Episode 3
That little twelve-year-old kid is already a college student.
I wonder what she looks like now.
Inhyeok, leaning back on the sofa, offered a few pieces of advice. Ha-jun sounded relieved.
-“If you were in Korea, I’d ask you to tutor my sister, but you’re leaving right away? What a shame. If you ever come to Korea, let me know! Let’s grab a drink.”
“Sure.”
After hanging up, Inhyeok saved Ha-jun’s number.
“……Huh?”
Inhyeok’s eyes widened as he checked Ha-jun’s messenger profile picture.
Behind Ha-jun’s close-up face, a woman’s face was visible.
Although the focus was blurry, he recognized her instantly.
“Interesting.”
A thrilling sensation spread down the back of Inhyeok’s neck.
To ask the very person who wanted to pin his sister down and make her cry to ‘rough up’ anyone who hurts her…
A predatory glint appeared in Inhyeok’s eyes.
“The problem is, Ha-jun shouldn’t find out he’s entrusted the cat to guard the fish.”
It seemed he now had a reason to stay in Korea a little longer.
A few days later.
The day arrived for Ha-jun to return from his training camp.
“Haa.”
Harang let out a deep sigh after finishing the cleaning.
The reason was that Ha-jun had caused a problem.
–‘Harang, how would you like to get some tutoring from my friend?’
He explained that a friend of his, who graduated from a prestigious US university and worked for a small investment firm there, was staying in Korea briefly due to personal circumstances.
This friend had agreed to help her with her interview preparation.
So far, so good. She had wanted one-on-one tutoring but found the cost prohibitive, so she hadn’t been able to decide.
However, the news that followed left Harang utterly bewildered.
–‘He was going to stay at a hotel, but wouldn’t home-cooked meals be better for someone coming to Korea for the first time in ten years than hotel food?’
–‘S-so you told him to stay at our house?’
–‘Of course! A person needs home-cooked meals. And a one-night hotel stay wouldn’t be cheap either. Just think of him as a live-in tutor. We do have a spare room, after all.’
Ha-jun had a warm and generous personality.
He never passed by a stray cat or dog without helping, and his compassion was so strong that he once worked construction site part-time with his teammates to pool money for a junior from a poor family.
The problem was that his emotions sometimes led him to make impulsive decisions.
“Still, this is too much. How can I live under the same roof with a complete stranger, my brother’s friend… Haa.”
Despite her misgivings, she had eventually accepted Ha-jun’s proposal after much deliberation because Ha-jun himself would be training from home for the foreseeable future.
She didn’t think any real trouble would occur, but it would undoubtedly be uncomfortable for a while.
Of course, for Harang, who wanted to get a job as soon as possible, this was no time to be picky.
Moreover, her brother’s friend wasn’t just waiving the tutoring fee; he had even offered to pay for living expenses.
He also said that if Harang felt too uncomfortable, he would move back to a hotel.
“His name is Tae Inhyeok, right? I really hope he’s a good person.”
Harang had come out to meet her brother’s friend, who had texted he was almost there, as Ha-jun hadn’t arrived yet.
Vroooom—
The sound of a loud exhaust pipe made Harang look up.
A bright red sports car had just turned into the alley and stopped in front of her.
It was a high-end car that didn’t fit in her neighborhood at all.
“Wow, that car… I think it’s one of only three that were imported to Korea this year,” a passerby exclaimed in pure admiration.
But Harang just frowned at the gleaming paint job reflecting the sunlight.
Soon, the car door opened, revealing long, solid thighs first.
Just who drives such a flashy car?
It was a simple, one-dimensional curiosity.
Just enough to pass the boring time waiting for her guest.
When the owner’s face came into view, Harang’s eyes widened in shock.
It wasn’t a face one could forget so easily.
‘So you think I look like I want to make someone cry?’
He was a man whose image had been firmly imprinted in her mind since their first meeting.
“What is he doing here……?”
Step by step.
As the man drew closer, Harang’s heart raced.
……It can’t be. It must not be him.
But an inexplicable intuition assaulted her, making all the fine hairs on her body stand on end.
“We meet again, cutie.”
“Cu…”
Cutie……?
Her head spun at the overly familiar term, one she’d feel embarrassed to even say.
Well, if she was being honest, it was also because of the sweet, enticing scent of his cologne that wafted towards her.
Steadying her irregular breathing, Harang spoke, her voice laced with disbelief.
“You can’t possibly be my brother’s friend……”
“I look forward to your kindness from now on.”
The curve of his smiling lips was dizzying.
“Please, come in this way,” Harang said as she entered the house. “My brother should be here in about 10 minutes.”
She had expected him to have a lot of luggage since he’d been living abroad, but his belongings were surprisingly minimal.
Just one backpack. And even that looked light, as if it were empty.
“The room isn’t fully set up yet. I’ll get the room you’ll be staying in ready as quickly as possible.”
The move-in had been decided so hastily that she hadn’t been able to completely finish organizing the room he would use.
But Inhyeok didn’t seem very interested in which room he’d use, glancing around briefly before heading to the living room.
“……Ugh, this is uncomfortable.”
It was the same house as always, just with the addition of Tae Inhyeok. Yet, Harang felt as awkward as if she were in someone else’s home.
Meanwhile, Inhyeok was carefully examining the framed pictures on the wall.
There was the last family photo taken before her parents passed away, and pictures of Harang from her childhood.
Inhyeok’s gaze lingered on a photo of her from elementary school. As Harang hesitantly approached, she spoke first.
“Um… Oppa.”
“……”
His eyebrows furrowed slightly as he looked back at her. Then, a sticky gaze clung to her.
Why, why is he looking at me like that?
Unable to meet his intense stare, she averted her eyes and continued.
“I heard you were staying at a hotel. It might be uncomfortable compared to that, but please let me know if you need anything.”
Ha-jun had repeatedly urged her to ensure Inhyeok’s stay was comfortable.
The repeated requests made her feel less like she was hosting a tutor and more like she was serving a master.
She strongly wondered just how much Inhyeok had agreed to pay for living expenses.
“I don’t need anything, but I am curious about something.”
Inhyeok shoved one hand in his pocket and looked at her.
“Do you have a boyfriend?”
“……W-why are you curious about that?”
“Since we’ll be living under the same roof, I thought it would be good to know.”
Unlike Inhyeok, who seemed experienced with women, Harang, at twenty-three, had zero experience with men.
Thinking that living in a world where not having dated was a flaw was ridiculous, Harang straightened her posture.
She was sure that by the time she reached Inhyeok’s age, she’d have more experience.
“Not at the moment.”
Harang deliberately emphasized the words ‘at the moment’ before asking in return.
“……What about you, Oppa?”
Inhyeok looked at her with amusement as she continued talking warily, like a frightened herbivore refusing to let its guard down.
“And why are you curious about that?”
“Well, if you don’t come home, or if you’re on the phone with your girlfriend at night, I might be a disturbance……”
Harang diligently added plausible reasons, but her voice grew smaller and smaller.
Because Inhyeok was stepping closer to her, one step at a time.
“My, my cute little student is worried about her teacher’s love life? I’m touched.”
Harang found herself taking a step back without realizing it.
The distance between them had closed in an instant, and his face now filled her vision.
His straight nose bridge and well-defined features, as if sculpted by a meticulous artist, resembled a work of art.
Enough to make her want to steal glances at him all night long.
“Don’t worry. I’m also ‘on my own’ at the moment.”
Once again, he threw her own words right back at her as he closed the distance a little more.
“But you know.”
It seemed her ‘step back’ had actually been her retreating. By the time she gathered her wits, her back was against the hard wall.
“It’d be better if you didn’t call me ‘Oppa’ from now on.”
“……W-why?”
He was her brother’s friend, so calling him ‘Oppa’ was natural.
What could possibly be the problem?
"Because every time you call me 'Oppa,' 'Oppa,' I just want to eat you up."
“……!”
At the reply, delivered in flawless English, Harang drew in a sharp breath.
The pronunciation was natural and smooth, flowing like water. Moreover, Inhyeok’s uniquely pleasant, low baritone made it feel like she was listening to music.
Mesmerized by the perfect pronunciation, she stood there dazed, unable to process the meaning, as Inhyeok bent down to meet her eyes.
The enchanting voice fell upon her ears once more.
"I'd rather not develop feelings for my friend's little sister, so please cooperate."
