“Everyone, let’s go partay!” quipped an excited Yoo-Hyuk, twisting his body in a weird dance move.

“Dinner at my restaurant?” Haha suggested, he was in a good mood today thanks to the wins. At that, Suk Jin immediately agreed because having dinner at Haha’s restaurant normally meant Haha’s treat. The rest of the members shrugged and went along with the plan. They kindly sent their managers home and went to their respective cars. Since Ji Hyo, Suk Jin, Kwang Soo and Gary didn’t have their own cars, they split themselves up among the other cars. Ji Hyo and Kwang Soo went with Jong Kook; Gary with Haha and Suk Jin with Jae Suk.

There was a private room in Haha’s restaurant, reserved specially for the the running man members when they went there to dine. Since Haha was paying, they ordered a storm, ranging from kimchi to beef stew and soju. Good drinkers like Ji Hyo and Gary gulped down their soju like water while the rest limited their intake. “Kook Jong-ah,” Jae Suk spoke up. “You’re almost forty soon, it’s time for you to find a partner.” At that, Jong Kook shrugged.

“I’m taking it slowly, hyung,” he replied back. Jong Kook was shy around girls, despite his loveliness from X-man and Family Outing..

‘Oppa, find someone like me,” Ji Hyo said. Jong Kook looked at the beautiful actress. Indeed, someone like her would be his ideal type; pretty, kind, courageous and-wait, what was he thinking? He shook his head and glanced at Ji Hyo again, luckily she was talking to Suk Jin.

“Jong Kook, take Ji Hyo home will you?” Suk Jin asked. “Jae Suk and I are taking Gary and Ji Hyo lives somewhere along the way to Anyang anyway. Oh and Kwang Soo too.’ He added the last part like an afterthought. Jong Kook groaned mentally, not that he didn’t want to take them home but he was tired and Anyang was far from Seoul, but he couldn’t abandon his dongsaengs. So that was how JI Hyo and Kwang Soo earned a ride form the Tiger.

“Hyung, you know when you fall for a girl and you don’t even know it,” Kwang Soo said all of a sudden, breaking the comfortable silence in the car. Jong Kook wanted to smack Kwang Soo for making noise while Ji Hyo was sleeping. He looked at Kwang Soo through the mirror. Kwang Soo was staring at his hyung thoughtfully, his eyes bright and intent.

“What about?” Jong Kook asked. “Why? Do you have someone?”

“No,” came the nonchalant reply. “Anyway, thanks for the ride, hyung and goodnight Ji Hyo noona.” Then, Kwang Soo slipped his arms into the straps of his backpack and hopped out of the car. Jong Kook bid him farewell while Ji Hyo mumbled a few incoherent words. Jong Kook sighed and leant back on his seat. Sometimes, he really couldn’t understand that guy. He turned to see Ji Hyo peacefully sleeping in passenger seat. Her lips were parted, chest rising and falling with each breath, her pale skin illuminated in the moonlight while her long lashes gently brushed her skin. Jong Kook couldn’t help but smile fondly. He stepped on the accelerator once again and turned out into the main road.

“Jong Kook oppa.” Jong Kook blinked at the owner of the voice in bewilderment. Since when did Ji Hyo wake up?

“Y-yes?” he asked. Ji Hyo still had her eyes closed.

“Go to that park beside Han River for awhile. There’s something I want to do there,” she continued. Her voice came out small and soft, laced with fatigue from the day. Jong Kook mutely nodded and headed to the nearest park. He didn’t know why and didn’t ask.

When he arrived at the park, Jong Kook woke Ji Hyo up. Ji Hyo took a deep breath with her eyes half closed.

“Come sit with me,” she said, patting the empty spot on the bench next to her. “There aren’t many stars today,” she stated once Jong Kook was next to her.

“It’s like that sometimes.” Jong Kook dumbly said. Ji Hyo leant against him.

“They say that stars are only visible when its light intensity is brighter than the background, which is the sky. But they can be blocked too; sometimes their light get washed out by the full moon or even blocked by clouds on a cloudy day,” Ji Hyo paused. “But they’re still there. You can’t see it but it’s there,”

Jong Kook slid his arm around her back, enclosing his hand around her bare shoulder. “You’re warm and snuggly,” Ji Hyo murmured. She exhaled in contempt and Jong kook could feel her warm breath against his skin, for some reason, it sent shivers down his spine.

“Come on,” he said, “it’s late. I’ll send you home.” He tried to pull Ji Hyo up to her feet but Ji Hyo stayed put, her eyes closed again. This girl really is the Expert in napping and sleeping, Jong Kook mused. Not thinking twice, Jong Kook carried her bridal-style to the car and made sure she was safely in her seat before driving off.