Bom and Seunghyun followed the two younger siblings as they raided the aisles. The local grocery store was small and family owned so items were scarce and took Dara and Jiyong a couple hours to gather what they needed. Usually Seunghyun never accompanied them, but he wanted to see Bom’s face when she saw that her sister and his brother could, in fact, be civil when it came to food.

When Dara started living with the two brothers, food was never a problem. Seunghyun just made more portions than usual and everyone would be satisfied. But when he began college, his school schedule consisted of morning and night classes, forcing him to prepare dinner during lunch and leaving it for the two teens to eat when he was gone. Seunghyun thought it would work out fine until he would come home late at night and find the kitchen in ruins. He later found out from Jiyong, that they had eventually fought over the food and then one thing led to another -both had grown territorial with the kitchen and it used it as a warzone.

After a few weeks, Seunghyun couldn’t take anymore of Jiyong’s black eyes, Dara’s bruised legs, and a kitchen slandered in his own cooked food, and gave the two an ultimatum. He would no longer cook for them because it was pointless to find it on the walls and counters. So, since Jiyong obtained his license, he gave them money and forced both of them to fend for themselves. Seunghyun thought by doing this, they could either refuse his request continuing their assault in the kitchen starving, or they would grow civil and do as they were told. Luckily they were too hungry to care and chose the latter.  

So when Seunghyun watched Dara struggling on the tips of her toes to get tomato sauce, only to be intercepted by Jiyong who grabbed it instead and handed it to her, Seunghyun couldn’t help but smile.

“We’ll go get the pasta.” Bom said as she dragged Seunghyun without hearing a response from the other two.

“I can’t believe they’re not fighting.” She said as they walked out of the aisle in search for the pasta section.

“I know, huh. It’s like they’re completely different people.”

Bom shook her head, “It’s not just that. Did you see how they interact with each other when they got the vegetables?”

“They’re usually like this,” he agreed, “Jiyong follows her everywhere. And he doesn’t argue. Instead, if he sees her looking at something, he knows exactly what she needs and gets it himself. Crazy huh.”

Bom looked at him wide- eyed, “If you hadn’t told me they’ve been doing this for eight months, I wouldn’t believe you. This is insane.”

“It gets even weirder when they cook together.” He smirked.

On the other side of the store, Dara and Jiyong looked intently for their last item.

“Are they out of it? It’s not here.” Dara quipped as her eyes roamed around the different cheeses.

Jiyong searched just as intently, “They have to have it. It’s not like cows stop making feta cheese.”

“Cows just make milk Ji-tard, they don’t make feta cheese.”

Jiyong shrugged as they continued their search.

“Hey Dara, can I help you with anything?”

Both Dara and Jiyong turned their heads towards the voice as a guy with a green apron walked towards them.

Dara smiled at the newcomer as Jiyong glared back.

The small brunette responded, “Actually I do, I can’t find the feta cheese and it’s usually here.”

The worker looked at the stacks until his eyebrows formed into one line. “You’re right, let me go in the back and see if we have any.”

“Thanks Jaejoong!” Dara said with enthusiasm.

“Anything for you.” He winked and walked away in search of Dara’s requested item.

Once he was out of earshot, Jiyong immediately looked at the little brunette. “Does he have a Dara radar or something? How does he know where you are all the time.”

“He works here, of course he goes around.” As if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

“Exactly. He works here. He should be working. But every time we see him, he comes over and chats you up.”

“It’s called customer service.”

“It’s called getting at you. Do you not see that?”

“No, he clearly saw me having trouble. He came over to help. That’s what he does.”

“So last week when he asked you what you were cooking and maybe one of these days he’d like to try it, doesn’t sound like flirting?”

“No. It sounds like he really wants to try. We come in here practically every other day Jiyong, wouldn’t you be curious of what we make?”

“You are so clueless.”

“And you are so wrong.”

At that moment, Bom and Seunghyun returned with two boxes of pasta.

“We’re almost done here,” Dara concluded, “we just need to wait if Jaejoong can find the feta cheese.”

Bom and Seunghyun looked at her curiously, “Who is-“

“Dara’s lover boy.” Jiyong interrupted.

“He’s just a boy who works here.” Dara mentioned.

Seunghyun looked at his brother, “From school?”

“Nope, he’s in college which is illegal I might add.” Jiyong responded.

“Is he cute?” Bom inquired at Dara.

“God, no. He looks like a erted, psycho.” Once again, Jiyong answered.

Dara grabbed onto his arm, “Will you stop talking for me? Bom,” she looked at her sister, “he’s coming over here if you want to know.”

All four of them darted their attention onto the outsider. Jaejoong was indeed taller than both the brothers and had paler skin. His facial features looked all in proportion to his face, perfect size nose, mouth, and eyes, but he looked almost too perfect which lead Jiyong to believe that there was something about him definitely not perfect. More like, something that was completely insane. He had this innate feeling about Jaejoong but of course, he kept his opinion to himself knowing Dara would just ignore it.

“Found the feta cheese,” he jogged right passed Bom, Seunghyun, and Jiyong and straight to Dara, “they didn’t restock the aisles yet. Sorry about it Dara.”

“Oh! No problem. Jaejoong, this is my older sister Bom and her boyfriend, also Jiyong’s brother, Seunghyun.”

Jaejoong noticed the other party and eyed them before waving a hello.

But Seunghyun looked at him intently and couldn't help himself, “Have I seen you before?”

“Uh, I don’t think so.” Jaejoong uncomfortably shifted his stance.

“No, I’m serious. You look familiar, do you go to SCU?” Maybe he was in one of Seunghyun’s classes.

Jaejoong quickly shook his head, “Look Dara, I gotta get back to work, I’ll see you.” Suddenly he strode out of the aisle.

“Yah, okay.” She murmured while leading the pack to the cashier.

As the two older siblings discussed Seunghyun’s familiarity with Jaejoong, Jiyong slowed down the cart forcing Dara to reduce her speed.

“How come you’re normal with him?” Once they were out of ear shot with his brother and Bom.

Dara looked at him with bored eyes, “Other than insulting me, I don’t understand what your asking.”

“Well when we first met I tried being nice to you but you were an ice queen.”

“So, you’re point?”

“How come when he’s nice to you, you reciprocate back?” Jiyong couldn’t help question her. It was nagging him since the day they met Jaejoong.

Dara only shrugged, “I don’t know, when we started this little food treaty, it just so happened that being civil with you spread to others...within the vicinity. I dont know? I can't turn it on or off.”

This was the first time Jiyong saw Dara frazzled with words and it wanted to make him smile but he knew better, “I guess.” He paused, “Do you like him?”

Dara scoffed, “Please Jiyong, I can be civil without being attractive to someone.”

“Okay.” He agreed, “But that guy’s not right in the head, Dara. Don’t accept any offers he gives you.”

She rolled her eyes and joked, “Don’t worry, if he hands me candy I won’t take it.”

“I’m serious, he looks at you weird, he’s got crazy eyes.”

“And you concluded all that by our small conversations? That doesn't make any sense at all.”

“You can’t see it because you think he’s just some guy at the grocery store. But I’ve watched him leer at you and every time he catches me staring at him, he looks like he wants to kill me.”

“Ji-“

Jiyong lightly placed his hand on her back to emphasize his words, “Something is wrong with him. I can feel it in my gut. No twenty year- old- guy stares at a sixteen- year- old without some intention.”

Dara looked up at him, finding complete honesty in his eyes and couldn’t help but sigh in defeat, “You know, I’m starting to feel like your taking advantage of our peace treaty by making bizarre requests during this time.”

He gave her a brilliant smile, “Does that mean you’ll stay away from him?”

She nudged him with an elbow, “It means I’ll be more careful and keep my distance. But if he asks me how my day is, I’m not going to run away.”

“That’s all I ask.”

Jiyong stepped away from her only to be grabbed by the arm, “But when dinner is over and we're back to hating each other, don’t think there are repercussions to this request.”

He leaned down and whispered in her ear, “Bring it on.”

Dara couldn’t help but shake her head in disapproval. Jiyong will always be the biggest flirt.