As I have nothing to give you, I give you my heart (IU Verse Book#1)

Chapter 30

      The evening quickly came as the four began to prepare for the barbecue. Jieun helped Hyori in setting the plates that are needed on the table that they sit next to the fire pit. Jihyuk was helping Sangsoon in building the fire, and soon enough, the fire started as Sangsoon went to pick up the meat and the utensils that are needed to grill the meat. Jihyuk watched beside the older man as he picked up the meat with the tongs and put it on the grill one by one. 

     Sangsoon noticed that Jihyuk was watching him. "Jihyuk ah, go join Hyori and Jieun. I'll get this meal done in no time."

      "Sangsoon ssi, if it's okay with you, I'll grill the meat. You should join Hyori ssi and Jieun ssi. You must be tired from your trip to the market. Let me do it." Jihyuk offered. Sangsoon hesitated for a moment. "Please, Sangoon ssi, I insist." 

     Sangsoon finally nodded and handed the tongs to Jihyuk. Jihyuk took his spot as Sangsoon made his way to the table a few feet away from them, where the girls were. They began to start eating as Jihyuk went to the table and back at the pit, going back and forth to serve the meat that was cooked. Jieun watched him and noticed that there wasn't a single slice of meat on his plate. Hyori seemed to notice it too as she began to put some meat on his plate and turned to her. "Jieun ahh, go feed Jihyuk some meat. He doesn't have time to eat as he's busy grilling." Jieun nodded as she took the plate and made her way to Jihyuk.

      Jihyuk looked up from his chair once he noticed her presence and asked if she needed more meat. She shook her head as she picked up the meat from the plate and pointed it towards Jihyuk's direction. "Open up," She said, almost chuckling after seeing Jihyuk's dumbfounded expression. He then let out a small smile and opened his mouth, allowing her to feed him. "It's really good," He said, munching on the meat happily while smiling up at her. Jieun then went to get a chair nearby and sat down next to him. "I'll take the meat to the table, you just keep grilling." She said, feeding him another mouthful of beef. "You should eat too, noona." He said while grilling the meat. Jieun smiled again at the way he addressed her. Seriously, she needed to get used to it.

       Jihyuk picked up a freshly grilled meat from the grill, blew on it, and motioned towards Jieun, who looked at the meat and back at him before letting out a smile and opening her mouth. The meat melted softly in her mouth as she chewed happily. Jihyuk looked at her happy expression and couldn't help but smile too.

       Hyori and Sangsoon had abandoned their plates at one point and were just watching the two interact. They both had proud smiles on their faces. Hyori leaned over to her husband. "Isn't it weird to see Jieun like this? I have never seen her so happy like this before." She said in a low voice. Sangsoon nodded alongside her. "It feels like it was just yesterday that she was here by herself for the first time. She looked so lost and lonely." He said, shifting his eyes from the couple and back to Hyori. "Our daughter finally has someone that can take care of her now." Hyori let out a smile and nodded. 

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      After the barbeque, they sat around the campfire, sipping some red wine.

      "It's been a while since we have a night like this, right Oppa?" Hyori said while looking at her husband. Sangsoon smiled and nodded before sipping on his wine. Jieun looked up at the sky and couldn't help but admire it. "Look at the stars. It's quite a sight compared to Seoul's." She said softly. Jihyuk followed her gaze as he tipped his head upwards. "It really is," he said, agreeing with her.