12.4

“Aren’t you using a helper?” 

Chaeyoon asked Seokhyun with a serious look.

Joo-eun had always lived a life where she hardly wet her hands except in practice. Chaeyoon was worried about her managing household duties and a baby, given Joo-eun’s knack for managing people rather than tasks.

“I suggested getting one, but she wants to try doing things on her own for now.” 

Seokhyun explained with an awkward expression.

“I didn’t realize that finding the right helper would be so difficult. Until the baby is born, I plan to try doing things on my own.”

“If you don’t know, why don’t you ask my mom to find someone? I don’t think your mom would complain about that.”

Chaeyoon’s eyes flickered nervously. Seeing this, Seonho chimed in. 

“Why are you being so sensitive? If you can do something, why can’t Joo-eun?”

“It’s not that, but it’s troubling to think of someone inexperienced handling things.”

“If you can do it, she can do it, so don’t discriminate against her.”

“When have I ever discriminated against her?”

“You did. You said people like us can’t do anything.”

Their voices began to rise, but then Joo-eun intervened. 

“Just when things were quieting down, it started again. Stop it. It’s bad for the baby.”

At the mention of ‘baby’, both Chaeyoon and Seonho hesitated and fell silent.

Joo-eun spoke in a clear voice, mediating between them.

“Chaeyoon is right, I never did those things. We were trained to manage people, not to do the tasks ourselves. But now I will. I can, and that’s also what Seonho means.”

Finally, Chaeyoon realized that she had unconsciously been dismissing Joo-eun as incapable. She had been underestimating her friend without even realizing it.

“Then, it’s not that you can’t do it because you haven’t tried. I’ll help you out well.”

Seokhyun laughed as he patted Joo-eun’s shoulder.

“Shall we take the challenge of trying the food Joo-eun has made? Challenge!”

Junsu picked up his chopsticks with a serious expression.

“That’s harsh. Calling it a challenge?”

Joo-eun complained loudly. Meanwhile, Seonho scooped up some beef and placed it on Chaeyoon’s plate.

“What is it?”

“A gesture of apology?”

He whispered softly as he scooped up some cooked vegetables onto her plate.

“What apology? When did we ever fight?”

“Then you’re not avoiding my eyes anymore?”

“When did I ever avoid your eyes?”

“You did. Ever since I came in.”

Chaeyoon felt her body burning under his persistent gaze and looked down again.

“See, you’re avoiding me now.”

“I’m not.”

Chaeyoon, engulfed in defiance, suddenly lifted her head.

“That’s right, that’s the Chaeyoon I know. Eat.”

A smile formed on Seonho’s lips.

***

“It was my first time in first class. But really, you can stretch your legs out completely?”

Chaeyoon stretched her legs out as she spoke and burst into laughter.

“Chaeyoon’s drunk, look at her. She’s talkative and laughs too easily.”

Joo-eun chuckled at Chaeyoon’s laughter, which was higher in tone than usual.

From the cute socks she bought at Camellia Hill to her first time flying first class, Chaeyoon kept laughing non-stop over trivial stories.

“Does she always get like this when she’s drunk?”

Considering she was usually meticulous and composed, this relaxed demeanor seemed surprising.

“Yeah, let’s see if she gets more cute if we give her more to drink.”

“Cute?”

“If she’s this drunk, we can definitely give her more. She’s very strict with self-control, so even when she drinks with me, it takes a while for her to get drunk. Do you know how adorable she’d be if she acted cute?”

“How would I know?”

Seonho’s voice grew terse. It was always like this. Joo-eun knew things about Chaeyoon that he didn’t know.

How much would it take to fully know Chaeyoon?

“Haha, obviously you wouldn’t know. I should record her acting cute after giving her more to drink. It’ll be a precious video.”

Joo-eun fiddled with her phone with a mischievous look, then suddenly asked Seonho.

“But why aren’t you drinking? You’re not pregnant like me.”

Seonho and Joo-eun were sitting on the sofa, sipping non-alcoholic drinks.

“I drove here. If I drink, Junsu can’t drink.”

Joo-eun stared intently at Seonho’s face.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Because it doesn’t sound like something that would come out of your mouth. Now that I think about it, something seems to have changed about you, but I can’t quite put my finger on what.”

Joo-eun tilted her head and scrutinized Seonho.

“Think you can figure it out by looking? Don’t try too hard, it’s not like your head is any good.”

“You’re an asshole.”

“You’re not easy to deal with either.”

“Suddenly, I’m glad we didn’t get married.”

Joo-eun’s face contorted.

“The feeling’s mutual.”

As if on cue, both turned their heads away sharply.

Had things been different, they would have been the most likely candidates for an arranged marriage in their families. The thought made them both shudder.

They were considered the best match in terms of conditions, but they had never felt any attraction towards each other. Perhaps this was a kind of curse of arranged marriages among the wealthy. Their choice to pursue more in life seemed to come with this curse in tow.

Thus, it was considered fortunate, more than ever, that they had avoided the unhappiness that would have inevitably come with marriage.

“I should go now.”

Suddenly, Chaeyoon got up briskly from her seat.

“You’re drunk. Stay and sleep.”

Joo-eun tried to stop Chaeyoon.

“No, I have to be with family on Christmas. Don’t you know? I need to be home before midnight.”

Chaeyoon slurred her words and tapped her wristwatch.

“Are you Cinderella? Need to get back before midnight?”

“You need to sleep too. The baby in your belly is sleepy. Our cute baby needs to grow big and strong.”

Everyone chuckled at Chaeyoon’s babbling, which was charming in its randomness. As Joo-eun said, it was a rare sight.

“I can’t watch this anymore.”

Seonho stood up, radiating cold air.

He couldn’t stand seeing Chaeyoon’s adorable antics. Or more precisely, he didn’t want others to see her like that.

“Let’s go. I’ll take you home.”

Seonho stood in front of a staggering Chaeyoon.

“Huh? It’s Seonho, hehe. Nice to see you, Seonho.”

Chaeyoon smiled wryly and pinched Seonho’s cheeks with her fingers, stretching them out. The crowd gasped and looked at Seonho.

“Yes, yes. Nice to see you too. Let’s get you dressed.”

Contrary to everyone’s expectations, Seonho didn’t get angry. Instead, he soothingly responded and helped Chaeyoon into her coat.

“Are you really going to take her home?”

Joo-eun handed Chaeyoon’s handbag to Seonho.

“What else? Send her in a taxi in this state?”

“No, that wouldn’t be right.”

Joo-eun shook her head vehemently.

“You can take a taxi, right?”

Seonho asked Junsu.

“Yeah. Should I put in Chaeyoon’s home address for you?”

“I know it. I’ll go ahead.”

Seonho, supporting a tottering Chaeyoon, said goodbye to everyone.

“Drive safely.”

Junsu’s farewell carried an undertone of a sigh.