Chapter 33: Their Night II
It took another ten minutes before the police came and took the men that Soohyun and JiU beat to a pulp. The police dragged the five in front of the crowd as the music stops to witness the arrest. Soohyun eyes them as they exchanged look with him when they walk out of the club. He keeps his hand on JiU's while the other is on the ice on her bruised knuckles. And once the criminals were out of sight, Soohyun looked back to JiU. "Where did you learn how to defend yourself?" Soohyun kept his eyes on treating her bruises while asking her.
"I had always taken an interest in the martial arts ever since I was a kid," JiU reminisced as she explains and chuckled along the way. "Both my parents were never against, which a surprise since I was their first daughter, but maybe that is because I was always good in my grades and homework," She shrugged in a showing-off kind of way, which elicited a soft chuckle from Soohyun.
"I see," Soohyun responds as he takes the ice off her knuckles to check the bruising, "Well, you have certainly proven that you are more than just a beautiful CEO."
JiU felt a slight tinge of heat going up to her cheek at his words, "Is that so? And what else have I proven according to you?"
"Haha…" Soohyun could only chuckle before looking at her right in the eyes, "You are smart, independent, dependable, strong-willed, confident, and caring. I've seen how you treated both your employees and mine ever since we merged our company; I certainly have learned a thing or two from you. I am glad we met."
JiU could feel the sincerity in his words as he speaks concerning her. The same kind of tone he used when he talked to her on that rooftop weeks ago. "Thank you, for the praises, Soohyun-ssi," JiU smiled and looked at him. "And you? Where did you learn to defend yourself?"
Soohyun could smile as he looks at her, without even meaning to do so. "My brother and I have always enjoyed watching the MMAs, so we convinced our father to let us train in MMA once we were old enough," He replies after and lifts the ice pack. "There, I think it should be enough for now."
Soohyun put away the ice pack and turned towards JiU, "Would you like something to drink?"
JiU shakes her head and chuckled, "No, thank you, I've had enough for one night. So how bout we both get out of here and get some fish cakes? And maybe, jangjjangmyeon?"
Soohyun blinked in utter surprise at her offer, but his stomach growled at the foods' mere mention for some reason. "Alright then, Jajjangmyeon and Fish cakes it is," he agreed almost immediately. "How we tell our friends, first? They might start to wonder."
"Sure," JiU agreed, and soon they both went back to their respective groups to inform of their new destination for the night. However, the response wasn't as expected.
The plan changed since both Soohyun and JiU's friend groups decided best to tag along. Instead of just leaving as a 'couple,' the two left the club as a large group. There are four cars available for transport, so they separated accordingly and equally into those four cars. And just out of luck, JiU and Soohyun, along with Gray and Tiffany, ended up in the same vehicle. Soohyun's car. At the same time, their group of friends went into the remaining three. JiU's friend, Soohyun, didn't like so much had to turn down the offer since he had something to attend. Such fact is a win Soohyun was more than delighted to take.
"You know?" Tiffany poked her head to the front seat, breaking the ongoing silence for the last 5 minutes, "You both can talk, like normal people."
"Uh… Right," Soohyun cleared his throat after noticing how quiet they were, even after talking quite a bit when they were back at the club. "I have to say you look beautiful tonight, I barely recognized you."
Gray and Tiffany exchanged a glance at each other as they rolled their eyes upon hearing Soohyun's choice of words for a conversation starter. Yet it is a start rather than not. JiU, hearing such comment, couldn't help but smile at his compliment. "Thank you, and you don't look so bad yourself," She replied with a smile on her face. JiU had taken her time to observe the man during the 5 minutes of silence, and she finally noticed why girls would swoon over him. She had inwardly admitted that he is one handsome looking man, and even more so when seen up close. And she considered such fact to be lucky, surprisingly. But on an off chance, there is a gut feeling that his earlier compliment was something he might probably say a dozen times. Despite such a moment, she never dismissed the thought of him being the playboy that goes home every night with a different girl. Another reason why she is frequently on guard with the man, but for this one night, she is willing to let loose. So far, she had no regrets.
Soohyun's earlier compliment had turned into a warm exchange between the two before Gray and Tiffany joined in. The four unlikely couple had quite a conversation about life and little tidbits about each other. "So, Gray, who was that girl?" Soohyun starts to poke once again on the topic he let slip earlier back at the club.
"Dude, I told you," Gray gritted his teeth, which made Soohyun laugh.
"Wait, yeah, Tiffany, I heard the girls talked about a guy you were with," JiU also took her turn to poke at her best friend, "Who was he?"
Tiffany cleared her throat and replied, "I have no comment on that matter until the time presents itself." JiU had to laugh at the tone change from her best friend, suggesting that she was subtly defensive for now.
Just as the conversation on the topic started, they finally arrived at the restaurant with their friends close behind. The night of supposedly snacking night turned into a full course meal as the group increased. They had agreed on a popular restaurant around the area that is still open in the late hours. And the restaurant's owner was more than happy to welcome such a crown of 17 people. Soon, a long series of tables attached was set for them to enjoy their meal. "Tonight, it will be my treat!" Soohyun announced as soon as everyone got their menu books to order. Since the restaurant's occupants are only the owner and her staff, the group's holler came off as a loudspeaker in the almost empty restaurant.
The meal proceeded very nicely and communicative between both men and women. Both sides got the chance to get to know each other over a light environment and food-oriented surroundings. The boys have a front seat view of quite the 'massacre' as they see the girl hork down each meal without a pause. That point said, Soohyun witnessed yet another exciting fact about JiU, where she enjoys a large serving of various cuts of meat in her bowl and a small plate of kimchi. Soohyun couldn't but smile at the sight and decided to make the moment better. "You're on," the only words he said before he got himself the same menu of choice and the same quantity as JiU.
JiU noticed what Soohyun started, and she raised an eyebrow, "Alright." Soon after, a food battle ensues between two CEOs over a meal. For the next several minutes, Soohyun and JiU downed their food unphased. Their friend group cheered them on as they eat to their fill, quite the moment the two shared. However, by the end of the night, Soohyun had to take the losing side as JiU take the last bite while he couldn't do the same.
All in all, the night did turn out for the better for all of them, especially Soohyun and JiU. The party exited the restaurant, leaving a delighted restaurant owner. Everyone left with smiles and jokes as both the girls and boys got along under an unexpected occasion. However, not so much for Soohyun as he exits the restaurant while holding his overly full stomach between breaths while his best friend helped him on one side and, surprisingly, JiU on the other.
"You outdid yourself there, man," Gray pats his best friend's stomach with a chuckle, "Never knew you had it in you or this occasion, fed into you."
"Haha… very funny," Soohyun sighed and waved off his friend and JiU as he finally finds his footing. "Never will I do that again." He leans back and lets out a loud burp.
"Whoops, sorry," Soohyun covered his mouth and smiled sheepishly towards JiU and Tiffany.
"Better out than in," JiU patted his back and smiled, "No one ever did that with me before, I find it pleasing. And sweet."
Tiffany raised an eyebrow as surprise washes over her face after hearing JiU's very rare comment about a man. She took this chance to grab Gray, "Let's go, leave them be." Gray followed along after noticing the exchange of words. Both Soohyun and JiU hadn't seen their two friends' absence since they were too busy looking at each other with smiles.
"No one ever made me want to do that before," Soohyun replied her, "And I loved it even though my stomach seemed to disagree with me."
"Haha… yeah probably," JiU giggles softly as she watched Soohyun patting his stomach while the two begin to walk to their cars, side by side.
"Oh… JiU-ssi," Soohyun thinks that something has got to give, and it is now.
"Yes? Soohyun-ssi?" JiU glanced towards the man, and the street's dim light still compliments her beauty that Soohyun can't help but stare.
"Umm… If… I mean, when we get off work tomorrow," Soohyun begins, "Would I… go with me… I mean you… Wait… Uhh… I mean would you go out with me?"
JiU couldn't stop herself but giggle once more as Soohyun tramples over his words. "Yes, I would like that."
Soohyun is wide-eyed at first when they arrived by JiU's car, "R...Really?"
"Yeah, how bout 7?" JiU suggested the time immediately as she opens her car's door.
"Uhh… Yeah, 7 pm would be great," Soohyun has his eyes fixated on the girl as he holds the door open for her as he smiles a little too widely for comfort, but he doesn't mind that one bit.
"Alright, see you then," JiU states as she disappeared into the car with Soohyun helping to close the door.
"Alright," All Soohyun could do was stare at her car's window with that same smile still plastered on his face.
JiU's window rolled down, and she smiled at him, "Goodnight, Soohyun-ssi."
"Goodnight, JiU-ssi," Soohyun returned the smile in kind before watching her car drive away into the night.
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