The next week of studies is a time for everyone to focus on passing their first semester. The holidays are approaching quickly, but none of the friends have time to think about that. During this period, they don't spend much time together, pushing everything aside and focusing on studying. They decide to put everything on hold for now and return to sorting out their relationships once they've passed their exams.
Over the weekend, Sunghoon has a serious conversation with his grandmother, where he admits to her that he has found his biological family. His heart beats uneasily, and the moment his grandmother starts crying makes the blood drain from his face. However, it soon turns out that these are not tears of sadness, but of joy. The woman is happy that he has found his family, saying that she is old and will feel at peace when she dies, knowing that he won't be left alone.
Sunghoon cries with her when the old woman says that she would be delighted to meet his parents, who gave birth to such a wonderful person.
They ultimately agree that everyone will spend time together during the holidays.
The second issue is the conversation with his grandmother about changing the conditions of her life. Sunghoon insists that she should move into his apartment in the city center. The woman initially refuses, saying that she has spent her whole life in this place and is attached to it, but her grandson doesn't give up, saying that he worries about her every day.
The teenager breathes a sigh of relief when, after long negotiations, he finally convinces her.
The following week marks the end of their exams. Each of them can breathe a sigh of relief as they leave the building.
Sullyoon enthusiastically tells Sunghoon about a certain situation, and they both laugh. However, her smile fades when she spots Niki in the parking lot, accompanied by her oldest sister and Jake.
Since that night when she was drunk, their relationship has been left uncertain. Currently, their bond is complicated because neither of them knows what they have between them. Are they still just friends, or do they need to have an honest conversation and seal their new status?
The eighteen-year-old is terrified of this possibility. She's madly in love with him, she desires him foolishly, but she doesn't know what to expect. Niki has always been considered the bad boy type, girls love him, and his ship with Wonyoung has been known for ages. Now, out of nowhere, his heart is captured by the youngest sister, and everyone is supposed to find out about it? The thought of how much hate might come her way terrifies her. Besides, entering a relationship changes life by 180 degrees. Is she ready for all of this in the name of Niki's love?
— Has Wonyoung not come out yet? — asks Yuna as they approach them. — I'm starving.
— After all this stress, I feel sick. How can you think about food? — asks Jake, rubbing his stomach.
He does look quite pale.
Sullyoon watches them for a moment, remembering her sister's confession. She wants to yank her friend by the ears.
They completely don't match! How can she be in love with that player?
Sunghoon writes a message to Wonyoung and doesn't even hide his surprise when she replies immediately.
— She's already out and heading to us, — he announces.
Yuna wrinkles her nose, teasing Sunghoon.
— She wouldn't reply so quickly to me... You're definitely her favorite.
The boy blushes slightly, which doesn't escape his older brother's attention.
— Don't tease him, or I'll tease you instead, and I warn you, your face will be burning with live fire, — he says to Yuna, glancing briefly at Jake.
— I hope you choke, idiot — the brunette growls at him.
Happy Wonyoung is walking toward them, but her smile is directed at only one person. She sees no one else but Sunghoon. She's like a loving puppy who still can't lick her master because she's afraid of being pushed away.
— What do you feel like eating? — she asks when she finally tears her loving gaze from Sunghoon. — What do you guys generally want?
— You certainly have a giant appetite for my brother, — Niki bluntly announces, causing Wonyoung's cheeks to burn with a bright blush. She glances at the younger boy, laughing nervously, then turns to the twenty-year-old:
— I hope you choke, Niki.
*
A twenty-year-old chokes on a shrimp at the table. His younger brother pats him on the back, not hiding his amusement as he recalls the words of the girls who told him to choke.
"Witches," Niki croaks, coughing in the process. "I never want to see you again in my life. I don't want witch-like sisters-in-law."
Sullyoon looks at her sisters with furrowed brows.
"Why did you wish for him to choke? Do you want to kill him?"
"Baby, you don't have to defend that bastard. Remember, always be on the side of your witch-like sisters," Jake chimes in.
The eighteen-year-old hits the blonde on the back, giving him a piercing look.
"You should choke instead."
"Me? Why? What did I do?"
"You know very well what you did," she responds, referring to the harm he caused her eldest sister. "You have a lot on your conscience, playboy."
Jake looks like a beaten puppy at that moment.
"I was always your favorite friend. You never yelled at me or wished me harm. What happened?"
"Nothing. Just grow up and choose one woman, or stay single forever."
Wonyoung smiles at Sunghoon as he puts more food on her plate. She loves kind, caring guys, and they are becoming rare these days.
If he officially becomes her boyfriend, she will never let him go. After all, Sunghoon is the walking ideal.
"Earth to my lovestruck sister, look at me." Yuna waves her hands in front of Wonyoung's face, sitting across from her. The younger sister gives her an angry look.
"What do you want?"
"I'm asking where we're heading, now that we're all full?"
"I'm not going anywhere with you. I'm taking Sunghoon because we want to talk and spend time together without the unnecessary audience," she replies, forcing a fake smile.
"Ah, is this the moment?"
Surprised, Sunghoon looks at the sisters, pausing a moment longer on Wonyoung.
"What moment? Did you prepare something for me?" he asks the nineteen-year-old, her cheeks turning red.
"Just the moment when we'll spend time alone, without these annoying jerks," she tells him, then glances at her sister and snarls at her angrily. Yuna shrugs, looking amused.
They finish their meal and leave the restaurant, heading to the parking lot.
"Sunghoon and I will say goodbye to you here," Wonyoung announces as she heads to her pink car with the man. They wave them off, and then Jake approaches Niki's car.
"Do you have any plans for where we can spend time?"
"You won't be spending it with us. Sullyoon and I are going alone," the twenty-year-old replies, grabbing the girl's hand. "We want to be alone, plus we have a few things to discuss."
The eighteen-year-old doesn't hide her surprise when she is forcefully seated in the passenger seat. Niki closes the door behind her and gives the friends a forced smile.
"What about us?"
"You have the chance to spend time together. There's weird tension between you, so take care of it. Now's your chance."
Jake runs a hand through his hair, nervously glancing at Yuna and her motorcycle, as Niki drives off with Sullyoon.
"We're alone now, what would you like to do?" he asks her. The brunette aggressively hands him a second helmet and then gets on the bike.
"If they hadn't dumped you, I would never have given you a ride on my bike. Currently, I just feel sorry for you, so I'll drop you off in front of your house," she announces.
The blonde furrows his brows.
"Niki's right. You're acting strange with me. Aren't we still friends? We mutually agreed that that night was a mistake, didn't we?"
The brunette takes a deep breath and clenches her lips in frustration before replying.
"Can we never bring that up again?"
"Why? You agreed with me, and it seems like you're still mad at me since then. Should I apologize for that? What should I do, since we both made a mistake?"
Yuna can't take it anymore. She gets off the bike and stands in front of the blonde, feeling tears welling up in her eyes. She knows this is the moment when she can't hold it back any longer and will tell him everything that's been weighing on her heart.
"You're a damn scumbag, Sim Jake." His eyes widen in shock. "How can you not see that someone is in love with you? That they push you away because it's easier that way?" she asks him. "You know… that night wasn't a mistake for me, so it hurts every time you emphasize that! I didn't agree with you! I suffer every day being close to you because I know you don't feel the same way! Do you really believe in platonic friendships between men and women? Eventually, one of them falls hopelessly in love. Look at our friends! Look at me and realize what I feel!" she screams, pounding her chest with her hand. She looks at him with glassy eyes, showing her pain.
"Yuna, I swear, I didn't notice... you've always been cold towards me. I said you were my friend because we've done so many crazy things since we were young. How could it have happened... when did you realize you loved me?" he asks quietly, never breaking eye contact with her face.
"It doesn't matter when I realized it, Jake. I just want to define why there's this awkwardness between us."
"Yuna, I..." He wants to say something, but the girl doesn't let him speak.
"I just wanted to get it off my chest. I don't expect you to suddenly return my feelings because I'm your friend. I really don't want that. Pity is the worst."
"Will you feel better after getting this off your chest? Will things be a little better between us now that you're no longer hiding your feelings?"
The girl looks him deeply in the eyes. At one point, she swallows hard, her gaze landing on his lips.
"I don't know, Jake, how I'll behave towards you after today. I have no idea if telling you the truth, getting all my pain off my chest, was a good idea, but I couldn't keep these feelings bottled up any longer. I hope that after this, I'll feel lighter at heart," she says seriously. "Put on the helmet, I'll take you home."
The twenty-year-old gets on the bike and starts it, then glances at Jake, who is still standing in place.
The man feels down.
"Either you get on right now, or I'll leave you to your devices. You have plenty of friends who can help you get home. It doesn't have to be me."
The blonde sighs and puts on the helmet, then takes his place behind her. He hesitantly wraps his arms around her waist, his mind racing with thoughts about everything she just told him.
Currently, he's lost and doesn't know what to make of it.