Operation Once Again (1)
Eventually, as the mood grew tense, Hayan unnie took Yuyeong out with her, asking me to look after Iri unnie.
"Phew~"
"Cool off with this for now."
"Taeyang, you've just been letting Yuyeong act like that?"
I'd stepped out to the bench for a moment and offered Iri unnie some ice cream to help her cool down too.
"No matter how many times I tried to talk her out of it, she stayed like that."
"Then you should've told everyone around...! Ah, never mind."
True to her straightforward personality, Iri unnie was easy to read—she snatched the ice cream and shoved a big scoop into her mouth to cool off. Eating it that fast would give her brain freeze, right on cue. She clutched her head with a ding.
"Haa~ We ganged up on you like that, so I don't have anything to say. Sorry."
Iri unnie was reflecting on how she'd been made to apologize so cluelessly back at the study session.
"It's fine. Water under the bridge."
It was partly my fault for cutting ties with Yuyeong so easily. I just hadn't realized the aftermath would drag on this long.
"Anyway, Taeyang, you're way too soft. When that happens, you gotta get mad, stop worrying about others' feelings, and push back hard."
Iri unnie had calmed down and started ruffling my hair. It was sudden, but being tamed felt like this—I was so used to it that it didn't faze me at all.
"Must've been tough, huh?"
"Annoying, yeah."
In truth, there'd been plenty of heart-stopping moments trying to prevent Yuyeong's yandere transformation.
"You mean the soccer club thing."
"Huh?"
Iri unnie must've heard about it too. All I'd done was transfer and not join the soccer club, but in Yuyeong's head, some full-blown high school sports manga was serializing.
She'd probably conspired with Iri unnie, spouting weird stuff about trauma and whatever.
"Well, everyone goes through rough patches in sports. You did too, unnie."
And as a former athlete herself, Iri unnie could relate.
"It wasn't anything serious. I just didn't wanna do it."
"Hehe, I know."
Iri unnie grinned warmly and ruffled my hair even more playfully.
"Eut... Feels like you don't get it at all."
She flashed a mischievous smile and said brightly,
"Whatever it is, unnie's always on your side, Taeyang. You can tell me anything, anytime."
"Unnie..."
My nose tingled for no reason. Sure, there were still some misunderstandings, but Iri unnie remained someone I could truly relax around.
Ever since those past-life memories resurfaced, I hadn't had a single peaceful day. I'd been on edge, fretting if the people around me might turn yandere, blocking Seonwoo's flags, worrying if I was accidentally building my own—day after day.
But with Iri unnie, I could just goof off without a care.
And she'd have my back like this if anyone showed signs of going yandere. She was my one and only ally.
"You're all I've got, Iri unnie."
"What're you talking about? Hayan's here too, and if something's bothering you, just tell your unnies."
Iri unnie smiled gently without any possessiveness, stroking my hair.
As we spent this peaceful moment, two familiar figures appeared in the distance. Hayan unnie and Yuyeong must've finished talking.
I'd actually been worried. What if Yuyeong said something weird to Hayan unnie, like she had to Iri unnie? I wanted to intervene, but I had to calm Iri unnie first, and with me there, Yuyeong's Yandere Stage 1 wouldn't lift, so I'd stepped away.
"Back?"
"Yeah. Sorry to keep you waiting."
Hayan unnie looked incredibly bright, like the talk had gone well. Yuyeong hadn't fully gone yandere yet, so she probably hadn't threatened Hayan unnie... but actually, Yuyeong looked the one who'd been cowed.
Yuyeong crept up hesitantly from behind Hayan unnie.
"Taeyang, I'm sorry."
Yuyeong bowed deeply to me.
"I'm really sorry for pushing when it made you uncomfortable. I won't bring up the soccer club anymore."
What wind blew this way? I glanced at Hayan unnie. She just watched us with a serene, pleased smile.
"Sorry to you too, Iri unnie. It was my stubbornness."
"Uh..."
Iri unnie looked bewildered, glancing between me and Hayan unnie.
"Apologize to Taeyang. I'm good."
"Yes. I'll do better from now on. Really sorry, Taeyang."
"Uh... yeah."
Apology or not, I was too stunned by Yuyeong's demeanor to respond properly.
"Hehe, great. Everyone made up now?"
How had Hayan unnie pulled off what even I couldn't? After that, the stubborn Yuyeong stopped trying to stick to my side, attempting skinship, or drawing attention—no more of that.
"Bye!"
"Had fun!"
Even during goodbyes, Yuyeong was just... normal. Yeah, she started out low-energy but gradually perked up, showing exactly the Yuyeong from Love Chain.
"Thanks for today, Hayan unnie!"
One odd thing: for some reason, Yuyeong had started following Hayan unnie around like a good little sister.
"Unnie, what happened with Yuyeong?"
"Just told her to get along nicely."
"...That's not all, right?"
"Huh? What else is there besides having fun?"
Hayan unnie laughed and hooked her arm through mine.
"Anyway, let's head home quick. Mom's gotta be hungry~"
I was left with a vague feeling, but since it ended well, that was fine. From that day, Yuyeong turned into an oddly well-behaved girl.
I was resting in my room when someone knocked. Well, only unnie was home anyway.
"Come in."
Hayan unnie opened the door with a smile.
"Taeyang~"
"Why're you so hyped again?"
Unnie strolled in wearing comfy dolphin pants and a plain white sleeveless tee, then immediately claimed my bed.
"Uwaa~ So soft and fluffy."
"If you're gonna lie down, go to your room."
She had a better bed than mine anyway.
"A little brother's bed is the comfiest, I tell ya."
"Then swap beds with me."
"Maybe it's the feng shui of your room?"
"Swap rooms then."
Ignoring me, Hayan unnie beamed and hugged my pillow before getting to the point.
"Taeyang. Know what day it is today?"
"Today?"
I checked the calendar. Golden Week was over... nothing special?
As I tilted my head, unnie answered energetically.
"Silly~ It's the entry results announcement day!"
"Entry results?... That dessert shop?"
"Yep. Hurry and check the homepage."
She came all the way to my room for that? I was dumbfounded, but her expectant eyes made me boot up the computer.
The loading finished, and the screen popped up. I typed in the homepage URL, and unnie, who'd gotten off the bed, pressed right up against me.
She must've just showered—the scent of body wash wafted over. Guess I should shower soon too.
I entered unnie's name first on the site.
Sorry, but the customer's name is not on the winner list.
Thud—
What was that? Unnie had plopped down in her seat.
"Uuu... My teddy bear."
How did her bright face turn to a pout in seconds over one cake?
"You ate it last time too."
"But it was so good... Ah, Taeyang, check yours quick!"
Before unnie could see, I hurriedly entered my entry info—not as Kim Taeyang, but as Lee Sooseong.
I figured it wouldn't win anyway, but...
Congratulations! Lee Sooseong, you have won the Teddy Bear Delivery Service.
I heard mumbling beside me and turned. Unnie was reading the screen aloud in a daze.
"......Whoa, you won!!!"
She pumped her fist in triumphant cheers. Anyone would've thought she won.
"But why's the name Lee Sooseong?"
"Huh? Oh, I figured it wouldn't win, so I jokingly changed it."
"Hng?"
She still looked unconvinced.
"I was gonna surprise you if it did, but you coming in here ruined it."
"Ah, ahaha, r-right."
I brushed it off with an excuse, and unnie approached with a laugh.
"Taeyang~"
Her sweet voice dripped with expectation.
"Never said I was giving it to you, unnie."
"What?... "
"It's mine. I can do what I want with it."
"Ugh... but... Taeyang? Didn't unnie buy you food and clothes?"
"I'll consider it. Plenty of time left."
"Hahaha, Taeyang, anything you wanna eat?"
"We just ate. What're you on about?"
Thud—
Unnie dropped to her knees.
"One week off dish duty."
"Guess I'll go wash up then."
"Cleaning exemption too~!!"
I shut down the computer and left the room. With Hayan unnie's good nature, she wouldn't steal my win by hijacking my info, so I left it at that.
"Sorry, unnie."
Honestly, I considered just giving it to her this time. But something still nagged at me.
Cho Yuli.
Checking her SNS lately, she was posting gloomy stuff again. Looked like I needed to relaunch Operation "The World Is Still a Warm Place!".
If Yuli's mental state crumbled again like this, she might cling to Seonwoo. Crucial here: I absolutely couldn't let her know it was me—had to fool her as someone else.
I'd entered as "Lee Sooseong" on purpose and, unavoidably, used my phone number for emergency contact. Delivery folks wouldn't ask for a name if there's an issue—they'd call the number.
So when the delivery guy called me over some shipping error, I'd ask to speak to Yuli. I'd spin a tale about suddenly emigrating abroad, making it hard to come to Korea, and planning to ditch this Korean-registered contact soon.
Then Yuli, upon getting the cake, wouldn't have reason to share or call this number.
What if she tried contacting anyway? I had a fix for that too.
First, the prep: a voice modulator. I'd eyed one on an online shop—reviews and demo videos looked solid. It'd be key for rolling out Operation "The World Is Still a Warm Place!" going forward.
I ordered the voice modulator on my phone right away and headed for a shower.