Chapter Text
“Shin Yoosung, you got a boyfriend?”
On their way home, Lee Gilyoung asked abruptly.
They had just finished school and were walking on the same and usual route home. This was the direction that Shin Yoosung and Lee Gilyoung had always taken.
In hundreds of mornings and evenings, they had walked on this road together. They hit the road together and went home together. From spring to winter and all over again, it had never changed.
“Yeah. Why?” Shin Yoosung was making her steps ahead of Lee Gilyoung, not turning her head back at his question.
Lee Gilyoung stared at her back. The sense of betrayal made him grit his teeth in silent fury.
What are you doing? Why! How could you?
He barely held back these words, and eventually, he just said, “Nothing.”
Noticing the reluctance in his words, Shin Yoosung quietly giggled to herself. She had already predicted what his reaction would be, and of course he was like this. After all, they had once plotted and implemented multiple schemes against several romantic relationships with each other, to simply prevent everyone from leaving Kim Dokja’s Company.
So Jung Heewon and Lee Hyunsung were the beginning of their secret missions.
They created a crisis for the two children and made them realize how serious the things were.
As the first couple in the company, permission to officially date each other were granted by the boss, and they even moved out of the residence the whole Kim Dokja’s Company shared.
Which means, they were parting with the family.
Shin Yoosung and Lee Gilyoung watched, and they both came to the conclusion that there could be no more cases like those two.
If everybody were like them, fell in love with someone and left with that “someone,” would it not lead to the dissolution of Kim Dokja’s Company?
And what breaks a family has always been unnecessary romantic relationships. If you’re already a member of a family, how can you just fall in love and start another?
That was so not allowed.
Rules of “No Dating Your Colleagues” had become empty words.
Then, if the original rules were abandoned, Shin Yoosung and Lee Gilyoung would be determined to be the new ones.
“Hyunsung Oppa, it’s our school’s Sports Day next Saturday. Will you come and cheer for us?”
“Oh, next Saturday?”
Lee Hyunsung gave a rather uncomfortable look. Well, of course he did. He had a date with Jung Heewon on that day, which had been planned weeks ago. There was no difficulty to tell how much he looked forward to it through his expressions; therefore, even the kids were able to know the actual date.
Shin Yoosung made a pitiful look and said, “I want you to come. Will that be fine?”
Lee Hyunsung turned and gazed into the distance. In his view, Jung Heewon was having a conversation with Lee Gilyoung. Later, Jung Heewon raised her head and shrugged at him while making a sign to him with a look.
Lee Hyunsung comprehended immediately, stretching his hand to give a pat on Shin Yoosung’s shoulder, “Of course we’ll be present. Thank you for inviting us.”
Assuring the children, Lee Hyunsung made eye contact with Jung Heewon, and then they smiled at each other. Their smiles were alike. Despite the cancellation of their delicate date, there was no reluctance or annoyance shown through their smiles, suggesting they were sincerely happy for the kids.
They were still willing to participate in the children’s school activities and even put away their original arrangements. In other terms, Kim Dokja’s Company might still manage to be put on the top priority.
On the weekend, while respectively messing with those two on the grass, Shin Yoosung and Lee Gilyoung exchanged a look.
Alert lifted. Keep your guard up.
Ultimately, the first mission came to an end quite casually because they realized that though Jung Heewon and Lee Hyunsung had moved out to live in their rental house, they still visited Kim Dokja’s Company and lived with them twice or thrice in a week. Moreover, neither of them ever missed the company’s gathering on weekends.
Nothing seemed to change with Jung Heewon still being the most caring sister of theirs (well, one of them, or maybe the superlative one of them) and Lee Hyunsung being accompanying every time they needed him, which was dependable as always.
Jung Heewon and Lee Hyunsung were together, indeed. They, however, neither consequently left Kim Dokja’s Company nor left empty spaces in Shin Yoosung’s and Lee Gilyoung’s lives.
Still, never let down the guard.
Shin Yoosung and Lee Gilyoung held secret seminars on every sleepless night.
They lied on the floor face to face, sharing words of discussion nervously and seriously.
“Who will be next?”
“I don’t know, but not Dokja Hyung for sure.”
Lee Gilyoung’s face was terribly close, so was his breath. Though being exhausted, his eyes were still gleaming with dim light.
Shin Yoosung could see her own reflection in his eyes. In those eyes, her smile was vague but clear simultaneously.
“...Ajussi’s actually pretty popular I think?”
“But he won’t move out. This is his home.”
And ours as well.
Shin Yoosung read the words in Lee Gilyoung’s eyes. She felt relieved, and when she did, she would easily feel sleepy, too.
Yes. This was also their home, and thus, they would defend it whatever it took.
Fortunately, Lee Gilyoung was still fighting beside her.
She yawned right away, and Lee Gilyoung was affected to yawn too.
Within minutes, they fell asleep by each other. One’s curly hair intertwined with the other’s, and on the morning of the next day, they would fight for it after awakening.
Lee Jihye had been their childlike, reliable companion, right until she betrayed them.
“I…have feelings for someone.”
The lightning of the breaking news struck them wide awake on a sunny afternoon when Lee Jihye came to walk them home and spoke, pretending to be casual.
“Oh. Who is it?”
Shin Yoosung tried to make herself as casual as it could sound.
Lee Gilyoung adjusted the straps of his backpack, gazing at them without saying anything.
“Someone you don’t know.”
A shy smile made its way on Lee Jihye’s face. At that moment, she seemed somehow unfamiliar to the children.
It was dazzling. Way too dazzling.
Shin Yoosung and Lee Gilyoung, again, exchanged a look. It was confirmed that an emergency appeared. Their second mission needed to begin instantly.
As a result, they started stalking Lee Jihye with Biyoo’s help. Biyoo, too, paid much attention to her big sis’s first love, so she provided the duo coordinates and time, enabling them to track her down.
On the day, Shin Yoosung held Biyoo in her arms as though Biyoo was a random ordinary stuffed toy. As for Lee Gilyoung, he put on a pair of sunglasses and acted like he would send out insects as Detecting Squads at any time.
They looked like two special agents, following Lee Jihye from behind in secret to witness her date.
If anyone should mention, Lee Jihye truly made much effort in dressing herself.
Before going, she put on her newly bought suit of the latest trend and even used hair straighteners to style her bangs.
Waiting for her date, she was standing along the boulevard alone, and without looking closely, anyone could find her checking her looks and clothes with the clear shop window every twenty seconds. She also took out her phone frequently so that there would be no missed messages.
“What kind of a man is worth her doing so?” Shin Yoosung lowered her voice and asked with a string of complaint in her tone.
Jihye Noona’s boyfriend had better be worth it…. Just see how careful and eager she is.
Lee Gilyoung looked at Lee Jihye’s back. There had never been a moment that the feeling of losing her was so strong and certain.
Out of the blue, Shin Yoosung held Lee Gilyoung’s hand.
Just like every moment they were about to be separated, he held her hand, suggesting “We will not be parted.” Just like every moment their battle was about to reach its climax, she held his hand, suggesting “We will stay together.”
In the past, Lee Jihye and they, the children from Kim Dokja’s Company had been through each of the battles like this and completed each of the tasks like this. They had grown up with each other’s company.
And now, they were still standing together, looking at Lee Jihye.
Sweat was soaking their palm bit by bit, but they showed no signs of separating. Clinging together, they waited for the person who was going to take Lee Jihye away from them as though they were waiting for a conviction.
However, when the person finally showed up, it was beyond surprising to them.
It was not a man, but a pretty woman with beautiful long hair that Lee Jihye was going on a date with. At the sight of the woman, Lee Jihye strode to her and stood beside her arm in arm, not noticing a smile creeping up on her face.
The woman’s smile was warm. Her eyes were narrowed due to her smile, but they were watching Lee Jihye surely and tenderly.
At that moment, Shin Yoosung and Lee Gilyoung realized that Lee Jihye’s first love was very much like sunshine. Soft, comfortable, and unstoppable.
“She looks happy.”
The sudden voice scared the duo out of their wits. It was Biyoo, who was still in Shin Yoosung’s arms.
Biyoo said what they were both thinking.
Lee Jihye would find her happiness outside Kim Dokja’s Company, and they just witnessed that.
Apparently, Lee Jihye was worth her own happiness.
But did they just have to send their blessings?
Did they just have to watch her walking away?
Did they, hopelessly and helplessly, just have to accept the goodbyes?
Shin Yoosung crashed into Lee Jihye and hugged her tightly from behind. She was like a koala clinging onto Lee Jihye’s back.
Lee Gilyoung did not make it to stop her, so he could only position his arm in the air to be some kind of a greeting gesture in the most awkward way.
“Jihye Noona? What a coincidence….”
Shin Yoosung was still holding onto Lee Jihye’s waist and staring at Lee Gilyoung, watching him acting like a sophisticated little brother.
Lee Gilyoung could not hug Lee Jihye like her at the time already, so he just smiled politely and determined to pretend they had just bumped into one another.
“Noona, this is?”
Right beside Lee Jihye, the woman she liked was just smiling. Though being a little astonished, she showed no signs of impatience.
“Well…. This is…my senior classmate.”
Oh come on, so they’re not girlfriends yet?
Still clinging onto Lee Jihye, Shin Yoosung smiled toward her senior classmate.
“Unnie, nice to meet you.”
“Hey, Shin Yoosung, let go of me.”
Patting on Shin Yoosung’s head, Lee Jihye blushed a little.
“Come on. This kid’s just. Hey, you’re scaring me…. Let go.”
Upon hearing this, Shin Yoosung’s eyes reddened. She was on the verge of tears and said, “Okay….”
She still did not let go. At the sight of this, Lee Gilyoung instantly made his move by taking his handkerchief out of his pocket and passing it to her, “Hey, stop crying…. It’s not like Jihye Noona’s mad at you or something.”
Shin Yoosung shook her head and held Lee Jihye even more tightly, refusing to accept it.
Their cooperation was beyond extraordinary, making Lee Jihye confused at the moment.
Why is she crying? Was I too mean?
“Yoosung, I’m sorry. Unnie’s bad.”
Lee Jihye hastily took Lee Gilyoung’s handkerchief and started wiping Shin Yoosung’s tears. However, things became worse. Shin Yoosung started wailing with her unstoppable tears sliding down her cheeks.
Lee Jihye quickly held Shin Yoosung in her arms, patting her back to comfort her.
“What happened? Did something happen at school? Anyone bullied you? Don’t cry. Unnie’s here.”
Still crying, Shin Yoosung could barely talk.
So she just held Lee Jihye tightly and cried with all the stamina she’d got.
That Lee Gilyoung. I told him to put something making people cry, but what on earth did he put? This is way too effective!
Eventually, Lee Jihye’s date was interrupted.
Consequently, she felt embarrassed and stammered her explanation to her senior classmate, “I’m sorry. Got some family stuff, so I need to go…. My little sister’s too clingy to me. I guess I’ll see you next time.”
“Unnie, I’m sorry,” Shin Yoosung also apologized to Lee Jihye’s senior classmate. Her eyes were swollen and red, which seemed extremely pitiful and adorable.
Of course, Lee Jihye’s senior classmate could understand. Their first impression of her was beauty and tenderness, and she performed just like this all the time until they departed in separate ways.
When Lee Jihye said goodbye to her senior classmate, Shin Yoosung and Lee Gilyoung celebrated just a little by high-fiving secretly at their backs.
Mission complete.
After that, despite their repeated assurance that no one bullied Shin Yoosung at school, Lee Jihye was still worried about her.
Therefore, they managed to make up a justification, which was that Shin Yoosung was depressed and cried that hard simply because she had been blamed by the teacher for her poor exam grades. (”Lee Gilyoung, you sure that’ll work?” “Jihye Noona will understand.”
And Lee Jihye accepted their explanation, though in a little bit of doubt.
Anyway, the next week, Lee Jihye went to their school every day. She even brought her bamboo sword with her to confirm that no potential or actual bullies were after them.
Her existence deterred each of the bullies at their school. Although she never actually confronted one of them, the atmosphere of the school was greatly improved without a doubt.
Shin Yoosung and Lee Gilyoung were walking behind her, watching her on her usual patrol in a rather proud way.
This is our Jihye Unnie / Noona.
“Yoosung, if anything happens, just tell me right away.”
On the last school day of the week, Lee Jihye said goodbye to them at the front gate of their school. She needed to head back to the university for her classes at night.
Before leaving, she said that to Shin Yoosung in the most certain and serious way.
“Anything?”
And even when you’re in a relationship with someone?
Shin Yoosung asked in a concerned way. That was partly a performance, indeed, but it was real at the same time.
“Of course. Don’t ask stupid things.”
Lee Jihye rubbed her hair.
With twilight fading behind her back, Lee Jihye looked so mature and reliable. She had always been their big sister, but then she grew to be an actual adult.
Lee Jihye left. She would go back to the campus of her university.
She might meet the sister they saw that day. And probably, she would still be in love with the senior classmate some day.
Do you need to be in love when you grow up?
If things are truly like that….
Shin Yoosung gazed at Lee Gilyoung, who was also bathed in the orange light of the twilight, making his shadow even longer.
Lee Gilyoung had grown a lot taller recently. She had never had to raise her head to meet his eyes before, but now he was a head taller than her already.
He was waiting for her at the end of the road that was connected to the school, and they would head home together.
Lee Gilyoung would grow up too.
Recently, Shin Yoosung could sense a scent. If she should describe it, she would say it was the scent of a large canine, which was a description even ordinary people could also comprehend.
As a matter of fact, however, it was the scent of the beasts. Special, but not bad, even a little bit familiar, like a companion. It also smelt natural and masculine.
At first, Shin Yoosung considered it to be from one of her beast fellows that had snuck out and visited her, or simply a new guest from nowhere.
After all, she could always sense the distinct scent no matter where she was. At school, At home, or out, it was always there.
But now it finally dawned on her.
“Lee Gilyoung, did you take a shower yesterday?”
Walking beside him, Shin Yoosung asked softly.
“I take a shower every single day!”
Lee Gilyoung frowned, making her seem to be picking up on him.
At this very moment, the scent was still there.
The scent was from Lee Gilyoung. It was the hormone suggesting puberty.
Which was also Shin Yoosung’s boding insight.
Lee Gilyoung was growing up.