Exhausted from yesterday’s data leak incident, Eun Seo applied for a half day off. She wanted to go home early and rest.

“Then enjoy your lunch and take care, Sun Ah. I’m heading out first!”

Even though she left work early to come home, Seung Joo was nowhere to be seen, having gone out somewhere.

When she called, Seung Joo answered right away.

– Elder sister!

“Where did you go? I took a half day off and came home early today.”

– I’m at the market.

He’s getting quite good at going out on his own now, Eun Seo thought. The experience of working part-time at the convenience store seems to have been beneficial after all.

“Why, do you need to buy something?”

– You had a hard time yesterday, elder sister. I’m planning to make braised short ribs for dinner, your favorite.

Eun Seo burst out laughing at the housewife-like response.

“What’s this, are you planning to become a good househusband?”

– I want to, if elder sister would have me.

Though she had meant it as a joke, his serious tone in response made her face turn bright red.

– I like you.

At the sudden confession that followed, Eun Seo unconsciously looked around. Of course, only the apple tree in the yard was stretching its bare branches.

“D-didn’t I say not until you turn twenty?”

– I know. But I can still say it, can’t I?

Seung Joo repeated.

– I really like you, elder sister.

How fortunate that he couldn’t see her face over the phone.

“Then buy lots of delicious things!”

Afraid her trembling voice might be noticed, Eun Seo hurriedly hung up.

As she sat on the porch waiting for Seung Joo to return, suddenly the doorbell rang. It couldn’t be Seung Joo since he had his own key.

“Who is it?”

“It’s me, Eun Seo! Open the door!”

Surprised to hear Sun Ah’s voice, Eun Seo opened the door. Hadn’t they just said goodbye at the company?

“What brings you here again, Sun Ah? What about work?”

“It was boring eating lunch alone without you, Eun Seo, so I just took a half day off too. But where’s Seung Joo?”

“He went to the market. He’ll be back soon.”

Until Seung Joo returned, the two went inside and sat in the main hall drinking tea. It was getting too cold to sit outside now.

Warming her cold hands on the warm teacup, Sun Ah asked.

“So Seung Joo went to the market alone?”

“Yeah. He said he wanted to buy ingredients to make something delicious for me because I had a hard time yesterday.”

“My goodness, how thoughtful.”

Suddenly Sun Ah glanced at Eun Seo.

“Um, you know. Eun Seo, about Seung Joo… You know, right?”

Seeing her uncharacteristic hesitation, Eun Seo could easily guess the words left unsaid. She had no intention of hiding it from Sun Ah anyway, so she readily admitted it.

“I know. I feel the same way about Seung Joo.”

Fortunately, it was easy to say since Sun Ah had completely lost interest in Seung Joo and was only talking about Chris these days. Otherwise, it would have been a bit awkward.

“Really? That’s great!”

As expected, Sun Ah was delighted. Eun Seo hesitated a little before speaking.

“Actually, I’ve been feeling fluttery seeing him at work for a while now.”

“Really?”

Sun Ah’s eyes widened. Eun Seo briefly explained about the day two autumns ago when he suddenly came to her house.

“Since then, I kept thinking about him. But when I got hired, it turns out he’s the CEO of our company.”

“My goodness, it really is fate…”

Sun Ah marveled.

“But why didn’t you ever show it? Even when I kept going on about Seung Joo this, Seung Joo that.”

“How could someone like me? I didn’t even dare to entertain the thought of a one-sided crush.”

Sun Ah looked at her sympathetically, then quickly brightened up.

“Still, I’m glad it all worked out in the end!”

Eun Seo felt once again deep in her heart that Sun Ah was truly a good person. Even though she had become a fan of someone else now, to be so genuinely happy for her despite having been so crazy about him until recently.

While she appreciated the joy, wrong was still wrong.

Eun Seo hesitated a little before speaking.

“Actually… it hasn’t worked out. Right now we’re just like elder sister and younger brother.”

Sun Ah made a face as if to say, what nonsense is this?

“Huh? What do you mean? Didn’t you say you both felt the same way?”

“We’re waiting until Seung Joo turns twenty, in another year.”

Sun Ah’s jaw dropped.

“I knew you were principled, Eun Seo, but good heavens…!”

She had expected this kind of reaction. Eun Seo lowered her eyes and smiled.

“What can I do? This is just the kind of person I am.”

“Even so, you’re saying a perfectly fine 33-year-old will wait until he turns 20?”

“We both have things to do right now anyway. Once I get Seung Joo reinstated at the company, I plan to focus even more on finding Eun Ho for the next year. And once Seung Joo returns, he’ll be busy adjusting for a while.”

Eun Seo spoke as if affirming to herself.

For her own sake, for Seung Joo’s sake, and considering the possibility of memories returning, this was the best choice.

“Well, whatever, I’ll support you.”

Sun Ah said as if she couldn’t be bothered anymore. Just then, the front gate opened and Seung Joo entered carrying shopping bags in both hands.

“Oh, elder sister Sun Ah!”

“Oh my, our Seung Joo is back?”

Seeing Sun Ah rush out happily, Eun Seo chuckled. He’s still ‘our Seung Joo’ after all.

*

Since both Eun Seo and Sun Ah had only worked the morning shift, they hadn’t eaten lunch yet. The late lunch they shared sitting together was delicious.

Moreover, the menu was braised short ribs, Eun Seo’s favorite. Seung Joo watched happily as Eun Seo ate with gusto, as if she had never deliberately avoided food or starved herself before.

“Have some more, elder sister.”

Seeing Seung Joo taking care of her so affectionately, Sun Ah pretended to pout.

“Am I not elder sister too? This is making me feel left out.”

“Elder sister Eun Seo is too thin. I want her to gain some weight.”

Seung Joo said shyly, and Sun Ah looked at Eun Seo’s face anew.

“Come to think of it, you do seem to have gained some weight recently, Eun Seo. Your cheeks have filled out nicely, which is good, but the problem is that now you’re prettier, the flies are starting to gather.”

Seung Joo flinched.

“What do you mean?”

“Your brother keeps bothering Eun Seo! Didn’t you know?”

Eun Seo hastily put down her spoon. Seung Joo only knew that Seung Hyun was on the same team as Eun Seo. He didn’t know that Eun Seo was his supervisor, or that Seung Hyun was showing interest in her.

Of course, given the circumstances, Seung Hyun could only be an enemy to Seung Joo. But since they were half-brothers by blood, Eun Seo hoped Seung Joo wouldn’t harbor unnecessary hostility towards his half-brother. Moreover, she didn’t want to be the reason for it, which is why she had deliberately not mentioned it.

“Why are you saying unnecessary things?”

She glared at Sun Ah, but Seung Joo’s face had already hardened.

“You should have told me earlier. If I had known, yesterday I would have…!”

“That’s enough. Your face was already pale before you could say anything yesterday.”

As Eun Seo tried to stop him, Sun Ah belatedly caught on and chimed in.

“That’s right. No wonder he couldn’t come to work today. He’s probably lying sick in bed from the shock.”

Still, Seung Joo wouldn’t relax his expression.

“If that bastard tries anything funny with you again, make sure to tell me. I absolutely won’t stand by and do nothing.”

Time passes quickly when spent with good people. After eating lunch, cleaning up, and chatting for a while, the sun was already setting.

Suddenly, Sun Ah jumped up from her seat.

“Oh my, look at the time! It’s gotten so late already?”

Just when they thought she was going to say she had to go home, Sun Ah quickly found the remote control and turned on the TV in the middle of the main hall.

“It’s time for the live broadcast of Apten!”

“What’s Apten?”

“Idol Project 10!”

Sun Ah wiggled her knees excitedly while sitting. The reason for the number 10 in the title is because the final debut group will have 10 members, she explained.

“I hope Yoon Ho gets more screen time today.”

“What’s this, I thought it was Chris but you’ve changed again? Aren’t you being too fickle lately?”

When Eun Seo teased her, Sun Ah scoffed.

“What do you take me for? Chris’s Korean name is Yoon Ho, you know?”

“Oh, Chris was Korean?”

“He’s Korean-American. His whole family died when he was young, so he was adopted to America. Fortunately, his adoptive parents made sure he learned Korean from a young age so he wouldn’t forget his birth country, so he still speaks Korean well.”

“So, his childhood name was Yoon Ho?”

“Yes. He can’t remember his surname though.”

Sun Ah said regretfully.

“If only he could find just one relative, it would be perfect for a sob story, tsk.”

Come to think of it, Eun Seo still didn’t know what Chris looked like. Yesterday, just as Sun Ah was about to show her a photo, the security team barged in and dragged her away.

“I’m curious too. Let’s see Chris or Yoon Ho’s face today.”

Eun Seo also sat down next to Sun Ah and focused her attention on the TV screen.

Soon after, the broadcast began, and over a hundred male trainees lined up on stage wearing school uniform-style outfits, dancing and singing.

It was the pre-recorded opening scene, the theme song of the ‘Idol Project 10’ program.

“Which one of them is Chris?”

“Oh, just wait a bit. Yoon Ho’s part is coming up soon.”

Sun Ah, who had been staring at the screen with laser-like focus, finally pointed at the screen and shouted.

“That’s him!”

Eun Seo opened her eyes wide and looked at the screen, and the moment Chris appeared, she couldn’t believe her eyes.

“…!”