episode_0055

Hayoon thought.

Younha is so cute.

‘No, not this.’

I shook my head. Younha, who is looking at you with bright eyes while hugging a pillow as big as her torso, is definitely cute, but that’s not what’s important.

“There’s definitely something I don’t know…!”

“That sound again?”

“But everyone except us has a serious face.”

Hayun’s eyes turned to another empty bed.

It was the seat used by Chaeyeon. However, the place was clean, without a single wrinkle, as if to prove that it had barely been used.

Han Chae-yeon, who had gone out of the room late the night before, did not return until a long time later.

The twins, who had waited for her to come while rubbing their sleepy eyes, thought that only then would they be able to sleep peacefully.

However, Han Chae-yeon immediately changed the dress she was wearing into casual clothes and headed outside, leaving Hayun and Younha alone, saying she had urgent work to do.

Han Chae-yeon left with a very serious look on her face and did not return that night.

Anyone can see that something big has happened.

But she didn’t say anything to Hayun and Yunha.

That was very disappointing.

The situation in the other room where the group mustered up the courage to visit was a little more serious.

Although the twins were warmly welcomed when they visited, Hayun caught the gloomy atmosphere that spread throughout the room. Even when they were gathered together to play cards or board games they brought with them, they looked at Cha Su-jin’s empty bed with worried eyes.

“Something definitely happened to Sujin.”

“…But there’s nothing we can do.”

“That’s right.”

Hayun also lowered her head gloomily as she heard Yunha muttering gloomily.

Although they have special powers that are somewhat different from others, Hayun and Younha were only in the 6th grade of elementary school.

In the eyes of the world, you are still a child.

There was nothing the two of them could do as their older sisters were waiting quietly.

“Oppa will solve it, right?”

“Yes.”

Still, it wasn’t like I was really anxious or anything like that.

Because, as always, they had a trustworthy older brother.

In the past, when Hayun and Younha were separated and in trouble, he appeared like a hero and saved them.

I don’t know what’s going on, but since my brother stepped forward, I’m sure it will be resolved soon.

The two of them had absolute faith in their older brother.

“I decided.”

“…?”

“Soojin will be very nice to you when she comes! Let’s have fun together and prevent bad thoughts from happening!”

“I also agree. I think we had too much fun just by ourselves yesterday.”

Younha also reflected to herself.

I was so excited about my first time in the sea that I couldn’t pay attention to my surroundings.

When I thought about it, I couldn’t really remember what Sujin was like that day.

I don’t know if other people would be okay with that, but it wasn’t like that for Younha. I should have paid a little more attention on behalf of my sister who was distracted.

So Hayun and Younha made a promise.

I decided to pretend not to know what happened last night and do whatever Sujin wants if possible. I thought that was the best way…

“…Really?”’

However, the reality that arrived was harsh.

Hayoon’s eyes trembled mercilessly.

“…I’ll ask you one favor.”

The older brother, whom they loved more than anyone else, looked sorry.

“No matter what…”

Hayun’s head, which had decided to smile and agree to whatever was tolerable, hardly ever lowered. Because I knew that the moment I nodded, it would be over in many ways.

“…I’m fine.”

“Younha!?”

“It’s my fault that things happened like this.”

To Hayun, who was astonished, Younha answered with a stern expression.

What a trustworthy little sister she is.

‘I can’t be the older sister and give Younha a hard time.’

No matter what hardships and trials come, the two of you will always be together.

I made that promise a long time ago.

Now, I couldn’t turn away even if something somewhat or even a little too dangerous came my way.

“Me too…I’m okay.”

Even if it means heading to a battlefield where the chance of survival is close to zero percent.

**

“…Doesn’t this work either?”

I looked around.

Well, annihilation.

Everyone surrounding the small charcoal fire burning red in the dark night sky complained of pain.

In particular, in the case of Yeseul and Chanwoo, who were experiencing this for the first time, they were so shocked that they were completely lost.

“What is it? Is everyone finished already?”

Meanwhile, Sujin put down the skewer she was holding on her plate with a normal expression on her face.

It was a barbecue topped with plump shrimp meat and well-cooked vegetables.

It was shiny and full of the subtle scent of charcoal fire, and it was delicious just to look at it.

However, the faces of the party members who discovered it only grew paler.

It wasn’t like everyone overate or anything like that. As proof of that, there were still a lot of ingredients left for the barbecue.

The reason why they couldn’t do anything like that was very clear.

Because the person who made that barbecue was Sujin.

Any dish can be reborn as a dish from hell with Sujin’s hands.

“…Please help me.”

Hayun, who had started the operation proudly, was already in a groggy state with a haggard face.

When I saw that, I felt sorry.

This time, Sujin’s cooking was entirely suggested by me.

The result of careful observation today. The current Sujin was Cha Sujin.

When she came to me to ask for sunscreen and openly laid down in front of me, and when Ran kicked the sand castle she was making, pretending it was a mistake. No – more than that, why does he hate Ran so much?

It was Sujin’s behavior itself that was unforgivable. I couldn’t believe that Ha-ryeong was playing her.

In the end, I felt the limitations of just observing and decided to implement the plan I had thought of last night.

No matter how much you pretend to be Sujin, you won’t be able to imitate Sujin’s unique, other-worldly taste. That’s what I thought.

“Oppa, don’t be like that and eat with me. It’s a waste.”

“Uh, yes.”

With a friendly smile, he accepts the barbecue given to him by Sujin with a calm expression on his face.

This is what I started. It is the duty of a human being to finish it until the end.

I closed my eyes and opened my mouth wide.

Okay. Because I was familiar with Sujin’s cooking.

‘…!’

I regretted it as soon as I put it in my mouth.

It’s hard to get used to it.

This bitter, salty, and sour taste, like spoiled food, remains unique no matter how many times you eat it.

How could it be like this even though I saw them cooking with the same ingredients?

“Hmm. Delicious.”

Unlike me, who was chewing while suppressing my frown as much as possible, Sujin had a smile on her face as if she really enjoyed it.

At the end of the barbecue party, only one person was happy.

“Sujin?”

“Chet.”

Han Chae-yeon stopped Soo-jin, who was secretly trying to pick up the beer can she had brought in the icebox.

She was the only person here, other than me, who knew of Cha Ha-ryeong’s existence, and she was the same as always.

He didn’t pay any special attention to Sujin and was treating the children normally as he always did.

Thanks to this, the younger siblings who initially tried to be overly considerate of Sujin were now maintaining an appropriate distance, just like at home. However, perhaps because he was still worried about Yuna, he did not try to leave Sujin’s side.

In some ways, Yuna was like the children’s mother.

Because Han Chae-yeon was sometimes not trustworthy at all.

Chanwoo approached me as I was watching the children from afar.

“What do you think of Sujin?”

“…Why is that?”

“…No. After thinking about it carefully today, I feel like I did something bad.”

Chanwoo stood next to me, holding a can of soda in one hand that looked like it had been taken out of an icebox.

And then he turned to me with a face that seemed to have made up his mind about something.

“To be honest, I fell in love with Sujin at first sight. He was absolutely my ideal type.”

“Well, I thought so.”

That much was fully expected, considering that last night she was upset that Ha-ryeong, who played Soo-jin, had cheated on her. Throughout the trip, I saw him talking to Sujin particularly often.

“So maybe I was a little impatient. To you, Sujin is someone you can see at any time, but I am someone you will never see again when you return home.”

Chanwoo’s eyes were tinged with regret as he glanced back.

Now that I think about it, I don’t think I’ve ever seen him approach Sujin like he did yesterday.

He may be a much more sound person than I thought, as is the fact that he plays with his children while being as attentive as possible.

Should I say that he is the person Han Chae-yeon chose?

“Just call me by my name. That guy doesn’t like being called tough.”

“Is that okay?”

“It is true that Sujin did something sorry to you yesterday, and I have no intention of interfering with that in the first place.”

“Then I will call you Sujin. But there is one thing I’m curious about, can I ask you?”

“What is it?”

“Brother, do you know that Sujin likes you?”

A completely unexpected question came up.

I was momentarily embarrassed and speechless, but I tried not to show it as much as possible.

“…What do you mean?”

“Well. I’m not sure.”

Chanwoo, who answered like that, paused for a moment.

It seemed like my thoughts weren’t completely organized yet.

“Just observing Sujin, I somehow came to know her. I think you like your brother quite a lot. In fact, the reason I told my story to you was because I realized that.”

“…”

“Actually, even as I say this, I feel like I’m going crazy. Is it true that love means family, or is there something else as well? But one thing is clear.

“…”

“Sujin is a completely different person when her brother is with her and when she is not. Sujin likes you so much that I can tell even though we’ve only known each other for a day. We try hard to get attention in any way possible. But no matter how long I wait, you show no response at all. So much so that I feel frustrated watching it.”

Chanwoo let out a long sigh as if he was feeling stuffy.

I remembered a conversation I had with Yeseul earlier.

While I was wondering what it would be like if Sujin and Chanwoo started dating, I was secretly wondering what I thought of Sujin. In the eyes of these two people, does it seem like I’m just a window-scratcher who can’t even notice blatant favors?

“If you are your younger sister, please act like a younger sister. If you are the opposite sex, please say so clearly. Watching her vaguely from afar like now will only hurt her.”

There was a lot I wanted to say.

Do you know about the secret Sujin has?

Does it look like I’m doing this without even knowing it?

“This is our problem. Don’t intervene.”

However, the only thing that came out in place of the various stories that came out of those mouths was those stereotypical words. I myself thought it was a ridiculous answer. But this was for the best.

“… Well, it’s not an issue that an outsider like me can discuss. Excuse me.”

Chanwoo, whose face froze for a moment at my words, said those words with a deep sigh.

Chanwoo, who was crumpling the drink can that he had already finished drinking, turned away from me.

“Oh, one more thing.”

“…What is it?”

“If possible, please watch from the side. Anyone can see that she was overexerting herself today. To the point where I feel sorry for myself.”

“…Are you overdoing it?”

After observing intently today, I thought Sujin was the same as usual.

But in Chanwoo’s eyes, it didn’t seem like that at all.

“Yes. It’s clearly different from yesterday. Surely. It wasn’t like Sujin at all.”

After saying that, he immediately left for where his companions were.

It’s not like Sujin…

Surprisingly, I may not know much about Cha Su-jin.

Was it because Cha Ha-ryeong knew this fact that he was so confident?

Two hours before the end of the day, I fell into deep confusion.

I wonder who the younger sister is smiling happily over there.