As summer approached, the sun rose earlier, and its rays already well above the horizon warmly illuminated the room, but Yoo In was still deep in sweet slumber.

What rescued her from the depths of sleep was the persistent vibration on the bedside table.

Several times, drowsily, she pressed the side button to switch it to silent. For some reason, the caller kept dialing persistently.

Yoo In unconsciously frowned when she checked the name of the culprit who had finally woken her up. Having been forcibly awakened and her refusal ignored, her tone was understandably not pleasant.

“Why so early in the morning? What’s the matter?”

−…Why so early in the morning? Hey. Are you in your right mind?

Anger was palpable in the voice repeating her own words back to her, but in the bed still dominated by drowsiness, she had no energy to care about that too.

“Just say what you need to quickly. I just woke up.”

−Ah~ Are you sleepy? I wonder if you’d still be sleepy if you knew what I just heard from someone?

Only then did Yoo In’s half-closed eyelids suddenly fly open in irritation. She adjusted her grip on the phone she had been holding carelessly and held her breath.

She was now becoming aware of the quite agitated panting on the other end of the line. Feeling a distinctly unpleasant aura, she maintained her feigned ignorance for now.

“What are you talking about?”

−Do you really not know what I’m talking about? You must know?

“I’m asking because I don’t know. What is it? Why are you like this?”

−Does pretending not to know make facts disappear? Fine. Since you seem to really not understand, let’s hang up. Instead, I’ll just call Director Do Ki Yeon and ask him how he seduced my little sister, right?

“…”

Why do misfortunes that are difficult to handle always come without warning? Yoo In awkwardly brushed back her messy, disheveled hair.

In terms of time, it hadn’t even been 24 hours, yet the news traveled as fast as a bullet. Why such urgency to rush over so quickly?

The thought briefly crossed her mind that Kim Sun Young and Nam Yoo Jin, who were on the worst of terms, might indeed be close as Ki Yeon had said.

−Was that boyfriend you mentioned briefly before Director Do Ki Yeon? Really? Since when were you two like that? No. How on earth did you meet that person?

“Elder sister. Please calm down and ask one thing at a time slowly.”

−I must have looked so stupid, just babbling about random celebrities in front of you. Huh? Why didn’t you tell me such important things earlier? How far were you two planning to make a fool of me! Do you know what Kim Sun Young suddenly called and told me?!

The rising frequency finally peaked in an eardrum-piercing high pitch. Simultaneously, she pulled the phone away from her ear.

Sensing the ominous momentum that didn’t seem likely to calm down easily, Yoo In sat up completely, lowering her legs off the bed.

“Haah… Elder sister. I was going to tell you too. But you’ve been so busy lately. I didn’t want to unnecessarily worry you.”

−Is that supposed to be an excuse? No matter how busy, still! No matter how hectic, still! Shouldn’t you obviously tell me something this important? Don’t tell me Director Do told you not to say anything? Did he suggest hiding it? That guy?

“No, that’s not it! The director said it was fine. It was me who didn’t tell. The director did nothing wrong.”

−Wow. You’re really going all out defending him. This is driving me crazy. The more I think about it, the more chilling it is. Even if that’s just how Director Do is, were you really at peace deceiving your elder sister like this? Who else knows about this? Do your friends know?

“…They do know.”

−What… Hey! Nam Yoo In! How could you, how could you do this? Even they know! I was the only one who didn’t know? Does this make any sense!

After a cry-like shout, a stream of high-voiced lectures and sermons poured out. For a long time, she vented her resentment and anger about why she had to be the last to know, and why the person in question had to be Do Ki Yeon. Then Yoo Jin suddenly changed the subject abruptly.

−Where are you now?

“At home.”

−Should I come over, or do you want to come here?

“Why so suddenly? Can’t we just do this over the phone?”

−Your opinions are nullified for the next 6 months, so stop talking back and just choose.

If elder sister comes to her house, things will get even bigger.

It’s obvious that with that boiling voice, even her parents who knew nothing would find out, and they might faint with shock when they learn that her first boyfriend is not an ordinary peer but the director of elder sister’s company.

After heaving a long sigh of resignation, when Yoo In answered that it would take about an hour to wash up and get ready, Yoo Jin arbitrarily set a cold time limit and hung up.

−I’ll give you 30 minutes. Come right away.

****

In the taxi heading to Yoo Jin’s house. Her finger, which had been hovering over Ki Yeon’s number for a moment, chose to leave the call log.

Knowing that the man works at home even on holidays when he doesn’t meet Yoo In, she didn’t want to disturb him. The elegant figure that had focused on work for hours without a word yesterday was vividly clear in her mind.

The harsh morning sunlight came through the car window, warming the screen gently. His name was faintly visible on the darkened screen due to the too-bright light pouring in.

Still, shouldn’t she let him know her destination? As that thought occurred to her, her hand was already opening the messaging app.

Yesterday’s eventful day. Ki Yeon had made something like a boastful declaration that he would handle things with Nam Yoo Jin himself, and when asked what he was going to do, he had only given an ambiguous answer to wait and see.

Since he was a man who didn’t hesitate to take sudden actions, it was dubious, but because he was also a man who didn’t make empty promises, Yoo In had mischievously smiled and said she would expect it.

He would probably realize he had been beaten to the punch when he saw that message. Yoo In looked out the window, imagining various reactions from the man.

Not long after, the taxi carrying her arrived at the apartment where Yoo Jin lived independently.

“Why did it take so long?”

After passing through strict triple security and going up, Yoo Jin greeted her at the entrance with a sullen face and crossed arms.

Seeing her elder sister looking calmer than expected, unlike the voice she had heard earlier, Yoo In felt tremendously relieved inside. She responded equally quietly.

“I said it would take an hour.”

“Why are you empty-handed? Didn’t you buy anything?”

“What?”

“I thought you’d buy something like white chocolate eclairs or vanilla canelés as an apology.”

“…You should have just said so. Then I would have bought them.”

Yoo In, who was awkwardly rolling her eyes, took off the baseball cap that had been covering her entire face as she went inside.

Yoo Jin, following behind, continued her unfinished scolding with an unbelieving expression.

“Your attitude is so brazen it’s infuriating, Nam Yoo In. Don’t you have even a shred of guilt or remorse towards me?”

As they entered the living room, the full-length windows overlooking the Han River and the Banpo Bridge crossing it refreshingly provided a wide sense of openness.

Despite it being a bright sunny morning, soft chiffon curtains were drawn, and under the high-ceilinged living room, scripts were messily strewn about on a large glass table and a spacious sofa that could easily seat ten people.

Judging by the cool and pleasant air, it seemed that Yoo Jin, who couldn’t stand even a little heat, had already started the air conditioning.

Yoo In glanced briefly at the book-form scripts, then pushed them aside carelessly and flopped down comfortably.

“I’m really sorry. That’s why I came, right?”

Yoo Jin’s eyes were not at all pleased as she looked at her sister, who was blinking with her eyebrows drooping down. Yoo Jin, who had been staring intently as if observing, asked curiously.

“No. You don’t look sorry at all right now. What’s going on?”

“I said I’m sorry. You look like your anger has all subsided too. Are you feeling a bit better?”

Suddenly, Yoo Jin’s mouth opened slightly in bewilderment. Then, like a scientist who had found the answer to a question she had been studying all along, she opened her eyes wide and shouted, pointing her finger.

“You! You just sounded like Do Ki Yeon.”

“…What?”

As Yoo In tried to laugh it off as if to say ‘what are you talking about’, Yoo Jin sat down heavily, making the sofa undulate, and continued with a serious demeanor.

“Pretending to care completely while actually saying you’ve said all you needed to say and done all you needed to do, so stop now. As if implying that continuing further would make the other person look strange!”

“What are you saying? When did I do that? And the director isn’t such a petty person.”

“Wh-what. Wow… Wow! Wow, really!”

Yoo Jin, who had jumped up with a frustrated scream, paced around the sofa, not knowing what to do.

Occasionally glancing at Yoo In with an appalled expression while fumbling around, she finally disappeared swiftly in the direction of the kitchen.

“Why is she like that?”

The puzzling reaction, neither getting angry nor bombarding with questions, rather made Yoo In flustered.

After being dumbfounded for a moment, just as she was about to get up to follow, the phone she had put down on the sofa rang.

Yoo In’s cheeks rose prettily of their own accord as she checked the caller.

“Hello?”

−Yoo In. Where are you?

“I just arrived at my elder sister’s.”

Yoo In leaned back against the sofa backrest, which she had half raised. The next moment, the low voice coming through the receiver was pleasantly languid but strangely hurried.

−Are you next to Nam Yoo Jin?

“No, she’s in the kitchen for a moment… Why?”

−What did Nam Yoo Jin say?

“She was really agitated when we talked on the phone at home, but when I actually came, she didn’t say much. Rather, she complained about why I didn’t buy her favorite things.”

−Favorite things?

“Yes. There’s a dessert shop near our house that my elder sister likes. I always bought something when I visited, so she asked why I didn’t bring it today.”

−She didn’t say anything else besides that?

At that moment, Yoo Jin, who had quietly reappeared, sat down in the seat next to her with a gray mug, eyeing her suspiciously.

Yoo In, who glanced sideways at Yoo Jin, who was getting closer and closer as if to keep an eye on her, tried to hang up quickly.

“Director. I’ll call you back later.”

−Did Nam Yoo Jin come? Put her on.

Yoo In unconsciously faced her elder sister at the unexpected suggestion. Yoo Jin’s expression, with her lips to the cup, was not very good.

“What? My elder sister?”

−Yes. Quickly.

The calm tone urged politely.

So that was the reason he had asked if she was nearby. Is this part of the solution he said he would show? Yoo In, with a mix of slight anxiety and bewilderment, slowly held out the phone she was holding to Yoo Jin.

“Elder sister. Take it.”

Then the face that looked even more like hers without makeup suddenly crumpled. Frowning, Yoo Jin snatched the device and spoke sharply to the man on the other end of the line.

“What is it?”

After that, Yoo Jin just listened to what the other person was saying without replying. Occasionally she would furrow her brows or let out a scoff, but for the most part, she kept her mouth tightly shut.

Ki Yeon’s words must not have been long, as Yoo Jin quickly handed the phone back with an annoyed and curt expression.

“Director?”

−Yes.

“What did you say to my elder sister? Her expression… doesn’t look very good.”

−I told her I want to talk. Finish talking with Nam Yoo Jin and call me later. I’ll come pick you up.

When Yoo In said she didn’t know when Yoo Jin would let her go, Ki Yeon said it didn’t matter and to call anytime, then hung up without further explanation.

Then, for a while, only an awkward silence filled the spacious and luxurious living room where the voices had disappeared.

As they were only conscious of each other’s breathing with averted gazes, there was a clank. The sound of a cup being set down on glass was heard, followed by Yoo Jin’s voice.

“What are you doing? You need to tell me everything from the beginning.”