"Come on, Noona! Please help me out?"
Yoon Se-ri turned away from the pot she stirring to give a frown to her younger cousin, Park Gwang-Beom. "What do you need a chaperone for? You're 25 years old for crying out loud."
"But Lee So-Hye's parents are quite strict and she's bringing her older brother along," he reasoned.
Se-ri rolled her eyes, stomped her foot and then turned back to the soup she was making for them for dinner. "Goodness. I don't even date and you want me to go with you on yours."
She was giving him a difficult time but she knew she was going to do it for him.
Se-ri and Gwang-Beom were both only children. Their mothers are sisters and very close to each other that even when they got married, they decided to live next to each other. As an only child, she was doted on by her parents and her auntie, which she loved. However, she had wanted a little brother or sister for the longest time. Se-ri could recall numerous birthdays and Christmases when the wish she would ask for was a little baby.
She didn't get a sibling, but her aunt eventually told them of the great news that she was pregnant.
Gwang-Beom was born ten years after Se-ri was. When they were younger, she treated the baby like one of her most cherished dolls except that she was actually dressing him and feeding him. As he grew bigger, she spoiled him by having treats for him whenever she came home, read stories for him and even taught him to play games in his first ever game console (which she bought).
Even when they grew older, their bond had remained strong. Their communication was reduced when she went to University and then when he did his mandatory military service, but since he's been out they found themselves living close to each other and often dropped by each other's apartments for quick catch ups.
Knowing that he was a good boy who didn't date around casually, she knew he was serious about this young woman and this date was important to him.
"Why does she need to be accompanied on a date?" Se-ri asked.
"Their father does not want scandals or inappropriate behaviour in public," Gwang-Beom said. He further explained that the father is due to be announced as the new President of a prestigious financial institution in Seoul and was strict with keeping his children in line. "But So-Hye assures me that he is a good man and quite loving to them. He just has strict standards."
"And what do we know of her brother?" Se-ri prodded.
Gwang-Beom smiled, making him more handsome in Se-ri's biased eyes. "So-Hye adores him. She speaks of him so fondly. I haven't met him but she told me that he recently left the marines a few months ago and is setting up his security firm here. That's what's keeping him busy that's why we have not been introduced."
Se-ri nodded, absorbing the information. She has a respect for soldiers and military men, she would never understand that kind of sacrifice but she had deep respect for those who choose it. "Alright. Now I want to go with you to at least thank a soldier for his service. I've never done so face-to-face."
Her cousin beamed. "Thank you, Noona! I'll let So-Hye know."
Se-ri pinched Gwang-Beom's cheeks. "Awww! My little baby is now a big boy!"
"Ouch! Noona! Don't pinch me like that in front of So-Hye. It might turn her off," he protested, jokingly.
"And why not? I'm sure she will agree with me that you are so cute," Se-ri countered. Seeing the salad that had not yet been prepared, she made a face. "She will agree that you're cute... but find out that you are the laziest. Why haven't you started on the salad? Do you expect me to prepare that, too?"
Gwang-Beom rolled his eyes. "I just forgot because you were giving me such a hard time. I'll do it now so we can eat. You become a monster when you are hungry."
Giving him a scary look, she bared her teeth and snarled. Then, she laughed. "Faster. Otherwise, I will really turn into a beast."
Se-ri and Gwang-Beom laughed and then spent the rest of the night chatting away.
Meanwhile, Lee Jeong Hyeok was protesting what his father asked. "Is it absolutely necessary, Abeoji?"
Lee Chung Ryeok gave his son a stern but loving look. "Of course. Just make sure that the boy is good for our So-Hye-ah."
Jeong Hyeok turned to his sister. "How about don't date so I am not troubled like this?"
So-Hye chuckled along with their mom. "I really want you to meet him, Oppa. He's nice."
"And what am I supposed to do while you give google eyes to each other?"Jeong Hyeok teased.
So-Hye smiled. "He's taking along his cousin! You can chat. I believe she is an interior designer. Perhaps she can help you design your dump of an office better?"
"Hey!" Jeong Hyeok reprimanded. "Abeoji, don't allow her to go. Just cancel the whole thing."
But, Jeong Hyeok didn't win the fake argument and a few days later, he was being dragged to dinner by So-Hye. He stood no chance. So-Hye was the family's baby. Jeong Hyeok's parents wanted to have a big family. However, after Jeong Hyeok's birth, his mother suffered a couple of miscarriages. So-Hye came as a surprise and they had treated her like the precious gift she is ever since.
So, there was no chance Jeong Hyeok would let her go on a date without him, even if she was already in her mid-twenties. His sister seemed serious about this man and he was going to be there to assess.
While they walked into the restaurant, passing by the other customers, the room could not help but admire them. So-Hye looked very pretty in her classic, short black dress and high heels. While Jeong Hyeok, who towered over most men in the room, was in an all black suit, hair pulled back showing off his strong, handsome features.
They were escorted to the private function room reserved for them and the pair they were meeting.
"Gwang-Beom-ssi!" So-Hye greeted. Jeong Hyeok noted the color that flushed the cheeks of his sister. Turning to him, So-Hye made the introductions. "Oppa, this is Park Gwang-Beom. Park Gwang-Beom, this is my brother, Lee Jeong Hyeok."
After bowing to pay his respects to Jeong Hyeok, Gwang-Beom explained why he was alone. "My cousin has just stepped out to go to the washroom. She should be back -- oh, here she is."
A woman who was a whole head shorter than Jeong Hyeok stepped into their line of sight. She was wearing very minimal makeup, a white blazer top and a short black skirt that showed off toned legs. Fixing her long black hair, she smiled as Gwang-Beom made introductions. "This is my cousin, Yoon Se-ri."
When her eyes landed on him, Jeong Hyeok was dumbstruck. She had a beautiful face, he admitted, but when she smiled... it was something he had no words for. When So-Hye and Gwang-Beom started chatting and moving to sit, though, he was pulled back to his purpose for being here. Nice distraction, Park Gwang-Beom but I won't just let you charm my sister.
He narrowed his eyes as he assessed the younger man. Jeong Hyeok felt like there was someone staring at him. When he turned, he saw that Se-ri was giving him the same look he was giving Gwang-Beom.
It was quiet when they sat. Se-ri and Gwang-Beom were seated in one side, while So-Hye and Jeong Hyeok on the other. However, whenever Gwang-Beom would start a conversation, Jeong Hyeok would block it.
"Have you seen this movie by the actor you liked? It's already showing. We could go --"
"When are we going?" Jeong Hyeok asked.
So-Hye widened her eyes at her brother to give him a signal to shut up, while Se-ri looked at him exasperatedly.
"We can wait for your available schedule, Lee Jeong Hyeok-ssi," Gwang-Beom said, graciously.
"I'll let you know."
Next, Gwang-Beom offered egg rolls to So-Hye and Jeong Hyeok promptly picked it up from her plate. "Let me check first."
"Oppa," So-Hye hissed.
Se-ri remained observant but said nothing, until Jeong Hyeok said, "By the way, I need an identification card so I can check databases for your records."
"Hey. That's too much," Se-ri protested.
"It's okay, Noona. I understand," Gwang-Beom said, trying to placate her.
"No, no. Mr. Lee, may I speak to you outside please?" Se-ri asked. Jeong Hyeok followed her. For the first time in a long time, he felt anxious about a conversation with a woman. She went all the way out to a street corner before turning to him. Shooting daggers at him with her eyes, she asked, "What's wrong with you? Why are you treating my cousin like a criminal?"
"I just want to make sure that my sister will be safe," Jeong Hyeok said, defensively.
Se-ri sighed. "Fine. I get that. Gwang-Beom told me you were from the marines and are setting up your security firm. All I am asking is for you to treat him properly. He's no criminal and he adores your sister," she informed. "Oh, and he's not going to poison her food. Geesh. He didn't even cook those egg rolls!"
Jeong Hyeok had to admit he had gone overboard. This was the first time he would meet a potential boyfriend of So-Hye and he thought scaring the guy was the proper tactic to use. He nodded in acceptance. "I apologise. You're right."
"You'll be nicer?" she asked, skeptically.
He nodded. "I will still do background checks though."
Se-ri rolled her eyes. "Fine. But apologise to Gwang-Beom, not to me. You were rude to him."
Jeong Hyeok agreed. "I will." Extending a hand, he said, "Can we call a truce?"
Se-ri looked at his hand, then his face, then back to his hand. She nodded and they shook on it.
As soon as their hands connected, there was an unusual tingle that they felt, shocking them both. Catching each others eyes, they pulled away and immediately looked in different directions.
Deciding to go back in, Se-ri headed straight to the function room while Jeong Hyeok made a detour to the washroom. She quietly slipped in to avoid disrupting the conversation that was ongoing between Gwang-Beom and So-Hye.
She stared at her reflection on the window. He stared at his reflection in the mirror. Taking deep breaths, they thought,
What was that?!