Sunday, 12:10 PM.

So Eun and Ji Ye were just climbing the stairs of Gangnam subway station.

They were supposed to meet Seung Woo at an Italian restaurant in Gangnam.

“Hey. I’m feeling nervous thinking about seeing elder brother Seung Woo?”

“What’s there to be nervous about?”

So Eun replied with a chuckle to Ji Ye’s words.

“Just, thinking about seeing my neighborhood elder brother after 12 years makes me feel strange and nervous?”

“There’s nothing to be nervous about.”

As So Eun answered with a smile, her phone vibrated. It was Seung Woo.

“Yes. Elder brother.”

−Have you arrived? I’m already inside the restaurant.

“Oh. Really? We just came out of Gangnam station. We’ll be there soon.”

−Take your time.

So Eun nodded at Seung Woo’s smiling voice.

“Okay. Got it. Elder brother. See you soon.”

−Alright.

As she hung up, Ji Ye linked arms with So Eun and asked.

“Was that elder brother? What did he say?”

“Yes. He said he’s already inside the restaurant.”

“Really? Let’s hurry then.”

Ji Ye urged, pulling So Eun’s arm.

A moment later, the two entered the Italian restaurant.

As they looked around the restaurant with its bright white interior, Seung Woo, sitting in the back, waved his hand.

“Elder brother is over there.”

So Eun said, grabbing Ji Ye’s arm and walking.

“……Wow.”

Ji Ye’s mouth opened wider as they got closer to Seung Woo.

And when they stood right in front of Seung Woo, Ji Ye’s mouth opened wide like a fully bloomed flower.

Seung Woo stood up and smiled brightly at Ji Ye.

“Hello. Ji Ye. Long time no see?”

As Seung Woo extended his hand in greeting, Ji Ye responded with a handshake and said.

“Oh. Hello? But elder brother, you’re still handsome?”

At Ji Ye’s words, Seung Woo burst into laughter and looked down at Ji Ye with an amused face.

“And you’re still funny, and have become much prettier?”

At Seung Woo’s words, Ji Ye shrugged and flipped her hair back.

“Right? I’ve become incredibly pretty, haven’t I? I’m not that chubby girl with glasses anymore, right?”

“Why? You were cute even when you were chubby back then?”

At Seung Woo’s words, Ji Ye laughed out loud and lightly hit Seung Woo’s arm.

“Oh my, look at this elder brother? You’re in big trouble, elder brother?”

“What?”

“Don’t you know it’s cheating to say such things with that face? The listener might misunderstand and gulp down false hopes, you know?”

“Oh, is that so?”

As Seung Woo asked with a chuckle, Ji Ye flipped her hair back again and said.

“Of course, naturally! But elder brother, unfortunately, this body already has an owner, so you can’t be cute with me anymore. Got it?”

“Oh. Okay. I got it. I’ll keep that in mind.”

As Seung Woo burst into laughter, Ji Ye smiled broadly like a mischievous child.

So Eun also chuckled, finding the two of them amusing.

As they sat down, So Eun thought it was a good idea to bring Ji Ye, who was a mood maker.

She thought that if it had been just her and Seung Woo, the atmosphere would have inevitably become awkward.

Soon, Seung Woo raised his hand to call a staff member and placed an order.

A moment later, the staff brought ade and bread, and the three moistened their throats with the ade.

“Elder brother, you’ve come back to Korea for good, right?”

Ji Ye asked while tearing into the savory bread.

“Yes. I’m going to live in Korea from now on.”

“I heard from So Eun that you’re a dentist?”

“Yes. That’s how it turned out.”

“Wow. Elder brother, you’re really amazing. You were good at studying in school, and now you’ve become a dentist in America?”

Seung Woo answered with a smile.

“Well, my uncle who was already living in America was a dentist. Both my uncle and parents recommended dental school even before we immigrated, so after thinking about it, I also went down that path.”

“Wow. That’s really awesome! I think you might be the smartest person among my acquaintances now.”

“Haha, aren’t you praising me too much?”

“It’s just the truth. Well, in that sense, cheers!”

As Ji Ye raised her ade glass, Seung Woo and So Eun also raised their glasses with a smile.

The three chatted about various things while eating the delicious food that kept coming.

Thanks to Ji Ye’s cheerful personality, the atmosphere remained warm throughout, and the food was delicious.

About an hour passed like that when Ji Ye’s phone rang, and she got up saying she would take the call.

After Ji Ye went to the restroom, Seung Woo poured water into So Eun’s glass and asked.

“How was it? Did you like the food?”

“Yes, elder brother. I really enjoyed it.”

“Really? But you, you ate too little.”

“Huh? No. I ate quite a lot today?”

Then Seung Woo tilted his head and said.

“This is eating a lot? Hmm…… If that’s the case, Miss Ji So Eun, there’s a bit of a problem?”

“Huh? What problem?”

So Eun asked with a smile, and Seung Woo touched his chin and said to So Eun.

“You’re thin because you eat so little.”

“Huh? I’m not thin?”

Seung Woo shook his head and lowered his hand, saying.

“This won’t do. This kind elder brother needs to buy So Eun a lot of delicious food.”

At Seung Woo’s words, this time So Eun tilted her head, and Seung Woo asked with a smile.

“Do you like tuna sashimi by any chance?”

“Tuna sashimi?”

“Yes.”

“Hmm, I don’t particularly dislike it, I think.”

“That means you haven’t had really good tuna sashimi yet, right?”

“I only have it occasionally at company dinners, I’ve never gone specifically to eat it.”

“Then let’s go eat tuna sashimi with elder brother next week. I know a tuna restaurant that a senior often goes to, and it’s quite good.”

“Oh, really?”

“Yes. And this time, let’s go just the two of us.”

At Seung Woo’s low voice, So Eun was about to ask “Huh?” when Ji Ye returned from the restroom.

“Shall we go out for coffee now?”

Seung Woo asked while picking up the bill, and Ji Ye picked up her jacket and said.

“Elder brother, I’m sorry, but I think I need to leave first. Why don’t you have coffee with So Eun?”

“Why? Did something happen?”

“No, it’s not that, my boyfriend’s company is nearby, and he said he has something to give me, so I’m going to check it out.”

“He went to work on a Sunday?”

“Yes. He said he had to go to work today because something urgent came up that needed to be handled.”

“I see? Well, since I need to get my car anyway, shall I give you a ride? You said it’s nearby, right?”

“Really? Is that okay?”

“Of course, it’s okay. So Eun, is that alright?”

Seung Woo turned his head towards So Eun and asked.

“Huh? Oh. Of course it’s alright.”

“Okay. Then let’s all go out together.”

Seung Woo went to the counter first to pay, then opened the door of the restaurant.

“Elder brother. I really enjoyed the meal today. Next time, I’ll treat you to meat. Okay?”

Ji Ye said with a wink, and Seung Woo nodded with a smile.

A moment later, the three headed to the parking lot.

“Oh, is this elder brother’s car? As expected…… Doesn’t it exude the scent of success even from the car?”

Ji Ye’s eyes sparkled in front of Seung Woo’s high-end brand SUV, and Seung Woo smiled and opened the back seat door.

“Ji Ye, you sit here since I’ll be dropping you off soon, and So Eun can sit in the passenger seat.”

“Okay. Sure, elder brother.”

Ji Ye replied and sat in the back seat, and So Eun also got into the passenger seat.

Seung Woo sat in the driver’s seat, and soon the car started.

* * *

After driving for about 15 minutes, Ji Ye pointed to a gray building in the distance and said.

“Elder brother. You see that gray building ahead? The one with the electronic display board. You can drop me off in front of that.”

“Oh, there? Isn’t that a game company? I think I’ve seen it advertised on TV?”

At the very top of the gray building, an electronic display board was brightly shining, advertising a new game.

“Yes. That’s right. It’s a game company. My boyfriend works in game development.”

“Oh? Really? He must be doing cool work?”

“Right? If there’s a chance, I’ll introduce you sometime.”

“Okay. I’ll look forward to it.”

Seung Woo replied as he pulled up in front of the gray building, where Jun Ho and Tae Min were standing.

“Huh? Elder brother is already out? Tae Min is there too?”

Ji Ye said with round eyes, and So Eun also saw the two of them.

Jun Ho and Tae Min, who were talking, looked at the black SUV approaching them.

As soon as the car stopped, Ji Ye immediately opened the door and got out.

“Elder brother.”

At Ji Ye’s voice, Jun Ho said “Huh?” then looked at the car once and immediately looked at the driver’s seat.

An unfamiliar man and So Eun sitting next to him.

Jun Ho said “Huh” once again and glanced at Tae Min, whose mouth was tightly closed.

Tae Min took his hands out of his pockets and stared intently at So Eun sitting in the passenger seat.

The moment their eyes met, So Eun felt a strange sensation.

A feeling that was somewhat welcoming but also made a part of her heart twinge.

After maintaining eye contact with So Eun for a moment, Tae Min turned his head to look at Seung Woo sitting in the driver’s seat.

As their eyes met, Seung Woo unbuckled his seatbelt and said.

“I should get out and greet them briefly?”

As Seung Woo got out of the car, So Eun also unbuckled her seatbelt and got out.

Ji Ye, thinking that since they had met unexpectedly like this, she should introduce them to each other, opened her mouth.

“Alright, greet each other. This is elder brother Park Seung Woo, the neighborhood elder brother I mentioned before, and this is my boyfriend, elder brother Han Jun Ho. And this is Yoon Tae Min, who works with our elder brother Jun Ho.”

At Ji Ye’s quick introduction, Seung Woo extended his hand first, offering a handshake.

“Hello? I’m Park Seung Woo, who lived in the same neighborhood as Ji Ye when we were young. I didn’t expect to meet like this so suddenly.”

“Oh. Hello. I’m Han Jun Ho, Ji Ye’s boyfriend. I also didn’t expect to meet like this so suddenly.”

As Jun Ho responded to the handshake with an awkward smile, Seung Woo extended his hand to Tae Min and said.

“Hello?”