A Sweet Gesture from the Eldest Son
Namhun stared at her in disbelief, and Yoo Sera grinned widely.
"Your rolled omelet was delicious. But since there wasn't much left for the kids, I ordered jjajangmyeon too."
A quick glance showed the twins' mouths stained black around the edges.
Their clothes were a mess of black bean sauce too.
In truth, Sera had grown up even more delicately than Namhun in the old days.
She was an only child, after all.
So whenever she came back, the house was always in chaos like this.
He was grateful she'd watched the kids, but seeing the state of things, he couldn't help but say something.
"...Why'd you come over without being asked?"
"If you're my no-balls best friend's little sister, she's basically my sister too. You gonna leave kids alone and risk something happening?"
Thanks to Yuyeon keeping a tight rein, the twins didn't cause major trouble.
Still, leaving second-graders home alone felt uneasy.
"What could happen? Back when it was just you and me at that age, we cooked, napped, did everything ourselves."
Namhun and Sera had played just fine on their own back then.
"Whoa~ You reek of latte vibes. You think those days and now are the same?"
"On the contrary, it feels like all kinds of trouble started when you showed up..."
As the situation turned against him, Sera jumped up and hugged Yuyeon.
"Hey, Yuyeon! Time to practice with unnie now, right?"
One room in their two-room home for the four siblings was a soundproof booth.
Half closet, half practice space.
Sera insisted on squeezing into the cramped room for the lesson.
Watching in stunned silence, Namhun turned to the twins.
"Go brush your teeth, chi-ka-chi-ka."
"Okay~!"
"Okay~!"
While the kids brushed, he tidied the house and finished the dishes.
The place was small, so messes were easy; for Namhun, now a pro at housework, it was done in a flash.
Then he took them to the bathroom, made them wash up, and changed their clothes.
All that took just over thirty minutes.
He was about to sink into the sofa for a break when the soundproof door opened.
"Ah~ So tiring. Got anything to drink?"
"..."
Namhun glared silently, and Sera headed to the fridge herself.
"Whoa, feels alive. Why's it so hot in here?"
"No AC in the living room."
"Oh, right? Why not?"
"We sleep in the rooms anyway. Wall units are cheaper. Place isn't big. Gotta think about moving costs too."
Honestly, he'd installed two wall units to save money.
The soundproof booth was stuffy and hard to ventilate, so essential there; the kids needed one in the bedroom too.
They didn't practice constantly, and if the living room got too hot, he'd crank both room ACs and leave the doors open—plenty cool.
"You've turned into a total cheapskate."
"Raise kids yourself, and you'll end up like me."
"Maybe. Yeah, married friends do change like that. You know Han Yeseo? The one glued to me in first year high school."
"The piano major girl with super long hair?"
"Yeah. Her kid's already two."
Namhun dug through his memories at that.
He'd heard about her marriage around when he started vocal training.
"Wasn't it about a year ago?"
"Honeymoon baby, timing was iffy—signal violation or whatever."
"Got it. She married young."
Namhun smiled wryly.
They'd slaved over music since childhood, but post-graduation jobs were scarce.
Truly gifted friends shone in their teens as soloists; others went university route—professor, instructor, standard performer gigs.
Classical music had terrible cost-performance.
Few spots available, demanding top skill to snag.
Most ended up in non-music paths.
Usually kids from well-off families, no real need to earn.
"Yeso's family was loaded, right?"
"Eh, decent. But she didn't want to quit piano. Opened a small academy, teaches kids."
"What about her kid? Two years old?"
"Mom watches. She leaves early. Other teachers too."
"Ah, makes sense."
Namhun smiled wryly again.
Cases like his—no one to lean on—were rare.
Even if he'd quit singing, living parents probably would've led to something similar.
"Yeso wants to see you, by the way."
"Why?"
Same middle and high school, but different majors and genders kept him from close friendship with Yeso.
Even Sera got tight with her after Namhun debuted in Evil Spirits, starting high school.
"Academy, home, academy, home—gets boring."
Namhun, who'd lived similarly for a while, got it.
"Yeah, probably."
"You know what?"
"What?"
"Yeso had a crush on you in first year."
Caught off guard, Namhun's eyebrow twitched.
He'd been popular in school for looks.
But Yeso?
Total news to him.
"Huh? No clue."
He'd barely talked to her.
A few group meals at most?
"Figures you'd be oblivious. She whined so much, I set up meets."
"That was why?"
Sera's style: schedule and notify.
Normal for her, so no suspicion.
"But face-to-face, she got shy, couldn't speak."
"We barely met. Just liked my face?"
Sera's jaw dropped at Namhun's words.
"Wow... So full of yourself. How do you say that out loud?"
"Hey, my face got me into showbiz."
"True, but... nah. You danced great too. That's why Wonhyeong hyung picked you."
"Oh, right."
Dance sparked a memory.
First-year festival—he'd danced center in the dance club, despite vocal club.
Runaway phase, but still attended school.
"Whoa... Totally blacked that out. Yeah, happened."
Looking back, the cheers then made him accept Wonhyeong's idol pitch.
Competition stages never felt like that raw crowd thrill surging through him.
Lost in memory, Namhun snapped back.
"And 'fucking' what? Kids around—watch your mouth."
"They're sleeping. Yuyeon's practicing. Anyway, dinner? Almost 6. Can't eat after or I'll gain."
"You scarfed double jjajangmyeon and now weight talk? Your side fat's poking out, by the way."
"Huh? Really?"
Sera yanked up her tee suddenly.
Namhun freaked, grabbing her hand.
"Hey! Seven-year rule—no mixed seating! Respect boundaries."
Sera giggled.
"Psh, whatever. We're basically family. Check if I really gained."
"Ask Yuyeon. I'll cook—wait. Babysitting or freeloading?"
"Make doenjang jjigae too. You know I love it."
Namhun paused.
Doenjang jjigae—his mom always made it for them.
"...Then go buy tofu."
"Got it. Fresh juice too? On your card?"
"Do what you want."
Grinning, Sera snatched his wallet.
"Huh? What's this?"
"What?"
"A check? How much? Three million won?"
"Yeah. Eat and come with me somewhere."
"Where?"
"You've helped tons. Making money now—gonna buy you a gift."
Sera beamed.
"Gift? From cheapskate Jang Nam?"
"Just hurry with the tofu. Water's boiling."
"Okay! Be right back!"
After dinner and dishes.
Namhun left the twins with Yuyeon and headed out with Sera.
"So, where?"
"You'll see."
"Cool. Been ages since I rode your car."
Sera hopped into the Equus passenger seat, beaming.
"Yuyeon's spot conquered!"
"What're you doing?"
"No other girl's sat here but me and Yuyeon, right?"
"Huh, true. Even Mom never rode this."
Contracted it, but accident hit before delivery.
Sera's face fell.
"Ah... This one's regret-ride impossible, huh?"
"Mom would've said you're fine—don't worry."
"Yeah! Auntie adored me. Wanted a daughter like me, so popped out Yuyeon late."
Surprisingly true.
She'd played her practice tracks for prenatal music.
"Maybe why you two click so well."
Didn't expect IVF for twins after Yuyeon, missing those days.
Or the accident within a year.
Despair then; now, grateful for Yesol and Yejun.
Four's better than two.
Chatting trivial old tales, Namhun drove.
Sera eyed the road.
"What, department store? No makeup."
"What makeup."
Anyway, Sera dug out her pouch, dabbing on cosmetics.
Awkward to longtime friend Namhun.
"You do makeup now?"
"Learned abroad. Western styles don't suit—better DIY."
"Makes sense."
"Back in Korea, pros handle it mostly... But not bare-faced for department stores. Unlike you, I sell my face."
"Just wear a mask."
"Didn't bring one."
"...And it's not a department store."
"Then?"
"Fruit shop."
Sera snapped her pouch shut.
"...Ha. Figures from the cheapskate. Gift my ass—fruit run."
At the destination, Sera glared at Namhun.
"...This a fruit shop?"
"They sell apples."
"Apple phone apples? Unreal."
"You've been too lazy to fix that cracked screen. Buying you a smartphone."
Not about money for popular Sera.
Just her carefree nature—using it busted.
Namhun was right: laziness biggest factor.
Sera slacked on non-music stuff.
"...For real? Cheapskate's gone mad?"
"Get in already."
Sera followed, half-doubting.