Episode 5
“Is it good?”
Eun Woogyung asked, watching Eunwoo eat beef with such joy, a faint smile playing on his lips.
Eunwoo loved beef more than anything. But after her father’s business took a downturn, she’d stopped saying she wanted to eat it. Tonight, maybe because it had been so long, or maybe because the place was really good—or maybe because Eun Woogyung grilled it so well—it tasted like heaven.
“Yes..! It’s really, really delicious…”
Seeing the genuine delight on Eunwoo’s face, Woogyung chuckled lightly and moved more grilled meat onto her plate.
“Take your time and eat plenty.”
“Thank you..!”
“?????”
Hakyung, witnessing this oddly warm exchange between her brother and her best friend, blinked in disbelief, eyes bouncing between the two.
“Did you eat something weird?”
“…Why?”
“You’re giving her meat.”
“Eat some too.”
Woogyung dumped a generous pile of meat on Hakyung’s plate as well—some of it undercooked. Clearly just grabbed at random.
“…..”
Hakyung squinted and glared slightly at her brother, but he just smiled and called the server over.
“Soju for me. You?”
“Me too.”
The siblings were both heavy drinkers. Very heavy.
Eunwoo, who couldn’t handle alcohol well, glanced between them and said nothing until Hakyung jumped in.
“Eunwoo can’t really do soju. She’s a lightweight. Beer?”
“Ah, sure.”
Eunwoo gave Hakyung a small smile, then quickly glanced at Woogyung. He called the server and ordered soju and beer.
“To our new life together!”
As soon as the drinks arrived, Hakyung filled their glasses in a flash and raised hers. Eunwoo blushed and lifted her beer.
Woogyung lightly tapped his glass against hers.
“Looking forward to living with you.”
“..!”
The soft sensation where his glass tapped hers—or maybe just his gentle voice paired with that stunning smile—made Eunwoo feel like her heart had just been struck.
No, not the glass. That face. That warm tone. It was… dangerous.
Her face flushed even though she hadn’t had a drop yet.
“???”
“?????”
The siblings stared at her, completely still and blushing.
“Hey, come on. Cheers.”
-Clink clink clink-
Hakyung tapped her glass against Eunwoo’s multiple times to break the freeze.
“Oh? Ah—yes!”
Eunwoo didn’t yet know just how deeply she’d fall for this warm, sweet man.
After filling up on beef, the trio left the restaurant.
“Ugh… I’m stuffed…”
Hakyung, now tipsy, leaned on Eunwoo’s shoulder, and Woogyung called a cab with a small smile.
His gaze drifted to where his sister was leaning against Eunwoo—just her face sticking out of the oversized coat.
So small… cute—
???
He quickly snapped out of it and looked away, checking the taxi ETA.
“…Five minutes.”
“Ugh, I just wanna lie down… Ugh, doing laundry’s gonna suck.”
Hakyung slumped further onto Eunwoo, who chuckled with a confident grin.
“Pfft, I already did it. Even the towels, this morning.”
“For real?! You’re the best, Eunwoo!!!”
At that moment, a male voice chimed in, startling them.
“Newbie?”
“???”
“????”
“?????”
They turned to see a man approaching. Platinum-blond curls, pale skin, and flashy style—Bae Soohyuk, the CEO of Eunwoo’s new job.
“Oh, hello..!”
Startled, Eunwoo quickly freed herself from Hakyung’s arm and bowed politely.
“Didn’t expect to see you here.”
Soohyuk, cigarette in hand, stepped close to Eunwoo, making her want to cough from the strong cologne and smoke.
His gaze drifted to her oversized coat, then shifted past her—to Woogyung.
“Friends?”
As Eunwoo struggled to find the right words, Woogyung stepped up beside her.
Having this tall man next to her suddenly made her feel… secure.
“My brother.”
“!!!”
“!!!”
Both Eunwoo and Hakyung turned to look at him, shocked.
Woogyung smiled at Soohyuk casually.
Soohyuk, still slightly confused, smiled back politely.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Bae Soohyuk.”
Woogyung replied with a faint smile. Not rude, but not exactly friendly.
A smile that said: Touch my sister’s friend and you’ll regret it.
Soohyuk looked back at Eunwoo. He’d figured she was from a sheltered background, but hadn’t expected such a solid older brother.
Weird—they didn’t look alike at all. But from what he’d overheard earlier about laundry…
“W-Well then..! See you tomorrow\..!”
Eunwoo bowed again. Soohyuk gave a soft grin.
“Sure.”
“….”
‘Why does he keep talking down to me… So rude…’
After that awkward encounter, they got into the cab—and silence fell.
‘Oppa…’
Eunwoo had only ever used that word with her college boyfriend. Calling Woogyung that now felt oddly intimate.
“Your boss is kinda cute,” Hakyung said cheerfully. “Your company’s around here, right?”
“Yeah, right next door.”
“He’s super young. How old is he?”
Eunwoo shrugged.
“Bit sleazy, though, right?”
“…Yeah. He keeps using informal speech.”
“Just ‘cause he’s the boss? He can’t be much older than Woogyung.”
“Exactly. It’s irritating.”
Eunwoo pouted. In the front seat, Woogyung sighed faintly, unheard.
He’d already disliked the guy based on what he’d heard. Seeing him now, that feeling only deepened.
Smoking during conversation, talking informally to someone he just met—the guy screamed red flags.
But then again, a CEO and a newbie wouldn’t likely interact much anyway.
The next morning,
Eunwoo woke at 6am, buzzing with nerves for her first day. Fully dressed, she sat rigid at the kitchen table.
“Ah! You scared me!”
Hakyung, rubbing her eyes, jumped seeing Eunwoo already sitting there.
“I’m so nervous…”
“Pfft—ha! Relax. You start at nine, right?”
“Yeah…”
She checked the time and went into the bathroom.
-Bang-
A bit later, Woogyung’s door opened.
“Whoa…”
Seeing Eunwoo sitting there so formally, he blinked in surprise, then walked over to get a bottle of water.
“Someone’s nervous.”
“Yes…”
“Want some water?”
“Ah… yes.”
He handed her a bottle and observed her.
She was clearly wearing Hakyung’s clothes. They didn’t fit well. Hakyung was tall and slender—Eunwoo was petite. The sleeves and skirt hem were all wrong.
“Want to go shopping this weekend?”
“For clothes?”
He leaned slightly against the table, making eye contact. His voice was soft.
“A congratulatory gift for landing the job.”
“Wow for me? That’s so kind, but I feel bad…”
“You’re family.”
He smiled simply. Her heart fluttered again.
She shook her head hard, trying to reset her brain.
You’re his little sister’s friend. He’s just being nice.
Don’t overthink it. Don’t catch feelings.
But as she shook her head, Woogyung suddenly had a strange impulse—he really wanted to poke her soft-looking cheeks.
“…Well then, good luck today.”
He straightened up and quickly retreated to his room.
-Clack-
Leaning against his door, he muttered:
“What the hell am I thinking…”
He flopped onto his bed. He’d be swamped with work next month—better rest up.
“Hello..! I’m Go Eunwoo! I look forward to working with you!”
Eunwoo bowed in a perfect right angle to the office staff. They clapped and welcomed her warmly.
“This is your desk, Eunwoo.”
“Thank you..!”
Sitting down, it finally hit her: she had a real job now. She belonged somewhere.
During lunch,
“How old are you, Eunwoo?”
Lee Jiyeon, the assistant manager who had interviewed her, asked. She looked sharp—tall, slim, and elegant. The definition of a career woman.
“I’m twenty-nine..!”
“You don’t look it! I thought twenty-five at most.”
The others agreed. Shin Yewon, a 27-year-old with 3 years at the company, chimed in.
“Wow, you’re older than me?”
“Ah… haha…”
“Why’re you just starting as staff? First company?”
“Ah… yes. I worked freelance before…”
Yewon let out a ‘heh’ that nobody else seemed to catch—but it left a weird taste in Eunwoo’s mouth.
“This evening, welcome dinner for Eunwoo\~!”
Everyone clapped again. Eunwoo smiled and thanked them over and over.
‘Wow\… I don’t even know if I tasted lunch.’
After brushing her teeth, Eunwoo leaned against the bathroom wall. Slowly, the surrealness wore off.
She was really… employed now.
“Newbie.”
A voice cut through the moment—strong cologne hit her nose. Bae Soohyuk.
“Ah..! Hello..!”
She quickly bowed. He scanned her slowly from head to toe.
Didn’t fit the clothes. Clearly a strange one.
“Congrats on your first day.”
“Thank you..!”
“There’s a welcome dinner tonight, right?”
“Yes..!”
“Should I come?”
“Pardon?”
Startled, Eunwoo blinked, then quickly smiled—her “whatever you prefer” smile.
“Yesterday.”
“Yes?”
“Real brother?”
…What do I say?
“Or just someone you live with?”
“…!!!”
To be Continued…
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