🔊 TTS Settings
chapter 38
“Here?”
“If it’s not uncomfortable for you.”
“I don’t mind… but wouldn’t it be uncomfortable for you?”
“Did you just call me ‘older sister’?”
“I’m not your younger sister.”
Startled, Yeon-ha asked again, and Kayla shrugged her shoulders shyly. The gesture was so cute that a natural smile spread across Yeon-ha’s face.
The two of them lay down side by side on the bed.
After debating over who would sleep on the sofa and failing to reach a conclusion, they ended up lying on the bed together at Kayla’s suggestion.
It wasn’t a particularly large bed—it was a super single—but it wasn’t uncomfortable for the two of them.
“You might not know, but my brother was a model student.”
That seemed likely. Yeon-ha had never seen him messy or careless.
“In high school, he didn’t touch alcohol or cigarettes like many others. Only once did he go to the police station… he went to punish classmates who were bullying me. Luckily, it ended well, and on the way home, he apologized to me, saying he was sorry.”
“Why?”
“They used to insult and tease him every day just because he’s Asian.”
Even now, it happened, but back then, being Asian was even rarer, so it must have been worse.
“But I couldn’t say a word. I was too scared they might hurt me. I even resented him a little. It felt like I was being bullied because of him.”
“Did you ever tell your brother about this?”
“No. I just said I didn’t want to go to school. Then my brother must have asked my best friend what happened at school.”
“That must have been frustrating. You probably didn’t tell him to protect his feelings.”
“How did you… know? Even my brother doesn’t know.”
“If it didn’t matter whether he got hurt or not, you would have told him right when your friends teased you.”
Kayla blinked her large eyes, looking surprised, as if her own hidden feelings had been uncovered.
“I think I understand why my brother likes you.”
“Out of nowhere?”
“At first, I didn’t really know, but spending time with you, I get it. Even if he acts cold on the outside, he’s warm and kind inside.”
“Is this the ‘jjimdak effect’? Or is it because I defended you earlier?”
“Both. Hehehe.”
Kayla’s bright laugh filled Yeon-ha with a warm, gentle feeling.
A plane passed through the bright blue sky.
In the bustling crowd, while he went to check in the luggage, Kayla approached.
“You didn’t have to come all the way to the airport.”
“Don’t worry about it. I came partly to get some fresh air anyway.”
“Thank you. I had fun, thanks to you.”
“It’s a pity. If we had more time, we could have gone to an amusement park too.”
“Exactly. I could just buy another plane ticket, but my brother said absolutely not.”
Kayla pouted, clearly displeased.
Since the pickpocket incident, the two had grown closer. After returning from a business trip, Yeon-ha planned to explore Seoul, and Kayla even suggested coming along.
At first, hesitating in case they ran into his colleagues, she declined, but Kayla persistently begged, using all sorts of cute tactics.
In truth, she wanted to go too.
Thinking back, she had never met him in broad daylight.
They had always been cautious, meeting only at night to avoid being seen.
“Would it be okay just this once?”
Curious about what a daytime date with him would feel like, she finally agreed to go along, especially since it was the weekend and she had no other plans.
Did she not expect him to allow it?
When Kayla told him, Dohyeon immediately called, his voice filled with excitement.
[Kayla said you could go together, right?]
“Did you already tell him?”
[She seemed completely excited!]
Thinking of Kayla jumping around in excitement made Yeon-ha smile without realizing it.
A moment later, Dohyeon cautiously asked,
[…Are you sure this is okay?]
“For what?”
[You might run into coworkers.]
Since she had always been extremely careful, his concern was natural.
But revealing her true reason—curiosity about a daytime date—was difficult, so she used Kayla as a convenient excuse.
“It should be fine since it’s not just the two of us.”
[…Ah, that’s true.]
He responded briefly, promising to call again once the schedule was set, and hung up.
…What was that?
She thought she heard a sigh, but maybe it was just her imagination.
Yeon-ha tilted her head and set her phone down.
When the weekend arrived, they spent the day together as planned.
They enjoyed the breeze while eating ramen at the Han River, then visited Dongdaemun Market, which they had missed earlier due to the pickpocket incident, tasting twisted doughnuts and hotteok.
Next, they went to Bukchon Hanok Village, wearing hanbok and taking photos, and finally explored Hongdae until midnight.
By the time they returned home, he looked completely exhausted, but she and Kayla tried on newly bought clothes, shared takeout food, and laughed over photos until the early morning.
Watching them, a smile lingered on his face for a long time.
“Come visit again.”
“Don’t say that lightly. Kayla will really come.”
He quietly approached, standing beside her.
Kayla glared at him like he was a nuisance.
“Cheeky. Next time, I’m going to your place.”
“That would be a nuisance.”
At his firm words, Kayla pouted but then her eyes sparkled as if she’d come up with a great idea.
“Then come to Australia.”
“Huh?”
“When’s your vacation? My house has plenty of rooms, so come without hesitation. This time I’ll prepare the full course. Okay?”
“Ah, well…”
Surprised by the unexpected invitation, she hesitated, and Dohyeon stepped in.
“Kayla, stop saying useless things and just get ready to board.”
“What’s useless about it? I’m serious.”
Her voice held emotion, clearly displeased with his interference.
Worried a fight might break out, Yeon-ha quickly intervened.
“I’ll think about it.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
“Yay! I’m so excited!”
Watching Kayla, joyful like a child, Dohyeon furrowed his brow.
“Don’t overdo it. Saying you’ll think about it isn’t the same as saying yes.”
“Still, it’s a positive response.”
Seeing Kayla interpret it her own way, Dohyeon shook his head helplessly.
Just as they were enjoying their playful exchange, the boarding announcement echoed.
Yeon-ha guided them to the gate.
“Go ahead. Call me when you arrive.”
“Hng, I don’t want to go. Can’t you stay one more week, oppa?”
At the gate, Kayla’s eyes, bright moments ago, welled up with tears.
“You said you were going to work part-time at ‘Young & Jackson’ pub.”
“Ah… right.”
Remembering what she had forgotten, Kayla immediately felt dejected.
“And your father went to Germany for training. Your mother’s alone, so you should stay with her.”
“Okay…”
Though worried about the part-time job, thinking of her mother alone made Kayla nod.
As boarding time approached, Kayla first hugged Dohyeon, then approached Yeon-ha, embracing her without hesitation.
“Take care, older sister.”
“Go safely.”
“You saved my contact, right?”
“Of course.”
“I’ll miss you.”
Yeon-ha gently patted Kayla’s trembling back, her eyes misting. Even though it had only been a week, they had grown attached.
“Kayla.”
“Please take care of my brother, older sister.”
When he urged her, Kayla waved both arms energetically without looking back and disappeared into the boarding gate.
“Finally, she’s gone.”
“Aren’t you going to miss her?”
When Yeon-ha asked him, he shrugged.
“I do miss her… but I want to be with the team leader more.”
“If I were the younger sister, I’d feel a little sad.”
“Kayla will understand. She knows exactly who I’m looking at.”
