The commercials were a huge success. They received nothing but praises from Just Right Cosmetics, with a huge bonus for them all to top it off. The uppers of Wonderful Marketing were very pleased with the success of their project this time, throwing in extra credit for them to celebrate, and celebrate they did.

They chose a restaurant where the party was going to take place. Nothing really fancy, because all that mattered was that it was huge enough to hold the whole department and had enough samgyupsal and booze for them all. Everyone was in a merry mood, Nichkhun included. Their team always did their best in everything, but it had been a while since they landed a huge project and gained a very successful result. Clients weren’t always easy to deal with and Just Right Cosmetics were one of them. Thankfully, after a few rejected ideas, trials and errors, they found something that suited what the cosmetic company was looking for, and managed to complete the project within the given time frame. Now, it felt like a huge burden had been lifted off of his shoulders and he felt light with ease.

“Are you sure you don’t want any of these?” Taecyeon asked again for the nth time, pouring himself another glass of beer. “What’s samgyupsal without beer, really? It’s like night without stars, red velvet cakes without cheese cream, you without me; pointless!”

Nichkhun snorted, but shook his head as he flipped the meat over on the grill. “No, thanks. You drink all you want and I’ll eat all I want.” He loved his wine, but other alcohols? Not so much. Besides, someone had to stay sober and free of alcohol in their system to make sure the others would go home safely after the dinner party was over. He didn’t feel like dealing with the headache of a hangover the next day either so he was content with having his samgyupsal with just fizzy drinks.

 “Well, your loss then,” Taecyeon shrugged. The place was still busy and loud with chatters and laughter around them. Nichkhun loved his quiet and peaceful time, but he also appreciated having companies like this. It was nice knowing he wasn’t completely alone in this foreign country, which had slowly started to feel like home to Nichkhun. “What are we gonna do with those two, though?” Taecyeon asked, looking pointedly at the guys sitting on the other table across of them. Nichkhun turned to look, too, and chuckled at the sight. Nichkhun had invited Jaebum to join the dinner party as a token of gratitude, and now the said guy was laying his head on the table, seemingly fast asleep. Youngjae beside him only sat there quietly staring at nothing. It seemed like they had one too many drinks judging by the empty bottles of beer on the table. Youngjae somehow sensed the eyes on them and looked up at them.

“Youngjae-ya, are you okay?” Nichkhun asked, trying so hard to contain his laughter. He had to shout a little to make sure Youngjae heard him. Youngjae blinked at Nichkhun and nodded his head. Then he lifted his arm up, showing a phone that was already in his hand. They’ve had a number of dinner parties together before so drunk Youngjae was nothing new to Nichkhun and the other people in their department, but it was still cute and amusing to watch what kind of a drunk Youngjae was. He seemed to always space out, eerily quiet and still. “I guess he’s ready to go home,” Nichkhun said to Taecyeon, and then at the other people on the table: “Somebody help Youngjae call his brother please!” Someone heard Nichkhun and laughed when she saw the drunk Youngjae and Jaebum. She pinched Youngjae’s cheek first before taking the phone in his hand and dialing a number.

“They have horrible alcohol tolerance,” Taecyeon commented and tsked.

“Well, they’re not you and I’m glad, honestly.”

“Hey, what is that supposed to mean?!”

“Eat,” Nichkhun deadpanned and stuffed Taecyeon’s mouth with a huge roll of lettuce with extra samgyupsal. Taecyeon said something but it came out gibberish with the food in his mouth. “Jesus Christ. Would you eat and swallow first?” Nichkhun laughed heartily. It was never a dull moment with Taecyeon— his silly but very reliable friend. They talked a little bit more about nothing and everything relevant, only stopping when someone stepped into the place, calling for Youngjae.

“Oh, he’s right there!” Taecyeon called back, pointing at where Youngjae was sitting. “Ahh, is he Youngjae’s brother, too? Don’t think I’ve seen him before.”

That caught Nichkhun’s attention. He immediately craned his neck to look at the person and widened his eyes when his gaze fell on someone very familiar, walking very closely behind someone that was supposedly Youngjae’s brother.

“Oh?” both Nichkhun and Taecyeon said at the same. Taecyeon turned his head around. “Isn’t that Wooyoung?” he asked.

“Yes, it is. Wait,” Nichkhun narrowed his eyes. “How do you know that?”

Taecyeon only blinked his eyes innocently. “Why wouldn’t I?”

“What the heck? Then why didn’t you tell me?”

“Uhh, I didn’t think it would matter anymore. I sent your picture to the person I arranged the blind date with so I thought he would’ve recognized you and talked to you when we saw him back at the studio. But he didn’t, and I thought maybe he didn’t want to make himself known you know? ‘Cause he probably was not interested? How do you recognize him?”

“Wellll for your information, he did go out to find and talk to me so that’s how I know it’s him.”

“He did?? Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I—,” Nichkhun opened his mouth to argue, but was cut off by someone calling his name.

“Wow, it’s really you right?” Wooyoung grinned, standing near their table.

“Oh, Wooyoung, hey!” Nichkhun greeted back. He put down his glass of drink on the table and stood up. “What are you doing here?” he asked, even though he knew Wooyoung was probably there to fetch Jaebum.

“I’m here with Junho to fetch his brother Youngjae. Didn’t know Jaebum is here too. It’s a good thing we came together I think,” he explained.

“Ah, you know Youngjae?” Nichkhun moved his gaze to the said guy. “I didn’t know that. It’s usually the other brother-”

“Minjun?”

“Ah, yeah Minjun. It’s usually Minjun who comes to fetch Youngjae.”

“He had things to do today.” Wooyoung eyed Junho, whom already had Youngjae up on his own feet and an arm draped around Junho’s shoulders. At least Youngjae was still awake and seemed to still be able to walk with the support of his brother. Meanwhile, Jaebum…Nichkhun noticed Wooyoung slumping down his shoulders in defeat.

“Do you want me to help?” Nichkhun offered. Taecyeon beside him coughed intentionally loud. Nichkhun narrowed his eyes at his friend but did not say a thing.

“Really?” Wooyoung beamed. “I mean…if that’s okay? We brought a car with us, so we just have to get him there.”

“Yeah, that’s fine with me.”

Maybe Nichkhun didn’t want to cause a