Chapter 2.1

The moment the front door opened, the smell of instant noodles wafted through the air, greeting Su-eon. She straightened a pair of shoes carelessly left on the entrance floor and stepped inside.

Bright flashes of light and continuous screams echoed from a large, state-of-the-art panel TV that didn’t match the cramped living room. It was the most expensive appliance in the house, brought in without permission as a birthday gift from Jung Cho-ah.

Jung Cho-ah sat cross-legged on the sofa, engrossed in a fighting game with the volume turned up high. She was even wearing a tracksuit she kept there as a spare, looking as comfortable as if it were her own bedroom. Su-eon found the remote control and turned off the TV. Only then did Jung Cho-ah, who had been too absorbed in the game to notice Su-eon’s arrival, lift her head.

“When did you get here?”

Su-eon silently crossed her arms and glared at Jung Cho-ah. Noticing that Su-eon had changed back into her usual black business suit, Jung Cho-ah squinted her eyes.

“Why did you change your clothes? I wanted to see how good it looked on you. I picked it out to match your cool-toned complexion.”

“What do you mean, you picked it out for me?”

“I mean, why did you change out of it?”

Jung Cho-ah whined.

The reason was simple: it wasn’t her outfit to begin with. The moment Su-eon left the hotel, she had gone to a nearby SPA brand store to buy a business suit and changed into it. The thought of her driver seeing her in Jung Cho-ah’s clothes—and that information reaching Assemblywoman Yeo—was unbearable. The mere idea of Assemblywoman Yeo finding out that Su-eon had gone on a blind date as a stand-in was something she didn’t even want to imagine.

“I’ve already covered for you with the driver, so there’s nothing to worry about.”

Jung Cho-ah boasted confidently. Su-eon was dumbfounded.

“What exactly were you thinking?”

Su-eon interrogated her coldly, her gaze icy.

“Do you even think before you act? Do you know what kind of situation today was, and you still caused this mess?”

“Wow, you sounded just like the Assemblywoman just now. Are you, by chance, her secret daughter?”

“Jung Cho-ah.”

At Su-eon’s sharp tone, Jung Cho-ah put down the game controller and cautiously tried to gauge her mood, sidling up to her.

“It was a joke, a joke. Don’t glare at me like that—it’s scary. It’s not like this is the first time I’ve skipped out on a blind date.”

“The other party was Ki Seung-jo from K.U. Electronics.”

“I know, I know. Ji Su-eon’s first love, Ki Seung-jo.”

“…What?”

Su-eon’s face hardened with disbelief. Still failing to grasp the gravity of the situation, Jung Cho-ah clung to her, looking as though she were having the time of her life.

“So, how was it? Did Ki Seung-jo recognize you? Oh, it must have been so entertaining. I wish I’d seen it myself!”

“What on earth are you talking about? Who’s supposed to be my first love?”

“Executive Director Ki Seung-jo, of course. He’s your first love, isn’t he?”

“He’s not! Where are you getting this nonsense from? Wait a second… you…”

Su-eon narrowed her eyes.

“Don’t tell me you orchestrated today’s mess because of some ridiculous idea like that.”

“Why is that ridiculous? Do you know how many couples reunite with their first loves and end up happily married? Even celebrities—”

“Jung Cho-ah, stop.”

“Oh, come on, don’t be shy. Not between us.”

“Chief Jung Cho-ah!”

The sharp reprimand that erupted from the depths of Su-eon’s diaphragm startled Jung Cho-ah, causing her to leap back in surprise.

“Ah! Geez, why are you suddenly shouting my full name, Secretary Ji? You scared me.”

“I said it wasn’t true.”

Su-eon’s piercing gaze remained fixed on Jung Cho-ah’s still-playful face as she spoke.

“Executive Director Ki Seung-jo is not my first love.”

“Liar. You don’t have to hide it from me.”

Su-eon said nothing. Sensing something off, Jung Cho-ah hesitated, then cautiously studied Su-eon’s hardened expression.

“…It’s not? Really? You’re not lying?”

“Why would I lie about something like this?”

Su-eon was exasperated. At her age, debating the matter of a first love felt absurd, but what left her truly speechless was Jung Cho-ah’s wild imagination, which had somehow paired her with Ki Seung-jo in such an elaborate way.

“Really? It’s not true? Seriously? Why? You both went to the same school.”

“We didn’t go to the same school. It was the neighboring school.”

“You’re always so particular about these things. Next door or across the street, it’s the same foundation. Han Kyung University-affiliated middle and high schools. That makes it the same school.”

Watching Jung Cho-ah smugly assert her point without realizing her mistake made Su-eon’s blood pressure spike, leaving her momentarily speechless.

“Executive Director Ki Seung-jo was everyone’s first love back then. You must have been happy to see him again, right?”

“Just because everyone else liked him, does that mean I had to like him too?”

“That’s not what I’m saying…”

“Even if that were true, do you think your actions today make any sense?”

Su-eon’s voice was colder than ever.

“It was a meeting arranged between families, a gathering that took considerable effort from multiple people to coordinate. You ruined it. For what? Just so you could have a little fun?”

“Fun? That wasn’t my intention. I did it all for you, with the biggest heart, for your sake.”

“Really? I felt like a complete fool, all because of your little prank.”

“Why are you overreacting like that? Whoa, whoa.”

“You didn’t want to go to the matchmaking meeting, so you sent me instead, just because we went to the same school. Using the excuse of a ‘first love.’”

Su-eon’s voice dropped to an icy tone.

“And yet, you say it wasn’t a prank? Even dressing me up in your clothes and pushing me out the door?”

“Well, wouldn’t it be better to look nice when going out? You’re not the Grim Reaper, so why do you always wear black clothes? Don’t you feel bad for your pretty face?”

Watching Jung Cho-ah, who stubbornly insisted on saying whatever she wanted, Su-eon’s frown deepened. 

Why am I arguing with her in my own home? And it’s not even work hours. That’s right, this is my home. It’s not a brand-new, fully furnished apartment, nor does it have one of those fluffy little pets everyone seems to own, but it’s small, safe, and comfortable—my home.

Today was Friday night, and Su-eon had her post-work plans all set. On her way home, she would stop by the market to grab a four-pack of beer and a discounted bento box, then sprawl on the sofa and binge-watch the series she’d fallen behind on.  

It was a small, certain, and happy plan she had made while escorting Jung Cho-ah to the Han Kyung Hotel dining room. But it was Jung Cho-ah who shattered that small happiness.

“Get out of my house right now, Chief Jung Cho-ah.”

“Oh, why are you being so scary, Sis?”

“It’s well past work hours, and this is my personal space. Coming into my home like this is a blatant abuse of power.”

Seeing Jung Cho-ah’s eyes widen in fear, Su-eon spoke with cold finality, as if cutting through with a knife.

“Don’t come here again. If you enter without permission one more time, I’ll report it as trespassing.”

“I’m sorry, Sis! Please forgive me just this once!”

Jung Cho-ah immediately dropped to her knees, clasping her hands together and begging desperately. Su-eon maintained her stern demeanor.

“What could you possibly have done wrong? It’s all my fault for being so lacking.”

“I was wrong for lying, and I was wrong for stripping you of your clothes and running away!”

“……”

“I was wrong for hanging up the phone and making you go to that matchmaking meeting in my place!”

Sniff, sniff… 

Jung Cho-ah began to whimper, her voice nasal as she fought back tears.

“But I didn’t mean any harm!”

“……”

“You know how much I care about and love you, right? I’m serious. I wasn’t trying to mess with you. I really meant well…”

Not a single tear was falling, yet Jung Cho-ah forced herself to squeeze out a fake cry. Su-eon stood with her arms crossed, silently watching the performance.

The night had grown completely dark, and even the scorching heat of midday had cooled. Sniffling and putting on her act, Jung Cho-ah slyly opened one eye to gauge Su-eon’s reaction. Su-eon let out a sigh so heavy it felt like it could sink the ground.

“When will you ever grow up?”

Hearing the anger fade from Su-eon’s voice, Jung Cho-ah quickly brightened, her large eyes widening innocently.

“Hmm… I don’t think I ever will. That’s why you have to take good care of me, Sis.”

Su-eon felt a sharp pain in her temples and pressed them with her fingertips.

“Why? Does your head hurt? Should I get you some medicine?”

Jung Cho-ah, ever quick to notice, immediately jumped up and tried to appease Su-eon.

“See? You should stop stressing so much. Stress is the root of all illness, you know. What’s done is done—how could you possibly undo it? Just cheer up and have some beer. I stocked up on the kind you like.”

“I already undid it.”

“What?”

“I rescheduled it for next week.”

“Why would you do something like that?!”