.

When I was in middle school… I mean, when I just graduated from elementary school, Yeo Dan oppa brought us to the cafeteria quite often to get us some snacks while holding Yeo Ryung and my hand. What he bought me there was always chocolate milk or ice cream.

The world of only the three of us… and now, someone else was about to step into that world.

Showing mixed feelings on my face, I got up from my bed, at last.

Ban Yeo Ryung came over to my house less than three minutes after I texted her. She looked surprised at my words.

She would definitely react that way since Yeo Dan oppa’s love affair was supposed to be shocking as we had known him for a long time. I, who had seen him for only about four years––except for the times I couldn’t remember–– was astonished this much; thus, Yeo Ryung would be more shattered as a sister.

I recalled the sight of Yeo Dan oppa in front of Nam Gye High School entrance. Whenever I saw him there, I found Yeo Dan oppa being surrounded by hundreds of girls yelling out his name; however, he just walked toward Yeo Ryung and said, ‘Let’s go,’ inexpressively and nonchalantly, which even made me feel embarrassed.

Yeo Dan oppa and Yeo Ryung turned the people around them into something like stone figures. Didn’t I also give up my crush on him because of that cold and apathetic look?!

That was true. As I had mentioned it several times, when I was in middle school, I was captivated by the thought that if I could have a romantic relationship with only one person in this novel, it could possibly be Yeo Dan oppa.

However, it had been proven all were just bull** over the past few years. Frankly speaking, it wasn’t necessary to take years to reveal such a thing since I should have just given it up beforehand.

Geez… recalling that memory of middle school, I blushed in shame. At that time, I ran on all kinds of errands in hopes of encountering or talking with Yeo Dan oppa at least once more.

Since I was the only child, I had to run on errands for my family, but if I complained about how annoying it was to do it sometimes, my dad often helped me too. However, at that time, whenever I heard we had something to share with next door, I quickly came out of my room, snatched the dish, and tried to visit next door, but before that, I looked in the mirror and adjusted my hair while putting the food plate on the ground, which made the food turn cold.

Sometimes, when I was on my way to the grocery store, I encountered Yeo Dan oppa once in a while. He was also generous about foods around that time, so when I waited for him after going through the cashier, he always handed me something like chocolate or lollipops.

I blushed once again, thinking, ‘Gosh, I was insane! I should have realized that it was just the same as opening a can for a cute cat living next door.’

Those candies and chocolates I got from Yeo Dan oppa were too precious to eat that I put them in a box and shoved it somewhere in my drawer.

‘Geez, I don’t know. I never saw it after entering high school… maybe it’s somewhere in this house. I’ll take the courage to look for it later.’ Rambling the thoughts in mind, I heaved a deep sigh.

Anyway, my eccentric behavior lasted only until middle school; when I became a senior, I clearly gave up on him. That was also when I turned lazy that my mom shouted at me a few times every day, ‘She was so diligent in the past, but what happened to her now!’

However, although my heart once experienced frustration upon him, I wasn’t regarding Yeo Dan oppa as a coldblooded, heartless fellow at all.

Come on, there wouldn’t be only me who had a crush on him. I wouldn’t be the only girl next door in this apartment complex who had a secret crush on Yeo Dan oppa. Even though there weren’t many families close to the Bans’ as much as we did, still, so many girls followed and worshipped Yeo Dan oppa for years.

He, however, refused every one of them too. He didn’t even give them any snacks––although it was natural since they didn’t have a close relationship with him like I did.

What happened in school then?

If anyone had heard the epic of his love and war history when Yeo Dan oppa was an upper grade in our middle school, they would all shed tears.

No matter how intense it was, Yeo Dan oppa was even standing outside of the chaos that was caused by him. I vaguely heard the rumor about five sunbaes, who were famous for their beautiful appearances, fighting against each other while pulling each other’s hairs.

Watching those things, I thought it was a great choice that Yeo Dan oppa was going to boys’ high school instead of a co-ed school for the peace of high school students in this neighborhood.

That Yeo Dan oppa, who became a legendary figure from being so apathetic, was now having something romantic going on…!

It wasn’t confirmed, but I could tell that he was having a special feeling toward the owner of the letter since he had been keeping it preciously in his backpack. That was why I also shared this story to Yeo Ryung, so that she could get ready to accept her brother’s romance.

I rolled my eyes in silence. Recalling my shameful history, I blushed and stamped my feet repeatedly. Meanwhile, Yeo Ryung sank her head on her chest and became wordless.

I quietly put my hand on her shoulder. Being hesitant for a second, I detached my lips.

“Um, Yeo Ryung… please don’t get too shattered since we aren’t sure if he’s going out with her or not… I’m just telling you to get your heart ready.”

Speaking that way, I couldn’t calm down too because I never imagined Yeo Ryung would behave this stirred up.

Yeo Dan oppa devoted himself to take care of Yeo Ryung that, sometimes, he looked like her slave, but now I learned that Yeo Ryung was thinking about his brother as much as he did too. With that thought in mind, I nodded my head.

‘However, that Yeo Dan oppa was going out with a girl without telling anything to his sister…’

I suddenly came up with a memory of middle school.

Looking at Yeo Dan oppa, I thought about how much I wanted to have a big brother for the first time.

‘As the only child, I’m even jealous about this conflict between a brother and sister…’ That was when I showed a slight grin on my face while looking down at Yeo Ryung.

She suddenly lifted her head and shouted out loud, “We must save that person…!”

I wondered in bewilderment, “… Eh?”

Scowling at somewhere in the air, Yeo Ryung quickly turned around to look at me. She then said, “I mean, how could she date my brother? Isn’t she an angel from heaven?”

“Um, excuse me…?”

Weren’t you shocked because of something else? While I thought that way, Yeo Ryung continued to speak, shaking her head as if she felt distressed again.

“I’m sure that she must be dating oppa while knowing nothing about him! Because oppa is… he is…”

When Yeo Ryung dropped her gaze at the floor with teary eyes out of the blue, I swallowed my breath over my throat in nervousness. Suddenly, a tense air prevailed in my room.

I just wanted to tell her about the existence of Yeo Dan oppa’s girlfriend, but was I getting to know about his big secret suddenly in this situation? For the sake of courtesy or manner, should I say, ‘This is enough?’ While I hesitated what to respond, Yeo Ryung’s outcry scattered to the air, at last.

“Oppa… he pours sauce over tangsuyuk!!”

“…”

Silence swept the space. I looked up at Yeo Ryung in a daze.

With tearful eyes, she turned aside and asked me, “That’s true, Donnie. Can you believe it? He didn’t even ask me but just poured the sauce over tangsuyuk as soon as he grabbed it! How brutal he is!”

I replied blankly, “Oh, I see…”

Furrowing her forehead, Yeo Ryung spat out each word so heavily as if she was confessing a great secret.

“And you know what? He… he adds soy sauce on a fried egg.”

“Oh, yeah,” replying again calmly, I wondered, ‘Wasn’t I having too many fantasies about the Bans’ just as the kids in our school did?’

I also began to think about something out of the blue.

‘Thank god to be the only child!’