“Should I do some work this morning?”

Ga Eul planned to immerse herself in painting all day after he said he would be too busy to see her today.

Ga Eul grabbed her drawing book and left the annex, making her way to the studio. Just as she was about to pass by the main house…

“Oh my, Ga Eul!”

At the sound of someone calling her name, Ga Eul turned around. The person who stopped her was none other than Mi Jeong.

Ga Eul approached Mi Jeong and greeted her warmly.

“Hello, Madam. Good morning.”

“Yes. Where are you off to so early, Ga Eul?”

“I was heading to the studio. I’m planning to work this morning.”

Ga Eul smiled brightly. Mi Jeong replied in a regretful tone.

“Really? I called out to you hoping to have a cup of tea together, it’s been a while.”

Ga Eul, who had been smiling at Mi Jeong’s words, hurriedly waved her hands and said,

“The studio can wait a bit.”

“Oh my, is that so? Then let’s have just one cup of tea before you go.”

Mi Jeong seemed extremely pleased by Ga Eul’s change of heart, her face instantly lighting up with joy.

Mi Jeong took Ga Eul’s hand and led her into the main house.

.

.

.

Ga Eul looked down at the pale green tea. Mi Jeong poured it into Ga Eul’s cup.

The greenish tea seemed to be some kind of herbal blend.

As Ga Eul quietly pondered, Mi Jeong provided the answer.

“It’s lemon balm. I received it as a gift. Would you like to try it?”

Ga Eul blew lightly on the hot liquid before sipping it.

The tea had a slight tanginess and a subtle lemon aroma, different from what she usually drank but appealing.

“It’s delicious.”

“Is it? I’m glad it suits your taste too, Ga Eul.”

As Ga Eul smiled softly in response to Mi Jeong’s words, her gaze suddenly drifted past her to the garden outside.

Come to think of it, it had been quite some time since they had tea at this table.

The once barren winter garden was now exuding lush vitality. There were even flowers she was seeing for the first time.

Ga Eul asked Mi Jeong,

“Madam, the garden looks a bit different?”

“Yes. I tried planting some more in addition to what was already there. I was getting a bit tired of it, and I wanted to be able to enjoy some flowers just by sitting here without having to go far.”

As they chatted over a cup of tea, Mi Jeong naturally took the lead in the conversation.

“The spa I visited a few days ago was really nice. My skin seems to have come alive even more. After it ended, I went to get the massage I usually receive. …… What do you think?”

At Mi Jeong’s words, Ga Eul glanced at her face. Mi Jeong, who regularly got massages, seemed to be putting in even more effort into her skincare due to the summer. Her skin was blooming vibrantly despite the season.

Ga Eul answered with a soft smile.

“It looks even clearer than before.”

“Right? Isn’t it?”

Mi Jeong burst into a satisfied laugh at Ga Eul’s words.

Just as the promised single cup of tea stretched into two, Mi Jeong suddenly wiped the smile off her face and abruptly asked Ga Eul,

“Is Gi Tae seeing any woman these days?”

“……Pardon?”

It felt like her heart had dropped to the floor with a thud.

Ga Eul, who had been about to pleasantly sip on the lemon balm tea during what had become a comfortable teatime, was startled and burned her tongue. However, before she could feel the pain, her pupils shook aimlessly.

Unaware of Ga Eul’s reaction, Mi Jeong just went on as if she were distressed.

“Is this kid planning to live his whole life just working?”

“…….”

“I thought you might know since you see Gi Tae often these days. I asked just in case.”

Feeling like her expression had strangely distorted, Ga Eul bit her lower lip for no reason.

“Is he seeing anyone? Or at least keeping a woman close to him or something.”

As Mi Jeong met her eyes and asked, Ga Eul forced the corners of her lips upward.

Ignoring her rapidly pounding pulse, Ga Eul spat out a lie.

“……I don’t think so.”

“Really?”

“Yes, he’s so busy.”

“True. Right? Gi Tae hardly ever takes a day off.”

Mi Jeong muttered worriedly that dating requires time too. She then picked up a cookie, a rare action for her as she didn’t usually eat sweets.

As if trying to soothe her troubled mood, Mi Jeong put the sweet in her mouth, something unusual for a household that didn’t favor sugary things.

Then she suddenly lifted her head and thoroughly examined every corner of her home’s main building where she always stayed.

After silently observing the interior of the main house for a while, Mi Jeong finally spoke again.

“I’m only confiding this in you, Ga Eul, but I sometimes feel like the men in this family only know work and are so dry. Like I’m always feeling isolated?”

“Madam……”

Mi Jeong’s expression was serious as she opened up for the first time. Ga Eul put aside the momentary guilt of having lied and looked up at her with sorrowful eyes.

Mi Jeong, who had been forcing a smile at Ga Eul as if to say it was alright, suddenly grabbed Ga Eul’s hand that was resting on the table.

Ga Eul, who had been sincerely empathizing with Mi Jeong’s story, forgot about it and widened her eyes at the abrupt hand-holding.

Wiping away all traces of the shadow that had been on her face, Mi Jeong showed her usual smile again and whispered kindly to Ga Eul.

“That’s why I think it would be really nice to have a daughter-in-law like you, Ga Eul, in our family.”

* * *

‘Even if Madam knew I was dating the President, wouldn’t she understand a little?’

Ga Eul, who had planned to dedicate herself to painting all day, found it impossible to draw. Unable to focus with Mi Jeong’s words constantly swirling in her mind, she ended up washing her brushes.

Rrrr…… Rrrr……

Just then, her phone rang.

Ga Eul wiped the moisture off with a towel and picked up the phone.

Checking the caller ID, she saw it was a call from Ju A. Ga Eul answered the phone. At the same time, she opened the studio door to step out.

“Hello……”

“Waaah. Ga Eul……”

“What’s wrong?”

“I’m so upset. Sob.”

Ju A kept bursting into tears as if something distressing had happened, her words coming out in an unintelligible jumble.

Ga Eul asked as gently as possible.

“Ju A. Are you okay?”

“Sniff, hic.”

“What is it. Did something happen?”

“It’s just…… My sister said to me…… Hic.”

Ju A tried hard to speak, but her words were mixed with crying and completely incomprehensible after a point.

Letting out a small sigh, Ga Eul gave up trying to console Ju A over the phone and asked,

“Where are you now?”

* * *

Ga Eul hurriedly hailed a taxi and headed to Ju A’s house, not having the time to change out of her paint-stained work clothes.

During the ride, she was told not to ring the doorbell today and to send a text when she arrived. Ga Eul did as instructed when she reached Ju A’s house.

As if waiting, the front door opened right away.

Ga Eul, who had been worrying about Ju A, asked,

“Ju A. Are you oka-”

“Shh!”

“……?”

Ju A suddenly cut her off by placing her index finger in front of her lips. Then she led her to her room.

Only after gently closing the door so it wouldn’t make a sound did Ju A speak normally.

“Ah, this is so annoying!”

“Why? What happened?”

Perhaps Ju A had stopped crying on the way, but now she was showing irritation rather than sobbing.

Ga Eul asked kindly, as if to soothe her. Ju A, her lips protruding, glared at somewhere beyond the room and said,

“You know what my sister said to me?”

“What did she say?”

“Since I’ve just been at home these days, she says what am I doing after graduating from a major that won’t get me a job or let me earn money. Like it would have been better if I had listened to her and chosen my major, you know. Ah, it’s so annoying.”

At her words, Ga Eul parted her lips to say something but clamped her mouth shut.

Ju A’s sister was an elite. She had attended a good university through her studies and earned a high starting salary at a company right after graduation. So her pride in that was extraordinary.

“No. Mom and Dad say it’s fine. Why is she making a bigger fuss than them. You’d think I’ve been stuck in my room for years since graduating. It hasn’t even been a year yet!”

“That must have been upsetting. Ju A. But is someone home? Why are you whispering so quietly?”

Ga Eul, who had been consoling Ju A, suddenly asked about the puzzling situation. At that, Ju A continued to speak in a lower voice than usual.

“My sister is still at home.”

“Ah…….”

Knock knock, as if proving Ju A’s words, the voice of Ju A’s sister could be heard outside the room.

“Baek Ju A!”

“…….”

Ignoring her sister’s call, Ju A once again brought her index finger to her lips, signaling Ga Eul to also be quiet.

“Why aren’t you answering.”

“…….”

“Are you sleeping? Sigh, fine, just sleep then. I’m heading out.”

After waiting a bit, the sound of the front door closing with a click could be heard.

Now that her sister had left, Ju A finally spoke normally.

“This is so annoying. She picks a fight first and upsets me, then why is she calling for me again.”

With her sister gone, Ju A’s mouth moved busily.

She said she had mentioned Ga Eul and Do Jin to defend the prospects of her major. But then she was told off even more, asking why only she was still here like this when her friends were doing well.

Ga Eul patted Ju A’s shoulder to comfort her.

Just then, Ju A abruptly stood up and exclaimed loudly.

“I can’t take this. I need to do something totally different to change my mood!”

“Change your mood?”

Ju A nodded vigorously at Ga Eul’s question.

Then she wiped the gloomy expression off her face and declared with spirit,

“Let’s go drink.”

“Uh…. Okay.”

“Let’s dress up nicely and head to Gangnam.”

“What?”

Ga Eul asked again, startled by Ju A suddenly shouting Gangnam when she thought they would have a drink at their usual barbecue restaurant like always.

Still looking determined, Ju A flung open the bedroom door.

“We’re not going to our usual barbecue place?”

“Nope. I definitely need to do something different today.”

“…….”

“You have the excuse that it’s Friday and you’re going out to have fun, right? But your little sister is in a terrible mood.”

Ju A opened her sister’s bedroom door. Then she grinned and said,

“Let’s steal my sister’s clothes and go party at a bar in Gangnam!”

* * *

A cocktail bar in Gangnam. Amidst the crowd with sticky jazz music flowing faintly, Ga Eul sighed as she looked down at her attire after managing to snag a seat right in the middle.

Ju A had rummaged through her sister’s closet, picking out only clothes that kept opening up or clinging to the body, telling Ga Eul to wear them.

When Ga Eul refused, saying she didn’t want to, Ju A insisted it was just this once or else she would be the only one standing out.

Ga Eul was at a loss but couldn’t win against Ju A, so she had no choice but to accept the clothes. However, she set a condition.

She would wear them, but only if the two of them had a quick drink and then left.

At that, Ju A seemed disappointed but agreed, taking a step back.

Ga Eul wore an off-shoulder blouse that completely exposed her shoulders, paired with tight jeans that showed off her figure. The slightly short top seemed like it would reveal her midriff, but the high-waisted pants ensured it only peeked out precariously when she moved her arms.

Of course, it was all Ju A’s coordination. Ju A had chosen an even more daring outfit than Ga Eul.

‘This is awkward…..’

With the unfamiliar addition of makeup, her face felt stuffy.

Ju A said she didn’t do much, but even just the skin makeup she wasn’t used to felt that way to Ga Eul.

For a moment, Ga Eul found it absurd how her plan to spend all day in the studio had gone so awry.

Until she received Ju A’s tearful call…… she had no idea it would turn out like this.

“Wow, this is really sweet and delicious.”

Ju A said as she sipped on a Blue Hawaii.

“Is it?”

“Yeah. And going out is kind of lifting my spirits?”

“Well that’s good then.”

“Yep.”

Ju A, whose mood had improved, giggled as she replied.

“These clothes are revenge against my sister. She’d be pretty pissed if she knew I wore her clothes out, you know?”

Seeing Ju A back to her usual level of energy, Ga Eul let out a hollow laugh.

She had never thought of coming to a place like this, but it seemed enough that Ju A’s mood had gotten better.

Ga Eul tilted her cocktail glass moderately, careful not to get drunk, so as not to dampen Ju A’s high spirits.

.

.

.

It was late at night by the time Ju A and Ga Eul got out of a taxi at a nearby intersection.

“Ju A. What should we do about the clothes?”

Ga Eul’s clothes were at Ju A’s house.

Ju A waved her hand and coolly said,

“Just wear them home and return them later. I’ll give you back your work clothes next time we meet too.”

Ga Eul hesitated for a moment, reluctant to go all the way home in this outfit.

However, stopping by Ju A’s house would be even more unreasonable at this hour.

Ga Eul replied as if she had no other choice.

“Okay, let’s exchange them next time then. Get home safe.”

“Yeah, you too. I had fun today.”

“Good.”

Ga Eul started walking in the opposite direction from Ju A.

Her steps were quicker than usual in the awkwardly fitting clothes.

* * *

‘What could Yoon Ga Eul be doing?’

Gi Tae, who had finished his external schedule, leaned back in his car seat and rested his arm on his face. Amidst his fatigue, he suddenly felt his interest and curiosity drawn to what she might be up to.

After closing his eyes for a moment to let the exhaustion wash over him, Gi Tae removed his arm and lifted his eyelids.

These days, thoughts of Ga Eul would come to mind whenever he had a free moment.

Right now, he should head straight to his officetel to get sufficient rest. Nevertheless, Gi Tae’s thoughts had somehow drifted to Ga Eul’s studio.

Maybe I should stop by for a bit just to see her face.

Gi Tae was about to turn his head towards his driver, indifferently letting the light from numerous streetlamps pass by outside the window, when…

Suddenly, he spotted a woman who resembled Ga Eul. However, her bold outfit was quite different from her usual style.

Am I seeing things now?

Maybe because he was tired. Or maybe because he missed her so much. Gi Tae let out a hollow laugh and was about to give instructions to the driver when he abruptly froze.

His head swiftly turned back to the window

Only then did Gi Tae’s gaze return to Ga Eul’s attire, his brow furrowing.

In a low, subdued voice, Gi Tae instructed his driver.

“Please stop the car.”