Chapter 26
Chapter 26
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 26
Chapter Title: Ji-ah is in Danger (1)
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"What do you think of my brother?"
Caught off guard by Min-ah's sudden question, Ji-ah looked up at her face.
Min-ah was grinning from ear to ear.
...A bit mischievously, even.
'What the boss is like? What does she mean by that?'
Was it just asking for her general opinion? Or maybe... something more romantic?
"Ah..."
For some reason, Ji-ah felt her face heating up.
She carefully picked her words and finally managed a suitable response.
"...He seems like a good guy. Kind and all."
Hmm. Not a lie. Really.
"Right? Hehe."
Even though Ji-ah had praised Do-han, Min-ah looked delighted as if she'd been the one complimented.
Her smile was so infectious that it lifted Ji-ah's spirits too, and she hesitantly asked the question that had been on her mind.
"Um, sis. Do you... like the boss?"
"Huh?"
Min-ah's expression turned a little complicated at Ji-ah's question.
A moment later, she replied, still seeming unsure.
"Hmm... Well, I do like him. But honestly, I don't know. Is it just familial love? Or something else?"
Her face grew a touch more serious as she continued.
"When we're apart, I miss him. When we're together, it's fun. When he's sad, I feel sad too. Hmm... Yeah, I still don't know. We've been together so long, after all."
...Isn't that love? Ji-ah swallowed the words.
For some reason, her own face felt even hotter.
"I got into a university a bit far away, so I don't see him as often as before lately... How should I put it? I feel even more attached? Ah, keep this a secret from my brother."
"Okay..."
"If he got a girlfriend... Hmm. I might not like that."
The boss with a girlfriend...
For some reason, Yoon Seol and Hwa-young, who had visited the shop last time, flashed through Ji-ah's mind.
Both were bona fide famous heroes.
There was no way an ordinary guy like the boss could end up with someone like them... But why did she feel uneasy?
"Ah. But it'd be okay if it was you, Ji-ah."
"Y-Yes?!"
Ji-ah yelped at Min-ah's abrupt words, drawing the eyes of the surrounding customers in an instant.
Even more embarrassed under their gazes,
"Th-That's ridiculous..."
she mumbled with her head down.
"Hmmm."
Ji-ah's face was so red it looked like steam might rise from it.
Min-ah watched her with an amused gaze and took a sip of her drink.
It was a black Americano without syrup, but for some reason, it tasted sweet.
.
"A-Anyway. Sis Min-ah... you said you and the boss were from the same orphanage?"
Ji-ah tried to obviously change the subject.
Min-ah, watching her fondly, decided to let it slide.
"Yeah. He was there first, and I came later."
"Ah... So what was the boss like as a kid?"
"Hmm... At first, he didn't give a great impression. Quiet, hard to read his thoughts, not very approachable."
Ji-ah had to admit she often couldn't tell what Do-han was thinking either.
'He was like that even as a kid, huh.'
Imagining a young Do-han made Ji-ah want to smile a little.
"Around that time, I felt cooped up in the orphanage, so I ran away a lot."
"But since I had nowhere to go, I'd just hide in the warehouse behind the building or somewhere on the grounds."
Min-ah added that calling it a runaway now felt a bit much.
"One day, I hid in the warehouse as usual, but the lock was broken and wouldn't open. I was stuck."
"...And?"
"I was panicking, what do I do, what do I do... That's when my brother showed up."
A smile spread across Min-ah's face as she recalled it.
"I thought I'd get scolded, but he hugged me tight. 'You must've been so scared,' he said."
"...He's sweet."
"Right? That's my brother's charm. After that, I stuck to him like glue. Brother, brother."
Growing nostalgic mid-sentence, Min-ah drifted into sentiment.
'...Huh?'
Then she noticed Ji-ah staring blankly at her.
"What's up?"
"...I'm a little jealous. You two really feel like family."
Min-ah could sense the emotion in those words.
She spoke softly to Ji-ah.
"You're family too now, Ji-ah."
"...Yeah."
Seeing Ji-ah smile shyly, Min-ah thought,
"Ji-ah, why are you so cute...?"
"Huh?"
This kid must be some kind of enchantress.
After a late lunch, they took a casual stroll around town.
"Ji-ah, what about this bracelet?"
"It's pretty."
"Yeah? Should we get matching ones?"
"I-I'll buy this time."
"Nah, put it away."
They bought bracelets at a roadside accessory shop they stumbled upon.
"Hey, Ji-ah. Look at the camera."
"O-Okay?!"
"Pfft. Ji-ah, you closed your eyes."
"C-Can we retake? Oh, we can pick other shots too..."
They snapped photos at a photo booth, enjoying their time until the clock hit 5 p.m.
Time to wrap up the outing.
After wandering around all day, Ji-ah and Min-ah headed to a nearby park for a break.
"..."
Ji-ah sat on the bench, staring blankly at the fresh photo booth pics.
Min-ah smiled warmly and said gently,
"Ji-ah, did you have fun today?"
Ji-ah nodded, her face a bit flushed.
Today was unforgettable for her.
Going to a café, shopping for clothes, taking booth photos.
Ordinary things for girls her age... but they'd always felt so distant to her.
"Yeah. It was so much fun. Thanks... sis."
"..."
Who knew "sis" could sound so sweet?
'If I hug her too much, she'll hate it? No, Ji-ah might like it...'
As a warm atmosphere settled between them, Min-ah's phone chimed.
"Hm."
It was a text from her friend.
Having heard Min-ah was in town after so long, the friend asked to meet up briefly.
'...What to do.'
The plan was to head to her brother's bar together.
After a moment's hesitation, Min-ah said apologetically to Ji-ah,
"Um, Ji-ah. Time to head to work, right? I wanted to go with you, but a friend texted... Mind going ahead?"
"Sure."
"Tell my brother I met a friend and I'll stop by later. See you!"
Min-ah waved and headed off.
'Sis really has a lot of friends...'
Ji-ah watched her go, then stood and made her way to Do-han's cocktail bar.
"Let's see..."
Caramel bread's all pre-fried, napkins on tables—check.
Cleaning looks good enough.
Clock's at 6, so opening time.
The only issue...
'...Ji-ah's late.'
Min-ah's not here either, so they're probably having a blast.
It's Monday, so not as busy as yesterday. No big deal if she's late.
Thinking that, I flipped the door sign from [CLOSED] to [OPEN].
Ding-a-ling.
"Welcome."
Customers trickled in one by one.
'Working solo after so long feels busy.'
As I hustled without Ji-ah,
"Excuse me, boss. Did something happen to that part-timer girl today?"
'Huh?'
A regular spoke up unexpectedly.
"...Pardon? Ji-ah?"
"Yeah... Around evening, passing the mart, I saw her arguing with someone. Thought you might know."
Ji-ah arguing? Doesn't seem like her... Maybe with Min-ah?
"Could you tell me more?"
"Huh, now that you mention it, she's not here. Anyway, I wondered if it was you... but they looked alike. Her dad, maybe?"
Her dad? Wasn't she with Min-ah?
More questions piled up.
Ding-a-ling.
Then Min-ah entered alone—not with Ji-ah.
"Whoa, cool place."
She looked around and sat at the bar.
I asked about Ji-ah.
"Ji-ah? Hasn't come? We split around 5."
"...Where?"
"Park on the way here. Friend called, so I sent her ahead. What? Still not here?"
Her puzzled tone made me uneasy. I called Ji-ah immediately.
But,
[The person you are calling is unavailable. After the beep, please leave a message...]
...Just a voicemail.
"Haa..."
Bad thoughts crept in.
Maybe reconciled with her dad and went home? Nah.
Even if, she'd contact me. That's not her.
"Brother, is something wrong with Ji-ah?"
Min-ah asked cautiously, reading my mood.
I told her what the customer said, and her face hardened instantly.
"Brother, what do we do? Did something happen to Ji-ah?"
"Yeah..."
Call the cops?
'What would I even say?'
I've been living with a runaway, and her parents took her? They'd probably not take it seriously anyway.
It's just a hunch she's in trouble.
'What now.'
Can't go to her old home—don't even know where.
As I clutched my head,
"If you ever need urgent help, call me. Got it?"
...Hwa-young's parting words from her last visit echoed.
Might be lip service, but no other options.
"Everyone, sorry, but due to personal matters, Oasis has to close early today. Come back next time for a free cocktail—appreciate your understanding!"
No way to keep operating, so I apologized to the customers.
"Boss looks serious—must be something."
"Hang in there, boss! Whatever it is!"
"Aw, first time in ages..."
Some grumbled, but all left amiably.
I flipped the sign back to [CLOSED],
"Whew."
and called her, grasping at my last lifeline.