Catch up: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6

“Is it him?” DJ asks, or more like demands, from SZ.

Is her roommate’s boyfriend’s friend the guy she likes? Is he the type she’s attracted to? Is her type a guy who’s cute and delicate-looking? DJ’s clearly on the roll.

“No…it’s manly!” SZ desperately throws out the first thing that comes to mind.

“Manly? So you like muscular guys, is that it?” DJ throws a glance at his lithe body.

No, she doesn’t. She also can’t bring herself to face him, turning 45 degrees to glance out the passenger window the entire time. SZ can’t recall what her drunk self confessed about the boy she likes, it’s a struggle to try and make it as little obvious as possible he’s the subject of her ramblings.

“No muscles but he’s manly and he’s nice to everyone. The guy you describe sounds like a jerk,” DJ concludes.

He’s not a jerk and this is getting ridiculous, DJ needs to stop being nosy!

“I’m nosy? I’ve never met a guy like that in my life, I’m just curious,” he says as he finally drops the line of questioning.

If he’s curious, he can take a look in the mirror! The drive to the airport never seemed this long.

“DJ, considering you’re in your twenties, why don’t you get a girlfriend instead of bothering me?” SZ decides it’s time to ask him to answer some of her questions.

“Where would I get a girlfriend? Why don’t you introduce one to me?” he pointedly asks.

SZ can’t help him there, she only knows girls around her age. Expecting his usual kid references and quite possibly a joke at her expense, she’s confused when she hears he’s fine with that.

Come again, what did he say? What does he mean? Is he teasing her? He’s never said something like this to SZ before.

I guess I’m falling for you, can you accept me?

SZ’s parents happily welcome her home as SY drops her off in front of the house. It took so long thanks to SY’s tardiness which SZ has no reservations in disclosing to her parents.

Poor SY was only late because he’d waited half an hour in line to buy SZ’s favorite dinner.

Looking at their coddling, SY rolls his eyes. Unbelievable! As soon as the little princess comes home, he becomes an errand boy. Things don’t get better for him when SZ’s gift turns out to be a pair of asymmetrical sunglasses that look absolutely ridiculous despite being “in style”.

Their mom turns to SY demanding why he didn’t show up at the blind date she’d set up for him. Showing up, even out of courtesy, would’ve been nice and the proper thing to do.

“Do I look like I need help in that?” SY asks while wearing his silly new sunglasses that he’s oddly fancying. He tries to make his family understand he really doesn’t need help dating even though they all seem to believe he’ll end up all alone.

After dinner, SZ goes out to “help” SY change the outer gate’s lightbulbs and asks him if he’s actually going on blind dates. If he is, he should ask DJ to go with him since they’re both single and DJ may want a girlfriend now.

SY wonders if DJ somehow got on his sister’s bad side. But she just thinks he’s not getting any younger and if he doesn’t find a girlfriend, he might end up being pathetically alone. SY is partly offended that she thinks DJ being pathetically alone means he’s also going to end up in the same state.

He outright refuses her pleas, he really doesn’t need help. Why can’t they get that through their heads?

・❥・

Later that night, inside her room, SZ unearths the box of stuff she buried inside her closet two years ago once returning from the heartbreaking trip to see DJ at the airport. It has all the things that remind her of him including the fox plushie he gave her.

She remembers their conversation in the car, him saying someone around her age can be his girlfriend. Was he serious? She can’t help a tiny spark of hope blossoming inside her chest.

SZ texts DJ that SY has a younger girlfriend. He responds that SY can’t possibly like a minor. Again, not fully getting a straight answer and not daring to ask, SZ questions if it’s okay as long as the girl is an adult.

Pensive, DJ sends a voice note with his new take on things, “An adult would be in college, doesn’t that make her a grown-up? So why not?”

DJ wonders if she’s asking only for SY. Is it acceptable to SZ only because it happened to someone else? Maybe if it happened to her, she’d probably find it hard to accept. After all, he’s only her “big brother”.

Meanwhile, SZ wonders if they hadn’t met each other until now when she was 19 and he was 24, he’d have seen her as a peer. Maybe in his eyes, she’ll always be a 14-year-old girl who’s just his best friend’s younger sister.

・❥・

DJ took the jolly QF, a friend and college roommate who’s visiting for work, to dinner. Amidst demolishing a fried chicken leg, QF confesses he won’t be asking SY or DJ to be his groomsmen for his upcoming wedding. If he lets them, people might think they’re there to steal his bride!

DJ scoffs at QF’s nonsensical thoughts.

QF asks after the last conversation they’d had a while back when DJ said there was a girl he liked. Has there been progress?

Nothing’s happened, she has someone she likes. DJ tries to dismiss the topic, he’s not in the mood to discern the situation.

Yet, QF can’t help but find the girl impressive. It’s not every day one doesn’t take a liking to his good-looking friend.

“DJ don’t be sad. What kind of guy does she like? I’ll analyze it and give you advice,” QF offers.

“This guy is quite a flirt, he’s a ladies’ man and nice to everyone. He might even be a bit shameless”. Pause.

“Isn’t that you?” QF asks, chewing and listening at the same time.

Not to insult his friend but what if she’s talking about DJ? One speaks contrary to their mind when they’re in front of their crush. QF recalls his situation in college when a girl he had a crush on broke up with her boyfriend and turned to him as a rebound. When she’d gotten back together with her boyfriend, she’d asked QF what kind of girl he liked to help him find her. Poor QF, what could he say other than make up a person based on her?

Hearing this, DJ is open to the possibility though still has doubts. It’s not very likely but also not entirely impossible.

What’s up with him, he’s suddenly acting strange

It’s QF’s wedding, and SZ attends with SY. Looking around, SZ doesn’t spot DJ who’s running a bit late. When he does arrive, he subtly touches his necktie while stealing glances at SZ wondering if she’ll notice he’s wearing her gift.

The seating situation at the table, however, doesn’t suit DJ’s purpose of being close to SZ very well. Right in between them is SY–he needs to go.

Devising a plan in the spur of the moment, DJ turns to SY calling him “darling brother” in an adoring tone insinuating SY is something far more than “brother”.

“Who are you trying to gross out?” SY demands. Their past classmates agree these two have become rather grosser since university, they’re infatuation with their selves has reached a whole new level!

“Darling brother they’re badmouthing me!” A disturbed SZ throws a glance their way, what’s going on here?

DJ declares from thereon SY is his “darling brother”. People around the table start laughing but SY isn’t nearing a smile at all. Even SZ calling him brother at that moment disturbs him but she can’t help it, did something happen to DJ? He seems weird.

Getting up, SY forces SZ to change seats before he pukes.

Mission accomplished, good job DJ.

While seated next to her, DJ tries to find out the age of the guy she likes. Is he in the same year and school as her? If not, how did she meet him? He’s fishing to see if QF’s idea that he might be the guy she likes is true and he’s getting a stronger feeling that might be the case.

When SZ gets up to leave, DJ volunteers to drive her home since SY is drinking. Outside, he surprises her with a bracelet that has her initials.

SZ doesn’t know what this means, what’s he saying with this action? She goes online to search only to find the meaning behind a bracelet as a gift is “cherished love”.

If I got a girlfriend, I promised to tell you first, did you forget?

SZ scrolls on her phone to see that a bracelet gift from an “elder” means “forever caring”.

Okay, she gets it, she laughs at her momentarily delusion that DJ is possibly expressing his love for her.

Early the next morning, DJ picks her up to head to the airport. He told her the night before they were on the same flight back. She doesn’t know he was up late last night trying to desperately grab a ticket on that flight.

DJ notices she’s not wearing the bracelet he gave her. Does she not like it? SZ doesn’t know how to respond, how to tell him she can’t bring herself to wear that as a memento from an “elder” especially when he’s the elder.

Seated next to DJ in the airport waiting room, they run into a high school classmate of his who’s somewhat nosy and asks DJ if she’s his girlfriend. SZ wants to roll her eyes, not this again.

The classmate backtracks once neither responds since he must be wrong. He heard DJ is with JY (the woman who keeps harassing him) but he soon figures out he’s very wrong and should just shut up. The girl must be DJ’s girlfriend, he needs to remedy this by apologizing for spouting nonsense.

SZ just smiles and laughs, she’d been expecting the “no, she’s my younger sister” comment from DJ though oddly enough he didn’t say anything.

“So, who’s JY?” she asks once the classmate departs.

“It’s the woman we ran into during dinner on New Year’s Eve,” he tells her. It’s not that kind of relationship, SZ saw how the woman treated him. How could he have anything to do with her? Besides, didn’t he promise her before that if he got a girlfriend he would introduce her to SZ first?

Astonished, SZ looks at him. He remembers?

“But I recall there was another woman before when I went to your hometown during high school. You came to the airport with her”. Okay, she’s fishing for info now but the silly hope inside her is sprouting.

“Did you think she was my girlfriend?” DJ curiously asks.

Was she not? Had she been mistaken and misunderstood him? So he never forgot what he promised her back then, he didn’t lie to her. Stuck in her thoughts and the tinge of happiness that was reemerging, SZ fails to note DJ’s own smiling face as he realizes she cares for him as more than just a brother.

・❥・

Back at the dorm, SZ is greeted by NW who grills her on the details since DJ dropped her off.

SZ is still processing their airport conversation. He told her he hadn’t dated for the past few years. NW thinks since DJ volunteered this information there must be no doubt in his feelings for SZ.

But SZ doubts this since his way of speaking and personality are hard to decipher. She does confess that he’s been somewhat strange lately, even stranger than before. He makes her feel like he might have feelings for her. SZ worries it’s her wishful thinking and she’s being oversensitive.

The confused NW asks SZ why she’s being such a coward, not admitting the possibility of DJ liking her even to herself. There’s nothing wrong with SZ, she should stop looking down on herself.

“I just think it’s impossible between us. I’ve always had the feeling that because I like him, even when he does something normal, I misinterpret his intentions,” SZ confesses.

Considering their relationship, a change wouldn’t be easy. If he was a stranger or someone who hadn’t seen her grow up, she’d pursue him if she liked him this much even if it meant getting ghosted or rejected, she wouldn’t be afraid. However, since he watched her grow up, could he possibly have such feelings for her?

NW doesn’t get how he watched SZ grow up. At most, he’s a big brother she met when she was young.

“I’ll tell you what I’m thinking as an outside observer. You are both adults, right? Even if he’s four or five years older than you, so what? In today’s society, even an eight-year gap isn’t anything to bat a lash on let alone a five-year gap! Besides none of us (the other girls) thinks it’s strange, only you do”.

Why’s SZ so conflicted? NW advises SZ to stop thinking that he’s older than her, and just interact with him naturally. Also, if he doesn’t make a move, she shouldn’t either. But if he does make a move, she should strike first!

Meanwhile, on the drive back to his apartment, DJ is having a similar conversation with QF. He asks his newly married friend how he won his wife’s heart.

QF tells him he should date the girl since she likes him. DJ should confess to her and be direct.

But DJ wants to pursue her first because “his girl” has felt that he couldn’t possibly like her (he picked up on that cue) so I’ve to be straightforward with her to make her happy.

“Your girl? How’s she your girl now?” QF asks. “Does she know that you already know she likes you?”

She doesn’t know yet so DJ has to pretend he’s clueless to not embarrass her. He needs to pursue and win her wholeheartedly.

Let’s take the next step, let the courtship games begin

DJ calls SZ to ask her out for a meal. SZ’s roommates are there when the call happens, they’re so excited. It’s finally working out, her secret crush is about to turn real!

SZ doesn’t let herself be super excited at the prospect though she’s somewhat giddy based on DJ’s recent behavior.

On the day of the untitled date, she rushes outside to meet a waiting DJ. Her friends are so happy; YZ feels like she’s marrying off her daughter considering this is SZ’s first date.

Rushing outside, she comes to a stop in front of DJ who tells her she looks pretty. They’ll be going to the restaurant they went to on New Year’s (the night JY splashed water on his face) because he wants to introduce someone to SZ.

SZ didn’t know someone else was joining them.

She can’t help but recall the promise he’d made about introducing his girlfriend if he got one. Is this the day DJ will introduce a girlfriend to him? Is that why he asked her out for dinner? Her momentary happiness at the day’s occasion started to fade as she realized this might not be their date.

If he does have a girlfriend, SZ probably shouldn’t sit in the front of the car so she heads for the back. DJ sees her and calls out, does she take him for a chauffeur? He goes around and opens the front passenger door for her.

When they get to the restaurant, SZ can’t help but shake the unease. Is he about to introduce his girlfriend to her?

Sure enough, walking in they head to a table with a seated young woman.

DJ introduces the woman as his superior and producer of the game he works on, Lady Boss. SZ gives polite greetings a shot.

“I once went to the airport to pick you up when you were young, do you still remember?” the smiling young woman asks SZ.

Oh, she remembers all right, it’s hard to forget a moment of heartbreak like that when young SZ saw the woman next to DJ at the airport.

DJ suddenly gets up from their table to take care of something leaving the two women alone.

“Last time I didn’t get a chance to properly greet you,” Lady Boss starts. “I shouldn’t have tagged along at the airport that day but I didn’t think too much of it, I just wanted to help. DJ had a mild fever that day. I wanted to have my husband drive him but a client meeting came up last minute so I drove DJ”.

SZ listens patiently. The other woman continues, “He wasn’t feeling well that day, I got out of the car to help him find you. Later he asked me to leave first because he was afraid you wouldn’t feel comfortable around a stranger. That’s why I left without saying a proper goodbye”.

DJ had been very angry that day when he saw her crying. He’d told the woman that the first time he’d met SZ, she could cry on a dime so the tears weren’t a new thing. But just then, when he saw her holding back tears, his heart broke.

So that was what they’d talked about when SZ had glanced from the distance thinking they were a couple. She’d seriously misunderstood them.

“DJ is a great guy, he’s young, promising, and good-looking”. The most important thing as long as Lady Boss has known him is that he hasn’t been involved in any messy relationship. She’s actually very curious about what kind of woman he’ll end up with.

Just then, DJ walks in with people from work who are about to have a team dinner right there. Coincidence or did they plan to be there at the right time to see the girl DJ is meeting? Leading the team is Lady Boss’ husband who asks DJ to introduce the young lady he’s with.

“A friend,” DJ replies. His team members exclaim what kind of “friend”?

SZ is astounded at this response as well. He said “friend” unlike other times when he’d introduced her as “sister” or “a relative’s child”.

After quick introductions, DJ excuses them because they have plans. He knows SZ doesn’t feel comfortable with large groups, especially large groups of general strangers.

While walking to the car, SZ wonders if DJ asked Lady Boss to explain the past situation to her. He didn’t have to do that since she believed him when he told her last time at the airport (following QF’s marriage).

“Is that so? I know girls your age like to believe in some strange sixth sense. I didn’t want there to be a misunderstanding because it’d be troublesome later,” he sincerely admits.

・❥・

Later that evening, SZ sits outside a pharmacy with her cardigan wrapped around her face hiding all but her eyes. She’d asked DJ for an iced tea only to be served a milk tea which she wasn’t aware of until taking a sip. By then it was too late, her milk allergy acted up, her face flaring with a rush.

How frustrating, they couldn’t even watch the movie they’d planned!

DJ emerged with some meds for her allergic reaction. He handed over the pills, saw her drink them, and then bent to be at eye level with her.

Oh! This is rather close and sudden, what’s going on?

Looking straight into her eyes, he asks what she did with the milk he’d bought for her in the past. She’d always taken the small bottles.

Blast his good memory, leave it to him to recall that part.