The Birthday Party

The next few days passed by stiflingly.

It was disheartening to see the two brothers fight.

However, even though the two were not on talking terms, they both shared a similarity: both of them treated Yeo Ri as usual. No, perhaps, it could be said that they treated Yeo Ri better than usual.

Gun made sure that he never left Yeo Ri alone with Hyuk. Even when they were going to sleep, he made sure that the two were not sleeping next to each other.

Because he felt as if he was at fault for not paying a lot of attention to Yeo Ri, he was much nicer to her; even more than he used to be. Yeo Ri had not thought that they could be even more protective of her, but they could.

"Yeo Ri-ah," Gun called out. "Oppa's friends are having a birthday party tomorrow. Do you want to come with me?"

"Oppa's friends?" Yeo Ri tilted her head quizzically. "Oppa, you had friends?" She was genuinely surprised about this piece of news.

Gun pouted at her slightly. With a sweetened tone, he faux-scolded her, "What? You didn't think that Oppa has friends? How rude."

"Sorry, Oppa. It's just that you've never mentioned anything about your friends before." Yeo Ri smiled, half-apologetic, half-amused.

"So? Do you want to go?"

Yeo Ri thought for a bit, then nodded. "Mm! I have to see if they're real or not." She giggled.

Gun shot her an unamused glare, but soon the glare melted into a helpless smile. It was impossible for him to stay angry at Yeo Ri for too long.

The next day, Choi Da Na's house.

Yeo Ri stared blankly at the large house.

"Oppa... are you sure this is the right place?"

Gun double-checked the address on his phone, then looked at the house again. "Yes, I'm sure."

After gawking for another minute, Gun finally rang the doorbell.

"Is it Gun? Is he here?" Noh Ha Jun's familiar voice rang out from the intercom.

"Move! I'll go check!" Choi Da Na's voice interjected.

Bzzt!

The gates unlocked, and Choi Da Na's head popped out from the now-ajar gate. Seeing Gun, her eyes lit up. "Gun-ah! You're here!"

"Come in, come in," she ushered him in.

Yeo Ri who had been hidden behind him was now exposed to Da Na's scrutinising gaze. Yeo Ri, seeing the older girl, smiled, "Hello."

"Ah... h-hello," Choi Da Na bobbed her head awkwardly. It was the girl! Gun's girlfriend! She screamed internally. Now that she had a good look on the girl, the girl seemed to be even more beautiful than she remembered.

Seeing Da Na's somewhat startled and confused look, Gun smiled in amusement. "Yeo Ri-ah, introduce yourself." He patted the girl's back, pushing her forward.

Yeo Ri bowed politely to Da Na, "Hello, my name is Lee Yeo Ri. Thank you for being Oppa's friend."

Hearing her introduction, Gun glowered at her, "Are you still on about that? I told you, I do have friends, okay?"

"Yes, yes~" Yeo Ri laughed. "I totally believe you now, Oppa."

Da Na watched the two's interaction with a flabbergasted look. "Um... forgive me for asking, but is she... your sister?"

Gun did not detect anything strange from her question, so he merely nodded, "Yes. She turns fifteen next year." Gun smiled dotingly at Yeo Ri, stroking her head.

Yeo Ri blushed at his actions. Even though she normally did not mind these kinds of affectionate gestures, they were in front of someone. It was embarrassing to be treated like a child in front of somebody else. She swatted his hand away, "Oppa! I'm not a child anymore."

Gun gave her an amused grin. "What? In my eyes, you still look like you're four years old."

"..." Yeo Ri shot him a withering glare. Four years old? She was young, but not that young, okay? She pouted, sulking.

Gun smiled helplessly. "Okay, okay. Oppa is sorry, okay? Yeo Ri-ah is such a big girl, how can you get angry over such small things?" He teased.

Choi Da Na watched them, inwardly gaping.

The cool prince suddenly turned into a super doting older brother! What a terrifying image change!

In the short time that she had known Gun, this was the first time she saw him speak in such a soft and gentle tone. Also, she had thought that making him smile was hard, but ever since he started talking to his sister, a smile never left his lips. It was as if he was glowing.

'So bright!' Choi Da Na gasped. She couldn't believe her eyes. Her eyes shone at this unexpected treat.

Choi Da Na glanced at Yeo Ri with a peculiar gaze. Inside her mind, she had already decided to butter up to the girl. She was so amazing—to be able to melt that ice block of a top student, she's got skills! It was clear that the younger girl had Gun wrapped around her fingers.

"Welcome to my house, Gun and Gun's sister," Choi Da Na beamed at the two, inviting them inside the house.

Noh Ha Jun, who had been waiting by the door, sprang up and greeted them with a smile. "Gun! I'm glad you came!"

Seeing Yeo Ri following closely behind them, Noh Ha Jun cocked an eyebrow in surprise and curiosity. "Oh? Who is this?"

"This is—"

Before Gun could introduce his sister, Choi Da Na took the initiative and told Ha Jun, almost a little bit too excitedly, "Her name is Lee Yeo Ri! She's Gun's little sister!"

"Little sister, huh?" Ha Jun shot Da Na a knowing look. A trace of guilt sprouted in his mind after thinking about the indecent way he had pegged their relationship previously; to call the girl Gun's girlfriend was incestuous! He almost blanched at the thought. As if there was nothing going on, he led the two Lees into the living room, where it had already been decorated with birthday party items.

When the two were busy looking around, Ha Jun nudged Da Na and whispered, "Good for you, Da Na-ya. It seems like you still have a chance. Fighting!"

Da Na nudged him back, trying to fight off her increasingly widening grin, "Thanks, my friend."