Episode 4
“I’ll be there in 10 minutes,” Hajun had said, but it was 30 minutes later when he finally walked through the door.
The shock of Inhyeok being her brother’s friend hadn’t even faded when Hajun delivered another shocking piece of news over dinner.
“You’re going to Hawaii for a training camp?”
Hajun’s schedule, which was supposed to keep him training locally for a while, had changed overnight. He even said he was leaving the day after tomorrow.
“How can you go right away, just two days after getting back? Does that even make sense?”
“I just got off the phone with the coach on my way here. An anonymous sponsor offered to cover the entire training cost. They said they’ve been cheering for our team for a long time.”
Hawaii, with its year-round mild weather and minimal climate disruptions, was perfect for training. It was a region many athletes frequented during the off-season. However, plane tickets weren’t cheap, and securing quality practice facilities and accommodations was difficult, making group training trips there very rare.
“I’ve never seen support this generous in my life. I guess Inhyeok, you really are our family’s lucky charm. Kuhahaha.”
Elated by the unprecedented, full-fledged support, Hajun was thoroughly excited.
Inhyeok, with a peculiar smile, clinked his glass against Hajun’s.
“You’re that happy?”
“Of course! I don’t know who the sponsor is, but I feel like bowing down to them right now.”
Unlike Hajun, who was flushed and red-necked from being drunk, Inhyeok was as composed as someone who hadn’t touched a drop.
While Inhyeok excused himself to the restroom, Harang lowered her voice and called to her brother.
“Oppa, can we talk for a minute?”
“Huh? What about?”
“If you go to training, will it be just me and your friend living here?”
“I guess so?”
“Aren’t you worried at all?”
“Worried about what?”
Hajun asked with an innocent face.
“How can I live alone with your friend? Besides, that guy is a bit…”
How could she explain the instinctive sense of danger she felt from Inhyeok since their first meeting?
“A bit what?”
“No, it’s just that he’s a little…”
As Harang hesitated, unable to find the right words, Hajun chuckled as if he understood.
“I know what you’re worried about.”
“……Huh?”
“Of course, it would never happen, but no matter how desperate Inhyeok might be with women, he’s not the kind of trash who would hit on his friend’s little sister.”
Hajun, having pinpointed his sister’s worry, tried to reassure her.
“It’s not just that Inhyeok has high standards and doesn’t date just anyone, but the most important thing is, Harang… you…”
Hajun paused for a beat before continuing.
“…aren’t really his type.”
“…….”
“Shall we say you’re somewhat distant from Inhyeok’s taste? I think he likes tall, slender figures.”
Hajun began listing unsolicited information. For instance, the fact that all the women Inhyeok had dated so far were models who could walk fashion show runways.
Harang found herself suddenly learning about Inh’syeok consistent preferences. Her dumbfounded reaction seemed to go unnoticed by her drunk brother.
Harang wondered about the source of Hajun’s boundless trust in Inhyeok.
Perfectly on cue, Inhyeok returned, and the two men went outside for a smoke.
“Harang, Inhyeok and I are going out for the second round. Wanna come?”
Harang shook her head.
“No, I have homework to do.”
“Then I guess it’s time for the guys to catch up.”
After Hajun and Inhyeok left, Harang returned to her room and stood in front of the mirror.
“He likes tall, slender figures…”
Staring back from the mirror was a girl who was the complete opposite of Inhyeok’s type.
She was petite and far from slender. She had a curvaceous body with a full chest and wide hips. Her stomach even seemed to stick out a little.
“Well, it’s not me.”
For some reason, a thick note of regret laced her voice.
Then, snapping back to her senses, Harang shook her head vigorously.
“Wait, why am I regretting it? This is a good thing, isn’t it?”
Inhyeok, who seemed flirtatious and slick, was far from her type as well.
Harang’s ideal type was utterly common.
Tall, handsome, fit, smart, and preferably sexy…
The more she thought about it, the more it overlapped with someone who had just moved in next door, but Harang refused to admit it.
“For me, the best kind of man is a pure, sincere one who loves only one woman!”
She meant that a playboy who flirted and said things like ‘You look like you could make a man cry’ to a woman he just met was definitely not it.
Above all, she barely had enough time to focus on getting a job right now; she had no room for other thoughts. It was a temporary symbiosis anyway.
Inhyeok needed a place to stay during his brief time in Korea, and Harang needed his help to ace her interview.
Shaking the sensual face dominating her thoughts, Harang hurriedly tried to go to sleep.
Of course, sleep didn’t come.
Empty bottles piled up on the table where Hajun and Inhyeok had relocated to an izakaya.
“So, what do you think of my sister now that you’ve seen her in person?”
At Hajun’s question, Inhyeok, who had crossed his long legs, shrugged his shoulders.
“She seems smart and capable.”
“That’s it?”
“And she’s pretty.”
Just my type.
Well, isn’t it more accurate to say I’ve already made a move?
Inhyeok smirked and poured the drink down his throat.
“Hahaha. For you to say that?”
Perhaps because he was drunk, Hajun seemed to take Inhyeok’s words as a pleasant joke.
Hajun laughed heartily, his expression becoming relieved.
“Anyway, Inhyeok, thank you. I really felt bad asking you for this favor—to tutor my grown sister—especially when you stayed by my side at the funeral home without even going home during my parents’ funeral.”
“No need to feel sorry. Friends can ask each other for favors like this.”
Feeling the same warm emotion he’d felt towards Inhyeok in the past, Hajun spoke with a touched expression.
“It always made me uncomfortable leaving Harang alone when I went to training, but I feel relieved this time knowing you’re with her.”
“…You probably shouldn’t trust me that much.”
Inhyeok muttered quietly to himself.
I wonder how he’d react if he knew I decided to stay in Korea not for his request, but purely out of curiosity and desire.
And if he found out that the anonymous sponsor who funded his team’s training camp is me…
Inhyeok smiled faintly, hiding his dark intentions.
Hajun asked, “But are you really okay not going back to the States right away? What about your company?”
Unaware that Inhyeok was from Taegang Group, Hajun only knew that he went to the US for studies after high school and worked at a small investment firm.
“I quit recently. I’m planning to rest for a while.”
Learning that his friend had suddenly become unemployed, Hajun was at a loss.
“W-well, for now, it’s just a drink, but I’ll definitely repay you for your help before I die! A wish coupon! Yeah, I swear on our Harang, I’ll grant you one wish!”
At the word ‘wish,’ Inhyeok’s eyes sparkled momentarily.
“No take-backs on that, right?”
Unaware of what might unfold in the future, Hajun answered boldly.
“Of course not!”
Harang woke up earlier than her preset alarm.
The mere fact that from today onward, she would be alone in this house with Inhyeok had kept her awake all night with her eyes open.
The morning sun streaming through the window painfully stabbed her bloodshot eyes.
The start of an unfamiliar day with an unfamiliar housemate felt unwelcome.
Creeeak.
Since she needed to get ready for school, Harang carefully opened her door.
The quiet house showed no signs of anyone else.
“Is he still sleeping?”
Harang tiptoed towards the bathroom.
Click. Only after locking the door did she let out a sigh of relief.
“Haa… This is my house, so why am I acting like a guest?”
After finishing her preparations to go out, Harang took out fresh vegetables from the refrigerator and portioned them into a transparent bowl for Inhyeok, who said he ate salad and coffee for breakfast.
It was soon time to leave. Once ready, Harang stood in front of Inhyeok’s room.
“Well, we agreed to live together, so I should at least tell him I’m leaving.”
To knock or not to knock? She repeatedly placed her hand on the door and pulled it back.
Then she remembered the time difference.
“He hasn’t been in Korea long, so he probably needs time to adjust.”
I’ll just go quietly.
Just as Harang, having made her decision, put on her sneakers and was about to step out…
The front door swung open violently, and she collided with something as solid as a wall.
“Ah!”
A strong force caught her waist, supporting her as she lost her balance and started to fall backward.
“Our little student’s good morning greeting is quite the charge, isn’t it?”
