The four people savored pizza and beer while engaging in various conversations.

“Elder brother. The weather is so nice these days, shall we go somewhere when your busy work is done?”

Hearing Ji Ye’s words, Jun Ho nodded and replied.

“Hmm, shall we? I’ll be less busy next week, so how about going somewhere on the weekend?”

“That would be great for me.”

“Okay. Then I’ll look into where we could go.”

“Yes. Okay.”

Listening to their conversation, Tae Min lifted his beer glass and muttered.

“That’s nice.”

As Jun Ho and Ji Ye’s gazes turned to Tae Min at his inadvertent comment, Tae Min awkwardly smiled and said.

“No, just… It’s nice weather for going out. Haha.”

Quietly observing Tae Min’s embarrassed smile, Ji Ye spoke.

“Then would you like to come along with us, Tae Min?”

“What? Me?”

Tae Min was startled, then glanced at So Eun, but at that moment, So Eun’s phone vibrated.

So Eun took out her phone and saw it was from elder brother Seung Woo.

Ji Ye, sitting next to her, looked at the screen and exclaimed with wide eyes.

“Oh? It’s elder brother Seung Woo?”

At Ji Ye’s words ‘elder brother’, both Jun Ho and Tae Min’s eyes simultaneously turned to Ji Ye.

‘Who is it? Who is this person that our Ji Ye calls elder brother?’

Jun Ho felt somewhat disgruntled for some reason, and,

‘Elder brother? She calls him elder brother?’

Tae Min became unnecessarily sensitive to that word he would never hear unless he was born before So Eun.

As the two men’s expressions soured like they had bitten into an unripe persimmon, So Eun stood up and said she would take the call and be right back.

Walking towards the bathroom, So Eun answered, “Yes, elder brother,” and that word ‘elder brother’ flew to Tae Min and stabbed his heart.

‘Ah. Why wasn’t I born as an elder brother… It would have been nice if I was born as an elder brother.’

Suddenly feeling thirsty at this impossible wish, Tae Min gulped down his beer.

Seeing this, Jun Ho asked Ji Ye on Tae Min’s behalf.

“By the way, who is elder brother Seung Woo?”

“Oh, he’s an elder brother who lived next door to So Eun when she was young.”

“Next door? But how do you know him too?”

“Ah, I used to visit So Eun’s house often back then. I would run into that elder brother from time to time, so I know him.”

“Oh, I see.”

For now, Jun Ho was relieved that he wasn’t close with Ji Ye.

But seeing Tae Min gripping his beer glass with a sour expression, he felt he should ask another question and opened his mouth again.

“He seems quite close with So Eun? Seeing that they’re still in contact?”

“Ah. Not really, Seung Woo’s family immigrated to America when we were in 8th grade. But it seems they’ve returned to Korea recently.”

“Ah…”

Jun Ho nodded and glanced at Tae Min, whose expression seemed even sourer than before.

‘It’s been over 10 years since 8th grade, what does it mean to get in touch again now?’

Tae Min thought to himself as he downed the rest of his beer.

As Jun Ho pressed the bell to order more beer, So Eun returned from the bathroom.

Ji Ye wanted to ask what they talked about, but having seen Tae Min’s sour expression, she just brought up their previous conversation again.

“Tae Min, what do you think? Do you want to come with us next week?”

“Ah, well… What should I do?”

As Tae Min’s gaze slightly turned towards So Eun, Ji Ye chuckled and asked So Eun.

“So Eun. Do you have any plans next weekend?”

“Hm? Next weekend? No, I don’t have any plans yet.”

“Then do you want to go get some fresh air together somewhere nearby? The weather’s so nice.”

“Oh? Well…”

As So Eun turned her head while answering, her eyes met Tae Min’s, who was staring intently at her.

Seeing those large eyes full of expectation, focusing all the energy in the universe on So Eun’s answer, So Eun’s heart suddenly started to flutter again.

Why am I like this…

Bewildered by her unfamiliar emotions, she met Tae Min’s eyes again.

This time, faced with that desperate and wistful gaze, like a puppy begging for permission in front of a delicious treat, So Eun inadvertently smiled.

Ji Ye looked at the suddenly smiling So Eun with a puzzled expression, and So Eun nodded.

“Okay. Let’s do it. Why not go together.”

And as soon as So Eun’s answer fell, Tae Min smiled broadly, unable to hide his joy.

At this, Jun Ho and Ji Ye barely managed to hold back their laughter.

“Then where should we go for our trip?”

Suddenly showing enthusiasm, Tae Min asked actively.

“Well, where would be good to go?”

As Ji Ye asked with an amused face, Tae Min pondered for a moment before his eyes lit up and he said.

“Ah, how about glamping? My friend went to Gapyeong area last week and said it was clean and nice since it’s newly opened.”

“Glamping? Oh? That sounds fun!”

As Ji Ye chimed in agreement, Tae Min also asked So Eun.

“What do you think, So Eun? Do you like glamping?”

“Ah, I’ve never been glamping before, so I’m not sure.”

“Really? Then let’s go together this time. I heard the surrounding scenery is nice and there’s a big swimming pool too.”

“Oh? Even a swimming pool?”

At the mention of ‘swimming pool’, Ji Ye got excited, and Jun Ho chuckled and asked Tae Min.

“Hey. But you’re not asking for my opinion?”

“If Ji Ye goes, you’ll go too, right? Why bother asking separately?”

“Come on. Look at this guy?”

Jun Ho laughed with an incredulous expression.

“Then, are we all in for glamping? So Eun, you’re in too, right?”

As Ji Ye asked with sparkling eyes, So Eun nodded.

“Yeah. Okay. Why not give it a try.”

At this, Tae Min smiled broadly, his lips curving into a crescent.

* * *

An hour later, the four people left the pizza place and headed to a coffee shop.

After ordering coffee, they checked the glamping site Tae Min mentioned, and fortunately, there was one 4-person accommodation left.

Jun Ho quickly made the reservation, and the four discussed when and where to meet.

After discussing the general plan, Ji Ye said with bright eyes.

“Since there’s a swimming pool, I should pack a pretty swimsuit.”

“But don’t bring something too pretty, okay? Other guys might stare, you know?”

“Oh, come on. What about you? Who says anyone will stare?”

Ji Ye laughed nasally at Jun Ho’s jealous words.

Separate from the two, Tae Min was lost in his own thoughts.

Then… So Eun will wear a swimsuit too?

Imagining So Eun in a swimsuit, suddenly heat rushed to his face and his cheeks felt hot.

“What’s this? Hey. Why are your cheeks suddenly turning red?”

Jun Ho asked in a playful voice, not missing the opportunity.

“Wh-what?”

As Tae Min startled and asked, Ji Ye narrowed her eyes and asked.

“Oh my, our Tae Min. What were you thinking to make your cheeks turn red?”

“What? No, it’s not like that. I wasn’t thinking anything!”

As Tae Min waved his hands frantically while answering, his entire face turned red.

At this, Jun Ho and Ji Ye burst out laughing, and the embarrassed Tae Min turned his head and met So Eun’s eyes. So Eun was just looking at Tae Min without any particular thought, but Tae Min, feeling guilty, flinched and quickly averted his gaze.

His bright red face looked like it might burst into flames at any moment.

A while later, the four left the coffee shop, and Ji Ye and So Eun took a taxi home.

After arriving home and taking a shower, Ji Ye asked So Eun while drying her hair with a towel.

“Did you make plans to meet with elder brother Seung Woo?”

“I was actually going to tell you, I mentioned you to him and he said he’d like to meet the three of us together.”

“Oh my, really?”

“Yes. So I wanted to ask, are you free this Sunday?”

“Sunday? Hmm, I’m meeting elder brother Jun Ho on Saturday, so Sunday should be fine.”

“Really? Then I’ll tell him let’s meet on Sunday. I think lunch would be good.”

“Okay. Sounds good. I’m so curious. I wonder how handsome elder brother Seung Woo has become.”

At Ji Ye’s words, So Eun just smiled instead of answering.

* * *

Saturday, 5 PM.

Tae Min was sitting in the driver’s seat, looking at his phone, with his car parked in front of a luxury villa.

After parting ways with So Eun on Wednesday, he had been holding back his desire to see her for two days, and finally sent a text message on Friday evening.

-So Eun, have a good weekend and see you next week.

-Yes. You have a good weekend too, Tae Min. See you next week.

It was a brief message, but for now, it was enough just to be able to naturally contact So Eun like this.

He wanted to make a move on So Eun right away, but he thought So Eun needed time to recover, having recently broken up with her trash ex-boyfriend.

So for now, he planned to watch over her like this, and when he judged the time was right, he would confess without hesitation. As Tae Min was smiling while looking at So Eun’s message, someone knocked on the driver’s side window.

He turned his head to see it was Ha Yul.

Ha Yul, with her long wavy hair, wearing an off-shoulder blouse and mini skirt, was waving at him.

“Hello? Yoon Tae Min.”

“Hello. Lee Ha Yul.”

Ha Yul smiled brightly at Tae Min and went around to the passenger side to open the door and get in.

As Ha Yul’s thighs were clearly visible due to her short mini skirt, Tae Min quickly took out his jacket from the back seat and handed it to her.

“Isn’t your skirt too short? Cover yourself with this.”

At this, Ha Yul smiled as if pleased.

“Why? I need to dress up this much to show off my beautiful legs.”

Tae Min chuckled at Ha Yul’s confident voice.

“Okay. Let’s get going then. I made a reservation at the restaurant you wanted to go to, so let’s have dinner first.”

“As expected! Yoon Tae Min is the best.”

Ha Yul replied with smiling eyes.