TBE 27

chapter 27

“…Baby…?”

Following Yeong-in’s gaze, Yuna turned her head. At the end of it stood Yeong-won. They had said he was a “late baby,” but even with that big frame, he was apparently still called “baby” at home.

His face flushed red as he awkwardly exchanged words with his nephew. Yuna covered her mouth to stifle her laughter. Meanwhile, Yeong-in walked up to the counter and greeted Yuna.

“Hello! I came here once before, but I don’t know if you remember me. I’m Yeong-won’s older sister, Choi Yeong-in.”

“Ah! No wonder I thought you looked familiar. It wasn’t because you resemble him—it’s because you’ve been here before. I’m Han Yuna.”

“I dropped by once when my little brother got his very first part-time job. This is my son.”

She reached out to introduce him properly. The child, who had been clinging to Yeong-won, scampered over and took his mother’s hand, then looked up at Yuna. With his exotic features, his father must have been a foreigner.

“Hello. I’m Jeremy. I have a Korean name too—Choi Jae-min.”

“Nice to meet you, Jae-min.”

When Yuna bent down to meet his eyes and extended her hand, Jeremy grasped it and shook it energetically. A bright smile bloomed on Yuna’s face.

At last, Yeong-won opened his mouth.

“What are you doing here? And how did you even know I was here?”

“Listen to that tone. On the way home from the airport, Jeremy said he wanted to see his uncle, so I called, but you didn’t answer at all. We even stopped by your place before heading here.”

“…”

“Then, since we were already out, I thought we’d have a coffee on the way back. The place looked closed, but Jeremy said he heard your voice from inside, so I tried opening the door.”

“Ah, then I’ll get something ready for you.”

Hearing that she had wanted a coffee, Yuna quickly moved behind the espresso machine. Narrowing his eyes at his sister, Yeong-won followed.

“I’ll do it.”

“No, it’s fine. You should sit with your family.”

“The shop’s closed, and since my sister is the one bothering you, it’s right that I make it.”

“This much is no trouble…!”

The two of them started bickering in front of the espresso machine. Standing outside the counter, Yeong-in watched her brother with wide eyes. Jeremy tugged on his mother’s sleeve and whispered secretly:

“Is she Uncle’s girlfriend?”

“That’s what it looks like to you?”

“Yeah. It’s the first time I’ve ever seen Uncle talk this much to anyone other than me.”

“…Mom thinks so too.”

Nodding, Yeong-in turned her gaze back to the counter. She had never seen her younger brother so relaxed around a woman, so the atmosphere felt different from her previous visit.

It wasn’t strange for him to be standing in a kitchen-like space. Since birth, his rigid education had drilled into him that he should do things himself, even though they had a housekeeper.

But for him to insist so stubbornly on doing something when someone more skilled was already there—that was unusual. Yeong-won was usually a thoroughly rational child.

It was already around eleven at night. Why were the two of them alone in a café with no customers?

Eventually, having driven Yuna away from the machine, Yeong-won managed to hand-craft an iced Americano. He approached his sister and held out the takeout cup.

“You can go now.”

“Baby! When are you ever going to grow some manners?!”

“How many times have I told you not to call me ‘baby’…!”

“Yuna, are you dating my baby brother?”

Ignoring his scolding, Yeong-in suddenly turned her gaze to Yuna. Her eyes went round.

“What?”

“Sis!”

Of course, Yeong-won snapped. Spouting crazy talk would only make things more awkward. He circled the counter to drag his sister out by force, but she kept talking.

“You two just seem so close. I’ve never seen my brother carry on a conversation with a woman before.”

“N-no, it’s nothing like that! We’ve just gotten closer because of the mentoring program. I happened to enroll in the same department.”

“Enrolled? Pardon me, but how old are you?”

“Twenty-seven… but…”

“Wow, that’s impressive—that you didn’t give up even at that age. So just how close are you and my baby—Hey! Slow down, will you? I’m walking backwards here!”

“Uh, well… we’re getting closer bit by bit… U-uh, Yeong-won…!”

Even as she was being pulled along, Yuna earnestly answered, glancing in embarrassment at Yeong-in being dragged out. Soon enough, the older sister was pushed out of the café.

Trailing behind his mother and uncle, Jeremy politely bowed.

“Goodbye.”

“Y-yes… please come again…”

And then the door closed. Yuna fidgeted as she watched the siblings disappear through the glass, still squabbling.

Outside, as soon as they left, Yeong-won turned his sister to face forward and placed his hand firmly on her shoulder, while his other hand clasped his nephew’s small one.

Even as she was dragged like a prisoner, Yeong-in chuckled.

“Looks like you’re in love, huh?”

“….”

“She is pretty and sweet, though. Want me to give you a few pointers, baby brother?”

No matter how much she prattled, Yeong-won gave no reply. When they reached the parking lot, he first strapped his nephew in the backseat. Then, circling around, he shoved his laughing sister into the driver’s seat.

As soon as she plopped down, she burst into giggles. Just as he was about to slam the door, she raised a hand to her mouth and whispered slyly:

“Got any condoms? You never know if things go well~.”

The door slammed shut with a bang in place of an answer. Her laughter carried out from inside the car. Only after a long while did the vehicle finally pull out.

I’m doomed. Clutching his hair, Yeong-won grimaced in anguish.

The awkwardness from Yeong-in’s ambush question—“Are you two dating?”—gradually faded with time. Wanting to avoid being an obstacle in Yeong-won’s love life, Yuna had tried to keep her distance. But he had suggested they invite Gitae and Seoyeon to study together for exams, which made things easier. With four people, it was far less uncomfortable to be around him.

But today, it was just the two of them.

Suddenly, Yuna’s phone buzzed. After checking the message, her face drooped.

“Seoyeon says her team project is running late, so she can’t come…”

“…Then I guess it’s just the two of us today.”

“Yeah. And Gitae can’t make it either…”

Not knowing that Yeong-won had already pushed Gitae out of the picture starting today, Yuna sighed in disappointment. Images of Gitae ranting about how absurd everything was flashed in Yeong-won’s mind, and he sipped at the now-melted Americano.

For a while, only the sound of pages turning and pens scratching filled the quiet café. Yuna yawned softly. The silence was lulling her to sleep. With exams sucking away her already frail stamina, she was exhausted.

Afraid her eyes might really close, she sat up straight and stretched.

“The campus cherry blossoms are blooming like crazy. They’re so beautiful.”

“I didn’t realize there were that many cherry trees on campus.”

“Hahaha, how could you not? You’ve been going there over a year.”

“…True.”

He had never cared for flowers that bloomed and withered the same every year. Now that she mentioned it, he vaguely recalled classmates talking about the campus cherry blossoms.

Stretching lightly, Yuna pouted.

“But it’s such a waste that exams happen during this season! That’s going to be the case every year until graduation, right?”

“That’s right.”

“By the time exams are over, they’ll all be gone…”

Rubbing her eyes, she sighed in regret. She still felt groggy, so she stood to fetch a glass of cold water. Another yawn slipped out as she returned.

Holding the cool glass in one hand, she picked up her pen again. After glancing at her, Yeong-won hesitated before speaking.

“Have you checked the next mission?”

“Oh, it’s up already? Let me see.”

She quickly picked up her phone. He had suggested missions a few times before, but she had always been too busy, so she felt guilty. She had learned the hard way that overlapping missions with exam season made her schedule unbearable. Next semester, she’d need a new strategy.

“Wow, the next mission is ‘Take a photo at the campus cherry blossom spot’?”

Her face lit up instantly. A simple photo wouldn’t take much time, and it would be a nice chance to enjoy the blossoms.

Smiling faintly at her delight, Yeong-won hesitated before suggesting:

“…Want to do it now?”

In truth, he had made sure Seoyeon wouldn’t come today. His plan was to see the blossoms with Yuna—just the two of them.

Maybe it was because of his sister’s teasing about condoms, but last night he’d even dreamed of Yuna—half-dressed, straddling him just like the accident on the night of the freshman welcome party. Only this time, he too had been just as undressed.

Why the hell were you naked too, you idiot? He had woken to the morning sun, overcome with crushing self-disgust he couldn’t explain. Was such a ridiculous dream even possible with nothing but a crush? Tossing his damp underwear into the washer that morning, his mind had been a storm of confusion.

And so—he wanted to confirm his feelings.