Yumi sat on the second-floor terrace and sent a text message to Minjae’s number.

It was a number she had found in Yi Soo’s old phone.

-Hello. I’m elder sister Yi Soo’s younger sister. You remember me, right?

Yumi gazed down at the garden, waiting for a response from Minjae.

‘If the number has changed, or if he’s no longer interested in Yi Soo, there won’t be a reply.’

She wasn’t sure how much help drawing in Minjae would be, but she felt too anxious to do nothing.

If it didn’t help, that would be fine, and if there was even a 1% chance, there was nothing to lose by trying.

The impression from visiting Yi Soo’s house a few days ago was as expected.

No matter how thoroughly she searched the entire house, there was no trace of Ji Ho to be found.

It seemed like they were having a model student-like relationship.

She decided to dutifully call Yi Soo “elder sister” to maintain a good image for Ji Ho.

She didn’t want to leave a bad impression for the future.

‘Anyway, they need to break up quickly before things get deeper.’

Sigh.

How to make them break up quickly?

She absolutely didn’t want to see Yi Soo, who always got all the good things, have Ji Ho too.

‘Even if I can’t have him, I really don’t want to see things work out between Yi Soo and him.’

As she stared intently at the dark phone screen, it vibrated with an incoming message.

-Yes. I remember.

After confirming the message, Yumi pressed the call button for Minjae’s number.

[Hello?]

“Yes, hello.”

[Yes. But why are you calling?]

His tone was questioning, as if it was an unexpected contact.

“Oh, actually, I saw a photo of you two together in elder sister’s room a few days ago. You’re elder sister’s ex-boyfriend, right?”

[Ah, yes, well.]

Minjae answered ambiguously.

That’s how the rumors went, but in reality, things ended before they could properly start, just as they were about to become a real couple.

It was all Minjae’s fault, and though he regretted it and begged for forgiveness, Yi Soo refused to take him back until the end.

“Seeing that photo, I thought elder sister might not be over you yet. Why else would she keep a photo of an ex-boyfriend? It’s obvious.”

Yumi spoke with certainty that Minjae was the ex-boyfriend.

[Excuse me?]

Minjae listened with an expression of disbelief at this unexpected story.

He was perplexed from the start by her assumption that he was the ex-boyfriend.

What on earth had Yi Soo told her younger sister?

“Oh, have you tried calling elder sister by any chance?”

[Yes.]

Hearing a voice tinged with disappointment, Yumi jumped to conclusions as if she knew everything.

“Elder sister responded coldly, right? She’s not the type to say yes right away. I was wondering if elder sister’s not dating because of you. I just contacted you because it’s heartbreaking to watch from the side. I secretly found this number in elder sister’s phone to contact you.”

Yumi casually implied that Yi Soo had not deleted this number, as if it were true.

What wouldn’t she do to give this man courage?

[Ah, I see.]

To Minjae, these were all unbelievable stories.

But since it was the younger sister speaking, he couldn’t think it was all lies.

Confused, he could only listen without giving much of a response.

“So you absolutely must keep it a secret that I contacted you. Elder sister would really kill me if she found out.”

[Okay.]

“Oh, and elder sister is going on a 3-day, 4-night medical volunteer trip during this break. I heard it’s with a university coalition. They leave on July 20th. I’m telling you this in case it might be of help.”

In truth, she didn’t even know which school Minjae attended, but she wanted to tell him everything she could about Yi Soo and encourage him to take the opportunity.

If he was a medical student, it might be possible.

[Oh, Yi Soo is going on that volunteer trip?]

“Oh my! Are you a medical student?”

[Yes. I’ve signed up for that too.]

“Oh my! This is truly fate. That’s wonderful. Elder sister said she’s going there too!”

Minjae had looked for Yi Soo at the preliminary meeting a few days ago, just in case.

She definitely wasn’t there, but perhaps she had just missed that day.

“I hope you take this chance well and make up with elder sister. I’ll be cheering for things to work out between you two.”

[Yes, well, thank you anyway.]

Minjae responded in a daze.

When he had called Yi Soo a few days ago, he hadn’t gotten this impression at all, but maybe it was just his imagination.

“If you need my help with anything in the future, please contact me anytime. I’ll help you actively!”

Yumi hung up the phone with a grin that reached her ears.

‘Even without me stepping in, they were destined to meet anyway. How should I use this opportunity?’

Just thinking about it made her want to hum.

**

The day of departure for London.

Yumi’s heart felt like it would burst from excitement since morning.

Fortunately, a waitlist spot opened up, allowing Yumi to take the same flight as Ji Ho.

Despite the 1 PM departure, the morning hours were not leisurely due to Yumi’s busy preparations.

“Yumi, it’s a long-haul flight. What are you wearing? Anyone would think you’re going on a blind date.”

Soo Min shook her head disapprovingly.

Yumi wore perfect makeup and a form-fitting dress.

“Are you really going to wear that on the plane?”

Soo Min wanted to strip her and change her into something more comfortable right away.

“Yes. I’m fine. It’s not uncomfortable at all.”

Yumi smiled as if she didn’t understand what the problem was.

“We’ll be late at this rate. If you want to surprise Ji Ho, we need to go early and wait. How can you be later than Ji Ho?”

“Oh my. Is it that time already? Okay. Mom. I’ll hurry.”

Before departing for the airport, Yumi checked her reflection in the mirror one last time.

‘Beautiful. The clothes, makeup, and hair are all perfect.’

Yumi wore a satisfied expression.

Thump thump. Ba-dump ba-dump.

She left for the airport with a fluttering heart.

“Are you that happy? Are you excited about going to London? Or seeing Ji Ho?”

Soo Min laughed, looking at Yumi’s cheekbones that had risen as high as they could go.

“Do you even need to ask? Both, of course.”

Starting tomorrow, she would be staying in the same house as elder brother.

Yumi felt like she was going on a trip to London with Ji Ho.

Soo Min was also a bit nervous, curious about Ji Ho’s expression when he encountered Yumi.

She hoped it would be a happy expression.

After arriving at the airport, the two quickly completed the check-in process and headed to the boarding gate.

Yumi’s excited footsteps, which had been hurrying ahead of Soo Min, suddenly came to a halt.

And her trembling hand dropped her bag with a thud.

**

Yi Soo and Ji Ho were spending a leisurely time in the lounge before heading to the gate.

They arrived a bit early for boarding time, so the gate wasn’t open yet.

While Yi Soo sat reading the travel itinerary, Ji Ho waited for her reaction like a child waiting for homework to be checked.

It was written very meticulously, with places to visit, restaurants, accommodations, and transportation for each date.

Yi Soo felt a bit sorry, thinking Ji Ho must have worked hard researching all this alone.

“How is it? Do you like it?”

“What do you mean ‘how is it’? Of course I like it.”

Yi Soo gave a thumbs up, saying it was the best.

“Thank you. You must have worked hard.”

Ji Ho wrapped his arms around Yi Soo’s waist and rested his chin on her shoulder.

“I only booked one room at the hotel. Is that okay?”

“Huh? Oh, you did well.”

Yi Soo nodded, blushing.

It didn’t seem like they would really sleep separately even if they booked two rooms.

The hotel issue was the most worrisome part of this trip for Yi Soo, but she decided not to go against the natural flow.

Now Yi Soo’s heart felt like it was floating on clouds.

She hadn’t realized it while preparing, but now it was starting to feel real.

Ji Ho hugged Yi Soo tighter and pressed his lips to her nape.

Yi Soo giggled, unable to bear the ticklish sensation of the soft, squishy flesh.

“Hey, stop it.”

Yi Soo twisted her body, trying to escape Ji Ho’s tight embrace, and unconsciously looked up.

Her eyes met with Yumi, who was standing like a statue a few steps away.

Yumi was staring intently at Yi Soo and Ji Ho with an expression of disbelief.

‘Ha! Finally met.’

Yi Soo slowly looked Yumi up and down as she stood up.

‘Don’t tell me she dressed up like this to meet Ji Ho?’

Yi Soo walked over to Yumi and picked up the bag that had fallen beside her, holding it out.

“Surprise! Yumi, were you shocked?”

“Uh…!”

Yumi’s face hardened as she looked at the brightly smiling Yi Soo.

She reflexively took the bag Yi Soo handed her, but she couldn’t speak as she tried to process what was happening.

“You must be really surprised. I didn’t tell you on purpose to make it fun for you.”

Ji Ho approached Yi Soo’s side.

“Yumi, you said you were going to see our mother, right?”

“Y-yes.”

She barely moved her trembling lips to make a sound.

It was as if Yi Soo had given Yumi the surprise that Yumi had planned to give Ji Ho.

‘This isn’t the picture I imagined. Why…? Why is Yi Soo here?’

Yumi’s throat was so tight she couldn’t speak.

“Oh my, Yi, Yi Soo…”

It was Soo Min, who had followed behind, who spoke instead of Yumi.

Soo Min’s mouth fell open weakly, surprised to see Yi Soo and Ji Ho together.

“Hello?”

“Y-yes.”

Ji Ho and Yi Soo bowed their heads to Soo Min simultaneously.

Soo Min quickly looked at Yumi.

Yumi was standing there helplessly with a stiff face.

“What’s going on? Are you two going together?”

Soo Min tightly held Yumi’s trembling hand.

She was worried, thinking about how Yumi must feel after being so excited since morning.

“Yes. When I said I was going to London, Ji Ho said he wanted to go together.”

“Ah… I see.”

Soo Min now understood why Ji Ho, who Yeon Su said might not come, suddenly decided to come.

‘Why didn’t I think this far, knowing that Yi Soo goes to London every break?’

She hadn’t even imagined it because she had taken the relationship between the two lightly.

Soo Min’s heart ached thinking of Yumi, who had been excited for days, saying she liked this Ji Ho.

Won Jin must have known this in advance, but he hadn’t said a word.

‘Did Yi Soo ask him not to tell on purpose? Yi Soo did exactly what Yumi was planning to do.’

“How long will you be staying in London, aunt?”

“I’m planning to stay for a week.”

“You’ll be staying at our house the whole time, right? I’m sure Mom insisted…”

“Yes, I tried to refuse because it seemed like too much trouble, but Yeon Su can be quite stubborn.”

Soo Min gave an awkward smile.

“Yes. Mom can be like that.”

Soo Min immediately read the uncomfortable expression that flashed across Ji Ho’s face.

It felt like something was terribly tangled.

This wasn’t why he had suggested going to London.

“…It looks like boarding is starting now.”

The people sitting in the waiting chairs were all standing up and forming a long line behind the boarding gate.

Soo Min wanted to separate from the two as soon as possible, feeling sorry for Yumi who was in shock.

“You two go in first.”

“Okay, then we’ll see you when we arrive in London.”

“Alright.”

The two bowed to Soo Min and turned around.

Soo Min sighed deeply as she watched the backs of the two walking side by side.

Ji Ho had his arm tightly around Yi Soo’s waist.

To anyone watching, they looked like an affectionate couple dripping with sweetness.

‘What vain hopes was Yumi holding onto about people like that?’

It felt frustratingly suffocating.

Yumi’s eyes were brimming with tears that seemed about to spill over at any moment.

She felt even more frustrated with herself for standing there dumbfounded, unable to say a word out of shock.