Alex stirred on the soft and comfortable pillow, then sat up. He looked into Ga-yeong's soft eyes, then looked around:
"Where is Mark?"
Ga-yeong replied with a smile:
"He left after eating."
Alex raised an eyebrow, and took another look around.
"And he also tidied up the place. Quite the good husband I found you, didn't I?"
"Yes, you are right. I can't thank you enough to have made him drink and find the courage to confess to me."
Ga-yeong placatingly at those words, then laughed. She lowered her head to caress her stomach, smiling gently at the fruit of her love with Mark.
"I remember how Leyna teased me for that for a while."
Alex smiled. Then looking at her action, he realized what the soft pillow he had found comfortable was. After glancing at the sky through the window, he apologized:
"Sorry, I made you remain in one place for a long time. Are your legs numb?"
Ga-yeong shook her head and laughed to dismiss Alex's concerns:
"At least the fat from my pregnancy has served a purpose. As long as I walk around a little, my legs will regain their vigor."
As she spoke, Ga-yeong stretched, then suddenly flinched slightly. She smiled and placed her hand on her stomach before she looked at Alex:
"He accompanied his uncle to sleep, and now he is also awake."
Alex raised his eyebrows, then placed his hand on the ballooned stomach too. The owner of the belly took his hand and directed to the side, and he felt it, the tiny foot that moved to press itself against the wall of the fleshy room housing it, and the little one it belonged to.
The two adults shared a laugh, and Alex stood up and stretched, seemingly intent on taking his leave. As he yawned, Ga-yeong read that intent on his face, and held him back:
"Do you want to eat something before you leave?"
Alex shook his head:
"No. I ate with your boss before coming here."
Ga-yeong giggled:
"Is the chairman still upset with Mark?"
Alex exclaimed, his expression making it clear that he was stating the obvious:
"Of course! How could she not be? Because of Mark, she lost a good and competent employee. I'm sure he was complaining about me before leaving, wasn't he?"
Ga-yeong laughed, then shook her head:
"I don't know what the two of you are up to, but you seem to be giving him many worries."
"Well, I can't always live off my mother, so I made some investments here and there which he helps me look after sometimes. But it seems I'm also giving him too much trouble."
After explaining with a simple smile, Alex let out a sigh, his head lowering in feigned helplessness:
"Too bad, he owes me a debt of gratitude he can never repay."
Ga-yeong let out a laugh, and played along:
"Don't worry, since I am the reason for the debt, I will help me pay it."
Alex lost his playful expression and raised an eyebrow. He glanced at his hostess with smiling brown eyes carrying firmness that expected one answer instead of another:
"Then, have you made a choice?"
Ga-yeong looked at the young man that was like a younger brother and who always cared about her, and smiled softly:
"Do I really have a choice?"
After a deep look, Alex broke into a smile:
"You are so smart, Ga-yeong. It is no wonder mom likes you so much… and Mark can't control you."
Before Ga-yeong could enjoy the praise, the last part of the sentence came out, and her spreading smile froze. She aggrievedly glared at Alex, and snapped. She threw the cushion close at hand at him:
"Get out of here. Didn't you say you had to go? Then go, and stop being a bother."
Alex dodged the projectile with a jump, and ran toward the door with a laugh. Nevertheless, he didn't forget to exhort:
"Don't take too long if you don't want me to have you admitted to the hospital. Also, remember to take care of yourself."
He smiled at Ga-yeong, before he closed the door of the apartment and left. Ga-yeong, having stood up in a mock play to chase Alex, looked at the door, her smile shifting from amused to gentle, reflecting the warmth she was feeling inside.
Like she told Mark, even though the latter already knew, it was Alex who had been doting on her, and all she could do is try to be an elder sister for him, not with anything he didn't lack, like money, influence, external things, but with sisterly love, concern, and care.
*Ding*
The elevator opened in the lobby, and Alex left the apartment building, a refreshed smile on his face. He took out his phone which he was lucky to not have forgotten behind while running. Searching for a bit, he called his other elder sister, who was also not one by blood.
The call rang for a moment before it was picked up, and Leyna's voice came through:
"Alex, is there anything you need?"
Alex's smile grew bigger as he replied:
"Big sis, dear, please tell my mother that I will be sending two people to keep her company at home soon. That way, she will have something to keep herself busy, and will not miss her favorite son too much."
In her large office, Leyna rolled her eyes, an amused smile coming to color her feature:
"And what makes you think you are the chairman's favorite?"
As he arrived outside, Alex laughed, and looked at the sky while replying:
"Of course because I'm the youngest, and the one she worries about the most. If I'm not the favorite, then who is? Those sons of hers who have stopped being cute for a long time already?"
"Pfft! As if you are the cute one. Anyway, who are you sending to accompany the chairman?"
"Your dear sister."
Alex lowered his head from checking the time, while his smiling answer surprised Leyna:
"Ga-yeong?"
She paused, then asked, as her mind worked:
"You are really not intending to have Mark become the chairman's driver, are you?"