He was feeding Jinae when Hwayoung looked up from her homework. She looked at him for a second before speaking out, "Dad?"
He looked at his oldest daughter before answering. "Yes?"
"What exactly is a banquet?"
He tried to feed Jinae as he paid attention to what Hwayoung was saying. "A banquet?" He thought about it for a second and answered, "It's like a fancy dinner. People dress up, gather to celebrate something and they eat. The tables are decorated and everything looks really pretty."
She didn't answer right away but just took in the information provided. "What kind of things can be celebrated with a banquet?"
"A birthday, a wedding, an award, and other things," he said listing the first things that came to mind.
"Okay."
It seemed that Hwayoung was satisfied with those answers but his own curiosity peaked. "Why are you asking?"
"I was talking to Joonie about it."
"What did he tell you?"
She placed her hand on top of the table and rested her chin on the palm of her hand, "Almost the same thing you told me."
He nodded. "Why did you ask Joonhee?"
"Yesterday, I found a paper in his apartment that said something about a banquet. He told me that the hospital he works at is going to have one because a really old doctor is leaving."
"Did he tell you when the banquet is?"
"He told me in a few days."
"Did he tell you if he was going?"
"He said he was. He said he had too," she replied before returning to her homework.
It had been a week. It had been exactly a week since Hwayoung had told him about the banquet and Joonhee had said absolutely nothing about it to him. It was driving him crazy. He had been wondering for a week if Joonhee was going, and if he was, was the younger male going alone or...
"Yoonjae," he looked up and Joonhee was looking at him with concern, "Dinner's ready. Are you okay?"
"Yeah. I'm fine, just thinking," he answered as he stood up.
There was kimchi, rice and sweet soy chicken for dinner. Hwayoung was already seated and Jinae was on her high chair with rice in front of her when he sat down. Hwayoung told them about her day as they ate and they tried to stop Jinae from throwing rice everywhere as her and Hwayoung's giggles echoed from the walls. Yoonjae took Jinae into his arms when he finished and it didn't take long for Joonhee and Hwayoung to finish when the rice stopped flying.
Once in the living room, he laid her down before grabbing her arms and biting her belly enough to make her laugh. Hwayoung sat on the other couch and Joonhee sat with her. They watched TV for a bit but Hwayoung got bored quickly and asked if she could go to her room to play a video game. After Hwayoung left the room, Jinae was in the middle of saying gibberish when Joonhee's voice caught his attention.
"Next week, I need to attend something concerning the hospital, so I won't be able to come over. One of the doctors is leaving the hospital and there is going to be a goodbye banquet," Yoonjae found it strange that Joonhee's eyes where focused on the TV.
"A doctor is leaving?"
"Yeah, he's going into private practice."
Yoonjae nodded but he wasn't sure if Joonhee could tell.
"And I was wondering," Joonhee's eyes would not turn to look at him, "If you would want to go? We are free to invite someone so if you want and can go…" Joonhee trailed off; his eyes flickering in his direction before settling on the TV again.
Yoonjae smiled: Joonhee was somewhat shy when it came to him. He would have to cancel a few things but Joonhee didn't need to know that. "Okay," He nodded before continuing "Just give me the exact time and date."
Joonhee nodded and Yoonjae's heart swelled. There was a little hue of pink dusting Joonhee's cheeks and it made him look so pretty.
He had to scramble to find both Hwayoung and Jinae a dress for the banquet since he had every intention of taking both of them. Taewong had volunteered to babysit but Yoonjae declined which made Taewong offer to help him get the girls ready. He had happily accepted the help. But when Hwayoung locked herself in her room to change and Jinae fell asleep on the couch, Taewong convinced Yoonjae that babysitting Jinae was for the best: she would probably remain asleep the rest of the night. Hwayoung was coaxed out of her room by Joonhee after the younger male arrived. He was wearing a suit and Yoonjae was speechless. It was rare to see Joonhee in a suit and he had to admit that the younger male cleaned up well. It was like his heart skipped a beat and his words got stuck in his throat once his eyes looked at Joonhee from head to toe.
They were about to walk out the door when Hwayoung decided she was not going to go and no amount of coaxing, promises, and bribes Yoonjae or Joonhee threw her way would change it. She rejected them all. In the end it was him and Joonhee. The ride there was comfortable but he couldn't help but sneak a glance towards Joonhee whenever he had a chance.
The second they entered the room, people started greeting Joonhee. Yoonjae was a little overwhelmed by the amount of people he was introduced to in a short amount of time. He made sure to stay close to Joonhee. The doctor that was leaving was introduced to him as Jung Hyunwoo, Joonhee's "mentor" and that’s when he realized why Joonhee had told Hwayoung that he had to attend. The man was older than him but not by much and way too comfortable with Joonhee. He would touch Joonhee often and Joonhee didn't seem to mind. Yoonjae felt his stomach twist with every touch and that was how he ended up sitting by himself in his assigned seat.
“Hi,” A woman bowed as she approached him and he stood up and bowed back, “I am Jung Eunhye.”
“Yoo-” she interrupted him almost immediately.
“I know who you are,” she sat down before he did, “Joonhee has told us a bit about you”
“Us?”
“My husband and me; Jung Hyunwoo is my husband.”
“The doctor…” He vaguely wondered why she was talking to him.
She nodded and smiled, “He is going into private practice.”
“Joonhee told me. Are you happy about it?” He felt somewhat relieved that the doctor had a wife. 'Now, if only he would stop touching Joonhee so much...'
“Yes. Hyunwoo wants Joonhee to help him with the business,” her eyes where focused on her husband and Joonhee who was next to the older male.
Yoonjae stayed silent as he tightened his jaw when he saw the doctor wrap an arm around Joonhee’s shoulders and say something to the people they were talking to and that he had yet to meet.
“The job, it would require that he moves into another city. Joonhee said that he would think about it but for now, I think I know his answer,” she said before turning to look at him. “He is your best friend right?"
"Yes."
"Do you think you can talk to him? I feel that there is something stopping him from leaving and this is a good opportunity for him," her eyes had a hopeful look.
"I don't think I'll be able to affect his decision," He felt a little bad at the fact that he would never tell Joonhee to leave.
"Please? Just try?" her eyes were almost pleading with him, "It would mean a lot to my husband if Joonhee accepts the offer."
Her words were still fresh in his mind as they, Joonhee and him, walked to the car and the possibility that Joonhee could leave became a fear. With every step, he figured that she was right. Joonhee deserved the best and didn't need to be with someone that had kids from a previous relationship. He needed someone that would make him a better person, someone that would have chosen him over everything and anyone. They reached the car. He looked at Joonhee for a second and he knew losing the younger male was no longer an option for him.
The younger male was about to take a step towards the driver's side of the car to unlock the door when an arm circled his waist and he looked at Yoonjae: the intensity of the elder’s stare made him nervous. Yoonjae's grip was tight and Joonhee felt that grip tighten just a little more before Yoonjae rested his forehead against Joonhee’s and smiled. “I love you,” he whispered before leaning down slightly and covering Joonhee’s lips with his own.
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