When she greeted, Hyeri also nodded slightly and sat down.

“It’s been a while.”

“Yes.”

They had exchanged greetings about how they were yesterday during the phone call, so there was nothing else to say.

The silence continued until the ordered tea was placed on the table.

“I heard you had surgery. It must have been tough.”

Sarang, who pretended to know what happened five years ago, felt uncomfortable when Hyeri mentioned it.

“It wasn’t a major surgery; they found it early.”

“Really, I’m glad.”

Sarang’s words conveyed sincerity, and Hyeri avoided eye contact.

Facing Sarang, who worried about her despite being the reason for Dohan’s breakup, made her feel guilty.

Sarang still had the image of a pure rookie in her eyes, making the events from five years ago even more regrettable.

“Oppa doesn’t know I’m meeting you, right?”

Sarang’s words froze for a moment.
Rather than wondering how she found out, Sarang was surprised that Hyeri had already guessed that we were getting back together, just as Dohan had mentioned.

“Yes. We didn’t talk about it.”

“I haven’t told Oppa either.”

“…Why?”

“If Oppa finds out that I’ve been in contact with you, he’ll probably tell me to change my phone number immediately.”

“What?”

Confused by Sarang’s words, Hyeri chuckled.

“When we were in college, I secretly got your number from Oppa’s phone. Later, when Oppa found out, he scolded me and told me to delete the number in front of him. So, there’s no Sarang’s number in my phone now.”

Sarang was slightly surprised because the situation was different from what she knew. Hyeri had asked Dohan for Sarang’s number, and he had provided it. She had been upset that he hadn’t asked for her consent in advance. She didn’t know there was such a circumstance.

“At that time, Oppa’s gaze was so fierce that I deleted the number right there. So, if he finds out about us meeting today, my phone number might not be safe this time.”

If it were Dohan, Sarang could imagine him doing that and still having something left. Having lied to him and come here, she felt that she, too, might not be safe.

“But why did I suggest meeting? If I were you, I wouldn’t want to mix things up again.”

Sarang didn’t know what to say in response to her straightforward question.

After drinking some water to soothe her dry throat, Hyeri suddenly asked again.

“By any chance, are you marrying Oppa?”

Sarang was caught off guard by that question.

Her face blushed due to embarrassment and coughing.

After finding a bit of composure, Sarang met eyes with Hyeri.

“How did you know that Oppa and I are meeting again? He didn’t tell you.”

That was the part Sarang was most curious about.

She wondered how Hyeri could be so confident about something even Dohan didn’t know.

Hyeri gazed at Sarang’s widened eyes for a while and then smiled lightly.

“Five years ago, Oppa mentioned your name in front of me.”

“My name?”

“Yes. Oppa couldn’t even say the word ‘love’ because of our mom. But that day, he called you by name. So, I thought, ‘Oppa will never give up on Sarang.'”

Sarang’s mouth opened slightly.

She couldn’t help but be surprised that Dohan could say her name five years ago.

“I’m sorry. I came here to apologize for making you two break up. I’ve been feeling guilty, and thank you for contacting me first.”

After her surgery, Hyeri often had to go to the hospital.

Every time, she was with Dohan.

Despite the breakup being caused by her, Sarang never blamed herself, and he never once expressed resentment.

Seemingly indifferent, he remained faithful to his role as an older brother.

Seeing him like that, Hyeri wanted to apologize for what happened back then.

But their strained relationship from the beginning made it impossible for her to utter an apology.
Dohan was able to convey the apology he couldn’t bring himself to give to Sarang. Hyeri felt relieved to meet Sarang today.

On the other hand, Sarang, who unexpectedly received an apology, felt awkward. The purpose of today’s meeting wasn’t to receive an apology from Hyeri, so it was perplexing. Sarang was simply curious about her friend’s younger sister.

Not knowing how to respond to Hyeri’s apology, Sarang changed the topic of conversation with a wavering gaze.

“I heard you quit school… Is that true?”

“Yes, that was Oppa’s condition.”

Unable to comprehend her explanation, Sarang widened her eyes. Looking at her with a questioning gaze, Sarang found Hyeri’s response indifferent.

“Oppa set a condition for me to quit school instead of breaking up with you.”

“Why school…?”

Sarang couldn’t fathom the connection. What did Dohan’s breakup with her have to do with Hyeri attending school?

“If the Sarang who broke up with Oppa sees me at school, it would be uncomfortable. So, Oppa told me to go back to school after you graduate in four years.”

“Then, I caused you to drop out…?”

There was no need for such extreme consideration. Due to Dohan’s excessive concern, Sarang felt sorry for Hyeri.

“Taking a leave of absence and returning later wouldn’t make a difference. There’s no one I know, and it seemed better to just quit. Besides, it wasn’t a university I attended because I wanted to study.”

Hyeri wanted to be around Dohan somehow, so she decided to go to college, but the walls of the university he attended were too high. In the end, Dohan had to come to where she was. Since she went to college for a different reason, she had no regrets about graduation.

Hyeri was satisfied with her current life. She worked part-time at a small cafe and wrote during her free time. Applying to the Korean language and literature department without much thought after taking the college entrance exam in her senior year of high school wasn’t a thoughtless decision; she later realized that she liked it.

“If Oppa finds out what I said to Sarang, he might not want to see me. Well, we don’t see each other often now, but still.”

“I won’t tell.”

“Then, please. I’m scared of Oppa.”

“I am too.”

Sarang smiled subtly, and Hyeri also laughed. Thanks to that, the heavy air became lighter.

After each took a sip of their tea, Sarang hesitated before opening her mouth.

It was time to explain why she had wanted to meet Hyeri today.

“About that incident, Oppa is very sorry and regrets it a lot.”

Dohan hadn’t directly said those words, but Sarang could sense it—the heavy burden of guilt he carried. So, she wanted to convey his feelings on his behalf.

Hyeri looked surprised for a moment but soon broke into a faint smile.

“It seems Oppa isn’t being too harsh on Sarang. Seeing you come to me like this.”

“If we start talking about how harsh Dohan Oppa can be, it’ll take all night.”

Sarang’s playful tone made Hyeri laugh even more brightly.
“If we start talking about how harsh Dohan Oppa can be, it’ll take all night.”

Hyeri laughed even more brightly at Sarang’s playful tone.

“You don’t have to treat me well. I mentioned it earlier, but if I were Sarang, I wouldn’t want to get involved with someone like me. So, don’t worry about my father or me, and get along well with Oppa.”

Hyeri was sincere.

She didn’t want to interfere in their relationship anymore.

“Siblings really resemble each other.”

“Oppa and me?”

“Yes.”

Looking at Hyeri, Sarang thought of Dohan.

Perhaps, due to hearing the words “don’t worry” from him many times, she felt a similarity between them.

Even though they appeared cold on the surface, engaging in conversation warmed the heart.

However, Hyeri frowned, as if expressing her disagreement.

“Next time, let’s eat dinner together instead of having tea.”

“Next time?”

Hyeri, who thought she wouldn’t meet Sarang again after today, asked in surprise.

Sarang gave her a bright smile.

“Yes. Next time, let’s talk over a meal, Unni.”