“Victoria!” she exclaimed.

Eunhyuk turned around to see a dressed up Donghae and a smiling Victoria behind him.

“I’m so sorry,” Victoria apologized. “We…” she glanced at Donghae without a smile then back to In Ji with a cheerful smile, “were held up by a schedule. How’s dinner going?”

“Good. We were just talking about the duck and the tortoise.” In Ji smiled.

“Huh?” Victoria glanced at her friend then to Eunhyuk.

Eunhyuk shrugged with a small smile before Victoria tapped him on his shoulder and told him to get up.

“What? Why?” he asked.

“Just do it,” Victoria quietly whispered. When he submitted his seat she smiled at In Ji, “Donghae’s going to accompany you here, I need to talk with Eunhyuk somewhere else.”

“What?” Donghae asked turning to look at her.

Eunhyuk glanced at his friend then to Victoria.

“Sit down, will you?” Victoria asked then began walking away.

“But…what about my food?” asked Eunhyuk pointing to his plates.

“We can all eat together,” In Ji suggested.

“No,” Victoria replied, “just enjoy yourself here,” then she turned to Eunhyuk, “we’ll go sit over there.”

Feeling confused with the turn of events Eunhyuk grabbed his plates, glanced at Donghae then followed Victoria over to the bench table by the wall. When they left Dongahe turned to look at In Ji who smiled so admiringly at him. But it wasn’t the first time Donghae had received one of those smiles.

“Hi,” Donghae greeted glancing at Victoria and Eunhyuk before forcing himself to sit down. “Sorry for being so late.”

“No problem,” In Ji replied. “You must have been busy.”

Donghae smiled silently.

Eunhyuk placed his plates down on the table and looked around, “Will it be ok for us just to sit here?”

“It’s fine,” Victoria replied glancing down at the menu that had been left on the table.

Eunhyuk finally began to fill up his stomach while Victoria called over a waiter to get her a plate of stir fry.

“So was I substituting for you or for Hae?” he questioned taking a sip of his cup of water.

“Your friend,” Victoria replied without bothering to look at him. “But I guess I should thank you for keeping her company during this hour.”

“Right,” he said, “but where were you two? Did you really have a schedule?”

“Schedule?” Victoria repeated. “No.”

“So you lied?” Eunhyuk asked curiously surprised.

“No harm done,” Victoria replied before the waiter walked over with her food. “Just eat, will you?”

“You teach at Seoul University, right?” Eunhyuk asked.

“Yes, why?”

“Do you happen to see my sister around sometimes?”

At the mention of Hee Sun the words they’d exchanged just the other day came flying back to her.

“Yes."

“Does she look like she’s doing well?”

“I don’t know, I’ve only seen her once,” Victoria replied exchanging glances with him.

“I see.”

“She…your sister, Hee Sun, really likes Donghae, doesn’t she?” Victoria asked.

“Ever since we were little,” Eunhyuk nodded. “She’s been following him around after he helped protect her from some bullies. Hee Sun may seem unkind most of the time but she’s pitiful, my step sister is just like that.”

Victoria nodded, “Is that why she only addresses Donghae as oppa?”

“You noticed?”

“Well…yes.”

“She doesn’t call me oppa at all. I think it’s because it was awkward for her to call me that when she and mom first moved in to live with us,” Eunhyuk explained, “so she’s only referred to me as Eunhyuk or step brother. But don’t you think Donghae should feel special for receiving that title from her?”

“I guess,” Victoria replied.

Silence filled the wall between them.

“Say, have you been visiting Donghae at the hospital lately?” Victoria asked poking at her food.

“I kinda didn’t have the time on my hands,” Eunhyuk said. “Didn’t you go?”

“No.”

Eunhyuk laughed, “How hopeless, you know that jerk actually…” before he could go on Donghae interrupted them by sitting down next to Eunhyuk setting his plate of food on the table.

“What are you…” Victoria started but stopped when In Ji sat next to her.

“We decided to join you two.” In Ji explained. “You two were looking too cozy over here, what were you talking about?”

Victoria glanced at her friend then at Donghae.

“You two aren’t seeing each other, are you?” In Ji asked nodding toward Eunhyuk.

“What?” Victoria asked.

“That’d never happen,” Donghae interrupted, “Eunhyuk doesn’t go for nerds.”

Victoria sent him a slight glare and Eunhyuk laughed aloud to change the mood he knew was going to take over if Victoria and Donghae started going at it.

“Not necessarily. I think smart girls are the prettiest.” Eunhyuk said with a proud smile.

Donghae kicked his leg from under the table. Eunhyuk turned to frown at him.

“What are you doing?” Eunhyuk questioned.

Donghae smiled at In Ji, “See, it’s a lot livelier and easier to talk over here, right?”

“Of course.” In Ji immediately agreed.

Victoria frowned toward Donghae wondering what in the world he was up to. After the long meal they finally headed outside together.

“Why don’t you send In Ji home?” Victoria questioned stopping in front of the door.

“I brought my car,” In Ji told shaking her head.

“Then since Donghae doesn’t have a car he can take yours to take you home,” Victoria suggested before Donghae could in.

“But that’s really too much trouble,” In Ji said shyly glancing at Donghae who just replied with a smile. “I’ll see you tomorrow, ok?”

Victoria just nodded admitting defeat at In Ji’s suggestion. The three of them watched as In Ji got into her car and drove off after waving to them.

“Should I give you a ride back?” Eunhyuk questioned turning to Victoria.

“We can catch a ride back,” Donghae answered.

Victoria turned to look at him, “We?” then she turned to Eunhyuk. “Just take Donghae back to the hospital. I can take care of myself.”

“Are you sure?” Eunhyuk asked.

“I’ll go back with you just to make sure everything’s alright,” Donghae tried.

“Forget it.” Victoria answered then turned to Eunhyuk. “Next time he asks you for a favor just ignore him.” With one last glance at Donghae she turned and walked toward the sidewalk hailing a taxi back home.

“I see you haven’t made progress,” Eunhyuk teased glancing at Donghae before making his way to his car.

“Thanks for making it tonight but you weren’t really much help,” Donghae said.

“What do you mean? I thought I was great help,” Eunhyuk told, “it’s just you had to show up later. What’s with that?”

Donghae and Eunhyuk turned to look each other but Donghae turned away after a few seconds.

“What were you two talking about?” Donghae wondered. “You did seem really cozy with each other.”

“Why? Jealous?” Eunhyuk raised his eyebrow amused.

Donghae turned to look at him slowly with a serious expression, “You…really don’t see anything in her, right?”

Eunhyuk stared back at Donghae with a laugh, “I’ve said before I don’t take girls you’re already interested in.”

“Really?” with the way he was speaking Eunhyuk detected that Donghae didn’t quite believe him.

“And why would you ask that?” Eunhyuk countered stopping in front of the driver’s door.

“I’ve been curious, Hyuk, why did you decide to drive pass her house when that road doesn’t lead to the highway?” Donghae questioned with a tone of suspicion in his voice.