The sun was already starting to set when you got home that evening around 7PM, after having spend a good hour at the convenience store around the corner of the bus stop, so lost in though about what the detective had offered you and about the whole day in general that you didn't even notice that no one was home until you had already put your stuff in your room and headed back down to the kitchen to see what's for dinner. It was then that you remembered the BBQ at your neighbors house that you had completely forgotten about due to the events if today and of course the rain this morning, you had so desperately hoped that it would be cancelled, that you didn't have to go to the house across the street but unfortunately for you luck wasn't on you side once again. With a sigh you contemplated whether you would go or not. Maybe the food had already run out anyway and there was none left for you, then it would be better just to eat some instant noodles right now and then maybe think about heading over after, so that no one could complain since you had at least shown your face. Right when you were about to grab a pan from the cabinet under the sink, you heard the doorbell ring telling you that someone was at your door.
With a sigh, you put the pan on the countertop before heading over to the front door wondering who might be there. As far as you knew, all the neighbors were on the other side of the street, enjoying the BBQ. Therefore it was quite surprising to you to see that it was the host of said BBQ who was standing on your doorstep with a friendly smile on your face, like he was happy to see you, like he had been waiting for you.
"I thought I saw you walking in the street earlier" He said with an all-knowing look in his eyes.
"We saved up some food for you, your mother said that you had a field trip today" he continued, already turning around to head back over to his house.
"wait, I'll grab my phone quickly" you said as you ran back into the kitchen, mentally cursing yourself for letting him see you get home.
"I assumed all the food would be gone by now" you laughed, unease apparent because you felt like he knew that you were trying not to go to the BBQ, you felt like you were caught even though the man showed you no sign of knowing what your plan was.
"No, I prepared plenty. We don't want anyone going home hungry" he laughed whole heartedly and it seemed to you like he meant it, at least this part. Through out the evening you were able to take note of how, just like you had already suspected, he treated you differently from all the other neighbors. Maybe it was because of your age or because of your similar interests, you didn't know but with your knowledge of psychology and the experience you had with patients, even though it was little, something told you that the way he acted towards you was the real him, even though it was a bit strange, maybe even creepy at times. Or at least, part of it was. The only times he was sincere, you thought, were the times he was interacting with you or with Jong Woo which was something you didn't know whether it that brought you comfort or not.
The fact that he was so good at pretending made you question what he was really like and the sincere parts of him that he had shown you, weren't enough to tell you whether he was trustworthy or not, there always being this underlying feeling in your gut that told you that something was off or even horribly wrong with him, yet you had no evidence or experience to back it up.
"Here, Moon Jo told me told give this to you" Jong Woo told you with a friendly smile, while he handed you a plate of grilled vegetables and some garlic bread, making you look at him confused.
"you're a vegetarian, right"
"yes, I am" you relied even more confused since you had never mentioned it to these men before looking at your mother who was laughing her heart out about something Moon Jo said to her, telling yourself that she must have told them.
"there are rice, fries, salads and more garlic bread on the table with the condiments and drinks. I have some vegetarian burgers on the grill for you right now and I can always put more vegetables and meat substitutes on for you" The writer told you and you noticed that even though he was still friendly, friendlier than he ever had been before, yet it seemed like he kept looking at someone in the corner of his eye. You noticed that maybe he was now being nicer to you than to your other neighbors, maybe because the two of you seemed to be the only people in their twenties.
"Oh and there are plenty of banchan in the fridge in the kitchen, vegetarian ones. Feel free to grab some if you want, I assume a BBQ can get plain when you don't eat meat." he continued while he headed back to the grill, continuing his sudden 'overly friendly' behavior which he was something that was persistent throughout the evening. Most people started to leave within an hour of your arrival and Jong Woo only started to act friendlier and friendlier. You thought it was strange to say the least, since he was almost treating you like a threat before, it was like he no longer perceived you to be one. It seemed as though he was now the one that wanted to get closer to you instead of the dentist, even though he had warned you not to get too close to them.
Moon Jo, however, was completely pre occupied with the other guests, not giving both you and Jong Woo more than a glance accompanied by a smile from time to time when your eyes met. Later that evening Jong Woo asked you to help him with putting the salads and the condiments back in the fridge as it seemed like everyone had more or less stopped eating. After clearing out the table, you helped with putting snacks and chips back onto it, the hosts making sure their guests wouldn't go hungry before Jong Woo asked you if you liked red wine as you were finishing the last sip of your glass. You nodded in reply with a smile on your face, starting to feel it get to your head little by little.
"Come with me, we have a more exclusive one inside. You should really try it" Jong Woo told you as he guided you inside with a big smile on his face like he was a kid letting you in on a secret and maybe he was while he felt Moon Jo's warning eyes burning into his back as he placed his hand on the small of your back. The writer led you through the living room and into the hall way before opening the door on the left, revealing a staircase leading to the basement, much like the one you had in your house, yet yours didn't lead to a full on pantry room with a wine cellar.
"Moon Jo and I like the finer things in life, one of them being wine" He told you as you looked around the room clearly being filled with luxury items, like imported meats and liquor.
"This room is nothing compared to our other one"
"you have another one?" you asked confused as the man grabbed two bottles of wine before checking the labels and asking you if you preferred one from 2020 or 2018.
"Yes, not here though" the writer replied while he gestured for you to head back upstairs before he followed while switching off the lights.
"we have another house on Jeju Island, near Hallasan" Jong Woo replied when he saw the confused look on your face, like it was the most normal thing in the world to have two houses, most definitely one on a popular holiday destination. He smiled at you when your eyes went wide before continuing to walk into the kitchen, gesturing for you to sit down on the couch while he went to pour the two of you a glass of wine.
"At times life in the city gets too much for us, people are just so annoying" the man complained with a sigh and for the first time you felt like he was saying something sincere. It did make sense for them to have a second house since they were gone so often.
"yet, you host a neighborhood BBQ" you laugh, the writer laughing along with you while mumbling 'yes it seems so', before taking a sip from the wine the writer had given you. You were surprised at it's taste and couldn't quite decide if you liked it or not. It was like the sweetest wine you had ever had, yet there was a bitter, almost metal like after-taste that you couldn't quite place.
"It's quite unique, isn't it" he asked while looking at you with a fascinated smile on his face as he sat down on the couch next to you, not even bothering to put much distance between you.
"We make it ourselves, in Jeju of course. There is quite a niche market for it."
"Yes, the after-taste is different from anything I've had before" you replied, fascinated while looking at your glass, admiring the dark red shade the wine had.
"Do you add another fruit?"
"I can't tell you, it's a secret" Jong Woo laughed whole heartedly, you too tipsy to notice the sinister tone to his voice as he watched you enjoy your wine, almost like he was fascinated by it and maybe he was.
"But I promise, no animals were harmed in the process"
"Wine is always vegetarian silly" you laughed suddenly feeling comfortable with the writer, this wine seeming stronger than anything you've had before.
"what are you two laughing about" You suddenly heard Moon Jo's voice from behind you, looking at Jong Woo before turning around to face the man approaching you.
"we were just talking about the wine" you replied, not noticing the grin the dentist gave the writer after seeing the dark red liquor in your glass, knowing exactly which wine he had given you, happy to see the writer finally partaking in his plan.
"I see how it is, you're drinking our specialty wine without me" the dentist went on with a teasing tone as he walked over to the kitchen to pour himself a glass and bringing the bottle with him as he went to sit down on the other side of you, placing the bottle on the coffee table.
