What's Done is Done Anyway. Chirp Chirp Chirp.
Chirp chirp chirp.
The chirping of sparrows outside the window. Warm morning sunlight filtering through the gap in the thin curtains.
"Mm..."
Kim Na-yeon woke up in the cozy blankets, stretching but then freezing mid-motion.
An unfamiliar ceiling. And the faint scent of men's skincare and fabric softener wafting from her own body.
"Ah...!"
Only then did last night's events flash through her mind like a panorama.
The original plan had been to sneak out at dawn, pretending nothing had happened.
But Kim Na-yeon, who usually suffered from severe insomnia, found Seo Eun-seong's bed—impregnated with his scent—so incredibly comfortable that she'd slept soundly until past 9 a.m.
"I'm crazy! Kim Na-yeon! You're seriously insane!"
She tore at her hair and climbed out of bed. Pacing the room, unable to do this or that, she stomped her feet in frustration.
"I must've lost my mind..."
And then the harsh reality hit her.
She felt so ashamed and embarrassed about trying to seduce the pure Seo Eun-seong with impure intentions in the early hours of the morning.
Plus, out there, Seo Ha-rin and those scary(?) idol members were probably standing guard.
That was when it happened.
"Oppa! When the heck is actress Kim Na-yeon gonna wake up?"
Seo Ha-rin's sharp voice came from the living room beyond the door.
"Shh. Keep it down, Ha-rin. She drank a lot last night, so she's probably exhausted. You keep an eye on her."
Seo Eun-seong's gentle voice followed. He was still worrying about her, gently scolding his little sister.
Haa... I'm such trash...
Kim Na-yeon felt even more sorry toward Seo Eun-seong, who had taken care of her despite the trouble.
In the end, she clenched her fists and mustered her courage. Hiding here forever was cowardly.
"Um..."
Click.
As soon as she opened the door and stepped out, her eyes met Seo Ha-rin's, who was sitting on the living room sofa.
"....."
Seo Ha-rin, arms crossed, scanned Kim Na-yeon up and down with a cool gaze.
"You're up?"
Her voice dripped with wariness.
Even Kim Na-yeon thought it was natural for Seo Ha-rin to be on guard. After all, whose little sister would be thrilled if her older brother carried a drunk woman home late at night?
"Um... Ha-rin."
Instead of making excuses, Kim Na-yeon meekly bowed her head.
"I'm really sorry about last night. I imposed on you so late without a word... to Eun-seong, and to you too... I caused such a huge nuisance. I truly apologize."
"Pardon...?"
Seo Ha-rin was inwardly surprised. She hadn't expected the top actress, famous for her high nose, to apologize so readily—and sincerely, at that.
"Well, then. I'll be off. Sorry again..."
Just as Kim Na-yeon hurriedly turned toward the entrance—
"Wait a sec."
Seo Ha-rin sighed deeply and stood up. She jerked her chin toward Kim Na-yeon.
"What's done is done anyway—what can we do about it? And noona, you still look rough. Take it slow."
"Huh? My condition?"
Kim Na-yeon reflexively turned on her phone screen to check her face.
"Eek! What do I do!"
She let out a small scream and covered her face.
Having slept after drinking without removing her makeup, her mascara had smudged into dark circles, and her skin looked dry and dull. It was her worst bare-faced look ever—like a homeless person.
I can't let Eun-seong see me like this!
Seo Ha-rin smirked at the flustered, panicking Kim Na-yeon.
"Haa... My room has an attached bathroom. Go there. I've got cleansing foam and skin lotion. At least wash up and fix yourself before you go."
At Seo Ha-rin's unexpected kindness, Kim Na-yeon's face lit up with gratitude.
"Th-thank you! Really, thank you!"
She bowed repeatedly and dashed into Seo Ha-rin's room.
"Sigh... Me, of all people... having to help fix up the bare face of some girl oppa brought home."
Seo Ha-rin grabbed the back of her neck and shook her head as she muttered.
That was when Seo Eun-seong emerged from the kitchen, wearing an apron.
"Huh? Ha-rin? Where's Na-yeon noona? I heard her come out of the room earlier."
"She looked a mess, so I told her to fix up in my room. She's an actress, after all."
Seo Ha-rin replied curtly.
Seo Eun-seong beamed at his sister's generous consideration, which he hadn't expected from her prickly side.
"As expected of my little sis. Pretty face and a kind heart to match."
"Shut up. You'll regret it later when there's no gravy left. Just feed me."
"Um..."
With her makeup removed and hair neatly tied up, Kim Na-yeon timidly emerged into the living room.
Seo Eun-seong stood from the sofa and greeted her warmly.
"Na-yeon noona. Feeling better inside now?"
His clear, kind eyes. Kim Na-yeon averted her gaze, half embarrassed, half apologetic.
"Yeah... I'm okay. I was so rude last night. I must've gone crazy. Well, I'll get going then."
As she hurried toward the entrance, Seo Eun-seong quickly spoke up.
"I made breakfast for Ha-rin and me. Join us before you go, Na-yeon noona."
"Huh? Oh, no. How could I..."
"Come on, Na-yeon noona. Ha-rin and you have already seen everything there's to see anyway—no need to worry. Eat comfortably and go."
"O-okay... then... I will. Eun-seong."
Unable to resist his kindness, Kim Na-yeon let herself be led to the table.
And then—
"Oh?"
Kim Na-yeon's eyes widened at the sight of the table.
Steaming bean sprout soup and rolled omelet. Gentle side dishes perfect for soothing a hangover, neatly arranged.
"I made hangover soup since you drank so much. Dig in."
Seo Eun-seong ladled some soup and pushed it toward her.
"Tha...nk you..."
Kim Na-yeon picked up her spoon, suppressing the lump in her throat.
This man who had even made hangover soup and prepared breakfast. She felt so small and pathetic for harboring shallow desires toward someone so pure and warm.
"I'll eat well..."
She scooped a spoonful of bean sprout soup. The cool, spicy broth slid down her throat, melting away the chill in her body and heart.
And that wasn't all.
"Seo Ha-rin... who eats bean sprout soup picking out all the sprouts? Eat some sprouts too."
"I hate bean sprouts? Be grateful I'm even drinking the broth."
"Oh? Not very grasshopper-like of you? Seo Ha-rin?"
"So what? Even grasshoppers are picky about food."
Throughout the meal, Seo Eun-seong and Seo Ha-rin bickered like any real siblings in their everyday banter.
She has such a great oppa...
Kim Na-yeon suddenly envied Seo Ha-rin for having such a reliable, affectionate older brother.
"Oh, right. And Ha-rin. About our music video shoot... I'm really worried."
"What's to worry about? You're the talk of the town as a genius actor these days."
"That's just the atmosphere the directors created. This is my first lead role... and it's your group's title track MV. I don't want to mess it up."
Seo Eun-seong sighed as he spoke.
"Don't worry. We're pros, so just add your spoon to the pot."
Seo Ha-rin reassured him.
Kim Na-yeon, who had been quietly listening, cautiously spoke up.
"Eun-seong. You're shooting a music video?"
"Yeah. It's Ha-rin's group title song MV, and I'm the male lead. Super nervous since it's my first lead."
Seo Eun-seong smiled sheepishly.
Then he asked her.
"Have you ever done one, Na-yeon noona?"
"Yeah, a bunch when I was a rookie. It's tough acting only with expressions, no lines, but that's what makes it so appealing."
Seeing his worry reminded her of her own passionate, innocent rookie days. At the same time, she strongly wanted to repay last night's apology.
"Um, Eun-seong. Is there anything I can help with? Like script reading together..."
"Huh? Noona, how about a cameo in our MV?"
Seo Ha-rin, who had been eating quietly, suddenly chimed in.
"Me?"
"Yeah. With top actress Kim Na-yeon in a cameo, our MV would blow up. This single's our comeback after six months, so it's huge."
Seo Ha-rin's eyes gleamed slyly.
A cameo from top actress Kim Na-yeon. It was buzz no PR team could buy, no matter the budget.
Plus, it was Seo Ha-rin's way of settling the score for making her oppa suffer last night.
If she refused? It'd give her perfect reason to never let her near oppa again.
"Ah... a cameo?"
Kim Na-yeon pondered briefly, then smiled softly.
"Sure! I've already imposed on you and Ha-rin so much—if it helps, I'd love to."
"Whoa! Really? Na-yeon noona's an angel!"
Seo Eun-seong grinned brightly, thrilled.
"Thanks? Kim Na-yeon sunbaenim?"
Seo Ha-rin smiled outwardly but thought inwardly.
What? She's agreeing so easily without haggling? Maybe she's not that weird after all?
For a moment, Seo Ha-rin's wariness toward Kim Na-yeon softened a bit.
As breakfast wrapped up, Siren's manager Kim Tae-ho came upstairs to pick up Seo Ha-rin.
"Ha-rin! Ready to... Huh?!"
Kim Tae-ho froze upon entering through the front door and spotting Kim Na-yeon on the living room sofa.
"K-Kim Na-yeon actress...?! Why is she here...?!"
"Ah~ Tae-ho oppa. Don't freak. She's a noona I met through our oppa—just visiting our place. You know she's the female lead in his movie, right?"
Seo Ha-rin smoothly covered.
"Really? This guy's connections have reached this far already?"
Instead of suspicion, Kim Tae-ho was impressed. A close tie with the famously aloof top actress Kim Na-yeon. Seo Eun-seong's natural affability was something else.
"Ha-rin. Let's go. We gotta hit the salon."
"Yeah. Oppa! Kim Na-yeon sunbaenim! I'm off first!"
Seo Ha-rin left with Kim Tae-ho.
A moment later, Seo Eun-seong grabbed his outerwear and walked Kim Na-yeon out to the apartment complex entrance.
"You can grab a taxi from here."
He called a Coconut Taxi for her.
Kim Na-yeon stared at her toes wistfully before cautiously speaking.
"Eun-seong. Thanks for the delicious breakfast."
"No biggie. Sunbaenim... ah, no, Na-yeon noona. Even though filming's wrapped, recharge and rest well. Fighting."
"Pardon...?"
"You said you felt empty after the movie ended. So yeah."
"Ah... did I say that?"
He remembered words even she didn't. With that same pure, warm gaze.
"Thank you."
Kim Na-yeon let out a soft chuckle. The more she knew him, the more of a gem he was.
"Let's keep looking out for each other, Eun-seong. And..."
"Yeah?"
"Sorry for... having bad thoughts last night, even briefly."
"Bad thoughts? When did you, Na-yeon noona?"
Seo Eun-seong asked innocently, as if he had no idea.
At that foolish question, Kim Na-yeon smiled and went up on tiptoes.
"Such a good boy."
She gently stroked his head.
"Huh? Noona?"
"You're so... innocently kind, Eun-seong. See you at the MV shoot!"
She climbed into the arrived taxi, rolled down the window, and waved.
"I'm a fool?"
Seo Eun-seong stood dazed, watching the taxi drive away. The warmth of Kim Na-yeon's hand still lingered on his head.