Good Night, Brother! - Chapter 3.1

Friday had come around again. After showering to get ready for work, Eun Hyun was greeted by a savory aroma wafting through the air. It was the smell of bread toasting in the toaster. Once again, Yi Hyeon was preparing breakfast. Thanks to her younger sibling, Eun Hyun, who used to skip breakfast to get a little extra sleep, now managed to eat a simple meal every morning. “Why do you wake up so early every day when you don’t even have work?”

“To eat breakfast with you, hyung.” Eun Hyun let out a small laugh at her sibling’s casual reply. Anyone watching would think they were an unusually close pair of siblings. With her back turned at the counter, Yi Hyeon placed the toasted bread onto a plate and spread some jam. Amid the rich aroma of toast and the fruity scent of jam, Eun Hyun caught an unfamiliar smell she’d never noticed before. “Yi Hyeon, doesn’t it suddenly smell like grass or something?”

“…What?” Yi Hyeon stiffened slightly and turned around.

“It smells kind of like a summer forest.”

“…”

“Huh? I definitely smelled it just now, but it’s gone again.” Placing the plate of toast in front of Eun Hyun, Yi Hyeon quickly said, “Hyung, eat up. You’ll be late for work.”

“Oh, right, it’s already 8:10. I better hurry and eat.” Eun Hyun spread a generous amount of jam on her toast and shoved it into her mouth. Her cheeks puffed out like a squirrel’s as she chewed quickly, making Yi Hyeon chuckle softly. The office atmosphere in the morning was always subdued. As usual, after finishing the morning meeting and returning to her desk, Eun Hyun was approached by Eun Soo Ah.

“Eun Hyun, could you write up the meeting minutes?”

“Sure.”

As Eun Soo Ah turned her head to return to her desk, her long hair swayed behind her. Today, every time she passed by, a faint floral scent lingered in the air. It was a subtle but unique fragrance that piqued Eun Hyun’s curiosity. Calling up the meeting minutes template on her computer, Eun Hyun finally stopped typing and leaned over the partition to speak to her.

“Assistant Manager Eun, are you wearing perfume by any chance?”

“Nope, I don’t use perfume.”

“Really? It smells so nice…” “Does it?” At Eun Hyun’s comment, Eun Soo Ah sniffed the air as if trying to catch the scent herself, then tilted her head in confusion. “I don’t smell anything…” Maybe it’s fabric softener? Or perhaps the scent of her makeup products.

Deciding it wasn’t a big deal, Eun Hyun brushed it off and went back to writing the meeting minutes. Precious lunchtime.

After finishing her meal, Eun Hyun was recharging with her team at the office cafe, sipping on some much-needed caffeine. Her phone lit up with an incoming message. Song Yena Hello, is this Jeong Eun Hyun? This is Song Yena. Who’s this? Sorry, who are you?

Song Yena I got your contact from Seon Woo oppa. I’m the person you’re supposed to have a blind date with.

Ah… Eun Hyun remembered Seon Woo mentioning he’d share her number, but apparently, he’d only given it to the woman.

Oh… Yes, hi. This is Jeong Eun Hyun. Song Yena Hi! I’ve heard so many great things about you.

But… I’m sorry to bring this up after suggesting the blind date, but… Actually, I’ve been assigned to an urgent overseas business trip, so I’ll be out of the country starting this Friday. Eun Hyun’s eyebrows shot up. Oh, so this is how it’s going to fall apart? Just as she was thinking that, a new message arrived from the woman. So, if you’re available in three weeks, would it be okay to reschedule then? There was no reason to say no. That works for me. Song Yena Really? Thank you so much for understanding!

During the remainder of her lunch break, Eun Hyun exchanged casual messages with the woman about topics like what they had for lunch, where their workplaces and homes were, and even swapped photos.

The woman, a year younger than Eun Hyun, had long wavy hair and an elegant, gentle appearance.

Before she knew it, Eun Hyun had powered through her afternoon tasks, and the clock now read 6:45 PM. Since it was Friday, only a few people remained in the spacious office. “Ugh—” Eun Hyun stretched lazily in her chair, leaning back. The report she needed to leave on Eun Soo Ah’s desk by the end of the day was finally complete.

As she checked for typos and errors, her phone buzzed with an incoming call from Han Jin Seo.

“Hello.” “Hey, Eun Hyun, are you off work yet? I’m in your company’s neighborhood for some errands.”

“Really?” “Yeah, I was going to just leave, but I thought I’d call you first.” “I’m still at work. Want to grab dinner together?” “Sure, I can do that.”

“Where are you exactly? I’ll finish up and be out in about 15 minutes.”

“I’m near Cheonggyecheon. I’ll head to your office entrance.” “Got it.” After hanging up, Eun Hyun sent a message to her sibling. Yi Hyeon, I’m having dinner out tonight. Eat without me. Barely a few seconds later, her phone rang with a call from Yi Hyeon.

“Hyung.” “Oh, Yi Hyeon.”

“Who are you having dinner with?”

“Jin Seo. Why?”

“Where are you going to eat?”

“Probably near the office.”

“….” A long silence lingered over the phone. “Yi Hyeon?”

“…Yeah.” “What’s wrong? Are you lonely eating alone?” Recalling how upset Yi Hyeon had been the last time he ate dinner alone, Eun Hyun teased with a playful tone.

“Are you going to drink?” “Probably.

What else would I do when I meet him?” “…Alright then.”

“Make sure you eat dinner, okay?”

“Yeah.” Ending the call, Eun Hyun felt a little rushed, not wanting to keep Jin Seo waiting outside. After doing one last check for typos, she printed the report and neatly placed it on Eun Soo Ah’s desk. Letting out a small sigh of relief at completing her day’s work, she grabbed her coat and left the office with light steps. As soon as she scanned her ID pass and exited the office, she spotted Han Jin Seo waiting nearby. His tall frame stood out even among the crowd of office workers.

“Han Jin Seo!” Eun Hyun hurried over and tapped Jin Seo’s shoulder. Suddenly, a scent wafted up sharp and fresh, like the smell of crushed herbs.

“Hm? What’s this smell?” Frowning, Eun Hyun leaned closer to Jin Seo’s shoulder, sniffing. Startled, Jin Seo shrugged her off.

“Hey, hey. What are you doing?” “Oh? Nothing… Did you spray something? It smells like men’s skincare.” “No, you know I don’t like perfume.”

“Right…” Is my sense of smell just hypersensitive these days? It felt like she was noticing scents she’d never picked up on before. Pondering briefly, Eun Hyun dismissed it as unimportant and began walking alongside Jin Seo.

“Where should we eat?”

It was a Friday night, and everywhere was likely to be crowded and noisy. As they walked, Jin Seo pointed to a Japanese-style izakaya he’d visited a few times.

“How about going there again?” The place had private rooms with sliding doors, making it a quiet and comfortable spot to drink, though it was a bit on the pricey side. “That place is expensive. Are you treating?”

“Yeah, I’ll treat.” “Really?” Eun Hyun hadn’t seriously expected him to say yes, but at his confident reply, her eyes widened in surprise. Jin Seo adjusted the strap of his laptop bag and flashed a smug smile. “Research funding came in today.”

“Jin Seo, you’re the best. Can I order a sashimi platter?”

Laughing, Eun Hyun looped her arm around Jin Seo’s and teased him playfully. Though he brushed her off with a “Stop being annoying,” he was smiling as well. Once inside the izakaya, they were shown to a private room and sat across from each other at the table.

Though it was early spring, the chilly breeze outside made the warm, heated floor feel even more inviting. As she sank into the cozy warmth, Eun Hyun could feel the week’s fatigue melting away. Despite their slight differences in taste, they bantered back and forth and eventually settled on a few dishes. Before long, their table was filled not only with their orders but also with complimentary side dishes.

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