“I knew it. I knew it, I knew it, I knew it, I knew it–“

Jaehyun cupped a hand over his sister’s mouth before she could holler the whole building down. Soojung had been squawking about her brother’s apparent newfound relationship for the past few minutes and he was that close to an aneurysm.

“Shut up, for ’s sake!” Jaehyun warned. He guided her to the quieter alcove of the café, where the emptiness and caramel macchiato could at least keep her mildly silent.

Soojung leaned in, eyes glimmering with glee. “So, you and Seulgi are finally a thing, huh?”

“Yes, and all the details are none of your ing business,” he replied curtly, stopping her from digging any further. Jaehyun folded his arms and leaned back against his seat. “Why are you here, noona? How much money do you need this time?”

Soojung wrinkled her nose in disgust. “How could you think so lowly of your own sister, your own flesh and blood? Aren’t we supposed to be there for each other, for better–“

“So what do you want, Soojung-noona?” Jaehyun interrupted.

He could already feel the chill of foreboding down his spine – or rather, the twist of annoyance in his mind. Soojung had a penchant for getting herself knee deep in trouble. If she personally came down to his office to search him out, then it meant that things had escalated beyond her control and he’d have to clean up the mess. At least, if he felt that he had the grace to do it.

“Nothing,” Soojung replied.

“Liar.”

“I’m serious!”

“Stop ing around.”

“I’m actually serious! I actually don’t want anything from–“

“How about some cinnamon?” A firm, gentle voice interjected.

Jaehyun looked to his right, feeling a sense of relief flood through him as Seulgi sat down and proffered a jar of cinnamon powder to Soojung. Instinctively, he extended a protective arm over her shoulders, tugging her close to him. He finally had some kind of romantic importance to her after ten grueling years, and he wasn’t going to let his menace of a sister ruin things.

“Thank you, love.” Soojung gratefully accepted Seulgi’s gesture, throwing her nose up at Jaehyun while she was at it. “How such an evil, ungrateful asshat like yourself wound up with the sweetest girl in the world – I’ll never understand.”

Jaehyun’s eyes glinted. “I could be even more evil and tell Mom how much you spent when you were in Milan last year.”

“You little ing –“

Before the two siblings could begin throwing hands at each other, Seulgi quickly intervened. “I’m sure Soojung just has some news for you, Jaehyun,” she said knowingly, putting a hand over his. “Hear her out.”

Gazing at Seulgi and the warm smile spread across her lips, Jaehyun immediately softened. He was so in love with her that there wasn’t a thing he wouldn’t do for her.  

“Fine,” he relented.

“God, I wish this stupid brother of mine would just put a ring on you today,” Soojung sighed, smiling widely at Seulgi. “Anyway, I’m just here to tell you that I’m seeing someone.”

Jaehyun snorted. “You’re always seeing someone. What’s so special this time?”

“Nothing,” Soojung replied quickly, enough to arouse suspicion in her younger brother. “I just thought I’d introduce him to you if you have some time this week.”

“Is he some musician you met in Milan? Is he part of the mafia? Is he a drug dealer?” Jaehyun sat up straight, scanning his sister’s surreptitious expression. “Don’t tell me – is he one of my friends? What are you even–“

“No!”