“What brings Yumi here?”

Except for the day when they all came together when Yi Soo first moved out on her own, she had never visited.

Moreover, it was the first time seeing her since introducing Ji Ho as her boyfriend.

This wasn’t at all a situation where she would be glad to meet, so why did she come?

A chill ran down Yi Soo’s spine at the thought that Yumi might have come early and run into Ji Ho.

Yi Soo opened the door with an awkward expression.

“What brings you here so suddenly?”

“Mom’s errand.”

Yumi smiled brightly and held up the basket in her hand.

“What kind of errand?”

“Didn’t you see the text?”

Just as she was about to check that text, the doorbell rang, so she hadn’t had a chance to see the content.

“Are you going to keep me standing out here?”

Yumi, who had been standing facing off across the doorway, gently pushed Yi Soo aside and came in.

As if it were her own home, she naturally took off her shoes, slipped on slippers, and headed to the dining room.

“What is that?”

“Side dishes for elder sister to eat.”

“What?”

Yumi placed the basket on the island and began taking out containers of side dishes, stacking them neatly next to it.

Yi Soo, bewildered in many ways, watched blankly.

Soo Min making side dishes to send, Yumi bringing them herself, and casually calling her elder sister?

Had something happened between the mother and daughter that Yi Soo didn’t know about?

She couldn’t guess their intentions at all.

“Mom said to put all of these in the fridge. Should I do that for you too?”

Yumi, having taken out all the side dishes, asked Yi Soo who was standing there blankly.

“No. Just leave it. I’ll do it.”

Yi Soo opened the refrigerator door and put in all the side dishes stacked like a tower.

Soo Min had mentioned sending side dishes to Yi Soo in front of Won Jin a few times.

But she knew well that it was just empty talk, like saying “Let’s have a meal together sometime.”

Soo Min must have meant it that way at the time, and Yi Soo had accepted it without any expectations.

So she couldn’t help but be flustered by this sudden action.

“It must have been hard bringing this, thank you.”

“Yeah. It was a bit tough. Mom packed so much.”

“If you need to, I can come and get it myself, so you don’t have to do this next time.”

“Well, whatever.”

Yumi, who Yi Soo thought would leave right away, walked around looking here and there with her hands behind her back while Yi Soo was organizing the side dishes.

“Elder sister, I’m going to use the bathroom.”

“Okay.”

Yumi went into the bathroom and checked the toothbrush sanitizer and storage cabinet.

Confirming that only Yi Soo’s things were visible, Yumi smiled with relief.

She had been suspicious, wondering if Ji Ho might have left a toothbrush or razor while coming and going.

That was the reason she came to Yi Soo’s house today.

Since they both lived alone, she suddenly became anxious that they might be freely coming and going to each other’s homes.

Given Yi Soo’s typical model student personality, it seemed unlikely, but what couldn’t one do when blinded by love?

If Yi Soo had properly fallen for Ji Ho, it didn’t seem impossible.

To do that, she needed to barge into Yi Soo’s house unexpectedly, but there was no suitable pretext.

After pondering, she had begged Soo Min to pack side dishes.

In fact, she had sent the text only after arriving in front of Yi Soo’s house.

“Yumi, if you go there and meet Ji Ho, it will only hurt your feelings. Are you still going to go?”

Soo Min had tried to dissuade her worriedly, but she couldn’t suppress her curiosity.

She couldn’t tell how close the two were from what she saw that day.

Yumi desperately hoped that the two were just dating casually and would break up soon.

Yumi came out and sat down at the island table as if she had something to say.

“Elder sister, can I have a glass of water?”

Except for when she asked to join the ski club, Yumi had never called Yi Soo elder sister when they were alone.

That’s why Yi Soo felt unnecessarily tense at Yumi calling her elder sister.

‘I wonder what favor she’s trying to ask this time.’

She filled a clear glass with cold water and pushed it towards Yumi.

“Drink.”

Seeing Yumi sitting there leisurely, Yi Soo became anxious and picked up her phone.

Yi Soo quickly typed a message to Ji Ho’s number.

-Yumi suddenly came to the house. Don’t run into her, I’ll text you again when she leaves.

After pressing send, she let out a small sigh.

‘Does she know something? The timing is just incredible.’

As time passed, Yi Soo grew more and more anxious.

“You’re going on a medical volunteer trip in the summer?”

Yumi asked while leisurely drinking water and looking at the desk calendar.

“Yes.”

“Is this just a one-day trip?”

Yi Soo had only drawn a big circle on the departure date so as not to forget.

She was puzzled why Yumi was asking about something she didn’t seem particularly curious about, but wanting to send her off quickly, she answered right away.

“No. I’m going for 3 nights and 4 days.”

It was unlikely that Yumi had come so obediently just because Soo Min told her to, and she seemed to have her own business, but she didn’t say anything.

She just kept looking around the house or observing Yi Soo’s reactions.

“Why, do you have something to say to me?”

The last time, Yumi had glared at Yi Soo with a face that looked like she was about to cry, but today she was even putting on a kind smile and calling her elder sister, so Yi Soo couldn’t figure out why she was acting this way.

Neither Yi Soo nor Yumi mentioned anything about that day.

It was equally awkward for both of them to talk about it.

“No, it’s not like I have anything particular to say. You’re doing well, without any problems?”

“Yes.”

“During the break, are you just going on the volunteer trip or do you have anything else planned?”

Instead of answering, Yi Soo stared at Yumi for a moment.

What exactly was she curious about, asking in such a roundabout way?

“It’s the same every break. Aren’t you going on a trip this break? You used to go on trips with your mom every summer.”

Since Yumi also knew that Yi Soo went to London every break, maybe that’s what she was curious about.

Instead of giving a detailed answer, Yi Soo asked Yumi instead.

Expecting to see what kind of lie she would tell.

“Oh, oh… Me?”

As if she hadn’t expected Yi Soo to ask, Yumi stammered in surprise.

‘How surprised will you be when we meet at the airport, if you’re flustered by just this simple question.’

Yi Soo felt like she had just found a way to quickly send Yumi home.

“Where did you decide to go this time? A resort? Or a tourist spot? Ah, didn’t you want to go on a European trip?”

“Did, did I say that?”

“I thought you did, didn’t you?”

As Yi Soo stared intently, showing interest as if she would keep asking, Yumi’s eyes trembled slightly.

‘She’d probably be shocked if she knew I was going to elder brother’s house, should I just tell her? If she knew that I’m going on the same day as elder brother and will be with him the whole time, I wonder what Yi Soo’s expression would be like?’

Yumi’s mouth itched to brag in front of Yi Soo.

She wanted to see Yi Soo’s flustered face just once.

‘But if Yi Soo knows in advance, she might try to stop me from going. So I have to keep it a secret until I go. I should hold back for now.’

It wouldn’t be too late to tell her after going to London.

“No, that’s not it.”

Yumi suddenly stood up from her seat.

“Ah! That’s right. I forgot I had an appointment. I should go now. Thanks for the water.”

“Okay. Then you should hurry and go.”

“Yes. I’ll come again next time.”

Leaving these words that were not at all welcome to Yi Soo, Yumi left.

**

“Wow, this is really delicious. I’ve always wanted to try the sushi here.”

“I thought you’d like it. It was worth it.”

It was sushi that he had specially packed from a famous restaurant far away for Yi Soo, who loves sushi.

“Did Yumi come often before?”

“No. She came once when I moved in and this was the first time since then. I was surprised too.”

Yi Soo nodded while putting a piece of sushi in her mouth.

The firm texture was excellent.

“She didn’t mention anything about going to London?”

“No. She didn’t say anything. It seems like she deliberately didn’t mention it. Well, we’ll find out soon anyway.”

“Hmm… Yi Soo. I couldn’t ask my mom because I had to pretend I didn’t know, but if Aunt Soo Min comes to London, she’ll probably stay at our house the whole time. Knowing my mom’s personality, she won’t invite her and then tell her to stay at a hotel.”

Ji Ho spoke while gazing at Yi Soo eating deliciously.

While Yi Soo’s sushi was half gone, Ji Ho hadn’t even eaten half of that.

“You’ll end up staying with Yumi at our house, so if that bothers you, I can stay at a hotel.”

Ji Ho felt very sorry for unintentionally hurting Yi Soo’s feelings on Yumi’s birthday as well.

This time too, although it wasn’t Ji Ho’s intention, he would inevitably be staying in the same house as Yumi during their stay in London, so he was concerned about how Yi Soo might feel.

“Hmm…”

Yi Soo hadn’t thought that far either.

She didn’t know how Yumi felt now, but Ji Ho wouldn’t be swayed by Yumi, so was there really a need to go that far?

“No, it’s fine. I appreciate you thinking of me, but don’t do that.”

“If it bothers you even a little, tell me. I’m fine staying at a hotel.”

“Your parents would surely be disappointed if their son who came home after a long time stayed at a hotel, so just stay at home. There’s no need to do that because of me.”

Yi Soo didn’t like this situation either, but she thought it was fine if she just accepted it as unavoidable.

“I trust you. So I’m really okay with it.”

At least it didn’t seem like Yi Soo would be jealous of Yumi.

Yi Soo looked into Ji Ho’s eyes and spoke sincerely, as if to reassure him as he kept checking multiple times.

**

Yi Soo plopped down on the sofa with a full stomach and a languid body.

Thanks to the fever reducer, her fever had gone down, but her body still felt heavy as if she had the flu.

Yi Soo leaned back on the sofa, holding the remote control and flipping through TV channels.

Then her hand stopped on one screen.

Lee Han Na, known as the icon of the nation’s first love, was in the middle of an interview on a broadcast.

Several actors who appeared in a recently released movie were answering questions together for promotion.

Among them, the most questions were directed at Lee Han Na, the lead actress.

“Let’s wrap up the questions about the movie here for Han Na. In a recent interview, you mentioned your actual first love. You said you still can’t forget him.”

“Ah, yes. Well…”

“Oh my! You’re serious. Wow, I’m so curious about who this person is!”

Even to another woman, this incredibly beautiful woman was blushing shyly, saying she still couldn’t forget her first love.

Ji Ho, who had come back after washing his hands, sat down next to Yi Soo on the sofa.

Following Yi Soo’s gaze to the screen, Ji Ho slightly furrowed his brow and then turned his head.

“They say Lee Han Na can’t forget her first love. It looks like she might send a video letter to that man now.”

Yi Soo spoke without taking her eyes off the screen, looking interested.

“Yi Soo, let’s watch something else.”

“Huh?”

In an instant, Ji Ho picked up the remote control on the sofa table and changed the channel.

As Yi Soo looked at him with slightly puzzled eyes at his firm attitude, a new movie was just starting on the changed channel.

“Let’s watch this. Come to think of it, we haven’t gone to the theater together yet. Shall we go see a movie at the theater next time?”

Ji Ho, who had returned to his gentle gaze, asked Yi Soo.

“Sure.”

“Come here. Let’s lie down comfortably and watch.”

Ji Ho pulled Yi Soo into his arms and lay down on the long sofa.

Yi Soo lay down using Ji Ho’s arm as a pillow and held his hand while saying,

“But, I find this way of watching too comfortable and nice.”

Ji Ho hugged Yi Soo tightly and chuckled.

“Hmm, come to think of it, I think I like this better too.”

Ji Ho’s warm body temperature was transmitted directly behind Yi Soo’s back.