Chapter 1 

Beep―.

Click.

As she pressed the intercom, the gate opened as if waiting. The large gate, twice the height of an adult man, smoothly swung open at her touch.

“Nice…….”

Haji, stepping beyond the gate, naturally smiled.

Huge trees and flowers that couldn’t be seen from the outside filled the place like a botanical garden. Despite it being early summer, the green leaves and blooming flower buds under the bright sun made her heart flutter.

Walking along the well-maintained path, her long straight hair fluttered over her slender shoulders. The gentle breeze matched her steps.

The fresh scent tickling her nose made her steps gradually lighter.

“Why did you bring something like this?”

Seonghee, unable to hide her delight, approached almost running. They had met as classmates in their first year of high school and had been inseparable friends ever since.

“I couldn’t come empty-handed.”

“Why are you saying that like a stranger?”

Seonghee pouted as if disappointed. Seeing that, Haji’s eyes softly crinkled. The natural appearance of Seonghee, whom she hadn’t seen in a while, made her feel like she was at home.

“I missed you. Come in quickly.”

“Me too.”

Recently, as Haji got busier, Seonghee had been worried due to the lack of contact. She’s more like family than her real family.

“Haji, are you here?”

“Yes, Mother. Hello.”

Seonghee’s mother, who was elegantly drinking tea in the living room, smiled warmly at Haji.

“Haji, you’re here? Welcome, I’ve been waiting for you.”

“Hello, Father. It’s been a while, hasn’t it?”

Seonghee’s father, who was cooking, waved with a pink apron on.

“Isn’t it too long since you last came? Come more often.”

“I will. Is there anything I can help with?”

“It’s all done. Just sit and wait for a bit.”

Seosoo, who was in charge of cooking in this house, always refused with a kind smile, saying he preferred to do it alone.

“Still…….”

Haji, always fidgeting and glancing at the kitchen when Seosoo said that, was the same as ever. Hyesoo, watching from behind, laughed softly.

Since she was seventeen, she had always been mature, unlike other kids these days. She was lovely but also seemed to have grown up too fast, which made Hyesoo’s heart ache.

Hyesoo, putting away her tender feelings, faced Haji, who sat neatly in front of her.

“How’s work going?”

“Thanks to you, it’s going well.”

“President Ahn’s coffee tastes good because of your touch. The staff likes it too.”

“Thank you just for saying that. I’ll work harder.”

Haji’s face turned red at the title of “President” and the compliment. Her voice was full of determination, as if to prove she meant it.

Haji had been running a café in the lobby of Hyesoo’s company for three months now.

“You’ve worked hard, so it’ll go well.”

“I feel sorry for causing you any loss.”

“What are you saying? I’m getting the amount stated in the contract.”

After graduating high school, she chose her own path instead of going to college. Starting with a café part-time job, then becoming a manager, and finally, one day, she shyly mentioned that her dream was to own her own café, which Hyesoo found endearing and remembered.

A few months ago, when the café owner in the lobby decided to move abroad and vacate the store, Haji came to mind. Hyesoo quickly contacted her and suggested she take over the space without worrying about rent initially.

“The rent is too low for such a good spot…….”

When Hyesoo offered to waive the rent, Haji adamantly refused. Instead, she promised to pay a small amount and gradually increase it.

She hated causing trouble for others. Hyesoo saw a new side of Haji’s stubbornness that day.

Seonghee, wrapping an arm around Haji’s shoulders, chimed in.

“You can pay it back once you’re doing well. Because you will do well.”

“Thank you, I’ll work hard.”

“Of course, of course. My friend is a president just like my mom, right, President Ahn Haji?”

“How can I be the same as the president of the nation’s top pharmaceutical company? Don’t say that.”

Haji, startled by Seonghee’s exaggeration, waved her hands.

“You have your own business, so you’re an owner just like Mom and Dad, right?”

Hyesoo was the Chairman of the most successful pharmaceutical company each year, and Seosoo was the director of the largest university hospital in Korea.

Though it was a joke, Haji was so surprised that she was speechless.

“Why are you so surprised? You never know what might happen. Dream big, President Ahn?”

“No, I……. I’ll try my best.”

Though hesitant, she seemed determined. Hyesoo felt that this girl could really achieve it.

“Of course! Ahn Haji, who was first in the entire school for all three years of high school!”

“Luck played a part too.”

“Being first in the entire school for three years is skill. If you hadn’t changed your career path, I would have scouted you.”

“Thank you just for saying that.”

The child who once declared she wouldn’t go to college despite planning to study medicine.

The child who, after living with her aunt and feeling like a burden, chose her own path when she became alone. Despite offers of help, she found even that burdensome.

The girl who used to come and go in her school uniform was now a grown-up. Eight years had passed since she became an adult.

“Everyone, let’s eat.”

Seosoo called the family after finishing the meal preparations. The chatting women slowly got up, except for Haji, but then immediately ran to set the table. Hyesoo and Seonghee exchanged glances and shook their heads at her familiar behavior.

“Go call your brother.”

“Brother……?”

Seonghee frowned. Haji, setting the table, paused for a moment. Then she resumed as if nothing happened.

Ki Seojin. Seonghee’s brother, who had returned after studying in the U.S.

Though they were two years apart and attended the same school, they rarely met. After graduating high school, he went to the military and then immediately went abroad for his studies.

“Haji, can you go call him? He should be in the backyard.”

Seonghee poked Haji in the side and whispered. She couldn’t refuse the pleading voice.

Seonghee, like any other siblings, wasn’t that close with her brother. In particular, she found her brother intimidating.

“You know I’m scared of him, right? Please?”

I’m scared too…

Haji let out a short sigh. Even if she brought it up, Seonghee would insist that Haji was closer to him because they had been in the student council together in high school.

Haji nodded slightly and took a deep breath. Her steps towards the outside were as solemn as a general heading to the final battlefield.

“Hmm hmm…”

As she headed to the backyard, she cleared her throat for no reason. An inexplicable tension wrapped around her body.

Haji’s slowly advancing steps came to a sudden halt.

Seojin, whom she hadn’t seen in a long time, came into view. Sitting on a two-person swing and reading a book, she found herself staring blankly without realizing it.

His long legs crossed, his solid upper body leaning against the chair, and his distinct facial features gave off a strongly exotic feeling. It was almost amazing how his eyes, nose, and mouth all fit perfectly in his small face.

“Still the same…”

With the setting sun as his natural lighting, he looked like a model from a magazine. He reminded her of a male celebrity from a recent coffee advertisement.

Perhaps feeling her intense gaze, Seojin lifted his head.

“Ah…”

“……”

Contrary to her intention to approach and convey her message, Haji’s small feet didn’t budge, as if caught on a rock.

‘Swoosh—’

The sound of leaves rustling in the wind surrounded them. Their gazes met from a distance that wasn’t too close.

No, she needed to change her thinking.

The man filling her sight had changed a bit from the person she used to know. Unlike the mid-twenties version she last saw, his facial lines had become more pronounced, making him look even more daunting.

It was Seojin who first broke the long eye contact.

Snap.

Seojin closed his book and stood up from the chair.

Does he really have no intention of becoming a model? Isn’t he the type of person who should appear in photo shoots?

Although she had never been interested in celebrities before, looking at Seojin made her think that way unconsciously.

As he approached with steady steps, Haji’s shoulders tensed up. It felt so surreal, like watching a scene from an advertisement.

“You’re still small.”

Haji, who had been staring blankly at him, snapped back to reality thanks to his low voice mixed with laughter.

Haji’s fist clenched tightly.

Small?

He still treats her like a kid.