Sung Jin-Woo has never been a narrow-minded person.
He has seen many of his acquaintances falling in love and many romantic partners hunting and working together to perform better tasks than what they could have landed going on with a group of strangers.
It was a fact that Jin-Woo himself didn't have any experience in this field but it doesn't mean he was unaware of how things proceed in a healthy relationship, more so when the concerned parties were in their high school years.
Jin-Woo admits that he's protective of his sister, both because he was naturally like this and also because after his father disappeared, Jin-Woo had to shoulder the responsibility of his family.
Thanks to the fact that Jinah was a very diligent and hard-working child who always remained focused on her goal, Jin-Woo never had to worry about her whenever he walked into the hole of death.
The boy his sister likes is someone Jin-Woo now mildly trusts but he never could have expected that just a week's worth of gap and things would elevate to the point where the boy would dare enter his house as well.
Jin-Woo wasn't agitated but rather slightly confused and astonished to see his sister taking such advances.
"O-Oppa... I-I can e-e-"Jin-Woo has never seen Jinah this nervous and it was understandable since from Jin-Woo's perspective, his sister has invited a man over to the place and was being intimate with the door left unlocked.
Of course, Jin-Woo knew it was not the case since he trusts his sister enough to not make any rash decisions. But he didn't console the stuttering girl just now as he saw the third person in the room stepping in between.
"Sunbae, I was out of town and returned just today. Since Jinah was slightly distressed so I came over. That's it."
Jin-Woo raised his left brow seeing how sternly Haru was standing in front of him while defending Jinah who still was a broken mess.
Jin-Woo didn't continue to stare at Haru as he turned toward his sister and asked in a soft tone.
"What I saw...was it forceful, Jinah? "
Hearing her brother's words Jinah immediately shook her head, as in the first place how Haru would force her when it was Jinah who was hugging him.
Jin-Woo sighed at the display before he asked, "Then why are you panicking like this? Calm down, and get some water, alright? "
Jinah dumbly blinked at her brother, understanding his words yet unable to comprehend them entirely.
However, just on her instincts, she turned on her heels before she headed toward the kitchen to grab some much-needed refresher.
So many things were happening today that have made Jinah's small brain short-circuit.
Jin-Woo turned his gaze back at Haru.
Something tells him that this guy has gotten stronger....way more than what could be regarded as a typical development. It was fascinating and slightly suspicious as well.
Of course, it was not Jin-Woo's place to complain since he himself has got a cheat that allows him to grow infinitely, and also the dungeons like the one he recently advanced, provide the necromancer to elevate his stats which was humanly impossible.
But does it mean, this teenager has something similar to Jin-Woo? It wasn't impossible, however, it's not Jin-Woo's place to ask him that.
Rather there was something more important Jin-Woo wanted to ask Haru.
"You wanted to get your rank evaluated, right? "
Haru raised his brows, seemingly surprised that Jin-Woo didn't get hung on the previous topic.
'Do I look that old fashioned... 'Jin-Woo does care for his sister but he wouldn't do anything which could snatch her freedom away from her and make Jinah feel insecure toward her relationship.
Until now, Haru has shown no sign of being a playboy or a mole planted to scout Jin-Woo since the boy possesses the strength that no guild would dare ask him to recruit Jin-Woo through such cheap means.
After a brief pause, Haru nodded and replied, "Yes, I do. Are you going there tomorrow?"
Jin-Woo nodded. The things he needs for the Demon castle and also the dungeon loot he wants to sell require a high-ranking hunter's tag so Jin-Woo was trying to speed up things. After all, Jin-Woo wanted to obtain all the ingredients of the Holy water of life as soon as he can.
"In the morning at 10. Should I come to pick you up? "
Jin-Woo asked to which Haru denied and said, "No, it's fine. I would come here...and wait downstairs this time. "
Jin-Woo blinked innocently like he didn't scare the two teenagers with his dramatic entry just now. Really, he was just trying to prank them, yet...
****
"Why did you stop using your blindfold? "
Jinah insisted on seeing off Haru at least downstairs even though the latter was reluctant. Her brother didn't say anything and returned to his room after taking some food with him.
Seriously, neither of them knows what goes in Jin-Woo's mind at times.
"Umm...you can say, I now have better control of my skills so I can go without blindfolds now. "
For some reason, Haru saw Jinah frowning at that like she didn't like the new development.
Haru was a little disheartened since he thought that the blindfold was a little bother as eye contact is a major element of a good conversation.
However, her following words made Haru almost stumble on the stairs.
"I don't like you exposing your eyes to others. I request glasses, pitch-black ones at that. You can go bare eyes in front of me though... "
The last part came in almost whispering wavelength but with such high perception Haru can even hear her heightened heartbeat so the muttering apparently did not go unheard.
'Is Jinah getting possessive here...?' People in general would have gotten weirded out of such a claim but for Haru, it was like he heard the harpoon from the heavens, that kind of smile he currently had.
More than the prizes from the Gates of Divination, he has received better rewards twice by now from this girl.
Soon the two reached the ground floor as Haru faced Jinah to say goodbye when he saw her fidgeting at her place.
Her face was a little flushed as well when in an unsure tone, Jinah raised a query.
"Haru...at that time...I am sorry for hugging you so suddenly..."
"No, wait. Don't apologize Jinah since upon seeing you after this long...truth be told I was feeling the urge to hug you as well... "
Seeing him rubbing the back of his neck in embarrassment told Jinah that he wasn't joking about this which made her surprised. Her eyes slightly widened as she stared at Haru in astonishment.
She thought she was being selfish but it seem the feelings were mutual.
"D-D-Do you...still feel that....that urge...?" It took a lot of courage from the girl to ask something so shameless even though she was caught in the act by her brother just some minutes ago.
Haru's arm came to a halt before he looked at Jinah dumbly.
It was pure instincts or was Haru just playing ignorant on the contemplation part, since before Jinah could even react she found herself entrapped in an unfamiliar yet soothing warmth.
Jinah was startled but soon she inched closer to him and wrapped her arms around him as well, enjoying this moment without a single thought in mind.
Her feelings toward him might be unclear and jumbled up, but there was one thing she got sure of, that night.
Haru has become an irreplaceable part of her life. Someone she cannot live without...
****
A/N: - A little more time before I finalized their relationship.
I hope the story isn't making you guys bored. Drop a comment if you liked the chapter and getting excited for the next one.