A moment later, Seung Woo’s car stopped in front of the coffee shop.

After parking and going up to the second floor, the three people were already seated and talking.

“Elder sister. Over here.”

As Hyun Jun waved his hand, So Eun and Seung Woo went to their seats and sat down.

After So Eun ordered coffee, when the vibrating pager rang, Seung Woo brought the coffee.

The fragrant aroma of coffee gently wafted up and seeped into their senses.

“Seung Woo. When did you say you start work?”

At Mi Sook’s question, Seung Woo put down his coffee cup and said.

“I’ll rest for one more week and start work the week after next.”

As soon as his mother finished speaking, Hyun Jun’s eyes sparkled as he said to So Eun.

“Elder sister. Seung Woo elder brother is a dentist. Isn’t that so cool?”

“Ah. Really?”

As So Eun nodded and replied, Hyun Jun continued excitedly.

“His dental office is in Seoul’s Gangnam. Isn’t that amazing?”

At those words, Seung Woo smiled and said.

“No, Hyun Jun. It’s not my dental office, but one run by a senior I know. I’m going in as a paid doctor.”

“No, elder brother. But that’s still amazing, right? A dentist in the heart of Gangnam. Elder brother, you’re really cool!”

Seung Woo looked at Hyun Jun with endearing eyes at his admiring gaze.

“That’s right. Our Seung Woo was always such a good student, and now he’s become a dentist? Your elder sister must be so proud.”

At Mi Sook’s words, Young Sook lightly hit Mi Sook’s arm and said.

“What about this one? Isn’t Hyun Jun a good student too? I heard he’s going to university on a scholarship?”

“Ah, but not good enough to become a dentist in the heart of Gangnam.”

At Hyun Jun’s words, Young Sook and Mi Sook burst out laughing at the same time.

“Our Seung Woo, with his good looks and now an impressive job, he must be popular with the ladies. Right?”

To Mi Sook’s question, Young Sook answered instead.

“What good is popularity? He’s never once introduced a girlfriend to us.”

“Oh my, that’s just like our So Eun? Our daughter has never introduced a boyfriend either.”

Suddenly caught in the crossfire, So Eun had a flustered expression.

Seeing that expression and remembering So Eun’s recent breakup, Seung Woo quickly spoke up.

“Well, I guess So Eun is cautious like me. So Eun. Are you also the type to only introduce someone you’re going to marry?”

At Seung Woo’s sudden question, So Eun blinked and looked at him, then nodded.

“Huh? Yes. That’s right. I’m that type too.”

Mi Sook tilted her head and looked at So Eun, who answered awkwardly.

“Daughter, was that it? Still, I’m a bit disappointed? I’d like to see what kind of man my daughter is dating at least once?”

As So Eun smiled awkwardly, Young Sook laughed and said.

“Oh my, our So Eun is so smart. I’m sure she’s dating a good man.”

At Young Sook’s words, So Eun felt a pang in her heart as she thought of Lee Jung Hyuk.

Two hours later, the five people left the coffee shop.

Young Sook and Seung Woo, who had to return to Seoul early the next morning for an appointment, said goodbye to the three people.

“Mi Sook. I’ll come visit often now, so let’s see each other a lot.”

“Yes. Elder sister. I’ll make time to come up to Seoul often too.”

As the mothers exchanged goodbyes, Seung Woo smiled at Mi Sook and said.

“Aunt. When you have time, please come to the dental office with Hyun Jun. I’ll give you a thorough checkup.”

“Yes. Alright. Thank you, Seung Woo. Aunt will definitely come once.”

“Yes. Aunt.”

Seung Woo turned his gaze and looked intently at So Eun.

“So Eun, you’re going up tomorrow, right?”

“Yes. I’m planning to stay tonight and go up tomorrow evening.”

“Alright. Travel safely and let’s have a meal together next week. I’ll contact you.”

“Okay. Sure. Elder brother.”

Seung Woo looked at So Eun, who answered, with a gentle smile.

* * *

On Sunday, after arriving home, So Eun brought up the story of Seung Woo while eating dinner with Ji Ye.

Ji Ye opened her eyes wide and asked.

“What? Elder brother Seung Woo?”

As So Eun nodded, Ji Ye put down her spoon and asked.

“You mean that handsome elder brother who lived next door? Didn’t he immigrate to America back then?”

“He did, but this time he came back to Korea for good with Aunt Young Sook.”

“Really? Why so suddenly?”

“After his father passed away two years ago, aunt wanted to return to Korea.”

“Ah, his father passed away…”

Ji Ye had a sympathetic expression, then her eyes sparkled as she asked.

“Is that elder brother still handsome and cool?”

“Well… he is.”

“I’m curious. What does adult Seung Woo elder brother look like?”

“If you’re curious, do you want to meet him too? I’m supposed to have a meal with him next week.”

“Me? But he probably won’t even remember me?”

“No, when I said I was living with you, he immediately remembered you.”

“Oh my. Really?”

“Yes. Want to join us if he says it’s okay after I ask him?”

“Sure. Why not.”

Ji Ye picked up her spoon and winked.

* * *

On Wednesday, as So Eun prepared to leave work, she looked at the clock.

It had just passed 6:50 PM.

Today, as agreed with Tae Min, they were supposed to meet at a handmade pizza place in Seolleung.

After asking Ji Ye’s opinion, when So Eun texted that Wednesday would be fine, Tae Min replied immediately.

It was a message saying to meet on Wednesday, along with a brightly smiling emoticon, and So Eun found herself smiling, thinking that Tae Min was probably smiling just like that emoticon.

As it passed 7 o’clock, the employees got up from their seats one by one and left the office, and So Eun also left with the female employees.

After parting ways with the employees at the main entrance, So Eun walked a bit further and got on the bus.

As it was a short distance, the bus arrived soon, and as So Eun slowly got off the bus, she was surprised.

Because Tae Min was standing at the bus stop.

“…Huh?”

As So Eun’s eyes widened, Tae Min approached her with a bright smile.

“Hello, So Eun.”

“Ah, yes. Hello. But how did you know I would get off here?”

“You said you were coming by bus, so I looked it up and this stop seemed the most likely.”

So Eun felt like laughing at the word ‘likely’.

“Jun Ho elder brother went to the subway station. Ji Ye said she might be about 10 minutes late, so he said he’d come with her.”

“Ah. Yes. I heard from Ji Ye.”

“Then shall we go in first and save seats? We might not get seats if we go late.”

“Ah, yes. Shall we?”

The two headed towards the handmade pizza place.

“Did you have a good week?”

Tae Min asked, looking down at So Eun as they walked.

“Ah, yes. I had a good week. How about you?”

“I had a good week too.”

Tae Min answered with a bright smile, but in reality, he hadn’t had a good week.

Until today, Wednesday, he had been anxious about why the days weren’t passing quickly enough.

Clearly, he had been busy working with the game launch just around the corner, but when he lay in bed after work, he thought, ‘Only one day has passed.’

His body was exhausted, but when he closed his eyes, So Eun’s clear and pretty face came to mind.

Then his heart would pound, and soon his mind would feel hot.

As the hot feeling spread to his face, Tae Min would pull the blanket over his head and sigh.

In the morning, he would do something he had never done before, marking X’s on the calendar, hoping Wednesday would come quickly.

Before they knew it, the two arrived in front of the handmade pizza place and opened the door to go inside.

Sitting at an inner table, they looked at the menu brought by the staff and ordered briefly.

Soon after, two glasses of cream draft beer arrived, and Tae Min raised his glass.

“So Eun. Let’s cheers.”

At Tae Min’s words, So Eun raised her glass and Tae Min lightly clinked it.

After taking a sip of the cool beer, the two put down their glasses.

“Did you have a good trip to Daejeon?”

“Ah, yes. I had a good trip.”

Tae Min, who had been quietly looking at So Eun as she answered, carefully said.

“Um, So Eun. You can speak comfortably to me.”

“Pardon?”

“I’m two years younger than you. You don’t need to use formal speech.”

“What? No, suddenly speaking informally is a bit…”

“Hmm, then will you speak comfortably next time we meet?”

“Ah, that’s… I’ll think about it.”

As So Eun smiled awkwardly and spoke, Tae Min looked intently into So Eun’s eyes and said.

“I think we’ll become close faster that way.”

“…”

“I, I want to become close with So Eun quickly.”

For some reason, So Eun’s heart fluttered at Tae Min’s deep and intense gaze.

“Ah… yes.”

As she answered with an embarrassed expression, the door of the shop opened and Ji Ye and Jun Ho entered.

“Elder brother. Over here.”

At Tae Min’s voice, the two came to the table and sat across from each other.

The four exchanged greetings and ordered two more glasses of beer.

Soon after, the staff brought two glasses of beer and the pizza they had ordered.

Ji Ye’s eyes sparkled at the sight of the pizza with abundant toppings and cheese, stimulating both sight and smell.

“Wow. The pizza looks really delicious. There’s so much cheese?”

“Yes. The pizza here is really delicious. It’s hot, so eat slowly.”

Jun Ho smiled and put a slice of pizza on Ji Ye’s plate.

Then Tae Min quickly put a slice of pizza on So Eun’s plate as well.

“Ah. Thank you.”

As So Eun thanked him, Jun Ho and Ji Ye exchanged silent glances and grinned.

The four raised their beer glasses for a toast and then brought the pizza to their mouths.

The fresh vegetables, meat, and savory cheese blended together in their mouths, creating a fantastic taste.