilities while being a firefighter. "it's a given duty, noona. i can't do anything about it really. sure, i understand you guys are worrying about us, and i'm grateful for that, but i'll try to be more careful and cautious, yeah?" he assured her.

he couldn't help but to sigh at his sister's words about their mother. yeah, he knows. "i'm sorry. i guess i just love my job so much," he said before he furrowed his eyebrows at the next question. "pft. yaa, how can i find a girl when i'm getting busy with my own duties? i don't even have time for myself, yet alone to be with someone. unless you have any friend to introduce to me, maybe i'll give it a try?"

@jeon jiho. "I should be thankful i have a brother like you, really. Life really take so much out of us that we barely have time to even have a proper gathering, the four of us." with a wistful sigh, her shoulders slumped over slightly and pouted slightly at the fleeting memories that was almost fading. thank goodness for the photos her father had taken so much of them, some of them would be able to be retained.

she looked up momentarily to stare at him for a while and let out a worried sigh; the mere thoughts of her father and brother running into danger just like (with protective gears on and all) was terrifying to behold for sure. "Sure, they are but have they ever stopped to consider their own family worrying like crazy back home..." her arms softly raised to rest just below her chest and onto her lower torso, her back comfortably leaning back with a pout still evident on her visage.

"I know you look up to Dad so much but it's too dangerous. her heroes? are you crazy? she said that to assure you all that it is fine when it isn't really for her. because of you and dad, she hid too much of her true feelings." with another sigh that confirmed her deep-rooted worry that the men had absolutely no idea about. "never mind. we're not here to discuss anything negative. do you have a girlfriend already?" she quickly changed subject, not wanting to share anything further. "You're too handsome for your own good plus being a firefighter on top of that? Ladies does dig that."

@jeon haeun. Jiho smiled at Haeun's teasing as she asked if he missed her, her words bringing a playful twinkle to his eyes. "Of course, I've missed you," he replied, his voice warm with sincerity. "Life just got busier, but that doesn't mean I stopped thinking about you."

As Haeun flipped through the menu, deciding on what to order, Jiho nodded in agreement about their parents' dedication to their work. "They've always been so committed to making this town better," he mused, a touch of pride in his voice. "It's admirable, even if it keeps them on their toes."

When Haeun suggested their food choices, Jiho's stomach rumbled in anticipation. "Bossam, japchae, and spicy bibim noodles sound perfect," he agreed, relieved that the spice level would be adjusted. He appreciated her consideration.

As the server approached to take their order, Jiho briefly shifted his attention to the bustling restaurant. The atmosphere was lively, and the aroma of Korean cuisine filled the air, a stark contrast to the often intense and demanding moments of his work as a firefighter.

Haeun's question about his job brought a thoughtful expression to his face. "It can be tiring at times, but I wanted to follow in Dad's footsteps, you know? Being able to help people, it's fulfilling. And Mom... well, she worries, but she's proud of us, too. We're like her heroes," he said with a chuckle, his love for his family shining through in his words.

@jeon jiho. "do you really miss me? otherwise why have you not given me a call in so long until tonight?" she teased, her slender fingers flipping through pages to see what else to order on the food part since the alcohol was pretty much settled on from his agreement to having the unlimited beer. regarding her parents, she could only nod in agreement about their parents being busy. despite that they were close to the retiring age bar, they wouldn't back down from their job, citing to the reasons that retiring early would mean boredom for them. as far as haeun remembered, they had been really slogging to help the town and thanks to their efforts, part of the town seemed a little more vibrant and was no longer "rural" as opposed to the big cities.

"Let's get some bossam for two and then... the japchae and the spicy bibim noodles? i will ask the kitchen to make it lesser spicier, don't worry!" her hand shot up into the air, waving a little to catch the attention of a server nearby and placed the orders as mentioned before returning the menu back. "Mhm...? Work. it has been fine. The marine animals and other life forms are great too. How about yourself? is it not tiring, i mean following dad to be a firefighter. Sometimes i have always wondered about your decision to become one that now mom have to worry about two persons she love the most."

@jeon haeun. jiho felt a sense of warmth as he saw his sister's familiar face and her welcoming embrace. he reciprocated the hug with a smile, grateful for this reunion. "i've missed you too, noona," he admitted, following her into the bar and taking a seat at the empty table.

he pondered her question about their parents joining them and replied, "it would be nice if they could make it, but you know how busy they can be. either way, i'm glad we get to spend some time together."

as she opened the menu and mentioned the tempting offer of unlimited draft beers for ₩56,000, jiho's eyes lit up with interest. "that sounds like a great deal! i'm definitely up for it," he agreed, eager to enjoy both the food and quality time with his sister. "so how's work ?"

@jeon jiho. she only hummed in response as soon as the brother hung up on his end and pulled it away from her ear, staring at the now black screen of her phone, letting out a small sigh and shoving it into her bag. indeed it had been a long time she had seen him and the rest of the family despite that she was living with her parents at this point. Also the fact that her family didn't knew what happened to her back in Seoul was a blessing in disguise... perhaps?

haeun frolicked around the area in front of the bar, awaiting the young male's arrival and spread out her arms as soon as she spotted him arriving from a distance, letting out a short but warm chortle and embraced him in her big sister hug possibly. "of course, what are sisters for? me too. I missed hanging out with you. Of course, we should definitely do that. I'd be mad if we didn't." leading the way into the bar, she gestured to the waiter with her two fingers and got led to the empty table, sitting on one end of it. "quality sibling time. it had been quite a long time especially since i have been studying and working in Seoul and Daejeon respectively. do you think mom and dad will want to join us?"

she spread open the menu and shifted it in a way that both of them could see it at once. "All of them look so good and there's free flow buffet of draft beers? unlimited even at only ₩56,000. not a bad deal. You want that?"

@jeon haeun. "sure thing, we can. i'll drop by after this. see you there then, noona." after he hangs up the phone, he makes his way towards the bar which is located nearby the beach.

he finally reached the bar and scanned the crowd, searching for her familiar face. as he spotted her, he couldn't help but smile, recalling their playful conversation.

approaching her, jiho greeted her with a warm hug. "hey there, sis," he said, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "i can't believe you had me going with that whining act earlier. you've still got your tricks, i see." he chuckled, then continued, "i missed hanging out with you too. let's make up for lost time, shall we?"

jiho nodded in agreement to her invitation, appreciating her offer. "dinner and a few beers sound perfect. it's been too long, and i've been craving some quality sibling time. plus, it's great that our schedules finally align for once."

as they entered the bar together, jiho couldn't help but feel grateful for this unexpected opportunity to reconnect with his sister. the evening promised good food, laughter, and cherished moments, just like the old times with their parents.

@jeon jiho. her eyes crinkled in impishness and let out a short strangled chuckle, trying to keep her from letting out bouts of hearty laughter as not to give away her game plan on the spot there. when she heard the sounds of whining, truly she was taken aback by that for a good while before shaking her head in amusement, wondering just how long it had been since he last whined like this. "I'm kidding, i know you're pretty straight as a ruler."

his inquiry had her recollecting back to why she was calling him in first place. initially for a moment there, she actually forgot why she was calling in first place and had to remember really hard. looking backwards, she looked up at the signage and took that as a moment of realisation before turning away from it to look at the pretty street lamp in front. "Oh I was calling to see if you'd like to have dinner and maybe a few beers together since it had been a while we have met up. You and dad always have contradicting schedules from mine and it kinda . so I have to ask dad by text who—", she trailed off softly and then ended that with a small huff. "—is a better texter than you about his and your schedules. apparently you have an off day tomorrow so which kinda aligns with mine."

she explained, her gaze downcast onto the ground and her feet subconsciously kicking at a small pebble on the pavement to the short distance in front. "well it is one of those rare days where my shift is shorter by four hours today when i usually end at like 9pm. wanna come swing by the bar? I don't remember hanging out with you here though. Usually it's with mom and dad. My treat anyways."

@jeon haeun. jiho found himself grumbling in playful annoyance as his sister teasingly mentioned that he seemed to be gay. "aaaaa, noona, what are you saying?" he playfully protested, his tone tinged with a hint of mock offense. unbeknownst to him, a cute whine escaped his lips as he continued speaking to his sister, and he followed it with a soft, almost imperceptible huff.

he couldn't help but wonder about her sudden presence. "what is it? why are you looking for me?" jiho inquired, his curiosity piqued. he shifted his gaze toward the breathtaking beach view stretched out in front of him. the sound of the waves crashing against the shore and the warm breeze rustling through the palm trees created a serene backdrop to their conversation.

jiho cherished these moments with his sister. among all the people in his life, she was the one he could truly be himself around. their bond ran deep, and he always felt a sense of comfort and belonging in her presence. as the sun dipped lower on the horizon, casting a warm golden glow over the beach, jiho turned his attention back to his sister, a soft smile playing on his lips. "noona, are you taking a break from work today?" he inquired, hoping for a chance to spend more time with her on this beautiful day.

@jeon jiho. "hello, jiho isn't around. who's this?"

her tongue pushed against the inner right cheek in cheekiness and she rolled her eyes skyward. for sure, haeun could recognise that was her brother with no doubt. with a faux sigh, she looked ahead, thinking of a better comeback before responding back. "Oh aigoo.. You must be the gay partner of jiho then. I have heard rumors my brother is dating a man. Is he sleeping? Kindly let him know his precious older sister is looking for him and wake him up with a kiss too." through out her response, a cheeky smile was remaining the only constant thing.

@jeon haeun. jiho gazed at the beach in front of him, his mind filled with various thoughts. he couldn't help but be reminded of his fear of the sea since he had nearly drowned as a child, which still triggered his phobia. he couldn't bring himself to stay close to the water; instead, he watched from a distance, sighing softly. just as he took out his phone, a sudden call interrupted his thoughts. he checked the phone and chuckled, realizing it was his dear sister, haeun, calling. he answered the phone and cleared his throat. "hello, jiho isn't around. who's this?" he asked, pretending not to know the caller.

@jeon jiho. /after finishing her stint at the conservative, she headed out to take a short walk along the jetty before arriving at the bar, looking up at the signage. thinking that she didn't want to drink alone, she takes her phone out and scrolls through contacts before stopping on her little brother's name and taps the call function, knowing fully well that he will never see her text messages. the last she text is like a good few months old and it is frustrating her very much. as soon as the call function is tapped on, she brings the phone up to her ear to await the other end of the phone call to be picked up/ i hope it's an off day for him tomorrow too.