Chapter 8: A Surprise Reunion

“Why did you buy all this? You could have just come empty-handed.”

“It’s not polite to visit a new home empty-handed. Oh, careful!”

Jung-hyun, seeing the cake box tilt precariously, cried out in surprise.

“Put it down carefully.”

“Is it cake?”

“Yeah. It’s from a really famous place; the cream is incredibly rich and delicious. Let’s share it later.”

Seeing Jung-hyun’s excited expression, Yoon Tae-yeol’s lips curved into a faint smile.

“If it’s a gift, shouldn’t I be the only one to eat it?”

“Look at you, so greedy. You’re the type who’d ask for your clothes to be dried if you fell into water.”

‘Anyway,’

“What should I start with…?”

Just as Jung-hyun was about to ask how he could help, the sudden sound of a door bursting open echoed nearby. Startled, he turned to find himself locking eyes with a woman emerging from what appeared to be a bathroom.

“Oh, you startled me.”

That was precisely what Jung-hyun wanted to say. He had naturally assumed only Yoon Tae-yeol would be there, so the sudden appearance of a woman left him flustered.

“…Huh?”

However, his bewilderment did not last long. The face, which he hadn’t properly seen before, obscured by her very presence, now seemed strikingly familiar upon closer inspection. A strong conviction seized Jung-hyun in that fleeting moment, prompting him to speak first.

“By any chance, are you Tae-jeong Noona?”

“Yes, I am… but who are you?”

Hearing her name from a stranger, Yoon Tae-jeong’s gaze flickered towards Yoon Tae-yeol. But before she could get an answer, a chattering voice interjected.

“It’s Jung-hyun, Noona!”

“…”

“We went to the same high school as Tae-yeol, don’t you remember? You bought me so many delicious things and complimented me, saying I was pretty.”

“Ah!”

Yoon Tae-jeong exclaimed, her face clearly showing that she had just remembered. As he said, there was indeed a boy who was always with her brother whenever she visited, always smiling warmly and charmingly calling her ‘Noona, Noona.’

But…

She couldn’t just grab his hands and greet him excitedly because the Jung-hyun in her memory and the man standing before her now were simply too different.

The Jung-hyun in Yoon Tae-jeong’s memory was shorter than her brother, with a youthful face and a very bright personality, making her often think he was more like a middle school junior than a senior.

Yet the person before her now possessed an extraordinary appearance. Brightly bleached hair, several piercings adorning his ears… While that was true, his voice and face still seemed to match.

“Are you really Jung-hyun?”

“Of course. Where else would you find someone as dashing as me?”

‘Ah, that’s right.’ Her head nodded involuntarily.

‘There’s no way there’d be another kid next to my brother who’s so charming and smiles so readily.’

Only then did Yoon Tae-jeong beam, delighted by their reunion.

“It’s really been a long time. How have you been?”

“I’ve been well, Noona. And you?”

“I’ve been well too. Wow, you’ve become quite ‘bling-bling’ since I last saw you.”

Her gaze swept him up and down, followed by a subtle remark that tactfully pointed out his piercings. Jung-hyun, however, wasn’t offended in the slightest.

He knew it was an honest observation about how much he had changed, with no other meaning intended.

Jung-hyun, too, repeatedly took in her face. Her sharp bob, emblematic of a successful career woman, and her bright, distinct features remained unchanged.

Aside from finding his older, working-class Noona somewhat intimidating, he had many fond memories with her.

Knowing that he was close with Yoon Tae-yeol, she would often take them out for delicious meals, buy him new basketball shoes, claiming she bought them while shopping for her brother, and one time, the three of them impulsively went to see the winter sea.

He only learned much later that it was a time when the two siblings were going through a lot of emotional hardship due to family issues. Well, anyway.

“Noona, you’re still as beautiful as ever. For a moment, I thought you were Yeol’s girlfriend.”

As he joked, giving a thumbs-up, Yoon Tae-jeong burst into laughter.

“You’re still good at saying nice things.”

“It’s not just empty words; it’s true.”

“Oh my, you! Jung-hyun, you’ve become quite handsome too. Hohoho.”

“Really? Hahahaha.”

“…”

Yoon Tae-yeol, who had suddenly become an awkward third wheel, wore an expression that clearly said, ‘Look at them go.’ Jung-hyun, laughing heartily, happened to catch his gaze and finally regained his composure, looking around the house once more.

He had expected things to be scattered and messy on moving day, with boxes piled everywhere, but upon closer inspection, it was surprisingly tidy. Honestly, it seemed cleaner than his own living room.

“You’ve already tidied up so much. Is it because you don’t have much stuff?”

“That’s why I told you not to come.”

Hearing that, Yoon Tae-jeong smiled, clenching her teeth, and pinched Yoon Tae-yeol’s arm. At least in that moment, she didn’t forget to chastise his unnecessary honesty with a glare.

“You haven’t organized your room at all, so go clean it up quickly. Jung-hyun, will you help Noona?”

Her smiling face, which had instantly transformed like Jekyll and Hyde, was a little frightening, so Jung-hyun readily agreed with a quiet, “Yes, Noona.” Soon, the two stood side-by-side at the sink.

Jung-hyun’s assigned task was to dry the dishes with a clean cloth. Beside him, Yoon Tae-jeong, with practiced ease, washed the dishes, belatedly stepping in as her brother’s advocate.

“You know he only talks like that, but his true feelings aren’t like that, right?”

“Of course, I know him well.”

Yoon Tae-yeol was a man of few words, and even those were rarely complimentary. Yet, it was precisely because of this that it was no exaggeration to say they became even closer.

Yoon Tae-yeol was different in many ways from the friends Jung-hyun usually hung out with. Amidst a flock of incessantly cawing crows, he was like the sole, noble white heron who understood the value of silence.

And what about his handsome face, which made Jung-hyun unconsciously puff out his chest when they were together?

“By the way, have you two kept in touch?”

“Not often, but sometimes. When I suddenly heard he was back in Korea, I thought he was pulling my leg.”

“…My thoughts exactly.”

At the sigh-laden voice, Jung-hyun’s eyes widened like a rabbit’s.

“Don’t tell me he came without even telling you, Noona?”

“He did. I got a call while half-asleep, and I thought I was dreaming.”

Jung-hyun chuckled silently, seeing her shake her head as if the thought still baffled her. He, too, remembered initially believing it was nothing more than a prank.

“Oh, I heard you’re getting married, Noona. Congratulations!”

“Thank you.”

Yoon Tae-jeong smiled sweetly at his exceptionally amiable and cheerful demeanor, so unlike her brother’s.

Perhaps the saying that opposites attract was true, as it still amazed her how well these two got along, despite having nothing in common except for being on the same basketball team.

“It’s still a while away, but you absolutely must come and have a meal.”

“Of course, I’ll be there. Have you decided on things like the studio, dress, and makeup?”

“I’m looking into them one by one. Honestly, I wouldn’t mind just registering the marriage, but my husband-to-be practically cried, insisting on a proper wedding, so I decided to accommodate him.”

Jung-hyun’s eyes sparkled. Happy romance stories always made his heart flutter and lifted his spirits. He continued his questions, making sure not to be impolite.

“May I ask how you met your fiancé?”

“Of course.”

A smile once again graced Yoon Tae-jeong’s lips at the question. Moving her momentarily paused hands, she continued speaking with a visibly joyful expression.

“I was drowning in overtime work, and finally finished, so I bought a ton of groceries. They were so heavy that I set them down for a moment, and some kid burst out of the elevator and kicked them over.

They were crying about being late for cram school, so I just let them go, and I was pathetically picking everything up by myself when someone spoke to me from behind.”

“That person…?”

“Exactly.”

Jung-hyun’s lips curved upwards uncontrollably. As a self-proclaimed romance enthusiast, just imagining the scene made his heart pound.

“That’s just like a movie, Noona.”

She wished it were, but unfortunately, it was far from romantic. The honest and straightforward Yoon Tae-jeong recounted the events without embellishment.

“It was more like a comedy. He offered to help, then stepped on the fallen fruit, squashing it all, and while picking things up, he accidentally pushed me with his backside, causing me to sprain my wrist. It was total chaos. I even wondered, ‘Is this guy deliberately trying to mess with me?’”

Shrugging, she continued.

“But perhaps it was fate, because we kept running into each other after that. We’d eat alone at the same restaurant, end up sharing a table, and even have drinks together. Then, one day, I looked down and there was a ring on my finger.”

Her bright smile was filled with happiness. It was such a refreshing smile that merely looking at it made one feel good things were about to happen.

“Jung-hyun, are you seeing anyone right now?”

“No, I’m not.”

Yoon Tae-jeong looked surprised at his answer.

“Really? I’d have thought you’d be popular.”

“Heh heh. Well, it’s not like I’m not.”

His teasing lasted only a moment before Jung-hyun’s smile faded slightly, revealing a hint of his inner thoughts.