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Ye Brothers x No-eul: in which the trio hangs out during one of No-eul's visits to Seoul, and the two brothers confirm a not-so-shocking hunch they've had all along.
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"You look happier. Is Gangneung Hospital really better than Sangook?" Ye Jin-woo sets a bowl of popcorn on the coffee table and sits on the couch.
"No hospital is perfect— that's what I'm learning," No-eul tells her long-time college friend. "But yes, having an accessible view of the ocean sure beats working in Seoul."
"Nah, you don't get a view of the Han River, though."
"Hyung, play the movie already. Ye Sun-woo chimes in before his brother could continue to annoy the female doctor.
"You'll always take her side, won't you?" The older Ye brother pretends to grumble.
"Noona barely gets to visit nowadays and when she does, all you do is tease her—"
"He does, doesn't he?" No-eul agrees, laughing. "Sunwoo-ya, you're in the right team." She sticks her tongue out at Jin-woo.
"Aish, so I'm the bad guy..." Jin-woo ruffles his hair and presses the play button on the remote control.
The animation plays and they fall into silence, a trio of adults brought back to their childhood. They munch on the popcorn, focused. The film has been a crowd favorite that it's no surprise they had all agreed to watch it during their time off from work.
Not long after the end credits appear, the three doctors still gaze at the television. Resting her head on Sun-woo's shoulder, No-eul yawns and stretches, kicking Jin-woo as she does so.
"Let's watch another one," Sun-woo says.
No-eul grins. "Yeah, I was thinking of—"
"Ya— you already chose the one we watched. Why are you picking again?" Jin-woo scowls at her. "I want to choose the next one. What do you say, Sunwoo-ya?"
"Ei, no need to band against me," No-eul retorts. The Ye brothers begin bantering about what they should watch next.
Checking her phone— which she'd set on silent mode earlier— No-eul reads the texts Seung-hyo had sent hours ago. She replies, assuring him she's okay and that they were planning to watch a second movie in a bit.
"I'll get us some drinks while you argue. Any requests?"
"Some beer please," Sun-woo replies.
No-eul takes two more beers and a can of sparkling water for herself. She mumbles to herself upon seeing the disorganized leftover food in their fridge, not noticing her phone lighting up on the coffee table.
"Noona, we're ready," Sun-woo calls out to her.
"Ppali," Jin-woo adds impatiently. "Wait, someone's calling... you..." He picks her phone up, his gaze transfixed at the screen.
"Hyung, what's with you?" Sun-woo leans against his older brother, freezing up as he reads the name on the caller ID.
"I get that you boys are busy, but you really should check for any expired items in—"
"You might want to get over here," Jin-woo interrupts. "The Cutest Puppy is calling you."
No-eul runs over to grab her phone, rushing to take the call outside. "Start the movie without me—"
"Didn't know you could talk to animals," Jin-woo teases.
The pediatrician's face flushes red as she steps outside. The two boys sit on the couch, letting their unspoken thoughts settle. Sun-woo hits the play button, and the opening scene fades in.
"Ye Sun-woo," Jin-woo worries for his brother. "Gwaenchana?"
"Why shouldn't I be?"
"You saw—"
"I know." Sun-woo nods. "Don't tease her about it."
"But are you okay?"
"It was only a matter of time before she met someone she liked."
"It's not that I'm against her dating. But I have a hunch she's seeing—"
"Mr. Gu."
"You too?" Jin-woo nudges his brother.
"Noona's not that hard to figure out. You think I don't notice how often she mentions him in our conversations?" Sun-woo looks down at his legs. "Besides, he seems to care for her."
"How'd you know what he thinks of her? I don't trust him."
"He's a good person."
"Aigo, No-eul and her taste in men—"
"Let her tell us when she's ready," Sun-woo says with finality. "When they're both ready."
No-eul, the doctor in question, returns inside and smiles stiffly at them. The Ye brothers glue their eyes on the screen, pretending to not have talked about her.
"What did I miss?"
"Not much," Sun-woo tells her. "The killer attacked his 5th victim, no big deal."
"Already?" Handing the two men their beers, No-eul sits in between them again.
"Ain't that life?" Jin-woo answers. "You don't expect things to happen, but they do..."
No-eul fumbles with her phone. "Well, the one I spoke with just now..."
"Hmm?" Jin-woo tries his best to sound disinterested.
She takes a deep breath, as if plunging into the depths of the sea. "I thought you both should know I'm dating Gu Seung-hyo." No-eul rambles through her words. "I know it's nothing anyone could have seen coming, and you may say it's way too sudden, but before anything else—"
"Noona, don't feel guilty about it," Sun-woo smiles at her. "You don't need to explain yourself."
Jin-woo crosses his arms. "My brother's right. Still, he'll have to face us if he hurts you. Tell him that."
Overcome with gratitude by their cool acceptance, No-eul grabs the remote control and pauses the movie. She faces the Ye brothers, her eyes welling up with tears as she beams at them.
"Ya— why'd you—" Jin-woo immediately complains.
"Gomawo." No-eul opens up her arms and pulls the two boys in a tight hug. "My dearest brothers, gomawo," she repeats.
"Aniya." Sun-woo rubs her back. "As long as you're happy, Noona."
"Must we hug in this summer heat?" Jin-woo pulls away, chuckling. "Get back to your seat so we can watch the movie." He opens the can of sparkling water and hands it to No-eul before resuming the action film.