The three people who left the coffee shop headed back home and had a simple beer with the snacks Juwon had bought.

As Youngmin started another round of chatter, as if thorns would grow in his mouth if he didn’t talk even for a moment, Ina quickly shot Juwon a look asking him to bear with it.

Although Juwon felt like his ears would bleed from Youngmin’s chatter, he nodded in understanding.

He was leaving tomorrow anyway, and watching him constantly wagging his tail calling him “elder brother” was a bit cute.

Moreover, since he was Ina’s beloved cousin, it was obvious they’d see each other often in the future, and imagining that this guy would soon be calling him “brother-in-law” instead of “elder brother” made the corners of his mouth unconsciously curl up.

Youngmin’s chatter parade continued until 11 PM, and when Ina started yawning, Juwon cut off Youngmin’s chatter saying it was time to sleep.

Ina washed up first, followed by Juwon and Youngmin in turn.

“You don’t snore or talk in your sleep, right?”

Youngmin gave a puzzled look at Juwon’s question.

“Pardon?”

“I can’t sleep next to noisy people.”

Youngmin’s eyes widened as he looked back and forth between Ina and Juwon.

“Am I… sleeping with you, elder brother?”

Youngmin asked with an excited look, but the tone felt quite strange.

Juwon frowned and said,

“Should I sleep with Ina instead?”

Ina flinched at Juwon’s question answering a question and hit his arm.

“What are you saying? Stop talking and go to sleep quickly. Hurry.”

Ina pushed the two men into the main bedroom.

Juwon looked back regretfully, while Youngmin stared at Juwon with an extremely excited face.

“Elder brother, then shall we chat a bit more before sleeping?”

Juwon looked at Youngmin with an expression as if he’d met his parents’ killer.

“…You want to talk more?”

Youngmin gulped at Juwon’s fierce gaze.

“Ah, no. We should sleep now. We’re tired, so we should sleep.”

Juwon sighed briefly as he entered the room, and Youngmin scurried after him.

“Well then, sleep well and see you tomorrow morning.”

Ina waved her hand and went into her own room.

* * *

The next morning, Ina, who woke up early, made a simple bean sprout soup and prepared a few side dishes.

Shortly after, she sat down face to face with the two men who had woken up, had breakfast, and then had a cup of coffee.

After a while, Youngmin looked at his watch and said with a regretful face.

“Sister, I think I should go now.”

“So soon?”

“Yeah. I have an appointment this afternoon, so I want to stop by home before going out.”

“Is that so? Then you should head down.”

Youngmin put on his jacket and looked at Juwon with regretful eyes.

“Elder brother. When I come next time, please hang out with me again. Okay?”

“…Alright. I got it.”

Juwon replied after a beat, then stood up and grabbed his car keys.

“Let’s go. I’ll take you to the terminal.”

“Pardon?”

“You’ve reserved your bus ticket, right? We can leave now?”

“Ah. Yes.”

“Okay. Then get up. I’ll take you.”

Youngmin sprang up from his seat with a joyful look.

After arriving at the terminal, Youngmin issued his ticket.

While waiting as there was some time left before the bus, Ina took out an envelope and handed it to Youngmin.

“Hm? What’s this?”

“Pocket money.”

“Huh?”

“Everyone’s making a fuss about you treating them since you got a job, right? Use this to contribute.”

“Come on, sister. I’m a proper working adult now, how can I take pocket money? It’s fine.”

“You haven’t received your salary yet. Take it while I’m giving it. I won’t give you any from next year.”

“Really? Then I’ll gladly accept.”

Youngmin grinned and quickly pocketed the envelope.

Juwon, who had been watching the two, took out his wallet.

Then he pulled out two 50,000 won bills and handed them to Youngmin.

“I don’t have an envelope, so I’ll just give you this.”

Ina and Youngmin’s eyes widened simultaneously.

“You don’t have to give him anything…”

Ina said with an apologetic expression, but Juwon smiled.

“No, I want to give it to him too.”

Youngmin received the money with a touched expression, his eyes even welling up with tears.

“Elder brother… I’ll keep this money as a lifelong keepsake without spending it until I die.”

“What do you mean, keepsake…”

Feeling somewhat embarrassed, Juwon chuckled.

“Elder brother. Next time, come visit Yeosu with sister. Okay?”

Juwon nodded instead of answering.

A moment later, the bus Youngmin was to board appeared at the boarding area.

Youngmin waved to the two with regretful eyes.

“Elder brother. I’m going now. You must come visit next time. You must!”

“Alright. Go down safely.”

“Yes, elder brother.”

Youngmin, smiling brightly, was about to move towards the boarding area when Ina linked arms with him.

“Darling. I’ll just see Youngmin off on the bus and come back.”

“Okay. Then.”

As Ina walked side by side with Youngmin towards the bus, she whispered,

“Hey. Kim Youngmin. Don’t you dare mention Juwon to mom or aunt when you go down, okay?”

“Why?”

“Why? I’m turning thirty next year, aren’t I?”

“So what?”

“My mom is starting to pressure me about marriage. Besides, you know your mom’s personality better than I do, right? If I say I have a boyfriend, she’ll make a fuss about setting a date right away, won’t she?”

Youngmin stopped walking and looked at Ina with a puzzled expression.

“…You’re not going to marry elder brother?”

“We haven’t been dating for long.”

“So you’re not going to?”

Youngmin’s eyes widened.

“It’s not that I’m not going to, it’s just that we haven’t been together long enough to talk about marriage.”

“From what I saw, elder brother’s eyes were no joke.”

“Hmm.”

Feeling embarrassed, Ina cleared her throat unnecessarily.

“Anyway, I’ll know when the time is right, so don’t you dare say anything when you go down. Got it?”

“Okay. But, you’ll definitely marry Juwon elder brother, right?”

“Oh my? You’ve only seen him for one day, why do you like Juwon so much?”

“He’s handsome. Manly.”

“Are you completely smitten?”

“Is there anyone who wouldn’t fall for that face? You should consider yourself extremely lucky I’m a man. If I were a woman, I could have been your rival.”

Ina snorted at the nonsensical remark, but Youngmin said in a serious voice,

“I only saw him for a day, but I could see how much elder brother likes you. You really need to know you’re totally blessed this lifetime!”

“Oh my. Yes, yes. I’m so honored I don’t know what to do with myself.”

Youngmin giggled and lightly hit Ina’s arm.

“Sister. Then I’ll be going now. Make sure to come visit with elder brother. Okay?”

“Alright. Go down safely.”

“Okay. Sister. Bye.”

After waving to Youngmin who had boarded the bus and sat down, Ina stepped back.

Shortly after, the bus departed.

After the bus left, Ina went to Juwon, who took her hand and asked,

“What were you two talking about so much?”

“Huh?”

“You two kept chatting as you walked.”

“Ah. We didn’t talk about much. Just telling him to go down safely.”

“Hmm.”

Juwon looked curious but didn’t ask further.

“What should we do now?”

“Well, what do you want to do?”

“I’m fine with anything as long as I’m with you.”

Ina smiled at Juwon’s sweet words and linked arms with him.

“Then shall we watch a movie?”

“A movie?”

“Yeah. There’s a horror movie that just came out that looks interesting. I want to see that.”

“Okay. Let’s watch that then.”

Ina searched for the movie on her phone and made a reservation.

“The movie’s in two hours, so we can eat lunch and then go.”

“What do you want to eat for lunch?”

“Shall we go to that handmade burger place we went to before? I made the movie reservation for that theater too.”

“Okay. Let’s do that.”

The two got in the car and went to the handmade burger place.

After barely getting a seat, Juwon ordered a couple set.

A moment later, after the vibrating pager went off, Juwon went to get the burgers.

As Ina wiped her hands with a wet wipe, Juwon dipped a french fry in ketchup and handed it to her.

Ina opened her mouth with an “Ah” and ate it, then handed one to Juwon as well.

Juwon also ate it with an “Ah”, and Ina giggled.

“Why are you laughing?”

“Just. It’s so amazing.”

“What is?”

“When we first came here, we were just friends. But now we’re a couple, so it’s just amazing.”

Juwon rested his chin on his right hand and gazed intently at Ina.

“Actually, I had a feeling back then that we’d end up like this.”

“Huh?”

Ina looked at Juwon with round eyes.

“Because I liked you more and more as we met. I’d think of you when I went home, and just want to see you again… So I thought our relationship might change soon.”

Ina looked at Juwon with a surprised face.

Juwon gently took Ina’s hand and smiled.

“So I’m really happy that I’m the one holding your hand like this now.”

At that smile, Ina’s heart fluttered and a happy feeling welled up inside her.

A moment later, the two stood side by side in front of the theater concession stand.

“Shall we buy one large popcorn and two colas?”

“I’m full, so let’s just buy cola for you.”

“Okay.”

After Ina paid, Juwon received the popcorn and cola.

The two took the escalator to go to Theater 4.

Like the first time they came, Ina got on first, followed by Juwon.

As Ina took out a piece of popcorn to eat, Juwon hugged her waist from behind and rested his face on her shoulder.

Startled, Ina turned her head to the side, and Juwon smiled as he gazed into her eyes.

“Aren’t you going to feed me popcorn today?”

“Huh?”

“You fed me popcorn last time. Feed me today too. Ah.”

Juwon leaned his head in close and opened his mouth.

“Oh… okay.”

As Ina quickly held out a piece of popcorn, Juwon ate it in one bite, then turned his head and gave her a quick kiss on the lips.

“Oh!”

Surprised, Ina quickly covered her mouth and looked at the escalator coming down on the opposite side, but lasers were already shooting from the eyes of those who had witnessed their kiss.

Feeling embarrassed, Ina glared at Juwon, but he remained nonchalant.

At that shamelessly brazen look, Ina, who had gotten off the escalator, pulled Juwon’s arm and whispered,

“Mr. Lee Juwon! Please refrain from public displays of affection, okay?”

“Why should I?”

Juwon replied as he pulled Ina’s waist close and hugged her.

“Oh, really!”

Juwon grinned fondly at Ina hitting his arm.

The two entered Theater 4 and went up to the H seats.

Seeing only two women sitting to the right of their seats, Juwon smiled with satisfaction and had Ina sit on the inside.

Ina, who now knew Juwon’s intentions all too well, chuckled and patted his bottom.

When Juwon looked at Ina with a “What?” expression, Ina gave him a cute wink and sat down.

Then, as soon as she sat down, she roughly pushed away the armrest and took Juwon’s left hand to interlock fingers.

At that action, Juwon chuckled and looked at her, and Ina gave him another cute wink.