You’re late again, Kang Jun Won.

Hee Ju shook her head.

You’ve had a crush on Da Eun since college, but couldn’t confess even once and lost her to a guy like Go Young Hoon.

You even let them use your house as their newlywed home, you pushover.

Hee Ju felt sorry for Jun Won. When Da Eun decided to marry Young Hoon, she even tried to dissuade her, telling her to reconsider. Saying there were other better guys around.

But once Da Eun made up her mind, she rarely changed it, so Hee Ju’s persuasion was meaningless.

She wished Jun Won had ended up with Da Eun rather than Yu Kwon, but she couldn’t push him recklessly because she understood why he hesitated.

Jun Won was afraid of not even being able to remain friends with Da Eun.

“Then I’ll order more side dishes. You’ll treat me since it’s been a while, right senior?”

“When have I not?”

“Oh, so cool.”

Hee Ju ordered grilled hagfish, then downed some soju.

As if she’d been waiting, Da Eun put a carrot in Hee Ju’s mouth. Chewing the carrot absent-mindedly, Hee Ju stared at Da Eun.

She was glancing at her phone as if expecting a message.

Though smiling like a puppy, her face turned serious whenever the conversation lulled.

She was contemplating something. Or thinking of someone.

Probably because of Yu Kwon who came looking for Da Eun at her house a few days ago.

Hee Ju decided to pretend not to notice this time too. Sometimes, silently cheering someone on can be more helpful than shallow advice.

“Song Da Eun, eat quickly before it gets cold.”

“Ah, right.”

Da Eun downed some soju, then stuffed her mouth full of grilled hagfish.

Hee Ju rested her chin on her hand, watching Da Eun’s purely happy expression.

This time, please meet a decent guy and be happy.

That was all Hee Ju wished for Da Eun.

[This is the timeline separator]

The weekend finally arrived. Da Eun had been worrying and worrying endlessly. It was an even more difficult decision than when she decided to marry Young Hoon.

She got up late, showered, and got ready to go out.

Then she suddenly found herself staring at the hydrangeas in the vase. They hadn’t wilted yet since she’d put them in water right away.

Was that what he meant by saying they were like her?

As Da Eun gazed blankly at the pure-looking hydrangeas, she bit her lower lip hard.

Yu Kwon cooking for her, giving her gifts, and childishly getting jealous was unfamiliar but not unpleasant. Even knowing it was for a purpose, her heart strangely leaned towards him.

Da Eun shook her head.

Put aside emotions and think simply. Fix her mother’s leg, the source of her guilt, and live freely.

Da Eun’s eyes wavered as she dreamed of perfect independence.

“Da Eun.”

Just then, Geum Suk’s voice came from outside the room.

When Da Eun opened the door, Geum Suk took her hand and pulled her to the kitchen.

“What is it?”

“Let’s eat quickly.”

Da Eun’s mouth fell open at the luxurious table. No wonder she thought she smelled something delicious.

“What’s all this?”

The table was full of braised short ribs, seaweed soup, soft-looking steamed eggs, and japchae.

“Mom worked hard to prepare this for my daughter. Hurry and eat.”

“What about Song Da Hyun? Tell him to eat together.”

“He left for work earlier. And…”

Geum Suk hesitated as if about to bring up a difficult topic. Da Eun licked her dry lips, inexplicably anxious. Finally, Geum Suk spoke.

“The ribs Da Hyun made were pork.”

Da Eun let out a hollow laugh, and Geum Suk smiled awkwardly, seemingly embarrassed.

“Hurry and pick up your spoon.”

As Da Eun reluctantly sat at the table and took a spoonful of rice, Geum Suk picked meat off a beef rib and placed it on her spoon.

Why does this make my heart ache?

She suddenly felt sorry for how she’d pushed her mother before.

“It’s the weekend, aren’t you taking a break?”

“Hee Ju said she’s signing a house contract, so I’m going with her.”

Though she planned to meet Yu Kwon in the evening after seeing Hee Ju, she didn’t tell Geum Suk.

“I see, eat quickly then.”

“I’ll enjoy it.”

Da Eun put a mouthful of food piled high on her spoon.

“How is it… is it okay…?”

Geum Suk asked carefully, and Da Eun responded just as carefully.

“…Some salt.”

“Ah, I forgot.”

.

.

.

After eating her fill, Da Eun met Hee Ju and watched her sign the officetel contract.

Da Eun watched enviously as Hee Ju stamped the contract at the real estate office.

The officetel Hee Ju contracted was a bit large for one person, with high ceilings. It was on a high floor with floor-to-ceiling windows, so the night view would probably be nice to look at.

After finishing the contract, Hee Ju offered to buy Da Eun coffee and they entered the cafe right next to the real estate office. The cafe was neat and cute, as if it had just opened recently.

The two sat facing each other in a corner seat.

“You should live with me too. It’s closer to work than your house.”

Hee Ju casually suggested. The two had gotten along well since childhood and promised to live together when they grew up. As soon as she turned twenty, Hee Ju had proposed they live together.

But Da Eun always lacked the means, so she had to refuse. It was the same this time too.

“Ah, I’m fine.”

“Alright then.”

As expected, Hee Ju never asked twice.

As she gulped her coffee, Da Eun suddenly asked.

“If I make a strange choice, will you oppose it?”

“How strange of a choice?”

“Something outside your common sense?”

“You seemed to be worrying about something lately, but I guess it’s already over.”

Hee Ju nodded as if she understood. Da Eun scratched the back of her head awkwardly.

“You’ve done things outside common sense, I mean crazy things, a few times before.”

Hee Ju chuckled, reminiscing about the past, then continued.

“For example, knocking out that senior I liked with a headbutt, or running away with the cat the rice shop owner had tied up in front of his store.”

“…Ah, right.”

“That senior you knocked out was trash who made sexual jokes behind my back because I liked him, and the cat had a real owner.”

“I remember.”

Da Eun had taken revenge for Hee Ju and found the cat’s real owner.

Hee Ju knew. That on the outside, Da Eun seemed frustratingly timid and overthinking, but once she decided on something, she would charge ahead without looking back.

“We promised, didn’t we? That at least we’d be on each other’s side.”

Da Eun nodded.

The words meant more comfort than a thousand others – that if no one else, at least I’ll be on your side.

Da Eun’s heart felt lighter as she smiled along with Hee Ju.

“But something’s a bit strange.”

Hee Ju, who had been looking fondly at Da Eun, suddenly tilted her head.

“You’re too dressed up for just looking at a house?”

“Ah, did I…?”

Da Eun avoided Hee Ju’s sharp gaze. She’s always so perceptive.

Da Eun, who had been fidgeting with her lips, casually asked.

“Does it look bad? Does it not suit me?”

“The light blue suits you well. Like the hydrangeas I saw in Jeju.”

“…”

Hee Ju had said it without much thought, but Da Eun’s heart pounded.

Because she had chosen the clothes conscious of Yu Kwon’s words.

“Have a good date.”

She’s so quick-witted after all.

At Hee Ju’s words, Da Eun smiled awkwardly.

[This is the timeline separator]

Cha Yu Kwon always moved according to a set plan. Even on days he didn’t go to work, he would wake up early to exercise and have a light breakfast. After that, he would spend the morning looking up news or business-related articles.

At lunchtime, he would have a meal considering all nutrients, then wrap up the day by handling remaining work or checking future plans.

However, today when he was supposed to meet Da Eun, his schedule completely fell apart.

First, he couldn’t sleep properly. This was Yu Kwon, who had fallen asleep exactly at the time written on his schedule even the night before a picnic.

He who had easily managed his condition even before important events, tossed and turned with useless thoughts.

Of course, the protagonist of those thoughts was Da Eun.

After showering, Yu Kwon repeatedly put on and took off clothes of similar designs. He wasn’t satisfied with his hair or clothes.

It was like 8 years ago, when he was a college student. It felt like he had returned to that time when he was helplessly excited like a boy.

Yu Kwon looked in the mirror, seeming confused. It was about time to leave.

As he was grabbing his phone, a message came from Jung Woo.

[Don’t worry and have a good date. I’ve set everything up.]

Though it was the weekend and he hadn’t called him in, it seemed he had worked anyway. The part about setting everything up bothered him.

“What on earth did he prepare.”

Yu Kwon suppressed his uneasy feelings and left.

.

.

.

As expected, Da Eun was already there.

When Yu Kwon parked the car, she got in the passenger seat. He couldn’t take his eyes off Da Eun, who seemed dressed up differently than usual. His gaze lingered on her every small gesture.

Could he expect the answer he wanted to hear today? Yu Kwon tried to suppress his excited feelings.

“Hell…”

Da Eun, who was about to greet him, couldn’t continue as she saw Yu Kwon in the driver’s seat.

“What?”

“Did you just come from a blind date?”

“…”

A blind date? Yu Kwon was dumbfounded. He was in the middle of persistently proposing only to Da Eun.

“No, you just look so handsome…”

Da Eun’s face was slightly flushed, as if it wasn’t a lie. Yu Kwon chuckled at her reaction.

“But where are we going?”

“A place you like.”

“The amusement park?”

“Yes.”

“Really?”

“Yes, really.”

Da Eun’s eyes widened like saucers. Eating udon alone at a food stall, exploring restaurants, or watching movies were too easy, but the amusement park had been difficult.

Finally going to an amusement park.

“It’s my first time since middle school.”

“If you like it so much, why is it your first time since middle school?”

“There was an accident that summer. And when I grew up, someone stood me up…”

Though she liked it, she couldn’t easily go because of the bad memories that might surface. Da Eun, who had been muttering, looked at Yu Kwon’s reaction and spoke again.

“Please pretend you didn’t hear that last part.”