Seungkwan didn't come home that night. Sooyoung lay on the long sofa in the living room, massaging her tired wrists and shoulders. Throughout the day, the cafe was constantly visited by customers from journalists who came to SYG Entertainment. They filled the cafe, chatting excitedly about the latest case, and their ambition for an explanation from the company shone brightly in their eyes.
It was a day that Sooyoung couldn't forget in an instant. She could each remember how excited the hysteria of the residents of the area had been when the news had just spread. Sooyoung didn't reply to Seungkwan's message, but she was still worried about her brother as much as she was concerned about Jenny, who was crying from exhaustion. Ahreum also immediately helped when she came home from the distributor shop.
Sooyoung felt that her shoulder blade was about to fall off, so without washing her body first, she lay on the sofa in such a pitiful state. If she thinks back on the previous dreams, everything Sooyoung experienced is not on the list.
Being an English Literature student has always made Sooyoung dream of traveling abroad, visiting beautiful historical places, or discovering ancient literature by famous writers. However, before that can happen, she becomes a cafe barista. Even though... well, that's not a bad thing at all.
Suddenly, Sooyoung jumped to sit up, looked ahead with a frown, then shook her head vigorously.
"No, don't be lost in thought too long, Sooyoung. Loneliness is a best friend of depression, if you don't wake up and keep busy, the sadness will come, and you'll find yourself crying in your room again. Pathetic, doesn't it?" Sooyoung said to herself while patting her cheek.
After struggling with all the laziness mixed with the denial of reality, Sooyoung managed to get herself to take a shower. Now, she was walking back and forth in front of the refrigerator, finding chicken and a bunch of vegetables.
As if driven by instinct, Sooyoung took all the equipment and put it on the table. Then she spun around, put a cup of instant rice in the microwave, then put the chicken in the air fryer. While waiting for the two ingredients to be ready, Sooyoung cut the cucumber. The girl seemed busy alone in the kitchen and had forgotten the tiredness hanging around.
Finally, Sooyoung finished her kimbap. Accompanied by kimchi and spicy ramyun, she devoured the dinner menu feeling relieved and comfortable. Seungkwan isn't lying when he says Sooyoung likes to cook.
"Make me remember that Hyeri and I used always to make kimbap as a late-night snack," Sooyoung muttered, chuckling grimly while sipping the ramyun sauce. Her eyes were watering, and her entire mouth was burning with a spicy taste. The memory of Hyeri came back, but this time Sooyoung held it tight.
Whether today, tomorrow or later, Sooyoung must come to terms with all those memories and stop crying in the name of regret.
***
Sooyoung was making scrambled eggs in the kitchen when she heard the sound of the door opening. Hastily, she turned around and found her brother standing in the hallway between the living room and the kitchen that was joined. The man had crescent moons under his eyes with an empty look and deep furrowed brows that showed how tired he was.
"Is everything good?" Sooyoung asked, watching her brother for a while and then picking up two extra eggs to cook. When Seungkwan dropped his weight on the dining table chair, Sooyoung had finished putting two pieces of bread in the toaster.
"Not at all," Seungkwan answered not in a passive voice, but only a short sigh was heard. "I have to be there again in two hours."
"Did you not sleep at all last night?" Sooyoung asked with her back. This time she prepared a cup of hot coffee without offering it.
While watching his sister busy, Seungkwan took out his phone. He started responding to hundreds of incoming messages one by one. "I think it's only three hours. That's because I fell asleep."
Now Sooyoung turned around and put down a breakfast menu plate and a coffee cup. The hot steam that was like a thread sticking out into the air caught Seungkwan's attention and, at the same time, summoned the roar of hunger in his stomach.
Seungkwan devoured the toast and scrambled eggs with gratitude which was conveyed through the murmurs from his full mouth. Once again grateful that his sister came home because it means his daily nutrition will be back in balance. Living alone as a man who is only busy working is terrible.
"What exactly happened there?" Sooyoung asked, her voice low and careful. She didn't want to ask questions that could make his brother sensitive, especially since he had just come home after a night of fighting with whatever-it-was at SYG Entertainment.
Seungkwan turned his attention away from the half sheet of toast. Only his breathing was heard, and his brow was still deep furrowed. Surprisingly, the man's lips smiled faintly.
"You've heard and seen the news by yourself."
Sooyoung flinched, and her expression changed, "So, did manager Kang run away with the company's money? For freaking real?"
Seungkwan nodded faintly, then laughed blandly looked very forced. "What a hassle, that old shitty fox. How can he cheat behind Director Song. Do you know how violent the Director can be in front of the staff?"
Song Yeonggul, mentioned by Seungkwan, is the owner of SYG Entertainment and belongs to the ranks of senior actors whose names are well-known overseas. Even though he is over fifty, his youth and spirit are still the same as when he starred in great films decades ago. In addition, Sooyoung had heard that Director Song was a rigorous person with a slightly high temper.
Sooyoung didn't answer Seungkwan's rhetorical question, then chose to enjoy her breakfast in silence. At that moment, Seungkwan put down his coffee cup, then observed his little sister.
"And... I was transferred to fill the place that fox's left behind."
Sooyoung was silent. Her hand about bringing the cup to her lips stopped midair. Her beautiful eyes rolled and headed for her brother. As her hand slowly lowered the cup, Sooyoung asked, "Then, what about your current group? That Hexagon-called?"
"There are still two assistant managers for them. Remember the one who stopped by here before? The Moon couple?"
"Moon Woolim and his wife, Hyejin?" Sooyoung guessed while remembering the two employees who worked with her brother.
"That's right. Woolim replaced me, so I was able to move to become DOMINO's manager along with two other people who were also dragged from other divisions."
"Woah...."
"Too sudden. But since the direct appointing from the furious Director, I can't refuse that." Seungkwan sighed, rubbing his tired face because of lack of sleep. His eyes glanced at the clock on the phone screen.
"This morning, Hyejin said she couldn't take care of the Hexagon members alone. So she begged me to find a new assistant," added the man, "or soon-to-be manager."
Sooyoung is stunned. "Wow, you truly are a reliable person, Big-bro?"
Seungkwan looked at his sister with a gloomy expression. He also does not understand why people only look for him when other people are more appropriate to be a place to complain. When looking at his sister's face, the image of she being still in school, and college flashed in his mind. Then, Seungkwan was stunned for a few seconds.
"Brother?" Sooyoung called because he was suddenly silent.
Seungkwan blinked repeatedly, then called back. "Sooyoung?"
"Hmm?"
"How about you sign up to be Hyejin's new assistant?"
Sooyoung dropped the toast, and her lips formed a circle which became her shocked expression. "You must be joking!"
"I'm serious, Ahn Sooyoung." Seungkwan changed his tone to be more firm. The look in his eyes didn't show any joking either and seeing that made Sooyoung tremble.
Seungkwan explained, "I can't think of anyone else. Plus, I'm not sure that Director Song will trust other strangers. He's in a horrible mood and I don't want to make it worse by bringing other people along," explained Seungkwan. "Haven't you also met him in person?"
Sooyoung felt her breakfast menu stop at the bottom of her throat, making her unable to answer anything. Indeed, it was only a year ago that she came to SYG Entertainment to interview Song Yeonggul as campus magazine material. However, it doesn't mean that busy and famous people will remember Sooyoung's familiar face, right? Moreover, Sooyoung came with Hyerin, and it was her who chatted more to ask questions while Sooyoung just took notes and recorded.
Ah, just remembering it made a slight thorn jab Sooyoung's heart.
He saw his sister's reaction, which, as he expected, made Seungkwan a little disappointed. According to him, it would be better if Sooyoung busied herself with getting rid of all the sadness. This may sound selfish, but Seungkwan also considered the possibility of being able to take care of his younger sister if she worked under the same roof.
"Let's just say, how about you go to the company first?" Seungkwan offered hopefully, "I'll tell Ahreum. She will let you take today off."
And Sooyoung couldn't refuse when she saw the fatigue on her brother's face.