At a cozy, restaurant Hyorim, and Jinkyung sat across from Irina and her boyfriend.
Hyorim and Jinkyung just stared, deadpan, while the two of them fed each other and shared a drink from one cup with two straws, acting like they didn't even exist.
Then, as Irina reached for her drink, her gaze shifted past the window beside them. Her fork froze mid-air. "...Eh?"
Hyorim followed her line of sight and her own eyes widened.
Outside, under the soft glow of the streetlights, Seojin stood by the curb.
A woman in an elegant cream trench coat had her arms wrapped tightly around him, holding him as if she hadn't seen him in years.
And to Hyorim's surprise, Seojin wasn't stiff or awkward like he usually was when touched he hugged her back, his head dipping slightly as though the embrace meant something deeper.
Jinkyung look closer to the glass, squinting. "Wait... is that Yoon Seojin?!"
Irina's boyfriend blinked, distracted. "You know him?"
"Of course we know him," Jinkyung whispered sharply, eyes glued to the scene. "But... who's she?"
Irina tilted her head, lips curling into a sly grin. "Well, well. Our prince really knows how to keep secrets, huh?"
But Hyorim wasn't grinning.
She pressed her lips together, her chest tightening for reasons she didn't quite understand.
Whoever that woman was, Seojin's face the faint, genuine smile she'd never really seen before stayed in her mind far longer than the food in front of her
The dishes had just arrived, steam rising in the cozy restaurant.
Han soyeon happily clapped her hands. "Finally! I was starving."
But before Hyorim could even lift her spoon, her gaze was drawn across the room.
There, seated by the window, was Seojin his back straight, posture polite next to the same elegant woman they had seen at the airport.
The woman leaned in close, fork in hand. "Here, try this. You always loved it," she said warmly, slipping a piece of food onto his plate, then almost insistently lifting one to his mouth.
Seojin gave a helpless little smile but accepted it without protest.
Irina tilted her head, whispering with a grin, "Awww… look how sweet they are. She's totally spoiling him."
"Didn't Yoon Seojin say he didn't have a girlfriend?" Jinkyung said, squinting suspiciously.
Irina snort. "Please. I knew he was lying the moment he said it. With looks like that, there's no way he's single.
"Right?" Jinkyung smirked. "Geez, no wonder he ignores other girls."
Irina giggled, already spinning theories. "She must be some older noona he's dating. Bold, too."
But beside them, Hyorim's grip on her spoon tightened. Each playful word dug at her chest in a way she couldn't explain. The sound of laughter between Seojin and the woman only made it worse.
Suddenly, Hyorim pushed back her chair with a loud scrape. The noise cut through the restaurant like a blade, making nearby customers glance over.
Seojin's head snapped up immediately at the sound. His eyes widened slightly when he spotted them Hyorim, standing rigid with a flushed face, Irina and Jinkyung caught mid-bite at the same table.
"…Hyorim?" he called out, confused but already half-rising from his seat.
The elegant woman beside him turned too, her expression softening with curiosity as she followed his gaze toward the three girls.
Hyorim froze, heart pounding. She hadn't meant to draw his attention but now, with his sharp eyes on her, escape suddenly felt impossible.
"Seojin?" Hyorim echoed under her breath, but before she could sit back down, Seojin had already crossed the restaurant toward them.
"You're here too," he said, a faint smile tugging at his lips. His gaze lingered a little longer on Hyorim before flicking toward Irina and Jinkyung and then at the man beside them.
Irina beamed. "Oh, this is my boyfriend. He was treating us to dinner."
Seojin gave a polite nod, then gestured toward his table. "Why don't you all come over? There's plenty of room."
Before Hyorim could even form an excuse, the elegant woman had already stood and waved them over with a radiant smile. "Yes, come, come. Don't be shy."
The four of them shifted awkwardly but eventually followed, sliding into the empty seats.
"Introduce yourselves properly," Seojin said, tone calm but a little tight, as if bracing himself.
Irina's boyfriend bowed politely. "I'm Kim Kwangwoon. Nice to meet you."
The woman's eyes sparkled with curiosity. "So you're Seojin's friends? How lovely." Then, with a mischievous lilt, she leaned closer, lowering her voice just enough to stir the table. "So… which one of you is his girlfriend?"
The words dropped like a stone into water. Irina choked on her drink. Jinkyung let out a laugh. Hyorim her face flamed instantly.
"M-Mom!" Seojin hissed under his breath, mortified.
"Mom?" Irina mouthed silently, her eyes going wide as realization struck.
But Han Soyeon only laughed, resting her chin on her palm. "Ah, don't look so tense, Seojinnie. I was just curious. You were so shy around girls when you were little."
"Mom!" Seojin's ears burned.
She ignored him, turning to the group with a sparkle in her eyes. "Did you know when he was five, he used to hide behind the curtains whenever a girl visited our house? My little gentleman was too embarrassed to even say hello."
"Mother!" Seojin groaned, covering his face with his hand.
Jinkyung snorted into her soup. "Pfft no way."
Irina leaned forward, delighted. "That's adorable. Hard to imagine him like that now."
Hyorim, however, stayed quiet, her heart pounding oddly fast as she sneaked glances at Seojin, who was now sulking with his jaw tight and a pink flush on his cheeks.
Han Soyeon sighed warmly. "He's grown into a fine young man, hasn't he? But no matter how tall or handsome he gets, he'll always be my boy." She reached over, brushing Seojin's hair back in the same affectionate way she had done at the airport.
The table chuckled again except for Hyorim, who found herself gripping her chopsticks a little too tightly, fighting the strange mixture of envy and admiration swirling in her chest.
As dinner wound down, laughter and chatter still lingered around the table. Han Soyeon dabbed her lips with a napkin, then clapped her hands lightly.
"It's been such a joy meeting all of you," she said warmly. "Why don't you come over to the house for dessert? I had some special treats brought back from Milan, and it would be a shame not to share them."
Irina's eyes lit up immediately. "Oh, that sounds amazing!"
Kwangwoon Kim cleared his throat, getting up with a polite smile. "I'm afraid I won't be able to join. I have somewhere to go, so I'll need to excuse myself."
Han Soyeon tilted her head, disappointed but gracious. "That's a shame. Next time, then. You take good care of our Irina, yes?"
Kwangwoon Kim chuckled softly. "Of course." He rose, bowing slightly to the table before excusing himself.
Irina watched him leave with a faint pout, then turned back to the group. "Well… I guess it's just us then."
Han Soyeon clapped her hands once more, beaming. "Perfect. More dessert for the rest of us."
Seojin let out a soft sigh, already knowing where this was heading. His mom's "casual" invitation never really left room for refusal. Still, as he glanced at Hyorim, who was biting her lip and avoiding his gaze, he couldn't quite bring himself to complain.
The car rolled to a stop, and the girls climbed out, craning their necks to take in the elegant facade. Even in the dim light, the house looked like something out of a drama grand, but not cold.
Inside, warmth and fragrance enveloped them instantly. The subtle aroma of vanilla and something sweet drifted from the kitchen, making their stomachs stir despite the dinner they'd already eaten.
"Make yourselves at home," Han Soyeon said as she slipped off her coat with effortless grace. She gestured toward the living hall, her movements elegant, practiced. "I'll bring out dessert."
The girls, still in awe, settled onto the plush sofa that felt almost too luxurious to sit on. Within minutes, Han Soyeon returned with a tray delicate glass plates topped with small cakes, glossy chocolates, and biscotti wrapped in gold foil.