Catch up: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8, Part 9

SZ managed to land an internship for the summer staying at the dorm alone. And no it’s not because of DJ—she’s looking forward to gaining experience and doing a good job.

Only thing is she hasn’t exactly got a thumbs up from her family. For instance, SY calls to confirm when he’ll be picking her up from the airport. He’s none too happy when SZ tells him she’s getting her way.

Hearing the conversation between the two, SZ’s roommates wonder how it will go down when SY learns his sister is dating an older guy considering his vehement disapproval of her dating in general.

The girls aren’t fully versed on the past but SY hasn’t forgotten the day his younger sister chased after an older guy she met online (of course, he also doesn’t know the real details).

SZ thinks it should be okay since the older guy she’s dating is SY’s friend. But doubts creep in, maybe she should tell him the truth. Deciding on it, SZ starts texting him the DJ is her boyfriend, not a postgraduate student. However, when she clicks send, she realizes SY blocked her! How childish.

・❥・

The first day of interning didn’t go too well though SZ isn’t about to start complaining to anyone.

Her direct superior is JY’s friend and she identifies SZ at first sight. That’s the girl who had a public fight with her friend, she’s not about to make life easy for her.

SZ doesn’t care for confrontation so she does what she’s told to maintain professionalism.

Later that evening, as DJ bombards her with a torrent of questions about her first day, she can’t help but laughingly tell him he’s acting like a dad. Naggy with lots of questions, he’s adorable.

“You don’t have to worry about me. I’m working now, I’m a mature adult, not a child,” SZ tries to make him see reason. People in her life need to understand she’s capable.

Things at her internship don’t get any better as the days progress. SZ finds herself with an assortment of tasks that take very long to complete. Her nights revolve around late office work to the point she’s usually the last to leave.

However, she’s yet to say anything to DJ who’s also working late due to a game’s upcoming launch. Even though she hasn’t said much, he’s not that obtuse. A couple of phone calls in the evening have given him an idea of the overwork that’s taking place.

One evening, in particular, SZ orders a takeout dinner to be delivered to DJ’s office. He calls his thoughtful girlfriend to thank her only to hear she’s working late yet again.

DJ insists he’ll go to her despite SZ’s confusion—what in the world is he going to do there?

When he arrives, she meets him outside. His being there is such a comfort, he’s a shoulder to lean on.

As she hugs DJ, SZ asks if he really hasn’t had a girlfriend before. Has he?

DJ finds the question abrupt and honestly replies he’s never had a girlfriend before SZ.

Knowing something is going on, DJ shares that it’s okay if SZ is feeling different these days. It’s normal especially since she transitioned from a school setting to one that’s a company with departments that have different agendas, superiors, and bosses.

“Whatever they say, let it roll off your back. Your job is to see and to learn, don’t take anything to heart. You’re still an intern anyway, ok?” He gently rubs the back of her hair as she burrows further into his embrace.

How strange, she felt so tired from work until she met him, now she’s recharged. They “recharge” each other some more with lasting hugs before going back to their respective jobs.

Despite their late nights, DJ still wakes up early to go drive SZ to her internship. She’s surprised to find him napping in the car outside her dorm. Although she appreciates her boyfriend’s consideration, she doesn’t want him to exhaust himself by catering to her schedule. DJ of course has other thoughts on what he terms as exhaustion.

Dropping her off, SZ kisses him while still in the car. Neither is aware of her superior passing by, JY’s friend, who witnesses their embrace. As soon as she goes to her desk, she calls JY to tell her she just saw DJ outside her office building with the girl who threw water at her.

Next thing you know, she calls SZ into her office to admonish her for the proposal she submitted. She’s being deliberately harsh to the point a colleague intervenes to de-escalate the situation.

Later in the day, SZ happens to overhear that colleague with her superior in the break room kitchen.

“You don’t seem to like SZ,” the colleague sighs. They finally have two interns and SZ seems smart and obedient, it’d be good to not scare her away in less than a month.

“Obedient? You don’t know what she’s like in private. She doesn’t know anything but acts like she does, I just can’t stand her,” the superior replies.

Not able to do much or desiring to overhear anything further, SZ leaves.

That evening, they have a team-building event in a karaoke room. DJ texts her, how much did you drink, she assures him not much just a little. She’s bored and wants to leave; DJ suggests she find an excuse, he’ll come pick her up.

Just as SZ heads to the doors, she finds herself staring straight into JY’s face.

I have the money and time to waste on him even if no other girl does

“Do you know that his dad is in a coma?” JY follows SZ outside. “I don’t want a young girl like yourself to be led astray. His dad’s hospital expenses are high, no girl has the time or money to waste on him.”

“I do. I can waste it on him,” SZ responds.

Does she know his dad killed someone while driving? He’s a murderer.

“So what does that have to do with DJ?” SZ is reaching her limit.

She might not mind it but her parents surely won’t agree to the relationship. JY insists that DJ doesn’t even like SZ, he grew up without love due to his family situation. If anyone treats him well, he’ll think it’s love.

“If you think he like you, than tell me what he likes about you. You’ve fallen head over heels for him but what if you want to break up with him? Guess what he’ll say, he won’t even care, he could care less about breaking up with you. He can find thousands of other girls like you.” JY is relentless.

DJ’s dad killed JY’s dad, it’s why she’s like this with him. SZ tries to be understanding because no matter what in front him is a young woman whose past is controlling her future. However, it wasn’t DJ who made the mistake; it was his dad who committed the crime, he’ll bear legal responsibility.

“Do you know that his dad was a hit-and-runner? He was afraid of punishment and criticism so he attempted suicide but in the end he didn’t die, my dad died instead!” JY spits out through a torrent of tears. She’d been the one punished at the end so how can DJ have nothing to do with this incident?

SZ is somewhat at a loss of how to deal with the increasingly emotional and erratic woman in front of her. She tries to keep calm, attempting reason once more.

“JY, hasn’t DJ already made up for his dad’s sin? I know you’re innocent but isn’t he innocent as well? What exactly has DJ done wrong? This isn’t an excuse for you to hurt him.” With that, SZ departs.

But she doesn’t go home right away, she needs to think. Sitting alone outside, she recalls many years ago when DJ told her he had a lot of debtors. Is this how JY made DJ live in guilt?

DJ suddenly shows up gently cradling her face to see if she’s ok or if she’s had too much to drink. He brought dessert and bread for SZ knowing she might need to break through a hangover with her favorites.

“Why are you sitting alone by the riverside? It’s windy and you’re even drinking beer,” he says while taking off his jacket to throw over her.

SZ starts taking big bites of bread. Not quite looking DJ in the eye, she hands him a bank card. There’s quite a substantial amount on the card that’ll be supplemented if she completes her internship.

Why is she suddenly giving him the card? DJ is racking his brain trying to catch up.

“I just want to tell you that I can be nice to you for life. For real.”

“So our little SZ wants to take care of me.”

DJ pulls out his wallet and places it on her lap. The pin on his card is her birth date, she can use the money to buy beautiful dresses for herself. As for the card she gave him, it’s his now.

“Boss, what are your orders? I can satisfy all of your desires,” he jokes. SZ starts laughing, it’s good he knows he’s corny.

Getting a little serious, DJ admits it’s surprising at his age to have someone else to depend on.

He wonders if SZ is upset, if that’s what brought this conversation around. She assures him that’s not the case, she’s happy he came to pick her up. Though internally she’s troubled by her encounter with JY, she needs to be strong for DJ.

I’m serious about her, I’m not playing around I promise you

DJ is walking SZ to her dorm after yet another long working night. She tries to make him see reason that he’ll be exhausted if he keeps this up but her boyfriend won’t budge. It’s not safe for her walking alone late at night.

It’s ok for him to put a little effort and pick her up in the evenings. SZ gives him a lingering hug but soon her phone rings. She’s surprised to see her brother SY—why’s he calling after blocking her?

“Are you back at your dorm?” SY asks.

“I’m heading there right now, what’s the matter?”

“There’s a girl holding hands with a guy on campus right now. That’s you, right?”

SZ pauses on her tracks. She looks around not seeing him, did he come to YU to visit?

“Am I blind?” SY’s voice is heard in person as he approaches the couple. “Why does your postgraduate boyfriend look just like DJ?”

SY’s eyes zero-in on their clasped hands. SZ quickly drops the hand and approaches her brother, why didn’t he tell her he was coming?

DJ slowly approaches not saying anything, a knowing look on his face as he meets his friend’s thunderous expression.

“I pursued her,” DJ tells his friend. SZ attempted a last-ditch effort to make excuses but at this point it’s too late. It’s time they come clean.

The three walk to SZ’s dorm. All the while poor SZ tries to reason with her headstrong brother even telling him she didn’t hide it from him, she told him the truth last time but he blocked her! The postgraduate thing was mainly to mentally prep him for the age gap not intentionally a lie.

With a reluctant and concerned SZ back to her dorm, SY and DJ walk some distance together before SY turns to DJ with a punch right at the face.

Oh it was a hard one all right, his hand aches. Of all the girls, why his sister?

“I’m not fooling around. I’m serious about her,” DJ says through the pain on his face.

Another punch, this time on his stomach making him crunch down. Looking up at his friend’s furious face, he gets up. He invites yet another punch.

“Come on, don’t stop,” he tells SY.

SY’s had enough, he’s furious yes but hurting his friend isn’t an activity he relishes. He sits on the floor by a tree. DJ follows along stumbling down as he tries to breath through the pain of the beating he just received.

“How long has it been going on?” SY asks.

“Two and a half months,” comes DJ’s honest response.

Does his friend even have a conscience? If he wants to date a girl her age or even younger, he won’t object to it. But SZ is his sister, she met DJ when she was in middle school and took him for an older brother, how could he target her?

Last time DJ had told SY he’d visit him at home, it was about this because he knows he handled it improperly.

“I know you’re upset. How about this, you can beat me however you like.” SY scoffs, what an idiot.

However, DJ can see that SY’s slowly softening and coming around.

SY gets up saying, “Go home and clean yourself first.” He pulls up DJ himself considering he’s not capable of moving much.

Meanwhile, SZ is inside her dorm totally spaced out in concern. She calls SY who’s in a taxi with DJ and doesn’t bother picking up.

She texts DJ next if everything is okay between them. Everything is fine, she shouldn’t worry. But SZ doesn’t buy it, he needs to call her.

“Buddy, I’ve given this plenty of thought. I will be good to SZ for the rest of my life, you don’t need to worry,” DJ tells the still pissed SY in the car.

“Let me ask you, are you sure that you’re serious about it?”

“If not, I would be a total jerk.”

“How far have you two taken it? Don’t tell me you’ve already…” SY can’t even bring himself to think about it.

“Buddy do you see me as someone like that?”

“Do you wish to hear the truth? You’re someone like that in my eyes,” SY confirms.

Besides, he’s already 26 but he went after a college freshman, are there no limits to his shamelessness?

He’s serious about her and about pursuing her. They’re only five years apart. If SY isn’t satisfied yet, why doesn’t he punch him some more?

Why can’t two adult men use words and reason instead of fists?

Arriving at DJ’s apartment, SY heads to the fridge to grab a snack. DJ isn’t very welcoming to its content however.

“I hope you won’t touch anything in the fridge, I bought them for my girlfriend,” DJ admits. SY scoffs at the “girlfriend” part.

SZ tries video calling DJ a little later that night but he tells her he’s not wearing any clothes since he came out of the shower. In truth, he doesn’t want her to see his bruised face.

He assures her he’s fine. SY came because he’s concerned about her and wants to see if she’s cohabiting with her postgraduate boyfriend.

That brother of hers is really annoying.

The next morning, DJ meets SZ per usual outside her internship office though she’s surprised to see he’s put on a face mask.

“I got a cold, I don’t want to infect you,” DJ lies through his teeth.

SZ keeps looking at him, why does he suddenly have a cold? She pulls off his mask as he turns to leave. The smile on her face slowly disappears as she sees the bruise on his cheek.

He bumped into the corner of the nightstand last night. SZ doesn’t counter she only asks what of SY? Is he looking any better?

She calls her brother to figure out where he’s at. He’s so dead.

Storming into the restaurant SY’s sitting at, SZ pulls him out of his seat trying to drag him outside. She’s beyond angry.

What is she doing? SY is a tad at a loss seeing this rare side of his little monster.

“Why did you hit him?” SZ confronts him right then and there.

Why can’t he hit him? SY is getting riled himself now.

She would’ve called the cops had she been there to tell them to arrest this pigheaded person!

Too angry with SY to even counter his goading at her threat, she informs him she’s cutting ties with him for good. From now on, he’s no longer her brother!

SZ runs out in fear the angry and hurt tears will burst the persona she’d tried to put on. DJ goes after her.

A while later, DJ comes back and sits with the now calm SY. His sister is fine, she’s in the restroom.

SY looks at his friend, “Have you been spoiling her rotten? Her temper is worse. Don’t try to stop me today, I have to teach her a lesson.”

“And I’ll have to stop you. Why are you squabbling with a younger girl?” DJ is caught in the middle of this sibling war.

“To be honest, having my girlfriend defend me just now was pretty touching,” he goes on to say.

SZ saunters over to them. DJ throws a look at SY who let’s out a sigh before directing his words at her.

“Do you know how old you are? Who says cutting ties anymore?”

“Then I’m severing ties effective immediately,” SZ throws at him.

DJ decides to interrupt before they get out of hand again. These two when put together can’t avoid being childish.

SZ turns to her brother, “SY, do you know how to communicate properly? You were born with a mouth, can’t you talk things over? Must you get physical?”

“Be reasonable, I never resolve disputes with such unproductive methods. I’m not like you, never understanding the point.”

What does he mean by that? Since when has she not understood?

“I can’t imagine how anyone can get along with you,” a frustrated SZ says. He’s truly irritating.

Excuse him but he was fighting with his buddy, it’s none of her concern.

Excuse her but how can it not be her business? Doesn’t he think he’s wrong for hitting him? SZ is convinced SY must have a loose screw in that big head.

DJ tries to de-escalate the situation once more. He tells SZ that SY got some punches his way too so they’re now even.

“Wait, why did you hit him? Are both of you this childish, can’t you talk must you fight?” SZ continues nagging about them fighting instead of reasoning things.

SY is actually in favor of how this turned around seeing as DJ is now his sister’s target. But the change in mood doesn’t last long as SZ suddenly turns concerned over DJ’s bruise gently dabbing with her finger wondering if it hurt.

“Someone’s dotting on DJ now. Younger sisters are useless indeed, I’d rather have a girlfriend who would care and worry about me.”

SZ’s consciousness somewhat comes through and she shows her “care” by asking SY if he’d like some water. He reluctantly pushes his empty glass to her. Guess this is their version of a truce.

She’s busy with work but SZ’s willing to make time to accompany SY if there’s anything he’d like to do while visiting.

SY however insists he came to visit his buddy and wants DJ’s company. DJ agrees though he’s bringing his girlfriend.

DJ in the meantime has been peeling shrimp for SZ. Handing her another one, SY can’t take it anymore. Who are they trying to show off to? He can’t deal with so much affection, they need to stop.