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“I don’t believe it.”

That was Song Ah Rin’s reaction after hearing my words.

“I guarantee you, some containment object will show up at your house and cause complete chaos.”

“Are you saying my parents are going to die?”

“No, ugh! That’s not it!”

Speechless, Song Ah Rin stomped her feet, while Yu Da On chuckled awkwardly at what I said and nodded.

“But I think I understand what A-Rin is trying to say. It feels like we’re going to get caught up in another accident or something.”

“Hmm…”

“I was once taken away by the university hospital when I was home alone…”

Yu Da On mumbled, scratching her cheek.

I think I get what she means. What if Yu Da On actually gets caught when she goes down?

“What about Chae Yeon?”

“I don’t care. If you’re worried, I’ll just stick around.”

That was a very Jang Chae Yeon-like response.

“Well, anyway. Since it came to this, everyone should just relax at home.”

“…”

“…”

“…”

My words plunged the three into deep thought.

“But, actually, I have nothing to do at home.”

“Me too.”

“Same here.”

“Don’t you all have hobbies?”

Why does everyone look so stumped like this?

“I have sports, I have games, and, well, um… friends…”

“I don’t like sports, I don’t know how to play games, and I have no friends.”

“Wow, Chae Yeon! I don’t know how to play games either and I have no friends! But I exercise!”

“…That doesn’t sound pleasant.”

At Jang Chae Yeon’s words, Yu Da On’s eyes lit up as she raised her hand, while Chae Yeon sighed with a complex expression.

“… Anyway.”

“Isn’t Song Ah Rin a bit different?”

Upon hearing my words, Song Ah Rin responded with a soft sound while twisting her hair.

“Hey, it’s not like I was left out or anything; it’s just… what should I say? I’m busy. I don’t have time for those things.”

“I understand what you mean.”

“Ugh, what do you understand! This is all the Human Resources Team’s fault, okay?”

Someone might think she has been working in the HR team her whole life.

Anyway, what should I do with this trio who have no hobbies?

But why am I even worrying about this?

Aren’t they all grown-ups who can handle it?

“Well, understood. I’m heading home, so you all relax comfortably.”

As I waved my hand and was about to say we’d meet happily after our break, my smartphone rang.

<Kim Ah Reum>

“…Oh.”

Why did she suddenly call?

Gesturing for the three to wait a moment, I answered the phone.

<What are you up to?>

“Work stuff.”

I lightly responded to the sudden accusatory tone coming through.

<You said you were coming home this time, right?>

“Uh… Wait a second. When did I say that?”

I hadn’t told my parents I was going home yet.

<Just got a call about it? The company president said something big happened with you and your colleagues, so they sent the bonus and meat to our house to thank you.>

“Shouldn’t it be delivered to me, why send it to the family home?”

Seriously, sending bonuses and meat to the family home like it’s some old-times tradition?

<I don’t know how that works. They even sent a handwritten note.>

A handwritten note too?

<So, you should come home. Bring your company friends along. There’s a big feast at home. Mom wants you to come.>

“Hey, I can go alone, why bring others too?”

<Are you trash? Are you going to hog all the meat and bonuses your coworkers helped you get?>

“No, that’s not it.”

<If you know that, hurry back. Don’t come alone.>

The call abruptly ended, and I turned to my colleagues as I slowly opened my mouth.

“Want to come over to my house?”

*

My younger sister looks at the three of them with curiosity and then looks at me.

Her eyes show the same chronic fatigue as mine, and her hair is tied up high.

My usually tired-looking younger sister tilted her head and spoke to me.

“Wow, but how come all your coworkers are women?”

“I’m wondering that too.”

“Office romance is a no-go. That’s the express route to resignation.”

“I don’t even have time for that.”

“What, are you working your life away or something?”

There’s no denying I’m working extremely hard, risking it all.

“So, is there anyone you like from them?”

My younger sister leaned closely towards me, asking subtly.

“Anyone I like?”

“Yeah. They all seem to have their own quirks.”

My sister squinted at the three.

“First, that person with black hair.”

“Yu Da On.”

“Yeah, what can I say about her… she has a precarious charm?”

My sister continued to observe Yu Da On.

“She seems to laugh a lot, but I feel like she has tons of backstory. Like, she would seem so fragile if you peeled back her layers? But once married, I feel like she’d be super devoted.”

“Oh.”

Seems like she has a surprising eye for people.

“Then, what about the one with white hair?”

“Let me see…”

My sister looked at Jang Chae Yeon then lowered her voice to whisper to me.

“Wow, her body is amazing, seriously.”

“…”

“I mean, seriously, how does one eat to get that kind of shape? Wow…”

As she muttered about how “huge” she was, she pointed at Jang Chae Yeon.

I didn’t even need to ask what she meant.

“Hey, I asked what kind of person she is, why only talk about her body?”

“Come on, if you see that body and don’t comment, are you even human?”

“…”

“Ahem, anyway. That person is… rather blunt.”

My sister stated the obvious, breaking her thoughts.

“But when she’s around Mom or the older brother, her expression softens. Most of the time she seems really tough, but once she starts to open up, she seems like she would give her all.”

“Hmm.”

“And I feel like she’s very strict on herself for her mistakes.”

My sister continued, raising her finger.

“She’s generous with others’ mistakes, but can’t handle her own. So, I feel like she would handle everything in a marriage herself.”

“How do you know all this?”

“Intuition.”

My sister replied playfully, then pointed at Song Ah Rin.

“That person is… what do I say. Really shy.”

“Is that so?”

I didn’t think so.

“No, she’s definitely shy.”

My sister declared decisively and continued.

“Even if she wants to show consideration, she would never say she’s worried, instead she tries to justify her actions as being considerate.”

“Oh.”

“But in a weird way, she seems to be vulnerable to compliments. Like her self-esteem seems low…”

“Hmm…”

It feels like she could be right about that.

“Anyway, that’s about it.”

“Okay, I heard you.”

“Whoever I pick, they all have their merits and flaws, so I can’t just decide.”

“You don’t need to decide either.”

Tsk, my sister clicked her tongue, sounding disappointed.

“Anyway, this is my take.”

“Got it.”

“But I’m curious about one thing.”

“What?”

“Why does everyone call our mom ‘ma’am’?”

“That’s something I’m curious about too.”

Why do they address my mom as ‘your mother’?

“What’s your personal preference?”

“I…”

“Jae Heon!”

Yu Da On waved her hand and rushed over, abruptly cutting off our conversation.

“What?”

“The preparations are all done.”

“Oh, okay. Understood.”

The meat sent by the Branch Chief was beyond abundant.

At the very least, it looked like enough for 20 servings, and they even sent bonuses written by hand with each person’s name annotated in a white envelope.

What kind of person is that, really?

While I stood there blankly preparing the plates, a figure with purple hair tickled my nose as she stood next to me.

“I’ll help you.”

“What can someone with a broken arm do? Just take a break.”

“Since the Management Agency took care of it, I should be fine soon.”

Song Ah Rin shrugged as she casually grabbed a plate.

“Not right now.”

As I snatched the plate back, she stared at me and opened her mouth.

“Why are you being nice to me?”

“Shouldn’t a guy who tells the person with a broken arm to move plates be called trash?”

“Not that.”

Song Ah Rin gazed intently at me.

“Giving up efficiency and your actions from before in the art museum, and even the incident with the theater company…”

That’s a surprisingly easy question.

I opened my mouth to answer her words.

“Well, naturally—”

“Just because it’s ‘natural’ doesn’t mean it’s what you should be doing.”

Song Ah Rin clenched her fist.

“I…”

“Misinterpreting someone’s kindness isn’t right.”

Jang Chae Yeon, standing next to me, interjected casually while organizing plates.

“What?”

“Don’t put expectations on someone who thinks that doing what should be done is normal.”

Jang Chae Yeon murmured as she continued fixing the plates.

“Having expectations and forcing your thoughts on others only makes them uncomfortable.”

“How do you know that?”

Song Ah Rin gazed at Jang Chae Yeon intently.

“What do you know about this girl—”

“Then tell me.”

Jang Chae Yeon raised her gaze, retorting fiercely, causing Song Ah Rin to shut her mouth like someone rendered speechless.

“Speak up.”

The sound of plates clinking as they were arranged echoed.

“…”

“You can’t say anything, can you?”

At Jang Chae Yeon’s words, Song Ah Rin bit her lower lip.

“…That’s annoying.”

“Better than not knowing your place.”

In a hushed tone, Jang Chae Yeon replied, looking down.

“…Fine.”

Song Ah Rin set down the plates and turned away.

“…I’m sorry.”

Jang Chae Yeon looked at me while lowering her eyes, whispering.

“Don’t worry about it.”

I didn’t want to intrude on their argument.

“I’ll also go work a bit more.”

Jang Chae Yeon headed off in the direction opposite to Song Ah Rin.

“…”

Ah, I’m tired.

“Thinking about how tired you are, huh?”

A lively voice floated in from my side.

“Da On.”

“I overheard some of it.”

Yu Da On stood next to me, smiling awkwardly.

“It’s always awkward when those two fight.”

“Well, they say it’s because of the past.”

“Right?”

Yu Da On smiled softly, then lightly tapped her chest with her fist.

“Please feel free to talk to me if you’re dealing with anything!”

“This stuff is a bit troublesome.”

“When it comes to this, I can’t really help either.”

Yu Da On smiled as she glanced at the two.

“I’ll make sure Jae Heon doesn’t have anything difficult to deal with.”

As always, her smile was the same.

“Oh, Mom! That looks heavy; I’ll take it!”

As if she found something, Yu Da On dashes off again.

“Oppa.”

“What?”

“What have you been doing?”

“I’ve just been living?”

“Sigh. Just eat something.”

“What?”

Evening was approaching.