78. Can't You Just Leave Us Alone Already?
Really, can't you just leave us the hell alone? Why do you have to be so damn annoying? Isn't all this interest a bit much? ...I knew it was a total piece-of-shit thought, but that was my first reaction when I spotted the uninvited guest showing up at the cafe right as we were wrapping up work.
"What the hell, Kim Ga-eul. Why're you making that face at your cousin noona? You hate her that much?"
"Yeah."
"Whoa... how'd you turn out like this from that sweet kid you used to be?"
"...Why're you here."
"To see Gyeo-ul, obviously. You guys are done for the day, right?"
"...Yeah."
"Noona's buying dinner, so come on. Payday's next week—my treat."
It had been forever since I'd seen my cousin noona face-to-face. ...Not that I wanted to, if I could help it. I'd even planned to fake being stuck at work over Lunar New Year. One slip-up with her, and she'd sniff out any lies. Honestly, she scares me.
"...Ah, unnie."
"Ah! Gyeo-ulie~"
Gyeo-ul came out after changing, looking dazed as she walked awkwardly toward us—only to get swept into a hug by noona rushing at her. ...No, noona, seriously. What's the big deal? Sis squirmed uncomfortably in her arms like a trapped kid before finally wriggling free.
"But noona, how'd you know where we work?"
"Gyeo-ul told me. Said you finish at 5, so I figured I'd treat you guys to a meal."
"...Oppa, why're you staring at me."
"Why'd you tell her."
Why the hell did you tell her that? What if it gets back to Mom? We told her we finish at 6. I shot her a glare full of reproach, and she fired back with those wide, innocent eyes like I didn't do anything wrong. ...Well, fair enough. Noona's the type who'd do a full background check if we tried hiding it on purpose. Tell her 6, and boom—she shows up at 6 one day hunting us down.
"Hey, Kim Ga-eul. That hurts my feelings, you know? You hate noona that much?"
"...Kidding. Let's just go eat already."
"Ah, hold up. My friend's nearby—she lives around here. Let's eat with her. I owe her a meal."
"Friend?"
"Yeah. She's your age. A tiny bit prettier than me, lives close by. Sometimes crashes at her place. Oh, she has a little sis—super cute. Not as cute as our Gyeo-ul, though."
"...Same age as me, but friends with noona?"
"Hey, a four-year gap's no biggie for friends. Right?"
"What kinda nonsense is that, noona? Heh, seriously."
Four years apart and friends? No way in hell. Does hanging out in the real world warp your brain that much?
"Anyway, let's all four go. You might even know her? Same uni as you, probably... electrical engineering or something."
"...Unnie. What's your friend's name, by any chance?"
"Name? Why?"
"Just curious."
"Haneul. Shin Haneul. Ring any bells?"
...Damn. The world's way too small. Is this how popular kids roll? How do they all have these massive social circles?
"...Noona. She's my dongsaeng. Same major."
"Oh, really? Perfect then! You know each other. Let's eat together."
"This job's through her too. It's her aunt's place."
"No way? You and Haneul are close? That's wild. Little aunt always griped about you being a shut-in."
"Nah. Not close."
"Pfft, no way she'd hook you up if you weren't."
"...Unnie, can't we just eat the three of us?"
"Sorry, Gyeo-ulie. No can do. Already invited her. Come on, together?"
"Unnie, you're impossible..."
"...G-Gyeo-ulie? Why so mad? You're scaring unnie."
Gyeo-ul snapped at noona with a hint of real anger. ...Calm down, Gyeo-ul. You'll just make it more suspicious. I snuck a hand behind noona and gently stroked sis's back; she swallowed her words, forcing down her irritation. Sigh... I get it. ...We'd planned to head straight home and chill today.
"No choice. Let's do four, Kim Gyeo-ul."
"...Fine."
"Y-You're... okay with it, right Gyeo-ulie?"
"Yeah, it's fine... I just wanted it to be me and unnie. Kinda awkward with someone I'm not close to."
"...Unnie'll treat you again later. Promise?"
"...Yeah."
Sis snapped out of it and pulled her cute act, melting noona's face into mush. She yanked Gyeo-ul into another hug, rubbing cheeks. ...Way too easy. Sometimes. Even knowing we're both full of shit, I doubt it'd fool her this smoothly.
"What the—why're the cafe's top revenue siblings hanging with unnie?"
"My cousin dongsaengs. Surprised?"
"Ah... yeah, you do kinda look alike."
"And wait—what? That cafe's your aunt's?"
"Hahaha, can't spill that or it'd blow my cover, unnie. Gotta sneak you in like it's just some random good spot~."
"Whoa, Shin Haneul's got a sharp head on her."
"Pfft, not like Anna unnie?"
We'd settled on a pork belly joint—grease her up good so little aunt wouldn't feel bad sending her off. Haneul, who'd arrived first, patted the seat next to her, plopping noona down. Naturally, we sat side-by-side across from them and exchanged greetings.
"Hey."
"...Hey."
"Yeah, hey~ Our aunt talks about you guys all the time."
"Oh yeah?"
"Sales doubled—she was thrilled. Says cafes need pretty faces and hotties to thrive."
...Doubt it's us. Just more foot traffic lately. I figured she was pinning reasons on results when noona jumped in.
"Gyeo-ulie, what'll you have? Samgyeopsal? Galbi?"
"Just samgyeopsal for me."
"Kim Ga-eul?"
"Samgyeopsal."
"Haneul?"
"Me too."
"Everyone drinking?"
"Nah."
No way I'm getting wasted here. God knows what disaster that'd unleash. If noona pries about girlfriends again and I blurt something stupid, life's over.
"C'mon, loosen up for once. You like booze. It's the weekend tomorrow."
"Quit drinking. Not touching it."
"Suuure, says the guy who'll cave later. Haneul?"
"Ah, I'll drink, unnie."
"Good girl. Two bottles first—more if needed."
"...Me too, unnie."
...Sigh. Why's she volunteering out of nowhere? The meat smell's making my headache worse.
"Oh, Gyeo-ulie's drinking too?"
"Just a little."
"Don't, Kim Gyeo-ul."
"Why not."
"You're a lightweight. Don't."
"I'm not weak. Better than you."
"Cut the bullshit and have cola. Booze is bad for you."
"...Isn't cola worse?"
She's a total mess when drunk... super honest, starts shit without batting an eye. Why push it now? That stressed lately?
"Ga-eul. I get you looove your sis, but noona's oldest here?"
"Yeah."
"And I wanna see cute drunk Gyeo-ulie all wobbly, so elder rights—I'm pouring. Shut it."
"...Noona drunk already?"
"Might as well pre-game. Right, Haneul?"
"Totally fine~"
"Yup yup. Three bottles of soju it is~"
Those two clicked like pros, steamrolling the plan. ...Gyeo-ul, c'mon. Just listen to me for once. Why rebel now?
The booze and meat arrived, samgyeopsal sizzling on the grill. I'd planned to cook, but noona snatched the tongs—"You can't even grill"—leaving me staring blankly. Surprisingly, sis broke the ice first.
"Um... oppa's dongsaeng."
"Just call me Haneul unnie casually. You're basically family—I'll call you Gyeo-ul too."
"...Sure. So, how'd you and unnie get close?"
"Uh... kinda hard for me to explain... Anna unnie, cool if I tell?"
"...I'll plug my ears, so spill."
Noona squeezed her eyes shut, hands over ears like she dreaded it. Why block your eyes too? If it's bad history, why even meet?
"...Anna unnie's ex was someone I knew."
"Yeah."
"My friend was tight with him. Ran into each other, exchanged names, got friendly with unnie... then I found out he cheated on her with my friend."
"...Ah."
"Debated it... but told her and bonded instead. Couldn't let it slide, even for a friend. Cheating's cheating."
"Oh, gotcha..."
Ah... so that's the backstory. ...Doesn't that wreck things with her old friend? Damn, she's got some strong morals. Way more dangerous than I thought. ...Better steer clear.
"...Haneul, done?"
"Yeah, unnie."
"Ahem. That's the story. Curiosity satisfied, Gyeo-ulie?"
"...Yeah."
"Noona, you really cover your ears? ...Heard everything?"
"What? Didn't hear a thing. La la la... nothing."
Noona shook her head pitifully, drowning it in soju. That bad from the betrayal? Now I feel guilty. ...We're betraying everyone in real-time, if you think about it. My numb conscience poked back up, jabbing my heart.
"Anyway, our Gyeo-ulie—date properly! Vet 'em good! Nice guys only, no cheaters. ...Meet someone like unnie, and you'll lose faith in humanity. You too, Kim Ga-eul."
"Ah, unnie. Gyeo-ul's got a boyfriend already?"
"...Huh?"
I was chowing kimchi to soothe my guilt when Haneul dropped a bomb she shouldn't have.
"Heard it at the cafe—friends said you both have lovers."
...Fuck, I'm losing it. How many spies has she parachuted into that cafe, goddamn it...