The next day.

As soon as school was over, Yumi hurried home.

She was humming a tune.

Yumi carelessly took off her shoes at the entrance, then went back to neatly arrange them.

Then she quickly crossed the living room to the kitchen.

Soo Min was busy preparing food.

“Mmm, mom, it smells so good.”

Yumi sniffed and took a deep breath.

The whole house was filled with delicious food smells from the entrance.

Soo Min was really showing off her cooking skills today.

The smell of braised short ribs filled the house, whetting appetites, and on the table were rolled radish wraps, gambas, japchae, and pan-fried beef.

The table was laden with all kinds of dishes, reminiscent of a feast or birthday spread.

“Yumi, what time is it now?”

“5:30. What time did elder brother Ji Ho say he’s coming?”

“He said around 6. But he might come earlier.”

Soo Min’s hands moved faster as 6 o’clock approached.

After receiving a call from Yeon Soo last night, she had spent all day shopping and cooking to prepare the carefully chosen menu, barely sitting down.

It had been a while since she’d prepared dinner, with Won Jin coming home late these days and Yumi often eating out with friends.

Soo Min, who enjoyed cooking, found all these preparations enjoyable.

She wanted to treat Ji Ho well as her friend’s son, but above all, she was putting her heart into serving the man her daughter liked.

She felt good that the house atmosphere, which had been quiet every evening, was now filled with food smells and warmth.

“Mom, I’m going to change clothes.”

“Okay.”

Yumi couldn’t hide her excitement and was thrilled.

She was so happy when she heard from Soo Min last night that Ji Ho was coming for dinner today.

All day long, she had been so excited that she didn’t know how time passed.

She desperately wanted to wait for Ji Ho at school and come together, but didn’t contact him thinking he might dislike it.

There was no need to give Ji Ho reasons to say unpleasant things.

Yumi touched up her makeup in front of the mirror.

She redid her base makeup naturally and chose a light color lipstick.

She went for a subtle makeup style that made her skin look dewy.

Yumi changed into a light pink jersey dress and came out of her room, fully prepared to greet Ji Ho.

Yumi, who had been troubled for days by the bar video her friends showed her, was now simply happy as if nothing had happened.

**

Due to an unexpected appointment, Yi Soo had been busy since morning.

If she couldn’t finish everything as planned, she’d have to cut back on sleep, so she had to make the most of her waking hours.

It was obvious that reducing sleep further when she was already sleep-deprived would be too much for her body.

Yi Soo woke up an hour earlier than yesterday.

Going home for dinner would take at least two hours no matter how quickly she moved.

Yi Soo left for home with Ji Ho just after 5 o’clock.

Sitting in Ji Ho’s car, Yi Soo stared blankly out the window.

She had boldly suggested going together, but she wasn’t entirely comfortable.

She had planned to stay quiet, but imagining the surprised faces of Yumi and Soo Min upon seeing her made her feel a bit overwhelmed.

How uncomfortable would this dinner be?

As Yi Soo was lost in thought, the car entered the familiar neighborhood.

After turning into the alley, the car finally stopped in front of Yi Soo’s house.

“This is the first time. Coming into the alley.”

“Yeah.”

Yi Soo, who had always gotten off at the entrance to the alley leading home, came to the front of her house with Ji Ho for the first time.

“Yi Soo, are you okay?”

Ji Ho was concerned about Yi Soo, who had been silently staring out the window the whole way.

“Of course. Let’s go in.”

Yi Soo got out of the car.

Standing in front of the gate, she took a deep breath.

There was no need to ring the doorbell; she could just open the door and go in, but she wanted to see Yumi’s shocked expression upon seeing her.

How did she become so childish?

Yi Soo let out a small laugh.

But it was true that she wanted to give back what she had received from Yumi, since she had been wronged.

Ji Ho rang the doorbell.

After a moment, Yumi’s excited voice flowed out of the intercom speaker.

“Elder brother, come in!”

Yi Soo stood behind Ji Ho’s broad shoulders, as if hiding.

Click.

The door opened and Yi Soo and Ji Ho climbed the stairs leading to the garden.

‘Phew.’

Yi Soo let out a quiet sigh and composed her expression.

‘This is my house. No need to feel uncomfortable.’

Yi Soo forced her lips into a smile, pulling up the corners of her mouth.

Ji Ho pulled open the front door and stepped aside to let Yi Soo enter first.

Yi Soo went in ahead of Ji Ho.

Yumi, who had been waiting with a bright smile for Ji Ho to enter, froze like ice as soon as the front door opened.

Then she slowly covered her gaping mouth with both hands.

“……!”

Behind Yumi, Soo Min could be seen approaching the entrance with an elegant smile.

“Oh! Yi Soo……!”

Soo Min stared at Yi Soo with wide, surprised eyes.

“Yes. I came along.”

“Hello, aunt.”

Ji Ho, entering behind, greeted Soo Min politely.

“Oh, oh yes. Ji Ho, come in. But how did you two…….”

Soo Min barely opened her mouth, stammering.

They were in the same club, right?

Soo Min looked at Yi Soo and Ji Ho, recalling what she had heard from Yumi so far.

“Ji Ho said he had business at our house, so I came along. I couldn’t come last weekend, so it worked out.”

Yi Soo answered in a bright voice, continuing Soo Min’s words that trailed off in surprise.

The two women were so surprised to see Yi Soo that they couldn’t easily continue speaking.

Especially Yumi, who just blinked with a very bewildered expression.

Yi Soo felt somewhat triumphant, though childish, for having properly shocked Yumi.

“You seem very surprised that I came. I told dad about it.”

Yi Soo smiled at Soo Min, who was standing there with a puzzled expression.

“Oh, no. You’re welcome. Both of you, please come in.”

Soo Min composed herself and gestured for them to enter.

“Ji Ho, let’s go in.”

Yi Soo was as natural as someone bringing a friend home.

“Oh. Okay.”

As Ji Ho followed Yi Soo in, he handed the shopping bag he was holding to Soo Min.

“Aunt. My mom asked me to give you this.”

“Oh. Yes. Thank you. You went through the trouble of coming all the way here.”

“It’s nothing.”

“Dinner’s almost ready, so please wait a moment.”

Soo Min finished speaking and went back into the kitchen.

Yumi stood like a statue at the entrance, clenching her fists so tightly that her nails dug into her palms.

‘Did Yi Soo tell elder brother Ji Ho everything about our relationship?’

Yumi’s mind was busy trying to grasp the situation, rolling her eyes.

If not, there’s no way they would have come together.

Yumi felt dizzy because of the unexpected guest.

‘I know elder brother Ji Ho has a girlfriend, but I was still looking forward to this rare meal together. Why did Yi Soo come along?’

Yi Soo nodded and winked at Yumi, who was taking deep, irritated breaths that made her chest heave.

“Ji Ho, let’s go wash our hands.”

Leaving Yumi standing like a folding screen, Yi Soo led Ji Ho to the bathroom.

Ji Ho glanced briefly at Yumi standing at the entrance, then silently nodded and followed Yi Soo.

‘What’s going on with those two? Were they always this close?’

Yumi couldn’t understand this situation at all.

She could hear the two people’s laughter-mixed voices from the bathroom.

Soon after, she saw the two coming out to the living room.

Yumi didn’t know how to treat Yi Soo right away.

She couldn’t be grumpy as usual in front of Ji Ho, and she wasn’t in the mood to pretend to be kind suddenly.

But she couldn’t avoid the two either.

What should I do?

“Ji Ho, come here. I’ll show you my room.”

Yi Soo, glancing at Yumi, said to Ji Ho.

Because imagining is often more painful than seeing.

“Oh. Okay.”

As Yi Soo took Ji Ho’s hand and disappeared upstairs, Yumi’s expression changed as if she was about to cry.

Her mind was confused and everything was shocking.

Not only did they come home together, but they also held hands affectionately for all to see.

And they’re going to the room alone! Ha!

The awkward and uncomfortable appearance of the two that Yumi had seen was nowhere to be found.

Why did they act like that then, when they’re so affectionate now?

‘Which one is real?’

**

“Come in.”

Yi Soo felt strangely excited, as if bringing a boyfriend to her room for the first time.

Ji Ho looked around Yi Soo’s room.

“It’s similar to the atmosphere of your independent house.”

“Yes. It’s probably because the same person decorated it. It’s also my taste.”

They had been alone at home a few times, but being in the room felt different.

“I came up because it was awkward being with Yumi. Let’s go down after staying here for a bit.”

Yi Soo sat on the edge of the bed.

Now that they were actually in the room together, she felt somewhat breathless.

“I’m happy to be alone with you anytime, anywhere.”

Ji Ho sat down close to Yi Soo and gazed at the bed where Yi Soo must have slept every night.

“Why?”

“Just feeling a bit strange.”

“What?”

“It’s just us two on the bed.”

“I’ve slept in your bed before, what’s the big deal?”

Yi Soo deliberately spoke as if it was nothing, trying to dispel the awkward atmosphere.

“That time you were very sick. Now you’re smiling so prettily, it’s a completely different situation.”

Ji Ho reached out and cupped Yi Soo’s face.

His head tilted down and Ji Ho’s lips lightly touched Yi Soo’s before pulling away.

“Yumi might come in anytime…….”

Ji Ho’s lips gently swallowed Yi Soo’s worried voice.

Yi Soo’s body gradually leaned back under the deeply pressing kiss.

As she felt every time, it was an incredibly sweet kiss.

As the kiss lengthened, Yi Soo clutched Ji Ho’s collar, trembling all over.

Then Yi Soo’s back touched the bed.

Ji Ho seemed to have no intention of stopping, as the kiss became deeper and bolder afterwards.

His large hand wrapped around Yi Soo’s waist and slipped under her clothes.

Ji Ho’s warm hand slid over the cool skin exposed to the air.

Yi Soo’s hand quickly grabbed Ji Ho’s wrist, finally coming to her senses.

Ji Ho paused and withdrew his hand without moving further.

The deeply overlapped lips also slowly parted.

“What if someone really comes in?”

“No one came, did they?”

Ji Ho smiled at Yi Soo, who was tense with anxiety.

Ji Ho straightened up and wrapped his arms around Yi Soo’s body to help her sit up.

As Yi Soo was touching and fixing her disheveled hair.

Knock. Knock.

Two knocks with a pause in between were heard.

“……Come down for dinner.”

“Y-yes.”

Yi Soo responded in a flustered voice to Soo Min’s voice right outside the door.

How long had she been there?

She couldn’t remember what sounds they had made during the kiss.

It seemed like they might have made some breathless noises.

Would those sounds have been heard beyond the door?

“Let’s go out.”

Ji Ho stood up with a bright smile as if nothing had happened.

How could he be like that?

Yi Soo looked at Ji Ho and got up, pressing her flushed face with the back of her hand.