I am back – Chapter 61

After finishing the honeymoon, Older Sister Yu-ri came straight to our bakery.

She had been away in the countryside for a while, but her hometown was originally Seoul. And she still lived in Seoul.

“It’s my pregnancy leave.”

Saying this, Older Sister Yu-ri gently rubbed her belly. It wasn’t at the stage of being full-term yet, but it was definitely more pronounced than when I last saw her.

“I really had to wrap up everything before taking leave.”

“And you’re not just a single person anymore?”

The sister who brought a drink to Older Sister Yu-ri was shocked.

“I could have just ignored everything and taken my leave if I was getting a salary from someone else,” Older Sister Yu-ri said with a bitter smile. “But since my dad’s at that company, if I postpone work and take a long leave, it’ll just reflect badly on him.”

“Right….”

My sister nodded a few times.

“There are still hardly any employees here. But when there are a lot of people, it’s super busy. Is it manageable for just two of you?”

“I’m managing okay.”

“No, I mean Siyun.”

Upon my sister’s reply, Older Sister Yu-ri said playfully and sipped her drink through a straw.

Not quite catching what she meant, my sister tilted her head, and Older Sister Yu-ri laughed in disbelief.

“I mean it’s only been a little over a month since he started working, and he’s already struggling with baking bread and dealing with customers. You’ve been doing this for a few years, but it’s different for Siyun.”

Hearing Older Sister Yu-ri add ‘ssi’ after my name felt oddly English. Of course, that was normal for her circumstances, but it was just awkward for me.

“It’s not that difficult.”

In response to my answer, Older Sister Yu-ri slightly opened her mouth and then smiled wryly.

“Yeah… you seem to be okay. Usually, you can see a hint of dissatisfaction on people’s faces when they say it’s manageable. I guess you’re being sincere?”

“Yes.”

As I nodded, Older Sister Yu-ri gazed at me curiously and asked, “Is being a baker your dream?”

“…Um…”

Caught off guard by that question, I found myself curious about my own answer.

I did like bread. But I didn’t like it so much that I’d devote my life to it. I just liked it because it tasted good… well, at that level.

More than that, the biggest reason I didn’t quit this place was because Older Sister Ah-yoon was here. Well, even though I can’t just do nothing at home, I would have found something to do, but the most decisive reason for choosing this place was still the fact that it was about my sister.

Of course, I couldn’t tell her that outright.

If I spoke up, it would mean confessing that I was working here because I liked her from the beginning.

But officially, I had met my sister for the first time here, and even our genders aligned.

Putting aside my feelings, I would definitely be seen as a strange person.

“Hey, why are you asking that?”

Luckily, my sister helped me out by answering Older Sister Yu-ri’s question first.

“There are probably many reasons.”

“Hmm…”

Older Sister Yu-ri continued to look at me intently before letting out a small laugh, “Right, what am I talking about? I’m sorry. That was nosy, wasn’t it? I sound so much like an ajumma.”

“Oh, no…”

“With marriage and soon having a baby, I guess I am an ajumma now.”

However, on Older Sister Yu-ri’s face, there was more joy than complaint. She was truly happy to have married someone she loved and soon to have a child with that person. It seemed that fact brought her immense joy.

Even if Older Sister Yu-ri and I had become distant, I was genuinely glad to hold onto good memories of her.

“…”

I involuntarily smiled, and then my eyes met Older Sister Yu-ri’s.

But she just gave me a smile and didn’t provoke me.

*

“Well then, I’ll be going. I might come around often since I’ll have a long break.”

“Okay.”

After having a light chat with my sister, Older Sister Yu-ri slowly finished her drink and, despite Older Sister Ah-yoon’s attempts to stop her, she insisted on paying for the drink and headed outside.

“Oh, Siyun, you really don’t need to bother to send me off.”

As I stood to see Older Sister Yu-ri off, she quickly waved her hand, saying, “No need for formalities. Just sit there. I had fun today. See you next time.”

“Yes, take care.”

I too had some manners. It would just feel awkward for someone I had just met to send me off. Of course, Older Sister Yu-ri was nice enough not to show that it bothered her.

It was a little bittersweet, but I sat back down.

Older Sister Ah-yoon, who had followed Older Sister Yu-ri out, had a brief chat with her.

At first, the two were smiling and talking—

But soon, the atmosphere became a bit awkward.

“…Huh?”

Finding that unexpected sight intriguing, I couldn’t help but make a sound. Of course, they wouldn’t have heard me since there was a window between us.

Actually, I could hardly hear their voices here. Were they speaking in soft tones?

During their conversation, Older Sister Yu-ri took Older Sister Ah-yoon’s hand. A few more words were exchanged, and Older Sister Ah-yoon nodded and responded briefly. Older Sister Yu-ri sighed… and it seemed their conversation had ended.

When they said goodbye, it wasn’t as cheerful and laughing as before, but they were still smiling at each other.

What could they have talked about?

“Sorry. I just needed to have a little chat with her.”

When she came back, Older Sister Yu-ri looked a bit tired.

I wanted to ask what they talked about but…

For now, I held back.

Yeah, not now.

Just a bit longer… give it some time…

*

“They look alike.”

“Really?”

As I followed Yoori out, the first thing I heard was that comment.

Yoori’s eyes glanced through the window towards the store. Only then did I realize what she was talking about and shook my head.

“…Not really.”

I had thought those feelings had faded completely since the wedding.

“No, of course they do.”

But Yoori immediately denied my words.

“Sure, you might be able to fool her, but not me. I might not know you as well, but I’ve seen Siyun a lot. And when he… became that way, it hurt me just as much.”

Yoori looked at me quietly as she spoke.

“Just because the genders are different doesn’t mean people are different. There are plenty of people who are similar despite different genders. It’s one thing if they share a name… but the smiles look so much like Siyun’s. How can you deny that?”

“…”

At first, I had no clue who Siyun was, and I only thought we shared a dislike of certain things.

But still.

Despite how differently we looked, every time I looked at Yoori, it felt strangely like seeing Siyun.

Every gesture, every expression, every word.

It’s impossible to describe the entirety of someone by detailing every aspect. Some people might lack a defining character, and others may be so ordinary that you wouldn’t know how to describe them.

However, I could always say someone looks similar.

Even if their faces were completely different, voices completely dissimilar, and even their genders were different, sometimes we see someone who strangely resembles someone we know.

And if that person is someone we always spent time with, the feeling is even stronger.

That’s why, this time, I couldn’t respond to Yoori’s words. I was feeling it just as strongly as she did.

“Really…”

After a moment of silence, Yoori seemed to search for words, glancing around, before reaching out to hold my hand.

It was warm.

As if the message that Yoori genuinely cared about me was unmistakably conveyed.

“…I won’t tell you to forget. How could you forget? I haven’t forgotten, and I won’t in the future. But still… still, Yoon Ah.”

Yoori’s thumb gently rubbed the back of my hand.

“But you can’t keep holding onto someone who has already left…right?”

“…”

“You can’t just remain alone like this forever, can you?”

“…”

“And if you just want to be around someone who looks similar….”

I knew.

Yeah, I knew that, without needing to say it.

That would also hurt ‘Siyun’ over there.

It wasn’t out of pure affection; it meant I wasn’t seeing Siyun for who he truly was.

“…”

Yoori paused for a moment, then let out a small sigh.

“…sigh, what am I saying.”

And then, she bitterly smiled and said, “Well, if that’s how you’re coping, I won’t say anything more. But…”

Yoori looked straight into my eyes and continued, “If it ever becomes hard for you, just say so. I’ll help whenever you need it, okay?”

“Okay.”

I forced a smile in response.

“…Take care. I’ll come again.”

“…Okay.”

In the end, the two of us had no choice but to part ways with a slightly awkward atmosphere that day.