I stepped out of the super shop, the crisp evening air cooling the lingering warmth of Doyoon's dramatic hug. I reached into my pocket and pulled out my phone. My thumb hovered over the contact labeled "Park Danoh"—a name that still made a strange pulse of energy ripple through my chest every time I saw it.
I dialed. She picked up on the second ring.
"Hanbin-ah?" Her voice was bright, a perfect contrast to the winter chill.
"I have the chips," I said, a small smile playing on my lips. "But I think I need a caffeine boost before I head back to the lab. Are you busy? There's a quiet cafe near the station."
"I'm actually just finishing up some reading. I can be there in ten minutes!"
"I'll see you there."
The cafe was a warm, wood-paneled space filled with the smell of roasted beans and the low hum of conversation. I arrived first, securing a table in the corner. I was watching the steam rise from my Americano when the bell above the door chimed.
I expected to see Danoh. Instead, I saw a familiar silhouette—broad shoulders, a sharp jawline, and a calm demeanor that mirrored my own.
It was Hyuk-hyung.
But he wasn't alone. He was holding the hand of a woman in a long cream-colored coat. She had a soft, kind face and was laughing at something he had just whispered. Hyuk-hyung, the man who was always the "responsible one," the one who lived for the family business, was looking at her with a look of pure, unguarded affection.
At that exact moment, Danoh pushed through the door behind them.
The four of us stood in a frozen square. Hyuk-hyung saw me. I saw Hyuk-hyung. Danoh saw all of us, her eyes widening in realization.
For two solid minutes, no one moved. It was a complete system deadlock. Hyuk-hyung's hand was still firmly interlaced with the woman's, and mine was halfway raised to wave at Danoh.
The silence was deafening. I could practically hear the gears in Hyuk-hyung's head grinding to a halt, matching my own.
"Hyung?" I finally broke the silence, my voice flat with shock.
"Hanbin-ah?" Hyuk replied, his eyes darting from me to Danoh, who was now standing awkwardly at my side.
Without a word, as if choreographed, we all moved toward the largest table in the center of the cafe. We sat down—Hyuk and his companion on one side, Danoh and I on the other.
"This is Kim Minah," Hyuk said, his voice regaining its usual steady tone, though a faint blush was creeping up his neck. "She's an architect. We've been... seeing each other."
"Nice to meet you, Hanbin-ssi," Minah said with a polite bow and a warm smile. "I've heard so much about the 'genius brother.'"
I stared at my brother. My internal processor was hitting 100% usage. "Hyung. How long?"
Hyuk cleared his throat. "Six months."
"Six months?" I repeated, my voice rising an octave. "You've been dating for half a year and didn't mention it once? Not at dinner? Not even when I was practically living at the house during break?"
Hyuk narrowed his eyes, leaning forward. "And you? You're sitting here holding Park Danoh's hand like it's the most natural thing in the world. When did this happen? Jeonghan gave me hints, but you never said a word to your own brother!"
"That's different," I argued. "Ours was... a gradual integration. It was a project-based development."
"A project-based development?" Hyuk scoffed, turning to Minah. "See? I told you he talks like a computer. He's dating a beautiful girl and he calls it a 'development.'"
"At least I didn't hide it for six months!" I countered. "I brought her to the house! I introduced her!"
"You brought her for food!" Hyuk pointed out, pointing a finger at me. "You didn't say, 'Hyung, this is my girlfriend.' You just sat there eating galbi and staring at her like a lost puppy!"
"I did not stare like a puppy!"
"You absolutely did," Danoh chimed in, her voice full of suppressed laughter.
"See?" Hyuk smirked. "Even she knows."
"Wait, Minah-ssi," Danoh said, turning to Hyuk's girlfriend to try and de-escalate the sibling war. "How did you two meet? Did he use a 'logical approach' too?"
Minah giggled, covering her mouth. "Actually, he dropped his briefcase in front of my office and tried to apologize in three different languages because he was so flustered. It was very cute."
"Cute?" I repeated, looking at my big, tough brother.
Hyuk looked like he wanted to vanish into his coffee cup. "Minah, please. Not now."
"Oh, so the 'Perfect Jeon Hyuk' gets flustered?" I teased, feeling a rare sense of victory. "I'll have to tell Harin about this. She'll love the data."
"If you tell Harin, I will change the Wi-Fi password at the house," Hyuk threatened.
"Stop it, both of you!" Danoh finally laughed, grabbing my arm to pull me back. "You're brothers! You're literally acting like Doyoon right now."
"She's right," Minah added, placing a hand on Hyuk's arm. "It's a small world. We should be celebrating that both Jeon brothers finally found someone to put up with them."
Hyuk and I looked at each other. The tension broke, replaced by a reluctant, shared grin.
"Fine," Hyuk sighed. "Dinner is on me tonight. All four of us."
"Deal," I said.
As we sat there, the two girls immediately hit it off, chatting about architecture and university life. I watched them, then looked at my brother. We didn't need to say anything else. The "Ice Prince" and the "Perfect Son" had both found their anomalies, and for once, the system was exactly where it needed to be.