Chapter 59

A deep brown suit. A neatly draped coat over it. Even the unscuffed shoes were perfect. The person who walked into the Cafe was none other than Gyu-seong.

He opened the door and immediately acknowledged Naru. When he gave a slight raise of his eyebrow, Naru awkwardly mimicked the expression back. Gyu-yeon, who had been turning his head as if wondering who it was, let out a sigh.

Gyu-seong and Naru had been exchanging messages, and Gyu-yeon had been angry about it already, and now the very person in question had shown up. Gyu-yeon waved his hand as if displeased, and Gyu-seong snorted. Maybe because he was the youngest sibling, even rude behavior just seemed cute.

“Why did you come, hyung?”

“I dropped by to buy the staff some coffee. Also to see Naru’s face.”

Gyu-seong, who had pointed to Naru with a chin gesture, naturally pulled out his wallet. It seemed he wasn’t lying about buying coffees for the staff. Caught off guard with a bulk order, Naru started moving quickly. Then Seoyeon, with practiced ease, helped Naru.

Gyu-yeon glanced at Naru like that, then grabbed Gyu-seong’s arm and pulled him. The conversation that had to happen now needed to be somewhere with no one else around.

Gyu-seong let himself be led by Gyu-yeon. His mouth was already twitching, as if he knew what Gyu-yeon intended to say.

Gyu-yeon opened the back door of the Cafe and stood with one leg crossed over the other. It was a very cocky stance. Gyu-seong, however, paid no mind and only looked at his wristwatch.

“I stepped out from work, so keep it brief.”

“Why are you messaging that kid? What are you trying to pull behind people’s backs?”

“…”

Gyu-seong’s heavy gaze landed on Gyu-yeon. It was the look of someone genuinely worried about his younger brother. Gyu-yeon was certain his brother was up to something with Naru.

Naru and Gyu-seong—doesn’t that pairing already sound strange? On top of that, Gyu-seong openly disapproved of Naru. Was it believable that such a person would suddenly reach out and even come to the Cafe to exchange glances with Naru?

Instead of answering the question, Gyu-seong pondered something intently. Then he asked a question in return.

“Do you really like Naru?”

“What do you mean by that?”

“Are you two officially in a romantic relationship or not?”

It was a question he hadn’t imagined. Gyu-yeon frowned and tilted his head in bewilderment. He couldn’t understand at all why Gyu-seong would ask such a thing.

There was a bigger problem: he couldn’t properly answer that question.

Have Song Naru and I become an official couple?

The answer was no. Of course, Gyu-yeon was naturally used to dating, but Naru would not be used to it at all.

From the start, Gyu-yeon had intended to make a proper confession on the day he revealed his feelings to Naru. He wanted to let Naru—who knew nothing about dating—know, “We are now real lovers.”

Come to think of it, that day Gyu-yeon couldn’t clearly define their relationship. The moment he brought it up, Naru started talking about something else.

“Why can’t you answer, Yoo Gyuyeon?”

“I do like him.”

Gyu-yeon answered in a low voice. He couldn’t bring himself to say they were lovers. Perceptive Gyu-seong understood Gyu-yeon’s situation perfectly from the tone and the short answer.

He recalled the messages he’d exchanged with Naru over the past few weeks. Naru put effort into even the smallest things—all to look good in Gyu-seong’s eyes. It could have been tiresome, but Naru’s striving for Gyu-yeon seemed commendable.

Gyu-seong immediately scolded his younger brother. At first he had thought little of Naru, but after exchanging messages he realized there wasn’t anyone as reliable as him.

“That kid has been trying to get in my favor because of you—what have you done so far?”

Gyu-yeon’s eyebrows twitched at the scolding tone. Setting that aside, he couldn’t understand what Gyu-seong was saying. What on earth had been exchanged between Naru and Gyu-seong to cause this?

Song Naru has been trying to get my brother’s favor because of me?

The chat window he’d glimpsed when he snatched the phone flashed through his mind. It had felt odd as Naru babbled about what he did today with pictures attached, but all of that had been to try to get his brother’s approval.

Gyu-yeon’s expression visibly clouded. Gyu-seong, who had been pushing his brother just moments ago, softened his tone and offered advice.

“If you’re going to do it, make it clear. Don’t make the person who’s trying look pathetic.”

“Last time you looked at me badly for what I said, so why change like this?”

“…He’s admirable.”

A sincere reply came back to Gyu-yeon’s irritated remark. Gyu-seong thought perhaps Naru might be more mature than his brother, Gyu-yeon. It was a sentiment that would make Gyu-yeon annoyed if he heard it.

It had been a long time since Gyu-seong had seen someone with such resolve. Naru knew how to make his intentions clear, and didn’t just boast—he showed it through actions. He was a kid he couldn’t help but respect.

“Anyway, make the relationship clear.”

“…”

“I’m busy, hyung. I can’t talk more now, so let’s finish this later.”

Checking the time, Gyu-seong hurried back into the Cafe. Gyu-yeon stood there dazed, his face looking empty.

“Coffee’s ready.”

Naru, politely serving as if to guests, handed over the neatly packaged cups. Gyu-seong accepted them with a proud face and nodded while staring at the particularly dark Americano.

His hands are unexpectedly deft.

He had carefully sealed the disposable cup openings so nothing would spill. Half of it was Seoyeon’s handiwork, but thinking Naru had helped beside her made him want to compliment him for some reason.

“The packaging is meticulous. Well then, see you next time.”

“Um, Gyu-yeon took my phone so I can’t contact you!”

“Huh?”

“I might not be able to send photos for a few days, maybe, I don’t know.”

Naru hesitated as he watched their reactions. Gyu-seong, who had been looking at Naru with puzzled eyes, smiled gently. Naru’s effort to be earnest to the end was so endearing it lifted his corners of his mouth.

By the way, he took the phone—Yu Gyu-yeon, that brat’s temper really hasn’t changed.

Just then, Gyu-yeon, having come to his senses, opened the back door and came in. Gyu-seong left one line before turning away.

“Give Naru his phone back, Yu Gyu-yeon.”

“Hyung, you said you were busy.”

“Drop by later once.”

After a brief farewell, Gyu-seong hurried away. As he left the Cafe, he shook his head thinking over what had just happened.

He hadn’t expected to support his brother who said he would date a man like this, but somehow he’d become a reliable backer.

How should he tell their parents later?

There remained the big hurdle of their parents’ approval for the two of them, but Gyu-seong was ready to help anytime. Naru’s plan had worked perfectly.

With a clear chime that always sounded bright, the door shut.

Naru blinked and looked at Gyu-yeon. His face was full of the plea to hand the phone back, just as Gyu-seong had said.

Gyu-yeon, fidgeting with the phone in his pocket, swallowed a sigh that was about to slip out. Seoyeon, seeing his expression wasn’t good, poked Naru’s side from behind with her hand.

Tickled, Naru turned and looked puzzled. Seoyeon mouthed to him and gestured toward Gyu-yeon, whispering to try to soothe him. Having finally noticed Gyu-yeon’s expression, Naru nodded bravely and moved closer to him.

“Gyu-yeon, what are you—”

“Song Naru, let’s talk.”

“Huh?”

Just as he was about to start the conversation, Gyu-yeon cut in. He grabbed Naru’s hand tightly and went to the corner table, pulling a chair and sitting down.

Naru, who naturally sat in front of him, blinked his round eyes earnestly. He had the expression of someone who couldn’t understand why Gyu-yeon was so flustered.

After a pause, Gyu-yeon asked a question that was ambiguous yet easy to answer.

“What do you think our relationship is?”

“Um…”

“…”

“Owner and puppy?”

KABOOM!

A lightning bolt struck inside Gyu-yeon’s heart. What Naru had blurted out was more shocking than he’d expected.

Not even just friends, but what? Owner and puppy?

He was speechless. He thought about how to respond, but nothing came to mind. Unlike Gyu-yeon’s empty face, Naru seemed calm as usual.

Isn’t it just an owner and a puppy who like each other? Does Gyu-yeon not want to be the owner? Why is that?

To Naru, an owner was similar to a romantic partner. Although it was hard to call it a lover-like relationship with the Previous owner, Gyu-yeon was clearly different.

If his relationship with the Previous owner had been somewhat one-sided, with Gyu-yeon it was a mutual understanding of hearts.

Gyu-yeon was about to lose his mind. The words “owner and puppy” remained as a shock and wouldn’t leave his head. He looked around worried someone might have heard. If someone who didn’t know the situation overheard, it would be easily misconstrued.

“Song Naru, Naru…”

“Why? Gyu-yeon.”

A sigh-tinged voice flowed out. Naru blushed at being called by such an affectionate name. Having heard only his full name every day, being called “Naru” made his heart flutter for no reason.

Gyu-yeon, who had been splashing water on his face, looked at Naru uneasily. How could he confess to someone who thought of them as master and pet? His insides churned.

Naru quietly studied Gyu-yeon’s expression and mulled it over.

He had asked what our relationship was, and then Gyu-yeon became gloomy at my answer.

Why is he sad? Is my answer wrong?

Could it be that he hates being called the owner? Does he want something closer?

All sorts of thoughts crowded his head. As Naru couldn’t decide how to act, Gyu-yeon tried to wrap up the conversation.

“No, let’s talk again at home later.”

“Okay, my dear.”

“…?”

Gyu-yeon, who was about to stand, froze in place. What had he just heard? His pupils trembled aimlessly as he stared at Naru precariously.

“Y-you, what did you just say…?”

“My dear?”

Pssss…

Gyu-yeon felt as if his body had stiffened and turned to powder scattered to the wind. Yet Naru, who had completely drained Gyu-yeon of his composure, seemed completely unfazed.

To say “my dear” in that cute voice.

That was cheating.