Taking a Leap
“Min-hyeok~!”
“We’re here~!”
“Welcome... Come on in, everyone~!”
Just as expected, Min-hyeok stepped back the moment he realized it was the team. The others filed in right behind him.
“This the place?”
“Whoa~ Not bad at all.”
“Right? They said it was brand new, but it looks even better than I pictured~!”
Mr. Seo, Mr. Kim, and Mr. Hwang stepped inside, looking around with open admiration.
“Hey, get in already... Let me through too...”
Mr. Park followed, and the entrance to the living room grew crowded in an instant.
“Are those all housewarming gifts?!”
Of course the team hadn’t come empty-handed. They’d brought everything from toilet paper to assorted household items. A fan stood out among the pile.
“Where should we put these?”
“Just set them off to the side~!”
Following Min-hyeok’s direction, they stacked the gifts in one corner.
“But...”
“Who’s the young lady behind you...?”
“Is that... your older sister, Min-hyeok?”
“That’s right~! Noona, come say hello!! These are the teammates I told you about—the ones I work with~~!”
At Min-hyeok’s words, A-reum, who had been watching quietly from the side, stepped forward and offered a greeting.
“Hello... I’m Min-hyeok’s... older sister... Han A-reum....”
Her modest self-introduction and polite bow drew looks of open admiration from everyone, Mr. Kim included.
“So you’re Min-hyeok’s sister~!”
“We’ve heard so much about you from him~!”
“You’re even more beautiful than I imagined~!”
“Forgive us for barging in like this...”
Each of them offered a warm word to A-reum.
“Thank you... for looking after... Min-hyeok so well...”
When A-reum expressed her gratitude again, everyone smiled.
“Looking after him? Min-hyeok’s the one who works so hard~”
“Damn right! The kid’s sharp as a tack and keeps the whole team lively!”
“Min-hyeok, why didn’t you tell us your sister was this much of a beauty?”
“Lucky you~~ Having a sister this pretty...!”
Flustered by the compliments, A-reum glanced shyly behind her.
Noticing his sister’s reaction, Min-hyeok spoke up.
“What about Seong-min hyung and the team leader?”
“Hyung said he had to meet a supplier for work and would be a little late.”
“Really?”
“That’s just how it is when you’re team leader. Can’t let the job slip.”
They all understood at once—he was running late for their sake.
“And Seong-min hyung?”
“Not sure? He said he was on his way earlier.”
“Should I give him a call?”
Just then the intercom rang.
“Is that Seong-min?”
“Speak of the devil~”
“Do I just turn the handle?”
“Yeah~ That unlocks the door lock~~!”
At Min-hyeok’s word, Mr. Kim opened the front door for him.
“Yep, it’s Seong-min~”
“You made it.”
“We only got here a little while ago ourselves.”
Voices exchanged near the entrance.
Mr. Kim and Mr. Seo stepped aside, and Seong-min walked in carrying a box.
“Welcome, hyung~!”
“Where should I put this?”
“Over there with the other gifts is fine~~!”
Seong-min set the microwave box down to one side.
“Looks pretty heavy.”
“Judging by the picture on the box, is that a microwave...?”
“It is.”
“Huk! Hyung, you actually bought a microwave after I mentioned it?!”
He’d once mentioned they were thinking of getting one, and Seong-min clearly hadn’t let it go in one ear and out the other.
“Figured it’d be better to bring something useful.”
Seong-min’s gaze drifted past the delighted Min-hyeok.
A-reum was looking his way.
Their eyes met, and she shyly turned her face away.
“Come on~ Don’t just stand around—come inside already~!!”
One by one the team members entered the living room and stopped short at the sight of the large table laden with food.
“You really went all out for this spread?!”
“You prepared all this just because we were coming for the housewarming?”
“Noona and I put it together together~~!”
“Really? We’re sorry... Making you go to all this trouble for us...”
“Yeah... We just came for a housewarming and ended up putting you out...”
“Ah... No... It’s fine...”
When they apologized to her, A-reum looked flustered.
“You’re making Min-hyeok’s sister uncomfortable~ Let’s just relax so she doesn’t feel pressured...”
“Everyone sit down~ I’ll dish up the soup and rice right now~~!”
Min-hyeok and A-reum ladled freshly cooked rice and a seafood stew thick with every kind of shellfish into bowls on a tray.
It looked like too much for A-reum to carry alone.
“I’ll help, noona.”
Seong-min stepped in and took the heavy tray. A-reum froze for a second, her face flushing.
Bowls of rice and seafood stew were set out one after another.
Then cold beers came out of the fridge, glasses were lined up, and a bottle opener appeared.
“Is it okay if we drink?”
“Don’t worry about it~”
“That’s what designated drivers are for, right?”
“Can’t have a good gathering like this without a drink or two~!”
Once the rice, seafood stew, beers, and glasses were all ready, everyone took their seats.
“I’ll pour a round for everyone~!”
“Go ahead, Min-hyeok.”
“Let’s all take a glass from our Min-hyeok for a bright future~!”
Pop!
The sound of a beer cap coming off filled the room as Min-hyeok poured a glass for each of them. One bottle wasn’t enough, so he cracked open another and kept going until he reached Seong-min.
“Here—I’ll pour yours, Min-hyeok.”
“Thank you~”
They filled Min-hyeok’s glass the same way.
“Does... your sister drink?”
“Noona doesn’t.”
“That so?”
“Just a second.”
Min-hyeok got up, pulled a bottle of cider from the fridge, and came back.
“Just pour her a soft drink.”
“Then I’ll do the honors. Congratulations on the move...”
“Thank you...”
A-reum accepted the poured cider with both hands, polite and careful.
“Your sister’s so well-mannered...”
“Isn’t she?”
“Min-hyeok mentioned you’re working, right?”
They asked A-reum curious little questions, sipped their drinks, and sampled the food laid out before them.
“Try this sweet-pumpkin fritter~ It’s fried perfectly.”
“And the butter-grilled shrimp—this is good too...”
“The bulgogi seasoning is spot-on~”
They picked at dish after dish, offering running commentary. Everything tasted excellent.
“The braised short ribs are perfect too~!”
The back-and-forth kept the beer flowing easily.
The seafood stew was spicy and rich, just right.
Naturally the praise for the meal kept coming—mostly for A-reum, of course.
“I just helped. Noona did most of the cooking~!”
“That so?”
“No wonder... I couldn’t believe this was Min-hyeok’s cooking~”
“Your sister’s quite the cook, isn’t she?”
“No... Min-hyeok... helped a lot.....”
“Haha... And modest on top of it...”
The intercom rang again. Min-hyeok got up to answer and, sure enough, it was Team Leader Jeong.
He opened the door, and Team Leader Jeong stepped inside.
“Welcome~!”
“Sorry I’m late, Min-hyeok.”
“It’s fine! We already heard it was work~!”
“That so...? Where should I put this?”
“Over there with the other gifts!”
“Got it.”
Team Leader Jeong set down the housewarming gift he’d brought.
“Hyung-nim, you’re finally here?”
“The meeting go well?”
“It did... Looks like I’m the last one.”
Seong-min offered a silent nod of greeting; Team Leader Jeong returned it with a slight tip of his head.
Then his eyes naturally found A-reum.
“Would you be Min-hyeok’s older sister...?”
“Yes... I’m Han A-reum... Thank you... for coming...”
A-reum had already risen from her seat and offered a modest bow.
“Haha... I’ve heard about you from Min-hyeok. I’m Jeong Gi-bok, the team leader. Congratulations on the move.”
“Thank you...”
“Noona, let’s get him some seafood stew and a plate.”
“Mm...”
A-reum nodded and headed for the sink with Min-hyeok.
“Sit here.”
Once he was seated, Team Leader Jeong looked around the place.
“Nice place you moved into.”
“We were just saying the same thing!”
“Brand-new villa, and it shows.”
“I even ducked into the bathroom earlier—clean and comfortable. Looks like Min-hyeok made a good move.”
Even a glance around the living room was enough to show it was a solid villa.
Meanwhile A-reum returned with a tray and set a bowl of rice, utensils, a bowl of seafood stew, and a beer glass in front of the seated team leader.
“Aigoo... Thank you.”
“It’s nothing...”
A-reum answered shyly, then carried the tray back toward Min-hyeok.
“Min-hyeok’s sister really is a beauty~”
“Just like hyung-nim said—I was surprised myself when I saw her~”
“What do you think, Seong-min?”
“Yeah, you’re still in your twenties, aren’t you?”
“Heart racing a little?”
Under the barrage of questions from the older men, Seong-min gave a wry smile.
He took a sip of beer and answered.
“A-reum noona is definitely pretty.”
“Ohhh~!”
“Does that mean you’re interested?”
“Youth, huh~!”
The noisy fuss made Min-hyeok snicker.
Then he leaned in and whispered into A-reum’s ear.
“They’re talking about you to hyung right now...”
“......”
A-reum couldn’t answer. She only flushed a little.
With Team Leader Jeong now present, the housewarming drinking party really hit its stride.
The conversation turned to who had brought what gift and whose was more expensive.
“1.2 million won?! Didn’t look cheap, but you bought a 1.2-million-won microwave?”
“Figured I might as well get a good one.”
“Impressive~”
“Just like the team’s ace—generous as hell~!”
“Team Leader’s gift looked even more expensive than mine.”
“Now that you mention it, what did you bring, hyung-nim?”
“Bought him a smart pad.”
“A smart pad...!”
“Figured a kid Min-hyeok’s age ought to have one of those to carry around.”
“Min-hyeok~ You’re lucky!”
“I know...! If we had a housewarming every day I’d be rich in no time. Heh heh...!”
“What?”
“You little punk, how are we supposed to buy gifts like this every single day?”
“Is that so?”
“Hahahahaha!!”
They traded easy banter and one drink after another.
Since A-reum didn’t drink, she simply accepted the soft drinks they poured for her.
When the beers they’d bought finally ran out, Min-hyeok spoke up.
“I’ll go buy more beer~!”
“We’re out already?”
“That’s why I’m going to get some..!”
“Stay here with the uncles.”
Seong-min rose from his seat.
“Huh?”
“You’re the guest of honor, and I haven’t drunk much, so I’ll go.”
“Then I feel bad...”
“Nothing to feel bad about, you idiot.”
“Yeah~ Do what Seong-min says. He’s thinking of you, Min-hyeok.”
When Team Leader Jeong backed him up, Min-hyeok had no choice but to nod.
“Then noona, go with hyung for me.”
A-reum, who had been sitting quietly, blinked and looked over.
“Better than hyung going alone. Going with noona would be nice. What do you think, hyung?”
A-reum turned her head toward Seong-min.
Their eyes met for a moment.
“If A-reum noona’s okay with it...”
Seong-min said he didn’t mind either way.
And so Seong-min and A-reum left the house together to buy beer at the nearby convenience store.
Once the two of them were gone—
“Min-hyeok.”
“Yes?”
“Be honest. You deliberately sent your sister off with Seong-min, didn’t you?”
“Ah, no...”
“Don’t give me that, you punk.”
“Looked to me like your sister’s interested in Seong-min.”
“More than just interested, right?”
“You think she likes him too, hyung-nim?”
“Looked that way.”
Team Leader Jeong crossed his arms and nodded.
The older men’s words left Min-hyeok flustered.
“You... all knew?”
“How could we not?”
“She only keeps sneaking looks at Seong-min.”
“Honestly... Seong-min’s not a bad choice. Kid’s diligent and has a good personality~”
“And he’s damn good at the job too.”
“Watching them leave together, they didn’t look half bad as a pair either.”
“Right?”
Everyone nodded. Min-hyeok just sat there with his mouth open, looking impressed.
“No need to look so shocked. How old do you think we are? You think we can’t see that much?”
“We’ve lived twice as long as you, Min-hyeok.”
“Looked like you were pushing your sister toward him too, am I right?”
“I can’t hide anything from you uncles...”
“Hey, who are you calling uncles..!”
“We’re still young and full of life~!”
Silence.
That was the elevator on the way down to the first floor.
A-reum kept stealing glances at Seong-min standing beside her.
First floor.
The elevator doors opened.
“Let’s get off.”
Seong-min stepped out.
A-reum followed.
They left the villa and walked along the street lit by streetlamps.
“It was uncomfortable, wasn’t it?”
A-reum looked at Seong-min.
“Even if it’s a housewarming, having that many people show up all of a sudden can’t be easy...”
“I’m... fine...”
A-reum’s voice was small.
“I kept thinking about what would make a good gift...”
A-reum didn’t answer; she only listened.
“Last time at the mart, Min-hyeok mentioned it... Said A-reum noona had been looking at microwaves. Said he’d buy one next time because it’d be useful to have.”
A-reum, who had been listening quietly, turned to look at Seong-min’s profile.
“So... that was it. That was the thought that hit me.”
Seong-min glanced at A-reum, who was studying his side face, and smiled with his eyes.
“A-reum noona.”
“Yes..?”
“Do they suit me?”
What was he saying suited him?
“The shoes.”
At those words A-reum lowered her head.
Seong-min had stopped for a moment. He was wearing sneakers.
Nike sneakers.
“I got rid of the old ones... and I’m wearing these—the ones you gave me as a gift. They’re really comfortable and nice.”
“Yes.....”
A-reum’s reply was barely a whisper, but Seong-min heard every word.
“We should get going... Everyone’s waiting.”
He started to walk again when—
“Um..”
“......?”
The voice from behind made Seong-min look back.
After a moment of hesitation, A-reum opened her mouth.
“...They... suit you...”
Seong-min smiled.
“Thank you, noona.”
And as Seong-min headed toward the convenience store, A-reum followed with lighter steps than before.
“What took you so long?”
“We almost died of thirst waiting for the beer, you punk...”
The older men lightly scolded Seong-min as he came back carrying the beer.
“All right~ Seong-min and A-reum are back~ Let’s pick it up again~!”
“To the housewarming~!”
And so the drinking went on late into the night.
“You sure you don’t need me to call a designated driver?”
“We already called them all.”
“Don’t worry about it.”
“A-reum, thanks for the meal~!”
“It was delicious!”
“Min-hyeok~ See you Monday!”
“Everyone be careful going home~!”
“Goodbye...”
They insisted there was no need to walk them outside, so the send-off stopped at the front door.
Once everyone had left, the house was left with empty plates, bowls, and beer bottles from the good meal.
“It’s going to take a while to clean all this up.”
A-reum nodded.
“Still, we got a lot of great housewarming gifts. Right, noona?”
A-reum nodded again.
They all rode the elevator down to the first floor together.
Since designated drivers had been called, they had to wait.
“Seong-min.”
“Yes?”
“What do you think of Min-hyeok’s sister?”
“A-reum noona?”
“Looked to me like she likes you.”
“What about you?”
“Well...”
“She’s a real beauty and a kind young woman.”
“Think about Min-hyeok too, and give it some real thought.”
Seong-min only offered a wry smile.
One by one the designated drivers arrived.
Seong-min said his goodbyes to Team Leader Jeong and the others who remained, then climbed into the back seat.
He gave the driver the destination and looked out the window.
I know...
Seong-min knew perfectly well.
That A-reum noona was looking at him as a man.
He’d realized it on her birthday.
Spending the whole day with her again had made it clear.
The way she looked at him wasn’t just gratitude.
“Ah~ All cleaned up!”
They had cleared every empty plate and bowl from the table and wiped everything down.
“Now just the dishes left.”
He turned toward the sink. It was piled high with dirty dishes.
“Min-hyeok... rest... I’ll... do the dishes...”
“Noona. They were my guests. I should do it.”
“No... Min-hyeok... rest... Noona will... do the dishes...”
She went ahead, pulled on the rubber gloves, turned on the water, and started washing right away. Watching her, Min-hyeok had no choice but to wipe down the table with a dishcloth.
As she worked the soap into the dishes, A-reum smiled brightly.
Because she kept remembering those words.
—Thank you, noona.
The whole time she washed the dishes, A-reum kept smiling, thinking of Seong-min in the sneakers she had given him and of the thank-you he had spoken.