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Chapter 1

I first met him when I was fourteen.

It was winter, 14 years ago, when I followed my mother to meet him. He was radiant and soft, almost sweet in appearance, and he greeted me with a warm smile.

“So, you’re going to be my little brother now?”

I had just escaped a life of hardship, running from a violent father. After my father’s imprisonment was finally confirmed, my mother and I began to find some peace, and a new chapter of life started for us.

I don’t know how my mother met my stepfather or why they decided to become a family. But I do know that my mother, who had lived in constant fear, counting down the days until my father’s release, found stability with my stepfather and eventually decided to remarry.

Of course, it wasn’t without its complications. My mother, with a child and a violent ex-husband, wasn’t exactly the ideal candidate for remarriage, but my stepfather was kind and generous enough to accept everything. And my new older brother was the most beautiful and gentle person in the world.

Life with them brought a complete upheaval in my world. There was no longer the smell of alcohol in the house, and the violent shouting and beatings that had been a constant part of my life gradually faded away. The bruises on my mother and me began to heal, and thanks to my stepfather’s help, my father’s parental rights were revoked, and my mother gained full custody of me. For the first time, I no longer had to worry about my father’s release or wake up from nightmares.

Slowly but surely, I began to heal both physically and emotionally, surrounded by the love of my mother, stepfather, and brother. Everything was perfect.

Until that day, 10 years ago.

“Don’t look, Junyoung.”

The only thing I remember is the white world outside the window and my brother’s desperate voice as he held me tightly.

That day marked the heaviest snowstorm in 12 years. My mother and stepfather, returning from a trip to Busan, had called to say they would be late due to the snow, and I remember watching a movie with my brother before falling asleep.

But the memories after that are hazy.

The next thing I knew, I was standing outside the morgue, staring blankly out the window, held in my brother’s arms.

I don’t know all the details. The police explained that a drunk driver had lost control on the icy road, crossing the center line and crashing into the car my mother and stepfather were in. They died on the spot.

But it didn’t feel real. I wasn’t allowed to see the bodies, as they were in too terrible a state. My brother handled everything, while I sat in a daze, dressed in mourning clothes.

I wasn’t thinking about anything. I just wanted to wake up from this nightmare, but the whispering around me never stopped.

‘The brothers have different surnames.’

‘Must be a remarriage…’

‘The younger one is still a minor, so what happens now? Maybe the older brother will raise him? But he’s pretty young too.’

‘That won’t happen. Professor Cha’s ex-wife was the youngest daughter of the Daejin Group, right? When they remarried, Daejin made Professor Cha give all of his ex-wife’s inheritance to the son, and they even made him sign a contract promising not to include the younger one in the family register. They said he had to leave everything behind, including her assets.’

‘Oh, that family is too much.’

‘Well, Professor Cha became their live-in son-in-law, but then suddenly remarried, so I guess that’s why. They even tried to adopt Professor Cha’s son as their second son, but Professor Cha refused.’

‘Then the younger one will have to go to his mother’s family.’

‘Probably. Even if the older one is an adult, he’s only 22. How could he raise an 18-year-old? Do you think the older one’s maternal family will let that happen? Daejin made sure the younger one wasn’t included in the family register so he wouldn’t cling to the older one later on. If their family registers got mixed, and something happened, the Daejin name would be the first thing that comes up.’

‘Come to think of it, the younger one’s biological father is a criminal, right?’

Though they were speaking in hushed tones, the gossip felt oddly clear, making my head spin. Eventually, I fled the empty wake in the early hours of the morning. My stomach churned, and I felt like I might vomit. I spent a long time hiding in a corner of the funeral hall, letting the cold winter air cool my head. Just when I thought I’d calmed down, another nightmare began.

‘Are you out of your mind? Why should we take in Junyoung? Do you not know what kind of person your brother-in-law is? Gambling, sexual assault, domestic violence—he even showed up at our house multiple times demanding money! How can we bring his child into our home? Have you thought about our Yuhui and Yuran? Blood runs deep. Do you think a kid from a father like that could be normal? Besides, that guy is getting out of prison soon. What if he comes to our house and causes a scene again?’

‘Do you think I want to raise the son of the man who ruined my sister’s life? But think about it. Even if the boy isn’t in the family register, we lived together for four years. He’s still a minor. If we take him in, we’ll get that 65-pyeong apartment in the middle of Seoul. Do you think the older one’s maternal family will let a precious heir to a chaebol live with us? They’ll give us the apartment just to get rid of us. If we threaten to write about them online, maybe they’ll give us even more. Junyoung is almost in his last year of high school. We only need to take care of him for a year, then send him off to college. Once he’s in a dorm or living on his own, we’ll sell off all the assets while we’re still his guardians. This is all for Yuhui and Yuran.’

 

I stood there frozen, listening to the conversation between my uncle and aunt in the dead of night, in a hidden corner where they felt free to talk. Just then, someone grabbed my wrist and pulled me up. Before I could even react, I was being led outside to the front of the funeral hall. My brother stood there, snow-covered, quickly exhaling white breath as he spoke.

‘There’s no need to listen to such nonsense.’

Looking straight into my eyes, my brother spoke with unwavering conviction.

‘Don’t pay attention to anyone else. No matter what anyone says, it’s just garbage. Don’t listen to anyone and trust no one but me. I’m the only one you can rely on, and you’re the only one I can rely on. Now it’s just the two of us left in this world. Blood ties and paperwork mean nothing. Now and in the future, you’re the only family I have. No matter what happens, I’ll protect you, and you’ll support me.’

At that moment, my brother became my only family. No, the word “family” felt inadequate. He was my one and only savior, the person who pulled me out of that wretched hell and protected me.

As he promised, my brother quickly obtained our grandmother’s consent and started preparing for our studies abroad. Before the new semester began, we left for the U.S., where we began a new life for us. The drastic change in environment kept me so busy adjusting that I hardly had time to miss my parents or feel any sadness. Even there, my brother was devoted and kind, so I quickly adapted to our new life, carrying on in peaceful routine.

Until I met him.

‘Stop it already, Ha Junyoung.’

The piercing sound of the alarm bell woke Junyoung with a start. He lay there, drenched in sweat and breathing heavily. It was a nightmare, a tangled mess of memories…

The sharp voice from the end of the dream still echoed in his ears. Closing his eyes tightly, he tried to push the remnants of the dream out of his mind, but the phone on his bedside table kept ringing. Weakly, he picked it up, and the name “Hyung” appeared on the screen. The name filled him with both anticipation and a cold sense of dread. Hesitating, he finally pressed the call button.

“Hey.”

[Were you asleep?]

His brother’s kind voice prompted him to check the wall clock. It was almost 2 p.m. He had passed out right after coming home from his late-night shift, and he’d slept for a long time. Despite that, his body still felt heavy, and his mind was foggy, as if it was clouded over. He didn’t feel like getting up yet, but it was about time.

“Yeah, I just woke up.”

[You must be tired from the night shift. Do you work night shifts often?]

“The front desk rotates shifts. This week was supposed to be regular, but I got called in last night because of the VIPs.”

[Because of me?]

“Yeah, because of you.”

Despite the six years that had passed, the conversation felt natural. Seeing him in person had made Junyoung too tense to speak freely, but on the phone, he felt only relief at hearing his brother’s voice. It made him feel much more comfortable.

[Sorry about that… I didn’t have a choice. If I hadn’t, I don’t know when I would’ve seen you. That’s why I made the special request.]

“You made that request?”

[Yeah. I asked them to assign my brother, Ha Junyoung, to me.]

So that’s why the manager had him guide his brother. The thought left a slightly bitter feeling.

No matter what, he was still his “hyung.”

[More importantly, are you okay?]

“Huh?”

[Because of the snow.]

His brother knew that sometimes, when it snowed heavily, Junyoung’s heart would race, and he’d spiral into a panic or fall into a depressive state. He tried to brush off his brother’s worried question with a casual reply.

“I’m fine now. I’m grown, after all…”

[Well… You still look like a little kid to me. A tiny, fluffy puppy.]

The ridiculous comparison made Junyoung laugh softly.

“Where do you see a puppy my size?”

[The bigger, the cuter. You’re off today and tomorrow, right?]

“Yeah. I was supposed to be off starting yesterday, but I got called in for the night shift, so now I’m off for two days.”

[Then can I ask you for a favor?]

“…A favor?”

[Since it’s been so long since I’ve been back in Korea, I’ve been craving Korean food…]

“There’s a decent Korean restaurant near the hotel. Our hotel is good for French and Italian, but the Korean food is lacking. Want me to send you the address?”

[Not just any Korean food. I want homemade.]

Just as he was getting out of bed, he froze at those words. He knew immediately what his brother meant: he wanted to come to the apartment. Unable to respond right away, Junyoung hesitated, and his brother, sensing his reluctance, spoke apologetically.

[Is that too much to ask?]

“…No, it’s fine. But… the place is small, and I don’t cook much at home…”

[I just want to see where you live. And you don’t have to cook anything fancy—just the usual stuff you used to make. Kimchi jjigae, maybe some seaweed and a fried egg. Or that kimchi fried rice you used to make.]

Faced with such specific requests for home-cooked meals, Junyoung found it hard to refuse.

“You’re better at cooking than I am.”

That was true. When they first started living together, his brother couldn’t even cook instant noodles properly, but over time, he became so proficient in the kitchen that, by the time they were studying abroad, he was making almost every meal. Junyoung only cooked occasionally—when his brother was too busy or away.

[Still, I liked your cooking the best.]

“…I can make some kimchi jjigae. I’ll see what else is in the fridge.”

[That’s all I need. I’ve been craving your kimchi jjigae.]

“Sounds like you missed the jjigae more than you missed me.”

[…Maybe.]

Their playful exchange brought a soft smile to Junyoung’s face.

It’s fine. It’s okay.

It’s been six years already, so he might be completely fine by now.

Yesterday, he was just startled by the sudden reunion, but now he’s okay. So he’ll be okay from now on too.

After all, it’s just a month.

[I think my schedule will be wrapped up around 7 PM today… is that time okay for you?]

“Yeah. I’ll send you the address.”

[Okay. I’ll text you when I leave. It’s cold, so dress warmly and be careful not to catch a cold.]

“You stay safe too.”

[Alright. See you in the afternoon.]

“Okay.”

After ending the call with a natural and casual farewell, he got up from the bed and looked around the room. The small officetel was a mess. There wasn’t much stuff, but because the house was so tiny and he hadn’t had time to organize due to being busy recently, it looked chaotic.

The small space couldn’t be helped, but at least he could tidy up, so he quickly started moving.

It’s been a while since he felt a little excited.

***

A little before 7 PM, after receiving a call from Eunhyuk saying he was about to leave, Junyoung straightened the cushion on the small sofa one last time and took out the new dishes he had bought today. While the ingredients could be bought without much fuss, living alone meant he didn’t have proper tableware, so he’d hurriedly prepared some two-person dishes, which was a bit overwhelming.

As a result, the cabinets, once filled with only plastic containers, now had proper plates, and the fridge was stocked with drinks and various ingredients.

“I’ve done all the laundry, cleaned, aired the place….”

Even the bathroom had been scrubbed, so the house looked the cleanest it had in two years. Just as he was glancing at the clock again, the building’s intercom rang. Approaching it, Junyoung saw that it was indeed his brother.

His heart pounded wildly again, and he let out a long breath before pressing the button to open the door. Still, the tension wouldn’t leave him, so he fidgeted nervously with his hands, waiting anxiously until the doorbell rang once more.

With another deep breath, Junyoung went to the door and opened it to find Eunhyuk standing right in front of him, smiling warmly.

“You’re quick.”

Suppressing the surge of emotions stirred by Eunhyuk’s kind gaze and voice, Junyoung greeted him.

“You got here fast. I thought it’d take you a bit longer.”

“I missed my brother, so I rushed over as soon as I finished everything. Here.”

Eunhyuk handed over the shopping bag he was holding.

“What’s this?”

“Wine. I couldn’t show up empty-handed to a dinner invite.”

“In Korea, you’re supposed to bring fruit.”

Junyoung teased him playfully, but Eunhyuk just responded in a laid-back manner.

“Oh… right. Wait here. I’ll go buy some.”

Eunhyuk was about to head back out the door when Junyoung hurriedly stopped him.

“No, it’s fine. Come in.”

Junyoung stepped aside to let Eunhyuk in, accepting the shopping bag. Eunhyuk slowly entered the narrow foyer, wearing a dark gray long coat and a black scarf over his black suit. As he neatly removed his shoes and stepped inside, unwrapping his scarf, Junyoung quickly stepped forward, took the scarf and coat from him, and waited for him to remove his jacket. Smiling faintly, Eunhyuk glanced at Junyoung.

“This feels nice.”

“What does?”

“You taking my coat for me.”

“I always did that.”

“Yeah, but it’s been a while. I’m touched.”

Having his unconscious action pointed out made his face flush with heat, so he quickly changed the subject.

“Don’t make a big deal out of it. Hand me your jacket. Everything’s ready… do you want to eat first?”

“Sure.”

Taking the jacket from Eunhyuk, Junyoung hung it up on the coat rack and moved to the dining table to start preparing the meal. As he did, Eunhyuk glanced around the apartment as if he were inspecting it, making Junyoung feel awkward as he took out the side dishes and mumbled.

“It’s small, right?”

“It’s a place for one person. But it really feels like your home. It reminds me of the old days.”

Though it couldn’t compare to the spacious, luxurious apartment they’d lived in with their family, the way things were organized, the colors of the bedding, and the arrangement of the furniture probably reminded him of their mother. Junyoung nodded to himself, agreeing silently. The things you grow up with naturally become habits over time.

“Oh, I want to wash my hands.”

As the meal preparation neared completion, Eunhyuk mentioned wanting to wash his hands, and Junyoung pointed to the area next to the small sofa where the bathroom was tucked away.

“It’s over there.”

With that brief response, Eunhyuk headed in that direction while Junyoung hurried to finish setting the table. After warming up the kimchi jjigae and putting out the side dishes, seaweed, and kimchi, he scooped rice into bowls and placed them on the table. Just then, Eunhyuk emerged from the bathroom and paused in front of the full-length mirror next to it.

In that moment, Junyoung froze. Taped all over the mirror, which doubled as a storage cabinet, were family photos and pictures of Eunhyuk. It was more of a photo display than a mirror. Realizing Eunhyuk had seen it, Junyoung felt a surge of embarrassment and parted his lips, unsure of what to say. Eunhyuk, having seen everything, casually remarked as he resumed walking.

“You kept all the pictures.”

“…Yeah.”

“I miss them.”

Though Eunhyuk’s comment was honest, Junyoung, feeling as if his innermost thoughts had been exposed, hastily changed the subject.

“Everything’s ready.”

“Okay.”

With a contented smile, Eunhyuk returned to the table and sat down, and Junyoung, trying to appear unfazed, took his seat across from him.

They began to eat as if nothing were out of the ordinary.

Trying to stay as calm and composed as possible.

***

“I’ll do the dishes.”

After they quietly finished their meal, Eunhyuk stood up and headed toward the sink, but Junyoung quickly followed to stop him.

“No, I’ll do it. I can’t let a guest wash the dishes.”

“Am I a guest?”

Eunhyuk’s words, spoken as he undid his shirt cuffs, left Junyoung flustered and mumbling.

“…Not really….”

“I’ll do it, so you get the wine ready. I bought it because I wanted to have a drink with my brother after so long.”

“I don’t have any wine glasses.”

“They’re inside. And there’s cheese too.”

“You’re not driving?”

Junyoung asked, just to be sure, and Eunhyuk laughed as if it were obvious he wouldn’t drive.

“This place has changed so much since I was last here that it’d be impossible for me to drive. I don’t have time to drive anyway, so I’m just going wherever they take me. There’s no need to get behind the wheel in a half-baked state.”

Perhaps because of their parents’ accident, both Eunhyuk and Junyoung had strict rules when it came to driving. Not only would they never drive after drinking, but they wouldn’t touch the steering wheel if they were even slightly tired or had taken cold medicine. Since Junyoung hadn’t driven since returning to Korea, he had wondered, but it seemed that Eunhyuk hadn’t changed in that regard either.

Thinking that it would be okay, he opened the shopping bag and took out the small box and cheese inside. As he approached Eunhyuk with a glass from the set that included wine, a corkscrew, and wine glasses, Eunhyuk smiled at him.

When Junyoung looked at him with a puzzled expression, Eunhyuk accepted the glass with a gentle smile.

“I never thought I’d be able to stand next to you and do the dishes like this again.”

At Eunhyuk’s soft words, Junyoung hurriedly lowered his head. Since the incident was clearly his fault, he felt sorry, and guilt weighed on him, knowing Eunhyuk felt that way.

“…I’m sorry…”

“There’s no need to be sorry. I’ve done a lot of reflecting too. I was born and raised in the U.S. until I was a bit older, and I got used to going back and forth during vacations. But for you, it was your first time in a foreign place, and I left you alone because I was too busy.”

As Junyoung watched Eunhyuk blame himself for his sudden return to Korea due to neglect, he quickly shook his head.

“That’s not true. You treated me well. It’s just… I don’t think I fit in. Even after four years, I couldn’t adjust to life in the U.S. I was 23 and still whining to you like a kid… Now that I’m talking about it, it’s embarrassing.”

As Junyoung felt ashamed, thinking he had acted too childishly back then, Eunhyuk met his eyes and whispered as if confiding in him.

“No matter how old you are, you’re still that 14-year-old kid to me. Still so small, young, and fragile.”

Seeing the warmth in Eunhyuk’s gaze as he stopped what he was doing and looked at him, Junyoung’s eyes wavered. His face and heart felt so warm that he couldn’t keep eye contact anymore. As he lowered his gaze, he noticed Eunhyuk’s sleeve slipping down and quickly changed the subject.

“Hyung, your sleeve.”

Taking the opportunity to shift the atmosphere, Junyoung bent forward and rolled up the sleeve of Eunhyuk, who was holding a glass. Eunhyuk, standing right in front of him, silently watched him.

Feeling uncomfortable under his gaze, Junyoung started rambling like an excuse.

“You’re still the same with this, huh? So tidy in everything else, but you’re always like this when doing the dishes.”

“…”

“You shouldn’t just push your sleeves up; you have to fold them properly, or they’ll fall down. Not that you have to do dishes often at home, but still…”

As Junyoung muttered while keeping his head down, Eunhyuk lightly kissed his forehead. Startled by the unexpected touch, Junyoung quickly withdrew his hand from Eunhyuk’s clothes and looked up, only to see Eunhyuk smiling at him.

As his face heated up instantly, Junyoung quickly covered his cheek with the back of his hand, afraid Eunhyuk might notice. He hurriedly blurted out anything that came to mind.

“This is why you don’t have a girlfriend. You should be doing things like this with your girlfriend.”

“You’ve grown up, Junyoung. Talking back to your hyung? You’ve become quite cheeky since I last saw you.”

Junyoung realized his mistake as soon as he saw Eunhyuk’s mischievous smile. He knew from experience that when Eunhyuk smiled like that, things usually took a bad turn. He tried to avoid what was coming, but it was too late.

“Hyung, don’t. Your clothes will get wet.”

Eunhyuk started wiping his soapy hands on Junyoung’s shirt, and though Junyoung couldn’t bring himself to push him away, he kept pleading.

“Hyung, seriously, stop!”

As Junyoung stomped his foot, complaining that he’d have to change clothes again, Eunhyuk pulled him into a hug.

Startled by the sudden embrace, Junyoung stiffened, his heart pounding so hard it felt like it would burst. With Eunhyuk’s chin resting on top of his head, he whispered softly.

“I’m just glad we can be like this again. For the first time in a long while, I feel happy.”

Junyoung, overwhelmed by Eunhyuk’s familiar warmth and scent, squeezed his eyes shut before opening them again. He quickly changed the subject.

“You’re going to wipe your hands on my back next, aren’t you?”

“Oh? You knew?”

Eunhyuk played along with Junyoung’s joke, and Junyoung quietly leaned into his arms.

Afraid that Eunhyuk might notice his feelings if he showed his face, Junyoung pressed his forehead against Eunhyuk’s shoulder, hiding his expression. Eunhyuk kissed Junyoung’s forehead again and whispered.

“Let’s go back to how things were. Like when it was just you and me living together.”

At his gentle words, Junyoung burrowed deeper into Eunhyuk’s embrace and bit his lip.

He too had missed the comfort and warmth of living with his brother. But if asked if he could go back to being just a sibling without anything changing, he couldn’t answer.

Too much had changed already. He had changed, and so had his feelings. Eunhyuk still gave him boundless trust and affection, just like before, but Junyoung could no longer accept it at face value.

The nature of his feelings had already evolved into something beyond brotherly love…

As Junyoung fell silent, lost in his tangled thoughts, Eunhyuk called his name as if urging him for an answer.

“Junyoung?”

Hearing Eunhyuk call out as if asking for confirmation, Junyoung bit his lip and tried to steady his heart before replying softly.

“Yeah.”

It’s only for a month anyway.

In a month, Eunhyuk will go back to the U.S. During that time, he just needs to pretend everything is fine, act like nothing happened, and spend time with Eunhyuk.

This time, he would really learn to keep his distance, like a proper sibling, so they could part ways with a smile and live their separate lives as adults.

Most siblings grow apart with time as they start their own lives, so he’d follow that same path.

Trying to comfort himself, Junyoung remained quietly in Eunhyuk’s arms.

Holding his breath, struggling to suppress the emotions threatening to spill over.

***

Junyoung was deep in sleep when loud noises disturbed him.

The sound of a car horn and a turbo engine roused him from his slumber. Frowning, he opened his eyes and froze when he saw Eunhyuk’s face in the dim light.

Why is he here? As that question flashed through his mind, the memories of the previous night quickly came back to him.

They had dinner together, cleaned up, and drank the wine Eunhyuk had brought. He remembered talking about various things, but at some point, his memory blanked out.

He must have gone over his limit. If it had been beer or soju, he would have known when to stop, but he wasn’t familiar with wine and didn’t know his limits.

Cursing himself for the mistake, he glanced back up, and the sight of Eunhyuk sleeping peacefully caught his eye.

The bed was a super single, so they had been sleeping close together, almost wrapped around each other. Eunhyuk’s handsome face was so close that Junyoung’s heart started pounding wildly.

Afraid Eunhyuk would hear the sound of his heartbeat, Junyoung tried to move, but he couldn’t. Eunhyuk’s arm was wrapped around his waist.

Unsure what to do, worried he might wake Eunhyuk if he pushed his arm away, Junyoung hesitated. That’s when he noticed Eunhyuk’s eyelashes flutter ever so slightly. 

Junyoung froze, watching as Eunhyuk’s eyelashes stopped trembling after a moment, as if he was still deep asleep.

Taking a chance, Junyoung began to study his face in detail.

It had been six years, but not much had changed. The only difference was that Eunhyuk had lost a bit of weight, making his features sharper.

It wasn’t just his face. Six years ago, Eunhyuk had already been broad and well-built, but now his whole body seemed more solid, his shoulders and back even wider.

Junyoung hadn’t noticed at their reunion because things had been so hectic, but seeing him up close now, he realized how much Eunhyuk had changed. Even the weight of his arm around Junyoung’s waist felt different.

He had always been casual and affectionate, often hugging or patting Junyoung on the back, so Junyoung was familiar with the size of Eunhyuk’s chest, the firmness of his shoulders, and the weight of his arms.

Staring at him now, Junyoung hoped desperately that Eunhyuk wouldn’t wake up.

He wished this moment could last just a little longer, and as he gazed at Eunhyuk, his eyelashes fluttered again.

The second they moved, Junyoung tensed up, but then he heard a low murmur from the darkness.

“If you keep staring at me like that, it’s hard to keep my eyes closed.”

As soon as Eunhyuk finished speaking, he opened his eyes, and Junyoung, startled, jumped up from the bed. But the sudden movement brought a sharp, throbbing headache, and he instinctively clutched his head.

It was a hangover.

He had definitely drunk too much.

Eunhyuk, now sitting up and watching Junyoung clutch his head in pain, asked with concern in his voice.

“Does your head hurt?”

Frowning, Junyoung muttered back.

“…A little.”

“We drank too much last night. I should’ve stopped you earlier…”

“It’s fine. The day after drinking, my head usually throbs a bit, but once I get up and move around, it gets better quickly.”  

Saying that, Junyoung hurriedly got out of bed and headed to the fridge. Then, taking a bottle of water from the fridge, he asked Eunhyuk.

“Do you want some water?”  

“Yeah.”  

Junyoung took a bottle of water from the fridge, poured it into a cup, and as he walked over to Eunhyuk, he squinted at the gradually brightening outside scenery before glancing at the wall clock.  

It was almost 7:30.  

“Hyung, are you okay on time?”  

As Junyoung handed him the cup and asked worriedly, Eunhyuk checked the time on his phone and nodded.  

“I already contacted Eric early in the morning. He’s stopping by today since I’ll be leaving from here.”  

“When are you heading out?”  

“I have a meeting at 9, so I told him to have my suit delivered by 8. It should be here soon.”  

“Where’s the meeting?”  

“Somewhere in Samseong-dong.”  

That was quite a distance. Especially during rush hour, it would take even longer, so Junyoung urged Eunhyuk a little anxiously.  

“Shouldn’t you hurry up and get ready?”  

“Yeah, I should. I want to take a shower, though.”  

As Eunhyuk, still sitting on the bed, took a sip of water and said that, Junyoung looked around in mild panic.  

“Uh… but clothes…”  

It was winter, so after the shower, he would need to put on clothes, but Junyoung’s clothes wouldn’t fit him at all, and unfortunately, there was no bathrobe either. Since staying over wasn’t planned, he hadn’t prepared anything.  

While Junyoung was fretting over what to do as time ticked away, Eunhyuk put down the cup and got out of bed.  

“Knowing him, he probably already sent clothes through someone by now. Just accept them when they arrive.”  

Junyoung let out a sigh of relief at Eunhyuk’s reassurance, saying, “He’s pretty impatient too.”  

“Thank goodness. Well, go ahead and shower. Uh, Hyung, what about breakfast?”  

Junyoung asked, knowing that Eunhyuk had always made sure to have breakfast since they were kids. After checking the time again, Eunhyuk hesitated slightly before asking apologetically.  

“I wanted to make breakfast, but could I ask you to do it?”  

“Of course. I always have breakfast, too. But I don’t have many ingredients… rice? Or bread?”  

“Ramen.”  

Junyoung, a little surprised by the unexpected answer, asked again.  

“Ramen? For breakfast?”  

“I just feel like having it.”  

Though Junyoung hesitated for a moment, thinking ramen for breakfast seemed a bit lacking, he quickly nodded, remembering that Eunhyuk liked ramen.  

“Alright.”  

“Thanks.”  

As Eunhyuk put his cup on the table and headed to the bathroom, Junyoung went to the kitchen, quickly searching for the ingredients for ramen.  

Since Eunhyuk didn’t like scrambled eggs, Junyoung decided to boil the ramen first, take out the noodles, and poach an egg in the broth separately. He sliced a lot of green onions and onions thinly and added a whole Cheongyang chili pepper, which he would remove later.  

Unconsciously recalling how Eunhyuk liked his ramen cooked, Junyoung chuckled bitterly. Even after six years, he remembered Eunhyuk’s food preferences clearly. How spicy he liked it, what vegetables he preferred, and how well-cooked he liked his eggs…  

Come to think of it, Eunhyuk didn’t have any particular dislikes when it came to ingredients, but he was sensitive about seasoning and doneness. Yet, despite that, he always ate whatever Junyoung cooked with a smile, saying it was delicious and thanking him.  

Eunhyuk had always been kind and considerate, growing up in a loving environment, and naturally knew how to care for others’ feelings and moods.  

Junyoung had wanted to learn how to care for others like him, but perhaps due to their different upbringings, he never quite managed it. In the end, all he did was whine to Eunhyuk.  

This time, though, he wanted to show Eunhyuk that he had grown into a real adult, so he wouldn’t worry anymore and wouldn’t see him as a reckless kid on the edge.  

Only then would Eunhyuk finally feel comfortable enough to let go of him.  

***  

Thanks to Eunhyuk tidying up the night before, Junyoung only had to boil the water for the ramen. After hastily making the bed, he brewed coffee and rummaged through the fridge to prepare some pickles. Eunhyuk preferred pickles over kimchi with ramen, so Junyoung had bought some just in case and set them in a small dish.  

With nothing left to do, he busied himself glancing between the kitchen and the bathroom, wondering if he should ask Eunhyuk when to start cooking the ramen or wait for him to come out. He also wondered when the clothes would arrive.  

In the midst of these thoughts, the building’s entrance bell rang.  

Startled, Junyoung quickly checked the intercom and saw a man in a suit standing there.  

After the man confirmed he had brought the clothes, Junyoung pressed the open button and went to the front door to wait. It didn’t take long before the doorbell to the house rang.  

Relieved that it was before Eunhyuk came out, Junyoung quickly opened the door, only to freeze at the sight of the man in a dark gray coat standing right in front of him.  

“Ha Junyoung?”  

“…Yes…”  

It was him. The man who had been the talk of the hotel all week—Eric Baker.  

Junyoung, unsure of how to react to the sudden appearance of Eric, hesitated as Eric gestured to the man carrying a leather suit case and a box.  

“Shove it in there,” Eric said, in his oddly formal but rough tone.  

Junyoung widened his eyes in surprise at the strange way Eric spoke, and Eric continued in fluent Korean.  

“Eunhyuk’s coat, suit, and other things. He throws a fit if even a shirt gets a little wrinkled, so take them and hang them up.”  

Taken aback by Eric’s harsh tone, which didn’t match his elegant appearance behind his cold, silver-rimmed glasses, Junyoung clumsily accepted the suit case. The man with the box placed it on the floor of the narrow entryway before leaving.  

As the metal door closed, Eric slowly looked Junyoung over as if assessing him. Feeling tense under the scrutiny, Junyoung stiffened his shoulders as Eric asked.  

“Where’s Eunhyuk?”  

“He’s in the shower.”  

Hearing the sound of running water from not far away, Eric gave a strange look. Uncomfortable and unsure of how to respond, Junyoung cautiously spoke.  

“Would you like to come in for a moment?”  

“No, I’m just here to see his face. I want to see what kind of expression he’s making.”  

“…Excuse me?”  

Junyoung, still confused by Eric’s odd Korean, was staring at him in bewilderment when the sound of the bathroom door opening reached them. Both Junyoung and Eric’s eyes turned toward the noise as Eunhyuk stepped out, a towel wrapped around his waist, using another to dry his hair. He froze when he saw the two of them.  

Then his face twisted into a frown.  

“You must have a lot of free time, coming here yourself.”  

“I came to check what kind of face the guy who suddenly ditched work and made me run his errands has. While I’m at it, I figured I’d also get a glimpse of your little brother, you know, since I’ve been just dying to see him.”  

Although Eric’s Korean was fluent, his phrasing was odd, and the word “little brother” left Junyoung glancing between the two in confusion. Eunhyuk clicked his tongue as he approached.  

“It’s ‘bulmang,’ not ‘bulmeong.’ And if you’re going to study a language, use proper books or media. Watching gangster movies all the time messes with your vocabulary.” (Eric incorrectly used the phrase “오매불멍” (omaebulmeong) in this sentence. “오매불망” (omaebulmang) is the correct phrase)

“I was being sarcastic.”  

“Your Korean always sounds sarcastic, so it’s hard to tell. Wait in the parking lot. I’ll be down after breakfast.”  

“And I had to get up at dawn, yet you want to have breakfast?”  

“That’s your problem for making things harder for yourself. Now, wait in the car.”  

At Eunhyuk’s commanding tone, Eric frowned.  

“Unbelievable. You run off, give me an errand, and now you’re strutting around in nothing but a towel. What were you doing last nigh—”  

Eunhyuk cut him off before he could finish.  

“Eric.”  

At the sharp rebuke in Eunhyuk’s low voice, Eric quickly shut his mouth. He glanced at Junyoung again, slowly taking him in before changing the subject.  

“…Hurry up and get ready. Today’s negotiations are going to be long, so be prepared.”  

“I’ll take care of it.”

As Eunhyuk motioned for him to leave, as if telling him to get lost, Eric promptly opened the door and stepped outside. Having stormed in like a hurricane and vanished in an instant, Junyoung stood there blankly, as if dazed, and Eunhyuk gave an awkward smile.  

“You were startled, huh? That guy learned Korean from gangster movies, so his vocabulary is a bit weird.”

‘I can see that… but does he know about us?’  

‘Yeah. Before being partners, we were friends.’  

“I don’t recall him…’”

Even when he was in America, most of the people close to Eunhyuk were known to Junyoung,, but Junyoung tilted his head in confusion, as he had no memory of someone like that. Eunhyuk responded as if it were obvious.  

“You wouldn’t know. I met him at UPenn.” 

“Wharton?” 

“Yeah.”  

At those words, Junyoung nodded in understanding. Six years ago, Eunhyuk had gotten a job to build up experience for applying to Wharton School. Since he had entered Wharton after Junyoung returned to Korea, it was only natural that Junyoung didn’t know him.  

“Is he Korean?”  

“A Korean adoptee. He was adopted at five years old and grew up over there. He’s Senator John Baker’s third son. After graduating from UPenn and Wharton, he’s now my partner.”  

“Ah…”  

Even after obtaining citizenship, many people usually kept their original surnames, so Junyoung had thought it odd that a Korean person was named Baker. As expected, he turned out to be an adoptee.  

“When he speaks English, it’s quite elegant, but as soon as he speaks Korean, his tone turns rough. So don’t be surprised and just ignore it if he says something strange.” 

“Did he really learn Korean from gangster movies?”

“His parents had him take Korean lessons from a young age, but he learned conversation directly from movies. His tone was so weird that I suggested he watch historical dramas instead, but that just made it worse, mixing gangster talk with old-fashioned language. So I told him to avoid speaking Korean as much as possible, but he doesn’t listen. He probably enjoys seeing how others are shocked by his way of speaking. When he’s irritated, he casually threatens to break people’s heads, and then just says it was a mistake.”  

“Uh… that’s a bit…”  

“Yeah, he’s doing it on purpose. So don’t get too close. He’s definitely a strange guy”’  

“Okay.”  

Since Eunhyuk also managed his social circles, Junyoung obediently replied. It was only then that he realized Eunhyuk was half-dressed. Because Eunhyuk was particular about his personal space, they always used separate bathrooms, so this kind of encounter was a first.  

Not knowing where to look, Junyoung lowered his gaze and hurriedly spoke.  

“Hyung, it’s cold, so put on some clothes. The hairdryer’s in the bathroom.’”

As Junyoung took a step toward the coat rack with the suit case in hand, Eunhyuk muttered softly.  

“I would wear something if you gave me clothes…”

Only then did Junyoung realize he was holding all of Eunhyuk’s clothes. Embarrassed, he quickly handed over the suit case, and Eunhyuk gave him a peculiar smile.  

“Just a coat on a bare body seems a bit perverted, doesn’t it?”

Realizing the coat in the suit case he had handed over, Junyoung hastily passed everything to Eunhyuk.  

“Here, it’s all yours. I’m going to wash up too.”

After shoving everything into Eunhyuk’s arms, Junyoung quickly retreated to the bathroom and closed the door behind him. Leaning against the door, he rubbed his cheek with the back of his hand.  

His face was burning.  

***  

“Thanks for everything this morning.”  

After breakfast, Eunhyuk, now neatly dressed in a black long coat over a sharp suit, gave his final farewell, and Junyoung, checking the time, urged him to leave.  

“You should go. You’ll be late.”  

“ And you’re off today, right?”

“Yeah.” 

“Then get some more rest. You’ve lost some weight, haven’t you?”  

“It’s the busy season, so I’ve been a bit swamped.”  

“Men’s frames keep changing in their twenties. If your size is the same as six years ago, something’s wrong. I could tell you’re the same size from hugging you.” 

Junyoung laughed, incredulous at Eunhyuk’s peculiar method of measuring size.  

“Don’t measure like that.” 

“It’s my specialty. I’d like to see you tonight too… but if today’s negotiations drag on, it could go until dawn. I’ll call you depending on the situation. You start work tomorrow, right? Morning shift?”

“Yeah. Regular hours starting tomorrow.”  

“Then I guess it’ll be hard to see you at the hotel.” 

“Probably…”  

If Eunhyuk left early and came back late, it was unlikely they’d run into each other at the hotel, Junyoung honestly replied. Even if he worked late after hours, he’d likely be in the office or checking other facilities, making it hard to meet face-to-face.  

“Then don’t hesitate to call me when you have a break. I’ll always pick up when it’s you.”

“I can’t pick up while working. I’ll text you first and then call. Go now.”

“Alright. I’ll call you.” 

“Yeah.”

After their unexpectedly long goodbye, Junyoung watched as Eunhyuk put on his shoes and left. Once the heavy iron door closed, Junyoung collapsed onto the sofa.  

Feeling a light sense of fatigue now that the tension had lifted, he let out a long sigh as a mix of relief and regret welled up within him. That’s when he noticed his brother’s coat and jacket hanging on the rack.  

“Ah…”  

Not just the clothes. His brother’s cufflinks, tie pin, and tie from yesterday were still there.  

While Eunhyuk was sensitive about maintaining independence in his personal space, he had no attachment to his belongings, often leaving them behind. It wasn’t surprising that he’d forgotten them, but it was troublesome for Junyoung, who couldn’t just leave things like that.  

He needed to get them cleaned and returned to his brother. But taking the clothes to the hotel felt strange. No matter how careful he was, the size of the suit case would make it hard to move discreetly.  

Pondering how to handle the situation, Junyoung grabbed his phone and searched for a nearby dry cleaner. Ideally, a shop specializing in luxury suits. Once the cleaning was done, he planned to hand the items over to his brother when his work had settled down. Or perhaps have the dry cleaner deliver them directly to the hotel.  

Come to think of it, working at the front desk might make that easier, Junyoung thought, as he searched for a nearby cleaner and got up from the sofa. Approaching the coat rack, he reached for the tag to check the fabric of the coat, when a familiar scent subtly filled the air.  

That sweet yet intense fragrance that his brother often used stirred something inside him.  

Although he had planned to drop the clothes off at the cleaners today, he suddenly felt the urge to hold onto them a little longer.  

Just until the scent fully fades, just a little longer.”

Chapter 2

“Get up, it’s 7 o’clock.”

Junyoung, who had given Eunhyuk a wake-up call right on time, stood by the island counter as he filled the electric kettle with water. Meanwhile, Eunhyuk, his voice slightly husky, asked softly,  

[Already?]  

“Yeah. Did you get in late last night?”  

[Yeah, around 3.]

Even though it was morning, his voice sounded too rough. As expected, he had gotten off work late. Last night, just before midnight, Eunhyuk had called to ask for a wake-up call because he wouldn’t be able to see him due to his late return, so Junyoung had figured he must have been busy, and it turned out to be true. 

Though Eunhyuk was good at everything else, he always had a hard time getting up in the morning, so Junyoung started coaxing him gently, like one would with a child.  

“Still, get up. What time do you start work today?”  

[I don’t need to leave early today. When are you going in?]  

“I’ll be heading out soon.”  

[What are your working hours?]  

“Officially, from 9 to 6, but…”  

Trailing off there, Junyoung hesitated, and Eunhyuk quickly caught on and asked,  

[And in reality?]  

“In reality, 8 p.m. is the minimum. It’s so busy right now that I can’t even use up all my overtime hours.”  

[You can’t use your overtime?] 

“I’ve long surpassed the legal limit for overtime, so I have to be discreet about it.”  

Junyoung joked that they’d be investigated if he used all his overtime, but Eunhyuk’s voice turned serious.  

[That’s clearly a labor law violation.] 

“As long as it doesn’t show up in the paperwork, it’s fine.”  

[A hotel of that size handles things like that?]

“Every place is the same. That’s just how it is in the service industry.”

Sensing Eunhyuk’s slight irritation, Junyoung hurriedly tried to downplay the situation, but Eunhyuk sighed softly.  

[It’s impossible to follow the law perfectly, but excessive overtime isn’t right.]  

“It just happened that way. Honestly, it’s not the work itself but dealing with difficult customers that’s more tiring.”  

Trying to change the subject, Junyoung, uncharacteristically, started to vent. Eunhyuk seemed to catch on and humored him.  

[Am I one of those difficult customers?]  

“No, you’re just… a weird customer. It’s rare to get a long-term guest in the presidential suite, and you’re so quiet that people are starting to wonder if it’s a scam. When the reservation came in, everyone braced themselves, expecting you to make some outrageous requests, but you’re so quiet it’s making them nervous.”  

[What should I be asking for?]  

“Like a giant mirror in the bedroom, or maybe a bathtub with a view of the entire city, or even transforming the room into a traditional Korean house because you want to learn about Korean culture, things like that.”  

There were other more bizarre requests, but since it involved customer privacy, Junyoung left those out, only sharing well-known stories. Still, Eunhyuk seemed amazed.  

[They actually grant those requests?]

“For the price they pay per night, if it’s somewhat reasonable, they’ll agree to it. That’s why people get stressed whenever there’s a presidential suite booking.”  

[Then should I ask to have you as my personal room attendant?]  

“Uh… if you asked, they’d probably agree, but… you’re hardly at the hotel anyway.”  

[Which is why I could ask for you to be on standby 24/7. It’d be nice to see you whenever I come back.] 

“Don’t even joke about that. It’s terrifying because they might actually approve it. We’re too busy right now.”  

Eunhyuk chuckled softly at Junyoung’s complaint about the busy season.  

[Alright, I get it. But still, make sure I see your face. I’m busy with negotiations right now, but how about the weekend?]  

“Weekend offs are competitive, so I can’t take one. It’s the busiest time, and they prioritize giving time off to those with families.”

Just then, the electric kettle clicked off, and Junyoung poured the hot water into a cup of instant coffee. Meanwhile, Eunhyuk continued in a gentle tone,  

[Then let me know when your next day off is.]  

“You seem busier than I am.”  

[I’ll be busy for a bit, but once the negotiations are wrapped up, I’m going straight on vacation. So, you’re spending Christmas with me. Christmas is for family, after all.]  

Christmas was the busiest time, so it would be hard to get time off. In fact, it was nearly impossible.  

“…Uh… I don’t think I’ll be able to take Christmas off.”  

[What if I pulled VIP strings?]  

“Then it’d make things difficult for me to keep working.”  

[I actually like that idea. My dream was to turn you into a rich, jobless person.]  

“I wouldn’t like that. My belief is that as long as you’re capable, you should work.”

Having grown up watching his father, who wasted money on alcohol and gambling without working, and his mother, who always came home exhausted from working extra shifts as a nurse to pay off debts, Junyoung firmly rejected the idea. Eunhyuk chuckled softly.  

[That’s too bad. I wanted to spoil you and let you live off my money for life.]  

Not sure if he was joking or serious, Junyoung quickly changed the subject.  

“Isn’t it time for you to get up now?”  

[I’m good until Eric barges in. Once he shows up with a pile of paperwork, that’s when I’ll get up.]  

“Eric must have it tough, since you’re so lazy.”  

[To work with me, that much is a given. But he gets perks for working in Korea.]  

“Perks?”  

[Access to Korean information and connections. Most of my college friends have returned to Korea and are in key positions now. Even my high school friends are mostly settled in.]  

“Oh…”  

Though he didn’t know the details of Eunhyuk’s work, Junyoung figured the negotiations must involve Koreans since they were happening in Korea. With language skills and local connections, it made sense they’d have an advantage.  

“Is this negotiation about investments? Or mergers and acquisitions?”  

[Acquisition work.]  

“Oh… I see…”  

Realizing he might be prying too much, Junyoung stopped himself mid-sentence, and Eunhyuk laughed.  

[You can ask anything you’re curious about.]  

“No, I wouldn’t understand it anyway, even if you explained it to me.”  

[I still want you to ask. You’re so uninterested in me that I almost felt a little hurt.]  

Hearing Eunhyuk’s slightly sulky tone, Junyoung hurriedly explained,  

“It’s not that. It just feels wrong to meddle in your work, and besides, you’re good at handling everything on your own.”

[I’m pretty sloppy, so feel free to interfere. It’d be even better if you came over now to wake me up. I feel like I could get up early if you did.]

“No, it’s too late for that. You need to get up now. I have to start getting ready for work, too.”

[Then, can I see you this morning?]

“If you’re leaving after 9.”

[I’m going to leave after 9 today.]

“Then I guess I’ll see you when you leave.”

When he replied, “I’ll be at the front desk,” Eunhyuk murmured as if in a good mood.

[This is what I like about being in Korea. If I want to see you, I can somehow make it happen. It was hard when I wanted to see you but couldn’t.]

Having experienced insomnia after returning to Korea due to the absence of a familiar presence, Junyoung could understand his brother’s feelings. But instead of admitting he felt the same, he quickly changed the subject.

“That’s just how it is when adults have their own jobs. Anyway, hurry and get ready. Don’t just lie around until Eric shows up.”

[Yeah, I should get up soon. See you later.]

“Okay.”

After hanging up, Junyoung took a sip of coffee and looked out the window. The sun was slowly rising. The sunlight was warm, but the air was cold. It was clearly winter, with the dry, chilly air and patches of snow from two days ago still scattered around. Just a short while ago, it didn’t feel like winter, but seeing the snow piled up made it feel like the season had truly begun. The most painful and bitter season had returned once again.

***

“Is it really that hard to make a blacklist, Team Leader?”

After the morning meeting, Yuna from the front desk team angrily spoke to Hyesoo, the team leader. Hyesoo, clearly exhausted from the constant complaints, responded with a sigh.

“It’s not easy. The standards are vague.”

“Mr. Bae Jincheol really needs to be dealt with. Yesterday, he cursed out one of the housekeepers so badly that she said she’s going to quit. This isn’t the first time. The hotel shouldn’t be accepting guests like that.”

“It’s not that simple.”

“Last month, he made Ms. Sooyoung kneel in the hall, and we’re just going to let that go? If the hotel doesn’t protect its employees, who will?”

Frustrated by the hotel’s lackluster response to the frequent outbursts and abuse from certain customers, Yuna vented her anger. Hyesoo, clearly worn out, sighed deeply.

“I’ll bring it up with the manager again.”

“It’s one thing if it’s a guest who comes once and never returns, but Mr. Bae is on another level. This isn’t the first time.”

“He really is.”

Hyesoo put on her earpiece and began walking down the hallway, her expression suggesting that there wasn’t much that could be done. Junyoung, who had been quietly following behind, spoke to Yuna in a mild tone.

“What happened yesterday?”

“Oh, Junyoung, you wouldn’t know since you were off yesterday. Mr. Bae pressed the ‘make-up room’ button and then cursed out the housekeeper for coming in, even though it was his fault.”

“That’s on him, though.”

“Exactly! He was yelling, ‘Why didn’t she knock? Why didn’t she check if someone was in the room?’ Then he started throwing things and demanded that the manager come apologize on their knees. It’s ridiculous. Does he think he’s a king? Remember when he told you to kneel, too?”

Junyoung smiled wryly at Yuna’s question, recalling the incident from about three months ago when he had just joined the front desk team.

“Yeah…”

It had indeed happened. While assisting him, there was an issue with confirming his reservation, and when informed of this, Mr. Bae flew into a rage, demanding that Junyoung kneel and apologize. Fortunately, the manager had stepped in quickly to defuse the situation, but Junyoung could never forget how terrified he had been, even having a brief panic attack during the encounter.

“He’s worse than the actual VIPs. At least the Presidential Suite guests are so quiet that you barely know they’re there, but these guys in the regular rooms act like they own the place. They think they’re royalty.”

When Eunhyuk’s name came up out of nowhere, Junyoung froze and fell silent. Hyesoo, who had been walking ahead, suddenly interjected into their conversation.

“Yuna, Junyoung, stop chatting. We’re almost at the front desk. I’ll talk to the manager about it again, so let’s leave it there.”

Hyesoo warned them to be mindful of their surroundings, as their conversation could be overheard. Yuna clamped her mouth shut, and soon Hyesoo opened the door to the front desk. Yuna and Junyoung followed her inside, where the night shift employee greeted them with a tired expression.

As the exhausted-looking employee gave a brief greeting, Hyesoo approached and asked, “Good job, Heejun. You can head home now. Any special notes?”

“No, it’s been relatively quiet today. Room 804 had a heating complaint, but I checked and it seemed fine. Still, if they complain again, it might be good to check the heating system when the room is empty. That’s all.”

“Got it. You can clock out now.”

“Thanks. Take care. Yuna, Junyoung, you guys too.”

With that, the employee disappeared through the hallway door. Hyesoo, now holding a tablet and checking the day’s operations, quickly gave instructions.

“I’m going to check the pool and restaurant areas. Yuna, check the hall and the outside path conditions. Junyoung, stay at the front desk and review today’s reservation list.”

“Understood.”

After the short exchange, Hyesoo and Yuna headed toward the hall while Junyoung began reviewing the day’s reservation list, as usual. As he went through the routine process of checking the guest list and noting any complaints in the still-quiet lobby, he noticed a familiar face approaching. It was Yeonho, dressed in a suit with a sheepskin jacket over it today.

The unusual yet oddly fitting attire caught Junyoung’s attention, and he straightened his posture as Yeonho casually leaned against the front desk, speaking to him in a friendly manner.

“Looks like you’re alone today.”

“The others are checking on the facilities. How can I assist you, sir?”

Junyoung’s extremely formal response made Yeonho laugh heartily.

“Wow, you’re like a machine. But that’s part of what makes you charming. I’m checking out.”

Junyoung took the card and key Yeonho handed over, processed the room charge, and returned the card along with the receipt. As always, Yeonho tried to strike up a conversation.

“So, when are you going to give me your number?”

“It’s against hotel policy to share personal contact information with guests.”

With a polite yet business-like smile, Junyoung gave his usual response. Yeonho sighed, disappointed.

“Not as a guest, but as an old classmate.”

“I’m currently on duty.”

“You could at least loosen up now that your scary brother’s not around.”

Junyoung wanted to tell him that the “scary brother” was actually staying in the room right above his, but knowing how badly Yeonho and Eunhyuk clashed, he simply repeated his usual line.

“I can see you outside of work.”

“You never meet up outside of work, though.”

“I’m busy.”

“Ah, this isn’t just a wall of defense, it’s like the Western Wall.”  

At Yeonho’s disappointed reaction, Junyoung gave his final farewell.  

“Thank you for visiting.”  

“You’re politely telling me to get lost, huh? Well, I’m leaving. Let’s meet later. I just want to have a drink with you.”  

“Have a good day.”  

Ignoring Yeonho’s suggestion completely, Junyoung’s polite and formal farewell made Yeonho laugh as he turned and walked across the hall. As Junyoung watched him hurry off to work, he was about to put the key card into an envelope when the phone at the front desk rang.  

The number displayed was ‘1909.’  

It was the internal line from room 1909.  

Cursing the timing, Junyoung quickly picked up the receiver and, trying to stay as calm as possible, responded according to protocol.  

“Yes, this is the front desk.”  

[“Ah, looks like I’m having a lucky day.”]  

At the comment implying Junyoung had answered the call, Junyoung responded with a hint of disbelief.  

“I told you I’m on the morning shift today… sir.”  

Junyoung had almost spoken informally, but awkwardly corrected himself, to which Eunhyuk chuckled softly.  

[“That’s why I called. But hearing your voice makes me think everything will go smoothly today.”]  

“Well, if that’s the case, I’m glad… sir.”  

[“Very glad. While we’re at it, could you arrange room service? For two. Keep it light since it’s breakfast.”]  

“How would you like the menu prepared?”  

[“I’ll leave it up to you.”]  

Though slightly taken aback by Eunhyuk’s one-sided order, Junyoung hesitated for a moment but quickly responded, knowing his preferences.  

“Should I prepare it the usual way?”  

[“Yes, just like you always do.”]  

“By what time should it be ready?”  

[“In 20 minutes.”]  

“Understood. I’ll have it ready shortly.”  

After giving a brief answer, Junyoung seemed to recall something and continued.  

“By the way, about the clothes…”  

[“Clothes?”]  

Checking the surroundings again, Junyoung confirmed the lobby was still empty before speaking quietly.  

“The ones you left at my place.”  

[“I left them on purpose, so I could go back and get them later.”]  

“You just forgot them…”  

Junyoung muttered informally before catching himself.  

“…sir.”  

[“Either way, once things settle down, I’ll come get them. Until then, keep them safe. Don’t throw them out.”]  

Junyoung almost replied that he wasn’t reckless enough to throw out a suit worth fifty million won but decided against it to avoid making the conversation too personal and returned to a professional tone.  

“I’ll have your meal ready shortly.”  

[“Good work.”]  

After the brief call, Junyoung hung up the receiver and dialed the kitchen’s internal line. He waited a moment before the line connected.  

[“Yes.”]  

“VIP room service request.”  

***  

“This is completely tailored to your taste, isn’t it?”  

As Eric marveled at the table spread, Eunhyuk, sitting down, responded nonchalantly.  

“It’s because he’s my brother.”  

“Even for a brother, this is borderline mind-reading. Seeing someone cater to your picky taste like this, I’m tempted to scout him.”  

“‘Picky,’ you mean. And don’t take an interest in my brother.”  

“Your brother might not care, but you don’t think others might? I’m interested in your reactions, not your brother.”  

“Don’t take an interest in my reactions either.”  

As Eunhyuk sat down and began eating, Eric, sitting opposite him, teased.  

“Your reactions are too entertaining to ignore. Watching you talk to your brother earlier, I nearly threw up.”  

At that, Eunhyuk frowned as he lifted his coffee cup.  

“I thought I told you to watch your language?”  

“This time I’m being honest. Most brothers don’t talk with voices dripping honey like that.”  

“Don’t generalize based on your own experience.”  

“It’s not just my experience. You won’t find brothers anywhere in the world who have that kind of vibe. In most cases, brothers lead with their feet before words. Sometimes fists fly, walls break, and bones get broken.”  

“That’s because your older brother is an orangutan and your younger brother is a gorilla.”  

Recalling Eric’s physically imposing, athletic brothers, Eunhyuk compared them to animals, and Eric nodded in agreement.  

“Well, that’s true, but… following that logic, is your brother a bastard?”  

Whether it was a slip or deliberate, Eric’s choice of words made Eunhyuk scowl, prompting Eric to quickly raise both hands in mock surrender.  

“My bad. Since he’s not clumsy, he’s clearly not a cat… was just asking if he’s more like a puppy.”  

“Whether he’s a puppy or not, you’re not raising him.”  

“You’re not raising him either. He’s already grown up.”  

“That’s also not for you to decide.”  

“As your partner, I’m concerned. If it’s just that he’s a guy, well… you could brush off the issue of gender with neutral values. But since he’s your brother, it’s a different problem. You know how conservative our circles can be.”  

Eric’s comment, which was spoken in flawless Korean without a single mistake, left Eunhyuk smiling silently.  

Though subtle, the mysterious smile hinted at something deeper, and Eric caught on with a laugh.  

“You’re not denying it?”  

Even as Eric pressed, Eunhyuk merely maintained his ambiguous smile, prompting Eric to click his tongue in resignation.  

“I’ve spent more time with you than with my fiancée of 15 years, and I still don’t know what’s going on in your head.”  

Grumbling that it was irritating, Eric continued, but Eunhyuk, still eating calmly, replied elegantly.  

“The key to maintaining an ideal relationship for 32 years is keeping a proper distance. There’s no need to reveal everything about yourself, nor do you need to know everything about the other person. Everyone has a metaphorical storage room where they hide their most negative and filthy things. If you force that door open and look into the abyss, all you’ll find is disillusionment. So, if you want to maintain a good relationship for a long time, it’s best to pretend you don’t know, look away, and make sure the door stays closed.”  

Eric understood Eunhyuk’s warning perfectly: never get any closer than this.  

“So basically, you’re telling me not to interfere, to stay back and watch from afar, and if a scandal breaks out, be the one to take the hit?”  

“This time, you got it right.”  

Though he didn’t like it, Eric picked up his water glass, feeling the bitter taste of dissatisfaction at Eunhyuk’s response.  

“I don’t think this is something a scandal will fix. The real problem is if it interferes with business.”  

“In conservative societies, they tend to avoid collapse. Groups bound together by mutual interests will trample over a small personal deviation to keep going. Even if some break away, I won’t have any regrets.”  

Unfazed, Eunhyuk implied that as long as he got the information he needed, he didn’t care if some alliances fell apart, leaving Eric slightly exasperated.  

“I had a weird feeling about you from the start.”  

Eunhyuk seemed to genuinely appreciate Eric’s sudden fluency in Korean, his smile widening.  

“Your word choice is spot on this time too.”  

“So, you’re saying you trust no one and only deal in transactions?”  

“Nothing gives a person a stronger sense of trust than the benefits they can gain from the other. Blood ties and affection aren’t reliable. Even a harmonious family or love is maintained because both parties can get psychological benefits from each other.”

“So, are you saying you get psychological benefits from your brother?”

At that blunt question, Eunhyuk gave a strange smile again, raising only the corners of his lips while his eyes remained still. Eric sighed, realizing that no matter how hard he probed, he wouldn’t get anything more out of it.

“Just be careful with the scandal. As long as it doesn’t get caught, it doesn’t matter. As for my personal curiosity… I’ll find out eventually anyway. I’m pretty sharp.”

“That’s your strength, but also your biggest flaw.”

Eric, knowing full well that his quick wits often made life more tiring, finally started eating and changed the subject.

“If you’re going to call him every day anyway, why not just book one room? What’s the point of having people come and go? These kinds of rooms are usually for security or assistants, but you’re not using either. If that’s the case, I might as well stay in this room with you.”

As Eric grumbled about the waste of room fees, Eunhyuk scowled, clearly displeased.

“Why would I share a room with you?”

“I’m not saying we share a bed. There’s plenty of space.”

“You know I can’t stand having anyone invade my space.”

“Then why not just rent a suite instead of a presidential room? You’re just sleeping there anyway.”

“I don’t like running into people in the hallway.”

Eric sighed in disbelief at Eunhyuk’s answer, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

“I’ve met all kinds of weird people, but I’ve never met anyone who hates people as much as you do. How do you even function in society when you hate people so much?”

“I never said I hate people.”

“Then what?”

“I just find dealing with them tedious. Plus, using the entire floor makes it easier for Junyoung to come and go comfortably.”

“Ah, your brother…”

Although it’s rare for a front desk employee to visit a room unless there’s a complaint, a VIP spending 1.2 million won per night could make any request. In fact, that was why Eunhyuk had chosen this hotel, even though it was farther from the meeting venue.

“Just to confirm, what exactly do you want to do with your brother?”

Before Eric could finish his question, Eunhyuk’s phone pinged with a text. He checked it briefly and put the phone back down.

“Your brother?”

“No, my aunt.”

“Oh, you do have a lot of relatives. I keep forgetting because you act like a troublemaker all the time.”

Eric had always assumed Eunhyuk had no relatives, as he never mentioned anyone other than his brother. At this, Eunhyuk scowled.

“If you don’t know for sure, don’t speak. It’s not ‘troublemaker,’ it’s ‘solitary.’ And my only family is my brother.”

“That’s not something you should say in front of an actual orphan like me.”

“I’ve told you to give up your fantasies about blood ties.”

“That’s something only someone with family can say.”

“Your fantasy is a form of violence born of ignorance.”

Eric, reflecting on various people’s family situations, silently acknowledged that Eunhyuk might be right.

“…I suppose that’s true. I’ve never experienced it, so I wouldn’t know.”

Sensing that talking about Eunhyuk’s extended family was making him unusually irritable, Eric gave up on the debate and continued eating quietly. Thus, the rest of their breakfast passed in silence.

***

“Ugh, I’m so exhausted…”

After finishing her shift, Hyesoo collapsed onto the break room sofa with a groan. Sitting in the chair in front of her, Junyoung, who was also drained, made a rare complaint as well.

“No chance they’ll bring in extra staff, right?”

“Everywhere’s short-staffed. And you can’t use part-timers for front desk work.”

Though extra hands could be brought in for the restaurant, event hall, or cleaning services during the holiday rush, front desk work required experienced staff, as Hyesoo explained. Junyoung, who had already worked over four extra hours, let out a long sigh.

“This is just the warm-up, right?”

“Yep. By next week, you’ll be missing this one. At least you get to go home.”

“Right…”

Junyoung’s voice was hoarse with fatigue. He had thought he knew what the front desk team did, having worked closely with them while on the concierge team, but it was a different story now that he was actually doing the job. The volume of tasks—directly communicating with customers, handling all orders and complaints, coordinating with different teams, and following up—was overwhelming, especially during peak season.

And this was just the beginning. Already feeling defeated, Junyoung leaned back in his chair and glanced at his phone, prompting Hyesoo to ask curiously.

“Who’ve you been waiting for all day?”

Junyoung’s heart skipped a beat at her question, and he quickly shook his head.

“No one. I was just checking the time.”

“Oh, really? You’ve been glancing at your phone all day, though.”

Normally, he didn’t even carry his phone around, so Hyesoo’s comment hit the mark, and Junyoung looked away, avoiding her gaze. Come to think of it, he usually didn’t have his phone on him at all, but today, he hadn’t let it out of his sight. He realized he had been checking it repeatedly, just in case he missed a message or call from his brother.

“I guess it was obvious,” he thought, scratching his neck sheepishly as Hyesoo asked again.

“Is it someone you’re dating?”

With a mischievous grin, Hyesoo teased him, but Junyoung quickly denied it.

“No, just… I was expecting a call today.”

“What kind of call?”

“Just something…”

“You don’t look worried, so it’s not bad news… Is it a package?”

Surprised by her unexpected guess, Junyoung didn’t bother to deny it, vaguely answering.

“Yeah, something like that.”

“Well, why are you still here? Go get it.”

“…Right.”

Realizing it would be strange to linger any longer, Junyoung finally stood up.

“Alright, I’ll head out.”

“Yeah, go get some rest.”

After saying goodbye, Junyoung left the break room and headed to the locker room next door. Just as he was about to open his locker, his phone buzzed. Startled, he quickly checked the screen, and the name “Hyung” lit up.

“Yes,” he answered, his voice unconsciously brightening. Caught off guard by his own tone, he hesitated just as his brother asked in his usual laid-back manner.

[“Did you get off work?”]

“No, I’m about to now.”

Junyoung replied as calmly as possible, suppressing any excitement in his voice, not wanting to seem like he had been waiting for the call. Eunhyuk asked again.

[“Now?”]

“Yeah.”

[“Didn’t you start your shift this morning?”]

When Eunhyuk, who had heard Junyoung worked in three shifts, asked if something had happened, Junyoung gave a bitter smile.

“It’s usually like this during the busy season.”

[“Does that mean you’ll be getting off around this time from now on?”]

“I’ll probably finish around this time until the new year. Honestly, I should just be grateful if I can get off at all. If we’re short on staff, I can’t even leave.”

[“That’s overworking too much.”]

Hearing Eunhyuk’s sudden seriousness, Junyoung quickly reassured him.

“It’s just for the season. It’s busy now, but outside of these times, it’s pretty manageable.”

[“So, if you’re saying the busy season includes Christmas, the year-end, New Year’s, Lunar New Year, summer vacation, and Chuseok, that sounds like about half the year.”]

Listening to Eunhyuk list the hotel’s peak seasons like he had researched it, Junyoung couldn’t help but agree. In fact, if they counted major events like large concerts or international conventions nearby, it was probably even more.

But Junyoung chose not to mention that, thinking it would only make Eunhyuk worry more. Eunhyuk sighed deeply.

[“It’d be hard for me to ask if you need to keep working, huh?”]

“Yeah. It’s tough to find a job in Korea.”

[“What if I told you to just come work for me?”]

The unexpected suggestion made Junyoung chuckle lightly.

“You’re going to hire me? As what, your secretary?”

[“If you worked as my secretary, you’d start questioning my character, so that’s out… How about reapplying as my brother? I’ll provide room and board, a limitless salary, and all you have to do is wake me up in the morning and make breakfast. The rest of the day is your free time.”]

Eunhyuk’s offer reminded Junyoung of their daily routine from six years ago, so he responded playfully.

“I’ll pass. The conditions are way too good; I’d suspect a scam. I’ve been through enough in life to know that overly generous offers usually come with a catch.”

When Junyoung joked that he’d probably end up unknowingly signing as a guarantor or taking out a loan he never applied for, Eunhyuk immediately played along.

[“Oh no, you caught on? I was hoping to raise you well under my wing, but look at you, all grown up now.”]

“I’ve been through the wringer.”

[“It’s reassuring yet bittersweet knowing I don’t have to worry about you anymore. As your brother, I have complicated feelings about that.”]

“You should be happy I’m independent now. I can’t stay in your care forever.”

Junyoung casually revealed his true feelings, which he had been keeping to himself, about wanting to finally achieve real independence from his brother. But their conversation suddenly halted.

Worried the call had disconnected, Junyoung asked again after a moment of silence.

“Hyung?”

[“Oh, sorry, I was checking something.”]

“If you’re busy, we can hang up.”

[“No, it’s fine. Do you have your Christmas schedule yet?”]

When the topic came up again, Junyoung hesitated and responded vaguely.

“Uh… not yet. My schedule is still flexible depending on the reservation rate, so I probably won’t know until the day.”

[“I see. I’ve got a Christmas gift I really want to give you, but it might be difficult then.”]

“What gift?”

[“A Christmas gift. I’ve been meaning to give it to you for a while, so when you schedule your shifts, try telling them you’d like to spend time with your family for once.”]

“…I’ll try.”

[“Alright. I might be pulling an all-nighter tonight, so go home and rest. I wanted to see you, but I guess it won’t happen today. I’ll call again when I get a chance.”]

“You’re working all night?”

[“Yeah, I’ve got some things to wrap up. Oh, and can I ask you to wake me up again tomorrow morning?”]

“What time?”

[“Around 7 a.m. It’s easier to wake up when I hear your voice. I wish I could eat the breakfast you used to make, too. Seeing the coffee and food you prepared always snapped me awake.”]

Hearing Eunhyuk’s slight lament, Junyoung couldn’t help but smile. That part of Eunhyuk hadn’t changed at all.

Even though Eunhyuk seemed perfect in every way, there were always these small, unpolished aspects of him that made him feel more human and, in a way, endearing. Like his struggle to wake up in the morning or how he would completely lose track of time when he got immersed in something. He also had a tendency to experiment with bizarre food combinations.

It was those little, awkward habits that had helped Junyoung bond with him so quickly back then, despite Eunhyuk’s otherwise reserved nature. 

At the beginning, when they first started living together, Eunhyuk couldn’t even do basic tasks like dishwashing, cooking, or properly using the washing machine or vacuum cleaner, so Junyoung had to follow him around explaining everything. He thought Eunhyuk was someone who required constant attention, worrying if he could ever manage to live on his own. But he quickly learned that Eunhyuk could master anything once he knew the tricks. He was particularly good with his hands—when they lived together in the U.S., Eunhyuk even mastered ironing and took care of all the household chores until he left for college.

Of course, Junyoung still had to make breakfast since Eunhyuk never could wake up early.

[“I guess I’m really cut out for a life of leisure. Maybe I should just play the stock market and become a landlord.”]

“You’d go crazy if you didn’t work.”

[“True. I can’t stand having nothing to do… This is why childhood environments matter so much.”]

Eunhyuk’s response made Junyoung think back to how his brother had grown up, living a strict life at their maternal grandparents’ house before their mom’s remarriage. Always busy, always on edge, never knowing how to relax—it made Junyoung worry. 

“I know you’re busy, but don’t overdo it. You tend to push forward without thinking of the consequences.”

[“I’m just naturally impatient.”]

“Exactly. So take it easy.”

[“I know, but it’s not that simple when you’re wired this way. Ah, my break’s over. Text me when you get home.”]

“Okay. You should get home as soon as possible too, and rest.”

[“I will.”]

After hanging up the phone, Junyoung quietly looked at the screen.

Twice a day, a morning call and another call right before or after work, along with text messages whenever they had time. Nothing had changed from the daily routine they had established six years ago.

At first, it felt a little awkward, but now it felt natural and comfortable—so much so that it made Junyoung feel at ease.

Even though he had once cut off all contact to avoid losing resolve, now that they had reconnected, everything seemed fine. Maybe time had helped him process things, or maybe it was just that old habits die hard. Either way, for now, everything seemed alright.

Though there was still a dull ache in one corner of his heart, Junyoung knew that would fade soon, too. At this rate, he felt he could genuinely smile and treat Eunhyuk like a real brother someday.

Time would take care of everything.

Chapter 3

[“If only the company went bankrupt…”]

Early in the morning, during a week-long streak of morning calls, Eunhyuk’s complaint caught Junyoung off guard as he lingered in bed due to the cold. 

“You think that too?”

[“Of course. On mornings when I don’t want to get up, I sometimes hope the office catches fire or that a meteor falls right in the middle of my commute.”]

“…Is it that tough?”

[“Yeah. Out of nowhere, some other party got involved, and the negotiation’s dragging out.”]

“Got involved?”

[“It was going well, but some unexpected group jumped in, wanting to make a purchase, so the other side’s attitude completely changed.”]

“Oh… that sounds problematic.”

Worried that a new company had entered the negotiation despite the fact that things seemed to be progressing when Eunhyuk first arrived in Korea, Junyoung voiced his concerns. Eunhyuk responded casually.

[“It’s more annoying than problematic. The other side is making unreasonable demands now.”]

“So it’s going to take a while?”

Two days ago, Eunhyuk had mentioned the deal was wrapping up, but now it seemed to have stalled, prompting Junyoung to ask again. Eunhyuk sighed deeply.

[“Yeah, looks like it’ll drag on for another three days. In the worst-case scenario, I’m ready to flip the table and cancel everything.”]

“That wouldn’t be good, right?”

[“If they keep making unreasonable demands, there’s no choice. In the end, it’s them who’ll suffer more than us.”]

“Still, isn’t this deal important enough for you to come here and negotiate personally?”

Thinking it must be a significant deal if Eunhyuk had even booked the presidential suite, Junyoung couldn’t help but express his concerns. Eunhyuk quickly reassured him.

[“To be precise, I didn’t come just for this deal. I’m handling several things at once. Actually, the main focus is elsewhere, so even if this deal falls through, it’s no big deal. If it doesn’t work out, either they’ll go bankrupt or sell at a dirt-cheap price, so we won’t lose anything. Personally, it’d be a little disappointing, but it’s not worth giving up my vacation over.”]

Hearing Eunhyuk’s casual tone, Junyoung finally felt a bit relieved and murmured quietly.

“Then that’s good. So, will you be late again today?”

[“Yeah. I have to sign off on something with another group today. After that, I have a meeting tonight, so I’ll be a little late, but not too much.”]

“Then go home early and rest. You’ve been getting home around two or three every day.”

Even though they spoke often on the phone, Eunhyuk’s early start and late finish worried Junyoung. With a sigh, he imagined Eunhyuk might collapse soon. Sensing the concern, Eunhyuk quickly asked in return.

[“What about you?”]

“Huh?”

[“Your schedule today.”]

“Oh… I have the afternoon shift today, so I’m just lounging around right now.”

[“What time do you start?”]

“From 5 p.m. to 1 a.m.… but there aren’t many late check-ins tonight, so I’ll probably finish on time.”

[“Then maybe I’ll see you.”]

“Yeah, maybe.”

In fact, Junyoung had deliberately adjusted his schedule this week to match Eunhyuk’s busiest hours. But not wanting to show it, he answered nonchalantly, and Eunhyuk chuckled, seemingly pleased.

[“Seeing your face when I’m tired would make it better. If you’re working the afternoon shift, get some more sleep. Oh, and let me know once your Christmas schedule is set.”]

“Yeah, I’ll tell you if it gets finalized today. Take care, and get up already.”

[“I’m up. I’ll grab some coffee and start moving.”]

“Okay.”

After finishing his now-routine morning call with Eunhyuk, Junyoung snuggled back into his blanket. The sun shone brightly through the window on that mid-December morning, with Christmas just around the corner.

***

“You’re off for Christmas, Junyoung.”

“…What?”

Junyoung blinked in surprise at Hyesoo’s sudden announcement right after arriving at the office.

“You’ll work until 9 p.m. on the 24th, and you’re off on the 25th and 26th.”

Junyoung, taken aback by the unprecedented and generous holiday schedule, asked to confirm what he heard.

“Both the 25th and 26th off?”

“Yeah.”

“But that’s the busiest time.”

Especially on the 25th, wouldn’t they need all the staff working? Junyoung, confused, looked at Hyesoo, who replied calmly.

“That’s how the schedule was made.”

“…Isn’t this the kind of thing usually decided through a meeting?”

“Normally, the work schedule is set by management. It’s become a custom to change dates out of consideration for the staff, but then everyone tries to avoid working during the holidays, so the manager decided from this year to lock in the schedule and make sure no changes can be made. Everyone will rotate breaks between Christmas, the New Year, and Lunar New Year to avoid overburdening a few people.”

Hyesoo explained that Junyoung, who had worked through busy holidays and events because he was single and without family, had finally received his first real break. 

Junyoung, sensing there might be another reason behind this, cautiously asked, “There’s no other reason for this?”

“What other reason would there be? Even if it was voluntary, you’ve been the one working every Chuseok, Lunar New Year, Christmas, New Year, and during summer vacation since you were on the concierge team. The manager probably felt bad because people kept asking you to switch shifts. He said from now on, there won’t be any changes unless there’s a special reason, so just take the time off.”

Though it was certainly good news, Junyoung couldn’t shake the feeling that it was a directive from above. He wondered if Eunhyuk might have used his VIP privileges. With a somewhat awkward expression, Junyoung hesitated, which made Hyesoo look at him curiously.

“Why do you look like that? You should be cheering about having Christmas off. You’ve been seeing someone lately, haven’t you?”

“…What?”

“You’ve been texting and calling someone every day, right? Everyone else is dead tired and looking like wilted spinach, but you’re the only one who’s still bright-eyed. And in this cold, you keep going outside to make calls. Isn’t it obvious?”

Startled by Hyesoo’s sharp observation, Junyoung realized she had a point. Since returning to Korea, he had nearly cut ties with his extended family and hadn’t kept in touch with his high school friends. His only regular contacts were his hotel coworkers. With no hobbies and a naturally introverted personality, he hadn’t been on the phone much during work breaks—until recently. Lately, he’d been glued to his phone during every break, which might have seemed suspicious.

“It’s not like that. It’s just…”

“Just?”

Junyoung hesitated, unsure of how to explain, before offering a vague answer.

“…I’ve been in touch with… a hyung.”

At the slightly deceptive response, Hyesoo blinked in surprise and asked, “A hyung?”

While Junyoung had never explicitly said he didn’t have family, working together for two years had led people to naturally assume as much. Hyesoo’s surprise at hearing this made Junyoung awkwardly deflect further.

“…Yeah, just… a hyung I know…”

“Ah, so he’s a close hyung. I thought you were in a relationship or something, given how your face brightened up despite the tough workload.”

Junyoung gave an awkward laugh, knowing Hyesoo’s intuition wasn’t entirely wrong, and Hyesoo nodded, somewhat convinced.

“He must be a really good hyung.”

“…Yeah…”

“That’s good. Having someone close means you can rely on them. Anyway, the schedule’s set, so adjust to it.”

Hyesoo, reinforcing that the schedule couldn’t be changed, stood up, indicating she had finished her business.

“Let’s head out. Oh, and Jang Hyunsu from the concierge team is out with the flu, so it’ll be a bit busy today. You might need to take on some simple concierge tasks at the front desk for a while.”

“Got it.”

It wasn’t unusual for the front desk team to handle simple concierge tasks during busy times, so Junyoung followed Hyesoo down the hall to the front desk.

Though he hadn’t particularly wanted to take Christmas off, the thought of being able to spend time with his hyung made him feel a bit light-headed and elated. Maybe it was fate.

***

“I think I’ll be off for Christmas.”

After the busiest part of his shift had passed, Junyoung stepped outside the hotel for a short break and called Eunhyuk to share his Christmas schedule, as if it were the most natural thing to do.

“I’m working until 9 on the 24th, but I’ll have the 25th and 26th off.”

Suppressing the excitement rising in his voice, Junyoung conveyed the news, and Eunhyuk’s voice also lifted, sounding pleased.

[That’s great. Guess it was worth me taking some time off too. So, we can be together starting the night of the 24th? Should I plan something, or should I leave it to my little brother?]

“Um… but there might not be anywhere to go on Christmas Eve…”

Junyoung trailed off, feeling apologetic, thinking most places would already be fully booked. If it were anywhere, that would be fine, but the kinds of places Eunhyuk would be satisfied with were likely already reserved. Even at the hotel where Junyoung worked, all the restaurant reservations had been fully booked. He’d spent the entire day on the phone with partner companies, trying to secure seats for customers for Christmas Eve, so it was hard not to worry about the location.

As Junyoung hesitated, feeling guilty that his late confirmation had caused delays, Eunhyuk spoke up reassuringly.

[As long as I’m spending it with you, it doesn’t matter where we are. We can just relax at home with a drink and chat, so don’t worry about the location.]

“Really? That’s okay with you?”

[Of course. But I’ll need to order a cake and some champagne. I heard the hotel takes orders for those, right?]

“Yeah, you can order through me.”

Hearing that the cake and champagne orders hadn’t been closed yet, Junyoung brightened, and Eunhyuk chuckled, finding Junyoung’s reaction cute.

[It’s off-duty time, so not right now. Eric will handle the order. I can’t have you doing it since it’s for you.]

“But I already know everything about our hotel’s cakes.”

[Well, I’ll use my VIP privileges to order something special, so you’ll just have to wait and see.]

“How specific are you going to be with this order?”

[I’m thinking about asking them to put a childhood photo of you on it.]

As Eunhyuk teased about the recent trend of printing photos on cakes with edible ink, Junyoung quickly cut him off.

“Don’t even think about it.”

He raised his voice slightly, imagining the hotel staff seeing his face on a cake, and white breath puffed out between his lips.

It was quite cold today, and the moisture in the air made it feel like it might snow again.

[Yeah, I guess if your face is on the cake, I wouldn’t be able to bring myself to eat it.]

“Just go with a regular whipped cream cake. The bakery we work with makes really good ones.”

[Alright, I’ll look forward to it. But… are you okay today?]

“What do you mean?”

[It looks like it’s going to snow heavily again tonight.]

Eunhyuk had been thinking the same thing, noticing the damp air that often preceded snowfall.

“Yeah, the air feels humid. It’s probably going to snow.”

[Are you really okay?]

At that, Junyoung realized that Eunhyuk wasn’t just worried about the weather but about him, too.

“…I’m fine. Really. I’ve gotten better.”

[You always say you’re fine.]

“No, really, I’m okay now. When I came back to Korea six years ago, I enlisted right away, and not long after, we had a week of constant snow, up to our knees. But even then, we had to shovel the snow, and somehow, getting forced out there to dig helped me get through it. What was scarier than the snowfall was the fact that we had to clear it all. I still get a little sensitive sometimes… but it’s not like before. I don’t panic or anything like that anymore.”

Though light snow didn’t bother him, heavy snow accumulation sometimes triggered hyperventilation or, in rare cases, caused him to faint, something Eunhyuk still remembered. Understanding his concern, Junyoung reassured him that everything was fine now, explaining how things had changed, and Eunhyuk asked again.

[You seemed okay when I saw you last time… Are you sure you’re alright?]

“Yeah, I’m really fine. You don’t need to worry anymore.”

This time, Junyoung spoke with confidence, making sure his tone would convince Eunhyuk, and Eunhyuk finally let out a sigh of relief.

[Alright, I’m glad. Guess you got some forced therapy through military service.]

With a light joke about the usefulness of the military, Eunhyuk, who hadn’t served, made Junyoung smile.

“Yeah, life can be funny like that.”

[Right. I’m wrapping up a meeting now, but I’ll be home soon. Can I see you later tonight?]

Junyoung remembered Eunhyuk had a meeting today. And then…

“Did the negotiation go well?”

[No, it fell through.]

“Oh… Are you okay?”

[I’m fine. I’m just a bit disappointed because it was a company I personally wanted to grow a bit more. But there are plenty of alternatives, so no worries.]

“That’s good to hear…”

Since Eunhyuk wouldn’t suffer any real losses, Junyoung was relieved. After a brief silence, Eunhyuk wrapped up the call.

[I’ve got to go now. See you soon. Make sure to dress warmly—it’s going to get colder. And wear a scarf. You’ve always had a weak throat.]

“Okay.”

With those familiar words of concern, the call ended. Junyoung slipped his cold hand into his coat pocket and hurried back inside.

Although he made an effort to step outside to avoid drawing attention from others, it was actually too cold to be outside for a phone call. Still, even in the freezing air, the smile on his face remained.

Neither the cold nor the damp air, heavy with the promise of snow, bothered him.

It was a strangely warm night.

***

“Am I your errand boy?”

Turning slowly, Eunhyuk saw Eric standing there, a displeased look on his face, as if he had been in the break room for a while. Eunhyuk responded indifferently.

“I always tell you, if you’re going to learn a language, do it properly. Don’t just pick it up from watching movies.”

“Learning through media is the best way.”

“If you’re going to learn, at least watch something that uses standard language. Did you get any updates?”

“Yeah, they filed the complaint this afternoon. We’ve recovered the original model samples and contract we sent to Switzerland, and we’ve secured enough evidence against the employee who stole the tech. It’s pretty much a slam dunk case, so Sungjin’s in for a world of trouble.”

After Eric’s brief update, Eunhyuk nodded, satisfied.

“Good.”

“We got the patent rights for a bargain, so it worked out for us, but are you sure you’re okay with it?”

The issue that had been bothering them all morning was resolved, but when Eric asked with concern about the fallout from the card they’d played to solve it, Eunhyuk asked back, as if there was no problem.

“What?”

“Your family on your mom’s side won’t just let this slide. You deliberately screwed them over. Won’t they drag you back and gang up on you?”

Even though Eric didn’t know all the details, it was clear just from the surface that it was intentional. Worried about Eunhyuk’s relationship with his family, Eric asked a question that didn’t seem like him. Eunhyuk answered indifferently.

“That’s not my problem. They meddled first, and they were the ones who made backroom deals without any prior information. I didn’t hold a knife to their throats and forced them to sign.”

“Well, as long as you’re fine with it, but they’re not going to sit still.”

“That’s not my problem either. Now get out. I’ll greet them briefly and leave soon.”

Since Eunhyuk had only come to this event to introduce Eric to some of his Korean contacts, he planned to make a quick appearance and leave. As Eunhyuk started to walk off, Eric followed him out of the lounge and back into the gallery.

The gathering, held in a small gallery, was officially the opening party for an up-and-coming artist’s exhibition, but in reality, it was more of a social event for upper-class figures to network. Though the number of invitees was small, the guest list was quite exclusive, so Eunhyuk had personally secured two invitations through a college friend and attended to introduce Eric.

Of course, there were some people on that list he wasn’t happy to see, but he had no choice given the circumstances. Attending a large event like a Christmas party would have been ideal for getting his face known, but those are so crowded that even if you exchange business cards, no one remembers you. More importantly, Eunhyuk had already set aside the Christmas holiday to spend with Junyoung, so attending this smaller event was the best option.

Eunhyuk checked his watch to match Junyoung’s clock off time and hurried into the hall, glancing around. Just as he gestured to Eric to follow him, he frowned at a familiar face approaching from a distance.

It was Choi Sumin, Eunhyuk’s aunt and the CEO of Min Entertainment.

“You weren’t on the guest list,” Eunhyuk said, his tone more annoyed than pleased, despite not having seen her in two years. Sumin clicked her tongue softly.

“Of course, I wasn’t. You’ve come to Korea after 10 years and don’t bother to show your face, I had no choice but to tear up the guest list to get in.”

Ignoring her complaints about how she had begged him to make an appearance but he hadn’t budged, Eunhyuk responded indifferently, as if he didn’t care.

“What do you want?”

“What do you think? You’re in Korea now, so shouldn’t you at least greet your grandparents? Do you know how much they’ve been waiting for you?”

“That’s why I came in quietly.”

He hadn’t told anyone he was coming because he knew that if word got out, he’d be dragged around to greet people and be forced to listen to a bunch of things he didn’t want to hear, and eventually, they’d nag him to come back to Daejin. Sumin’s face looked incredulous at Eunhyuk’s response.

“How can you still be so stubborn, even after ten years?”

“Then let’s avoid pushing each other’s buttons.”

“You’re looking for a house, right?”

Eunhyuk sighed irritably at her attempt to pin him down with a direct question.

“Where did you hear that?”

“You’re looking at luxury houses with gardens and buildings in Seoul, and you think rumors wouldn’t spread? Offering to pay cash to move in within a few days, even at a premium—of course, word would get around fast.”

Eunhyuk’s expression hardened in displeasure at the thought that, despite using a representative, rumors had still leaked out.

“People have way too much time on their hands.”

“If you’re looking for a house, that means you’re planning to stay in Korea. If that’s the case, why don’t you go greet your grandparents and settle in Daejin? I heard you lost the company you were working with to Youngjin?”

Eunhyuk looked at her incredulously, responding in disbelief.

“Who said I’m going to Daejin?”

“That’s what’s going to happen eventually. I know you and Youngjin don’t get along, but use this chance to make up. I heard about what happened today. Youngjin took Seongwon Chemical from you, right?”

“… Choi Youngjin did?”

“Why are you calling him Choi Youngjin? He’s your cousin and the heir to Daejin, no matter how bad your relationship is.”

Their relationship had always been strained, but Sumin, sensing it had worsened, tried to coax Eunhyuk gently. But Eunhyuk had no interest.

“Whether he’s the heir or not has nothing to do with me.”

“He’s still family. I understand what happened today. They simply chose Daejin. Don’t take it personally.”

Sumin advised him not to hold any grudges against Youngjin, but Eunhyuk laughed coldly. His seemingly indifferent but mocking laugh made Sumin frown.

Knowing Eunhyuk well, she realized that his reaction was strange, even ominous.

“Why are you laughing?”

“Because it’s funny.”

Eunhyuk’s mocking smile suggested he found her words childish. Realizing the meaning behind it, Sumin quickly pressed him.

“What did you do?”

“I just did my job. If that’s all you had to say, I have nothing more to add. Even if I come back to Korea, I have nothing to do with Daejin, so don’t concern yourself with it.”

Eunhyuk checked the time again, as if to signal this conversation was a waste of time, and turned to leave. Sumin quickly grabbed him.

“Cha Eunhyuk, what did you do?”

“What?”

“Seongjin Chemical—what about it?”

Sumin’s voice lowered as she pressed him for an answer. Eunhyuk, annoyed, responded casually.

“I’m the one who got screwed. Just when negotiations were heating up, your precious heir offered conditions we couldn’t accept, and the deal fell through.”

“With your personality, there’s no way you’d be smiling after something like that.”

Knowing Eunhyuk’s temper, Sumin grabbed his arm, demanding an explanation. Eunhyuk paused as if in thought, then gave a brief response, as if her interference was bothersome.

“I don’t need it anymore.”

“What do you mean you don’t need it?”

Seongjin Chemical was the world’s first patent holder in the battery sector. Daejin had gone to great lengths to secure it, even applying financial pressure. Ignoring her question, Eunhyuk walked over to Eric, who had been waiting nearby. Just then, a loud voice echoed through the hall.

“Cha Eunhyuk!”

Eunhyuk stopped in his tracks at the sight of the man storming into the hall with a furious expression. Sumin quickly stepped in front of him.

“Choi Youngjin, lower your voice.”

Youngjin, looking like he was ready to throw a punch, charged toward Eunhyuk. Sumin scolded him in a low voice for making a scene, but Youngjin ignored her and yelled at Eunhyuk.

“You knew everything, didn’t you, you bastard?”

Sumin tried again to restrain the out-of-control Youngjin.

“Choi Youngjin, stop it. What are you doing in the middle of an event? Take it outside.”

“Aunt, how long are you going to protect him? He knew everything! He knew that Seongjin Chemical’s patented technology was already in use by another company and that the patent would be invalidated!”

“… What are you talking about?”

Sumin, who had been involved in signing with Seongjin Chemical just that morning, asked in confusion. Youngjin ignored her and continued shouting at Eunhyuk.

“You knew from the start, didn’t you? You deliberately dragged out negotiations with Seongjin, then handed the deal to Hanjoo Chemical, and the moment I signed, you filed a patent nullification lawsuit!”

As Youngjin’s shouting echoed throughout the hall, Sumin, caught between the two men, looked at them in confusion. Eunhyuk glanced at Youngjin with disdain.

It wasn’t a small business; it was Daejin, a large corporation. There was no way they didn’t have the information. But Youngjin had ignored everything and charged ahead, determined to obstruct Eunhyuk, and now that things had gone wrong, he was blaming others. It was the same as ever.

While it was true that Eunhyuk had guided Daejin into this situation to make his negotiations with Hanjoo Chemical easier, it was their own fault for not doing proper research.

Fed up with his cousin’s recklessness and stupidity, Eunhyuk turned to leave without another word. Youngjin, furious, shoved Sumin aside and grabbed Eunhyuk’s shoulder. Eunhyuk swiftly slapped Youngjin’s hand away, brushing off his shoulder as if it had been dirtied.

The dismissive gesture enraged Youngjin even more, and he lunged at Eunhyuk, but Sumin quickly stepped in between them.

“Stop it, Choi Youngjin.”

Sumin blocked Youngjin and glared at the onlookers who had turned to watch the commotion. Youngjin, now shaking with rage, shouted again.

“Aunt, this is no small matter! That bastard set me up! Do you know how much damage we’re going to take?”

“Lower your voice. What are you shouting about like it’s something to brag about? Do you not know how fast rumors spread here?”

Sumin implied that by tomorrow morning, it would reach their grandparents’ ears, and only then did Youngjin realize the situation, falling silent with a pale face.

“Go outside and talk. Eunhyuk, you too…” 

As Soonmin glanced back at Eunhyuk, urging him to resolve things outside, Eunhyuk checked his wristwatch with a frown and sighed. He then spoke to Youngjin in a somewhat annoyed tone.  

“You should have known better than this. If you started without that much information, you should question your own intelligence. You’ve just wasted time.”  

“Hey!”  

“Time’s up.”  

Eunhyuk turned to leave, heading out of the hall, and Youngjin lunged at him again, twisting his body. As agents blocked Youngjin, who was thrashing about, he shouted.  

“Get out of the way! Don’t any of you know who I am?”  

As Youngjin yelled at the security personnel, Soonmin quickly shouted to cover his mouth.  

“Shut up, Choi Youngjin.”  

“Auntie, you heard what that guy just said! How dare he, being a servant’s son…”  

In a moment of losing his composure and about to say something he shouldn’t, Soonmin swiftly covered Youngjin’s mouth.  

“Shut up!”  

“Auntie!”  

“Are you already drunk? Don’t you know that guy has a short temper? If you provoke him, it’ll be you who suffers. Just quietly leave here.”  

With a glare that seemed to threaten him to leave or be dragged out like a dog, Youngjin kicked the floor in frustration and swept his hair back. As Soonmin managed to calm the commotion in the bustling hall, Eunhyuk quickly crossed the corridor. Eric, who was following behind, spoke with curiosity.  

“Quite a nickname you have. A beehive and a viper, very consistent. I guess you know each other well since you’re family.”  

“…”  

“By the way, your cousin really is dumb. He definitely has information, but I thought he was willing to take a loss just to mess with you, but he really had no clue?”  

“That level of intelligence is what he has.”  

“He must have advisors, right? Strategists, or shaman whatever you call them?”  

Eunhyuk shot a disapproving look at Eric, who was again using oddly chosen vocabulary.  

“It would be strategists.”  

“This time I got it right. Isn’t Korea the land of shamanism?”  

Eric remarked that even their grandfathers went to see a fortune-teller when making big business decisions, and Eunhyuk easily agreed this time.  

“…Well, that’s not wrong…”  

“So, do they exist or not?”  

“They don’t listen to anyone smarter than themselves, so they probably don’t.”  

Eunhyuk decisively stated his opinion as he hurried his pace, and Eric whistled lightly.  

“Wow, impressive. If you have a low IQ, you should at least keep competent people around… Now I understand why Korean companies struggle to get investments due to owner risk. If someone like that, who can’t hide his emotions, becomes an owner, it’s the servants who suffer.”  

Despite being different in many ways, Eric’s vocabulary was surprisingly accurate, causing Eunhyuk to finally relax his expression and smile.  

“Are you good at Korean or not?”  

“Shouldn’t you be worried about your maternal family instead of my Korean skills?”  

“I thought you said it didn’t matter?”  

“Not you, but Hanju Chemical. Daijin is quite a large company and has more influence in Korea than us. We can’t rule out the possibility of pressure from them.”  

“Didn’t you say it was a lawsuit that’s harder to lose?”  

Now that he thought about it, Eric nodded. Even if Daijin made deals with judges, it wouldn’t be easy if it went to the Supreme Court. They already had secured all evidence and witnesses, so even if the other side brought in a shaman, it would be hard to win.  

“But it seems like your relationship is pretty bad.”  

As Eric subtly prodded Eunhyuk about his cousin, Eunhyuk casually replied.  

“He’s the third thing I hate the most”  

“And the first and second?”  

“…Did you call about the car?”  

“I’ve done it.”  

In response to Eric, who said he had called the car while watching the fight between Eunhyuk and his cousin, Eunhyuk took his coat in the lobby and headed for the door. He seemed eager to get out of there as soon as possible, and Eric put on his coat and stepped outside, where a chilling wind swept over them.  

As December approached, the temperature dropped sharply. Wrapped up tightly against the cold that felt like it seeped into his bones, Eunhyuk quickened his steps as the car he called pulled up in front of the gallery and came to a stop.  

With lips pressed tight, barely managing to breathe, Eric hurried into the car, and as the door closed, he finally spoke.  

“It’s really cold.”  

“You’ll get used to it. This is just the beginning.”  

Eunhyuk replied that it was just the start of the early winter, and Eric responded with a grimace.  

“This is just the start?”  

“The peak is in February.”  

“Good thing I’m leaving before then.”  

Eric vowed never to come to Korea in winter again, and as he warmed up in the warm air of the car, he returned to the previous topic.  

“But even if your cousin is like that, is it really okay to act like that toward your aunt? She’s the only relative you keep in touch with.”  

“Once she gets hold of you, it’s going to drag on. I need to return to the hotel before 1 PM.”  

“Are you Cinderella? What do you mean…?”  

Eric was about to joke that they were riding in a pumpkin carriage when he suddenly sighed as if remembering something.  

“Oh, your younger sibling is off work…”  

Noticing Eric’s keen remark, Eunhyuk, with a blank expression, took out his phone to check it again. Eric subtly asked.  

“I know you won’t answer, but… still, I’ll ask again, what do you want to do with your younger sibling?”  

“…”  

“You’re dragging this out uncharacteristically, and your attitude is vague, so I’m asking. You usually rush into things without looking back, so if I’m going to back you up or bail you out, I need to know your plan, right?”  

As Eric pressed Eunhyuk for information, he gave an ambiguous answer.  

“…That’s not for me to decide.”  

“Then?”  

“Every decision is up to Junyoung.”  

“Are you just going to let him decide?”

That remark made Eunhyuk smile ambiguously again. Although it was still a smile that was impossible to decipher, Eric thankfully managed to grasp the meaning of that smile this time.  

“Does your brother know that you’re looking for a newlywed home?”  

“That’s something Junyoung should decide.”  

Eunhyuk replied decisively, indicating that he couldn’t decide what that house would mean either. Eric leaned back against the sheets, chuckling at the comment.  

“Sure, that’ll happen. If you add a large dog to that house, it’d be a perfect newlywed home.”  

Eric clicked his tongue, saying how well Eunhyuk spoke, recalling how he had seen the interior decorated in a cozy and soft color scheme, complete with a canopy bed in the largest bedroom. Eunhyuk continued to look out the window with a peculiar smile on his face.  

Eric sighed at that sly expression.  

“If the canopy curtains had been lace, I would have cut ties with you.”  

“Good thing they’re not. Junyoung hates lace.”  

Eric, already aware of the answer, laughed as he realized that Eunhyuk had decorated the largest bedroom to suit Junyoung’s taste.  

“While saying you respect your brother’s opinion?”  

“Because he’s my precious little brother.”  

“And what if your brother says he wants to meet someone else?”  

“Then I’d wait. Until they break up.”  

“Not until you make him break up?”  

To that question, Eunhyuk responded silently. Eric quickly picked up on the fact that that silence meant yes. However, he also realized that Eunhyuk was merely avoiding leaving any evidence with his own words.  

“I’ve said it repeatedly, just don’t stir up any scandals.”  

Because that would be a problem that had nothing to do with him, Eric took out his phone again and sent a message to someone. As the conversation paused for a moment, Eunhyuk looked up at the dark sky outside the window.  

The night was heavily clouded.  

It seemed likely to snow soon.  

***  

“Noise from room 1305 has been taken care of.”  

[What’s the situation?]  

“All four were women, and there are no signs of violence. It seems like they had a light argument during a pajama party. The security team confirmed and then left.”  

While quickly walking down the 13th-floor corridor toward the elevator with earbuds in, Junyoung reported the claim situation to Wonhu, who was in charge of the night shift team, and he responded according to the manual.  

[That’s a relief. Good job.]  

“Yes. I’ll be returning shortly.”  

After finishing his report, Junyoung looked around to see if there were any other issues while walking down the corridor, soon getting on the elevator and pressing the lobby button. Thankfully, he rubbed the back of his neck inside the empty elevator.  

This time after midnight was usually the quietest, but as the peak season approached, various troubles and claims were increasing. Because of that, he had already been back and forth between guest rooms three times that day alone.  

During the peak season, all sorts of incidents could occur, but he sighed as he thought it seemed to be worsening with the growing number of people enjoying room parties or vacationing at the hotel.  

When the elevator door opened on the lobby floor, it was quiet due to the early hour. After glancing around the empty lobby with no one around, Junyoung was headed back toward the front desk when he suddenly stopped to check his phone for notifications. He wondered if his brother had sent him any messages or contacted him, but since he had just talked to him before heading up to his room, his notification bar was clean.  

Feeling slightly disappointed in himself for the moment, he lightly rubbed his cheek.  

He had been living well without contacting his brother for six years, but now, just thinking that his brother was close by made him check his phone whenever he had a little free time. That’s why the people he worked with had quickly picked up on it.  

Contrary to his initial resolve to gradually distance himself over time, he was becoming more reliant on his brother as time passed.  

It could be felt more intensely because it was a fleeting pleasure, but even so, it was too obsessive.  

If his brother left, then…  

In that moment, he felt a chill in his chest but shook his head to shake off the thought.  

Even if his brother left, nothing would change. They could continue to live as they had now. After all, it was the same as not being able to see each other’s faces anyway. Even if his brother left, they could still occasionally call each other to check in, knowing that they were both living healthily.  

Then…  

“I definitely heard that Cha Eunhyuk is staying at this hotel.”  

Just as he was about to open the door to the front desk, he heard the familiar name and sharp voice that pierced his ears, causing Junyoung to freeze in place as if he had been struck by lightning.  

It was an incredibly familiar voice.  

Six years ago, they had only spoken for a few minutes, but it felt like a voice he would never be able to forget until he died.  

As the nightmare-like memory rushed through his mind, he stood there dazed until he heard Wonhu’s voice softly.  

“I’m sorry. We cannot disclose our customers’ personal information.”  

“Someone here said they saw him, so how can you not?”  

“We cannot provide information about our customers staying at the hotel. If you know the room number, I can pass along a message.”  

The man clicked his tongue at the standard response in the manual.  

“…How annoying.”  

Looking at the man standing in front of the front desk, Junyoung saw his face through the slightly opened door.  

It was definitely that person. His face and the way he spoke were exactly the same.  

No matter how hard he tried to forget, he couldn’t.  

That gaze, that irritable tone, was etched so clearly in his mind.  

“Then how about Eric Baker?”  

“I also cannot confirm that.”  

Because he could not carelessly mention a VIP, Wonhu’s voice firmly refused to provide a clear answer, causing the man to let out a long sigh. He then irritably brushed his hair back and pulled a business card case from his coat pocket, handing a card to Wonhu.  

“Please pass my business card and message to Cha Eunhyuk. He’ll know I came if you say it was Han Jaehee. Be sure to ask him to contact me.”  

The clear name echoing in the overly quiet lobby made Junyoung feel dizzy as he tightly shut his eyes.  

Yes, that was the name.  

Han Jaehee.  

***  

That day was just unlucky.  

It had already been a bad day due to the snow that had fallen the day before, and in the afternoon, he had to rush back home during lunch to submit a personal report he had forgotten. On his way to school, he collided with a bicycle, injuring his elbow and knee. That alone was exhausting, and after his afternoon lecture, he had left his laptop bag behind and had to hurry back to the classroom, leaving him completely drained.  

It was a disorganized and hectic day. No, more precisely, it was an unlucky day.  

Still, he tried to reassure himself that nothing else would happen, but unfortunately, his misfortune did not stop there. Friends who had planned to pull an all-nighter at the library before finals started to argue over trivial matters, and eventually, they even got into a scuffle, causing the entire group to be kicked out of the library. Because of that, the plans were completely derailed, and he had to return home before 2 AM instead of staying up all night.  

He thought about calling his brother, but it was time for his brother to be sleeping, so he returned home quietly, trying to open the door as silently as possible. He carefully closed the door without making a sound and headed toward the inner bedroom without turning on the lights.  

Although he was wearing sneakers, he knew his brother was light-sleeping, so he cautiously moved toward the innermost bedroom when he suddenly heard a small noise.  

It was a very faint, strange sound coming from afar, and he stopped walking at the odd noise that was unfamiliar to his ears.  

Feeling something was off, he turned his gaze toward the direction of the sound, which was coming from his brother’s room on the opposite side of his own.  

The noise was oddly grating to his ears. His brother had said he would go to bed around midnight during their last phone call, so the sound felt particularly ominous.  

Feeling anxious that something bad might have happened, he tightened his shoulders and headed back down the corridor toward his brother’s room. In the darkness, he could see a faint light spilling out.  

He knew his brother always left the door slightly open to hear him come home when he came in late, but it didn’t make sense that someone who was sensitive to light and slept with blackout curtains would have the light on at this hour.  

In the midst of the confusing situation, he tiptoed forward as quietly as possible when he heard a low moan.  

Is he hurt or something? The thought made him a bit anxious.  

Recently, his brother had been overworking himself, and he was someone who never showed signs of being sick, so he hurried his steps and approached the door when a bizarre scene came into view through the crack of the open door.  

A man sitting with his back turned, the sound of a creaking mattress beneath him, andsoft mood lighting, and a man sitting on top of him, hugging the man’s shoulders and moving his waist while groaning.

At first, he couldn’t readily understand the scene before him.  

No, in fact, he might have known but didn’t want to accept it.  

Or more precisely, he understood the actions of the two but didn’t want to acknowledge who the man with his back turned was.  

He couldn’t see the face clearly, but he could unmistakably recognize who it was just from that back view. There was no need to question whose bedroom it was; he knew that back too well to mistake it for anyone else.  

Yet, he found it impossible to accept the situation. As he remained frozen, unable to exhale properly, the man groaning against his brother’s shoulder turned to look at him.  

And their eyes met.  

In that moment of eye contact, a smile spread across the man’s face.  

It was a smile that seemed to flaunt itself, a beautiful man’s alluring grin, and he instinctively took a step back.  

Then, quietly but quickly, he walked across the carpet and fled the house into the dark street.  

He had no idea where to go, but he desperately moved his feet to get as far away from that house as possible.  

He didn’t feel the winter cold or the fear of the darkness.  

And ultimately, that day, he couldn’t return home.  

***  

After turning off the faucet from which cold water was pouring down, Joonyoung finally raised his head and looked into the mirror, gripping the sink tightly.  

He then started to organize the chaotic thoughts swirling in his mind as he gazed at his reflection.  

Why had that person come to this hotel? Were they still meeting with his brother? Did he return with his brother this time?  

No, that couldn’t be. If they had returned together, there would be no need to come here looking for “Cha Eunhyuk.” The only information he had was that he was at this hotel, so he must have come to the front desk. If they had indeed returned together, they would have booked the hotel together. But there was no name “Han Jaehee” in his memory of the hotel’s guests. He would have certainly remembered that name if he had seen it.  

Then, did he not have contact with him? Had he come all this way upon hearing a rumor?  

It was possible that circumstances had caused him to return home early. Above all, six years had passed; they could have grown distant.  

But if they had broken up, why had he come looking for his brother? No, even before that, his brother’s contact information was still the same. Why go all the way here instead of just calling?  

A phone call would easily connect him with his brother…  

As Joonyoung pondered this, he quickly shook his head.  

That was not something he should concern himself with.  

No matter how their relationship had been or how it would turn out in the future, that matter was unrelated to him.  

Though he had been momentarily startled and thrown into a panic by that person’s appearance, it was not his place to interfere with who his brother met or what kind of relationship he formed. That was a deeply personal matter that even siblings or parents should never intrude upon.  

Moreover, if it were a relationship like his brother’s and his own—one that was connected solely by affection and trust, without any overlapping space—they should never meddle in that part.  

All he could do was pray that his brother met someone he truly loved and found happiness.  

That was the most ideal distance between them.  

He should never get any closer than that.  

Overreaching would only lead to ruin.

Chapter 4

“……Young? Junyoung?”  

“Yeah?”  

Startled by the voice that broke his daze, Junyoung flinched and turned to see Wonhu looking back at him with a surprised expression.  

“Why are you zoning out like that? You said you weren’t feeling well earlier. Are you still not feeling good?”  

Junyoung, who had seemed full of life just this afternoon, looked flustered and restless, making minor mistakes ever since he left his seat right after feeling unwell. Concerned, Wonhu asked him, and Junyoung hurriedly replied, a bit embarrassed.  

“No, I’m feeling better now.”  

“Your face looks really bad, though.”  

“I’m fine.”  

As he said this, Junyoung consciously lifted his gaze to scan the lobby, but suddenly frowned at the view beyond the glass door.  

Snow had started to pour down just as the weather forecast had predicted. Perhaps because of that, he wasn’t feeling well.  

With the harsh blizzard raging outside, a strange tension flowed within him, making his nerves feel on edge. His heartbeat also felt faster than usual.  

The words he had said, that it would be okay if it snowed, now felt empty as the snow began to irritate him.  

It had clearly been fine until last year. Although it wasn’t perfect, he had improved enough that it hadn’t been a significant issue in his daily life.  

But for some reason, right now, the snow bothered him. The snowflakes blanketing the night sky were continually evoking old memories.  

“Is the VIP still not here?”  

At Wonhu’s sudden question, Junyoung, who had been gazing blankly at the sky beyond the door, quickly turned to him, and Wonhu elaborated.  

“Presidential room.”  

“……Ah, yes……. They haven’t checked in yet.”  

“They’re booked under Eric Baker, but the person using the presidential room isn’t Eric Baker, right? Have you checked the guest’s passport?”  

“……Yes. I’ve kept a copy.”  

Junyoung knew why Wonhu was suddenly checking the identity of the guest in the presidential room, but pretending not to notice, he confirmed the guest list with him. Wonhu then explained the earlier situation.  

“When you went up earlier, someone came looking for Cha Eunhyuk…… Oh, right. Presidential room, Cha Eunhyuk. But why did they book under Eric Baker?”  

“……”  

“Now that I think about it, he asked for assistance when checking in, right? He said he knew you……”  

When Wonhu asked about their relationship, Junyoung hesitated, his lips twitching.  

The manager must have kept it quiet, but considering the number of people present, it was impossible for rumors not to spread.  

Even if no one spoke, they would be curious about what kind of relationship they had.  

“He’s just someone I know a bit…….”  

It was difficult to say that he was his stepbrother, and he couldn’t say they didn’t know each other, so he vaguely brushed off the explanation. In the meantime, he noticed the hotel door opening. Seeing the late-night guest arrive, both of them hurriedly straightened their posture as a familiar-faced customer approached the front desk.  

“Deluxe suite. Room 1804.”  

Despite the man’s rude behavior of throwing down the card while specifying the room with a fatigued expression, Junyoung responded with a calm demeanor, as if he were used to it.  

“I’m sorry, but room 1804 is currently occupied by a long-term guest.”  

As Junyoung politely responded, explaining that 1804 was the deluxe suite reserved for Eric, the man rubbed his forehead, looking annoyed.  

“Then give me 1805.”  

“That room is also occupied. I’m sorry, but can we prepare room 1806 for you?”  

As Junyoung made his cautious suggestion, the man erupted in anger.  

“That’s not a deluxe!”  

“The deluxe suites are currently fully booked.”  

It was rare for deluxe suites to be fully booked on a weekday, but recently, due to consecutive international conferences and expos in the area, they had been fully booked for days. Knowing that he usually used room 1805, Junyoung explained the situation as gently as possible, seeking his understanding, but the man didn’t seem interested in listening.  

“What the hell? Don’t you want to do business? You said the same thing last time!”  

“I apologize for the inconvenience, sir. There are many long-term guests in the deluxe suites, so they’re fully booked.”  

“That room is always the one I use. Don’t you know who I am? How much money I’ve spent in this hotel?”  

As he yelled, the strong smell of alcohol and his slurred speech caused Junyoung to flinch instinctively.  

It was a kind of conditioned reflex. No, to be precise, it should be called a trauma.  

A large man, the smell of alcohol, and yelling.  

It was a memory buried deep in the past, now too long ago to recall, but whenever a large, middle-aged man yelled or exhibited violence while drunk, those memories would resurface unexpectedly, frightening him.  

Even though he knew he was now a full adult and that he wouldn’t be overpowered by the average man, the fear etched in his mind during childhood didn’t easily fade away.  

As Junyoung tried to reassure himself that he was fine, that it was nothing, and that this man couldn’t harm him, Wonhu, who was beside him, quickly responded upon seeing Junyoung’s pale face.  

“I’m sorry, sir. We have many long-term guests, and I apologize for the inconvenience. As an apology, we will prepare a champagne set for you.”  

As Wonhu tried to placate the man, who was already known for his arrogance, the man’s face turned red with anger. Usually, this level of service would have sufficed, but perhaps due to the effects of alcohol or some unpleasant event, he began yelling without needing anything else today.  

“Do you think I’m some kind of beggar? Where’s the manager? Tell the manager to come out!”  

“Sir, that’s not the intention. We want to apologize for the inconvenience caused to you as an important guest at our hotel. If you feel upset, I sincerely apologize.”  

“Who are you to talk back? Is this how you train your staff? Where’s the manager? Get the manager out here!”  

In the quiet lobby late at night, the man’s booming voice echoed, and Junyoung squeezed his eyes shut in shock, trembling, as Wonhu hurriedly responded to him.  

“I apologize if you feel offended. The manager isn’t here right now. If you’d like, we can assist you with reservations at another hotel.”  

“Are you telling me to get lost?”  

The man’s sarcastic tone, interpreting all the conversations in his own way, even made the seasoned Wonhu hesitate. Meanwhile, the man’s voice grew even louder.  

“By the way, you’re that guy from last time, right? The one who said there was no reservation and told me to leave with your head held high.”  

Three months ago, the man misinterpreted Junyoung’s words when he said there was no reservation under his name and kicked the front desk table violently before raising his hand to beckon him.  

“Hey, you! Come out! Can’t you hear me? Come out and kneel!”  

As Junyoung trembled in fear from the man’s rough tone and smell of alcohol, Wonhu grabbed Junyoung’s arm. With a grip that seemed to say not to go out, Junyoung clenched his fist tightly, barely maintaining his composure while the man’s voice grew even louder.  

“Hey, you! Are you deaf?”  

As the man kicked the table again in a fit of rage, Wonhu, seemingly unable to hold back any longer, tightly gripped Junyoung’s arm and responded.  

“Sir, it’s late. Please lower your voice. I understand you are upset, but if you have something to say, please make a formal complaint.”  

“What’s wrong? Are you all crazy? Do you want to go out of business? Do you know who I am? Both of you, come out. Kneel down, both of you. Are you not coming out?”  

“If you cause any more commotion, I will call security.”  

“These bastards!”  

At Wonhu’s calm response, the man shouted, raising his hand in a threatening manner. At that movement, Junyoung shrank back in fear, and in that moment, the man’s wrist was seized.  

When the surprised man turned around, Eunhyuk, who had been holding the man’s right wrist, twisted the man’s arm behind his back with a blank expression. In that instant, the man let out a scream-like shout.  

“Fuck! Who the hell are you?”  

“Call security.”  

Ignoring the man’s coarse curses completely, Eunhyuk calmly suggested that they should hurry up and call security to clear this up, prompting Wonhu to hastily turn on his earpiece.  

“All security personnel in the hotel, assemble in the hall.”  

At that announcement, the man shouted.  

“This bastard! Who are you? Do you know who I am?”  

“Do I need to know?”  

“Let go of this! Are you not going to let go? Do you want to go to jail too?”  

As the man continued to struggle, Eunhyuk twisted his arm even harder, causing Eric, who was behind Eunhyuk, to click his tongue.  

“Sir, please be quiet. This bastard is about to lose it.”  

“What the hell are you? Are you hotel staff? I’ll get all of you fired!”  

“Before that, I think your arm is going to come off first… If you’re going to do something, just dislocate it without breaking it. If you break it, it’ll be a bigger problem.”  

While Eric kindly provided that guideline, Sumin, who had just entered the hotel, quickly approached in surprise and asked,  

“What’s going on?”  

After the incident in the gallery, Sumin was taken aback, asking what kind of mess this was in the hotel, and Eunhyuk, with an annoyed expression, replied,  

“Why are you here?”  

“Why am I here? It’s because you’re acting like that… Director Bae?”  

Sumin, who was about to scold Eunhyuk, saw the man whose wrist was being held and asked. The man, with his arm twisted and face turning red, recognized Sumin and stiffened his expression in surprise.  

“CEO Choi…”  

Realizing the situation at last, Sumin slowly examined Eunhyuk and the man, hardening her expression as she looked at the man.  

“What’s going on with my nephew?”  

The mention of “nephew” made the man hesitate for a moment, but he soon seemed to grasp the meaning of her words and stiffened his expression. As the man’s reaction softened as if he had suddenly sobered up, Sumin gestured to Eunhyuk.  

“Eunhyuk, let go of his arm.”  

“Do you know him?”  

“He’s a director from our affiliate.”  

“…”  

“I’ll handle this, so let go.”  

At those words, Eunhyuk finally released the man’s arm, looking down on him as he slouched with his shoulders hunched.  

“A director from an affiliate?”  

“It’s a clothing affiliate.”  

“That company seems to gather only trash, doesn’t it?”  

As if it was typical behavior for a successor, Eunhyuk clicked his tongue, causing Sumin to cross her arms and look back and forth between Eunhyuk and the man with a troubled expression.  

“First, I’ll handle this. You go upstairs first. And today…”  

Before Sumin could finish her warning, sounding as if she was determined to make sure he wouldn’t run away, Wonhu’s voice echoed through the quiet hall.  

“Junyoung!”  

At that scream-like call, the people in the hall turned toward the front desk as Wonhu hurriedly caught the suddenly fainting Junyoung, shouting in panic.  

“There’s someone collapsed here! If there’s a medical staff, please come!”  

While Wonhu frantically turned on his earpiece to request help from another team, Eunhyuk quickly entered the front desk area, checking the time on his wristwatch and confirming Junyoung’s pulse and breathing. Calm and familiar with the situation, Eunhyuk listened to Junyoung’s breath for a few seconds before letting out a long sigh of relief.  

“There’s no hyperventilation, so he should be fine after a short rest. He just had a brief blackout, so please have the medical team wait.”  

“But…”  

As if asking whether it was okay not to go to the hospital after suddenly fainting, Wonhu looked at Eunhyuk in surprise, and Eunhyuk, naturally cradling Junyoung, replied as if to reassure him.  

“Just have the medical team wait for now. If there are other people when he wakes up, he’ll feel uncomfortable, so I’ll take him.”  

Seemingly having no time to continue the conversation with Wonhu, Eunhyuk took Junyoung in his arms and approached the front door again, where Eric quickly opened the door for him. Meanwhile, Sumin, who had been observing the situation, asked Eunhyuk with a worried expression.  

“Is Junyoung’s condition really bad?”  

“It’s not good, but fortunately, he hasn’t reached a panic state.”  

“Still, he needs to go to the hospital. He should get a proper diagnosis, right?”

“When he wakes up, I’ll report the situation. More importantly, aunt, get rid of that.”  

Not fully grasping the situation, the man looked over in a flustered manner as Eunhyuk pointed at him with his chin. Sumin, appearing taken aback, looked at Eunhyuk. The man, seeming to finally understand the meaning of those words, stiffened his expression, prompting Sumin to hold him back.  

“Eunhyuk, that’s…”  

As Sumin tried to soothe Eunhyuk, implying it wasn’t an easy decision, Eunhyuk gave her a cold glare.  

“Just say it once. Make sure that he never sees Junyoung again or I’ll get rid of him forever in Korea. Or should I handle it myself?”  

At Eunhyuk’s serious threat that he genuinely meant to get rid of the man, Sumin sighed as if she had no other choice.  

“…Fine, I’ll take care of it. So calm down and take Junyoung away first. I’ll handle it and call you later.”  

“I’ll give you a day to take care of it. If it’s not sorted out by this time tomorrow, I’ll do it myself.”  

“Okay, I got it. So hurry up and go. Junyoung doesn’t look good at all.”  

Knowing that Junyoung was Eunhyuk’s only Achilles’ heel, Sumin quickly moved to resolve the situation as Eunhyuk hurriedly walked toward the elevator. After barely overcoming one hurdle, Sumin let out a long sigh and turned back to the man.  

“Director Bae, go home immediately and pack your things with your family. This is for your own good. That foul-tempered guy is the only blood relative left of our chairman’s younger brother, who passed away. It would be better for you to avoid him before it reaches the chairman’s ears. If the chairman finds out what you did to that dear grandson, I can’t handle the aftermath, and you certainly won’t be able to either. I trust you understand what I mean by now.”  

The man, with his intoxicated slurred speech, bowed his head and pleaded with Sumin, responding to the very kind and detailed explanation.  

“Please forgive my rudeness. I didn’t know he was the chairman’s grandson.”  

“Of course, you wouldn’t have known. No, you should say you didn’t know even if you did. If you did, I would have to report it to the chairman.”  

Sumin firmly stated that simply not knowing wouldn’t excuse the situation, causing the man’s face to turn pale. Realizing that no excuse would help him overcome this crisis, he looked dazed, and Sumin called for her secretary.  

“Jiwon, take Director Bae back to his home. And gather all the data regarding the damages and incidents that occurred at the hotel. Make sure to secure the CCTV footage as well.”  

Just as the man was about to retort against Sumin’s intention to send him abroad under the pretext of that, her secretary stepped in front of him and politely pointed to the door.  

“Please, this way, Director.”  

The man, who had been causing a scene and shouting at the staff, quickly turned meek and crossed the lobby as Sumin’s words made him comply. In the suddenly quiet hall, Eric approached Sumin and broke the silence instead of greeting her.  

“Strangely, wherever he goes, it’s always noisy, isn’t it? Cha Eunhyuk?”  

“That’s the problem. My father likes it, but…”  

“The person next to him is tired. It can be entertaining, though.”  

Sumin turned slowly to look at Eric as he spoke mischievously and leisurely replied.  

“You said your name was Eric Baker?”  

“Yes. You’re Eunhyuk’s aunt, right?”  

“I’m Choi Sumin, the CEO of Min Entertainment. If you have time, would you like to have a brief conversation with me?”  

Since she couldn’t speak directly with Eunhyuk, Sumin indicated her desire to talk with Eric instead, and Eric smiled as if he had been waiting for this.  

“Absolutely.”  

***

The dark vision in front of him began to brighten again.  

Having fainted and just woken up, Junyoung squinted as he tried to adjust to his blurry surroundings.  

But his vision still wavered, and he felt no strength in his body. His muscles seemed to have relaxed completely, leaving him unable to even move a finger.  

Could it be the flu? Or was it just fatigue? Or maybe…  

“Are you okay?”  

As he blinked again in his still dim view, a familiar voice reached his ears. Turning toward the sound, Junyoung saw Eunhyuk sitting right next to the bed and asked in surprise,  

“Hyung… why…?”  

“Don’t you remember what happened yesterday?”  

At those words, Junyoung recalled the man who had been shouting and raised his hand, shivering at the memory.  

Although it was just for a moment, Eunhyuk hurriedly grasped Junyoung’s hand tightly as he trembled in response.  

“If it’s hard for you, you don’t have to remember.”  

“…Did I faint again?”  

“Yeah.”  

“How did you…”  

Since his last memory cut off at the moment the man raised his hand, he wondered why Eunhyuk was there, and Eunhyuk tightened his grip on Junyoung’s hand and explained the situation after he had fainted.  

“When I returned, that person was being dragged out, and you had fainted. Luckily, you weren’t in a hyperventilated state, so I brought you to this room.”  

Hearing that, Junyoung finally focused his vision on the room, realizing that he was in the presidential suite and was surprised, trying to get up. However, Eunhyuk pressed down on his shoulder to stop him before he could move.  

“Don’t get up. You threw up a few times this morning. You’ll feel dizzy, so just lie down.”  

“…I threw up?”  

“Yeah. Maybe you were really startled by that guy, and it caused a blackout. You must be weak, so just lie down.”  

“No. I’ll go home and rest.”  

As Junyoung attempted to sit up again with those words, Eunhyuk gently pressed his shoulder down again to stop him.  

“No. If you move now, you’ll either throw up again or faint.”  

“I’m okay now. And I need to go to work…”  

Lying back down on the bed, Junyoung suddenly realized that he was in a hotel and turned to look at Eunhyuk. Noticing the confusion in his gaze, Eunhyuk reassured him not to worry.  

“I’ve kept my mouth shut, so don’t worry and get some rest. Since you’re working in the afternoon, you can lie down until dinner before heading out if you have to go.”  

“But…”  

“Junyoung.”  

Using a stern voice for the first time in a while, Eunhyuk called Junyoung’s name, prompting him to mumble softly.  

“Still, it’s… to go to work from here…”  

“If I send you home alone in your current state, I feel like I’ll get mad at myself.”  

“…”  

“Little one?”  

At Eunhyuk’s gentle coaxing in response to Junyoung’s silence, Junyoung jumped in surprise.  

“What’s with you all of a sudden?”  

“You have to answer me, right?”  

Seeing that Eunhyuk thought he was getting through to him, he spoke in a mock serious tone, causing Junyoung to pull the blanket over his head, feeling embarrassed.  

“I told you not to call me that.”  

“I’ll keep calling you that until you answer.”  

Knowing that Eunhyuk would always get flustered and shy whenever he called him that since childhood, Junyoung finally nodded, as if he understood.  

“Okay. I’ll lie down. Since I’m already here…”  

“Good, you made the right choice.”  

Seemingly pleased with Junyoung’s response, Eunhyuk reached out to pat Junyoung’s head, causing him to flinch in fear. Stopping momentarily at the reflexive response, Eunhyuk then gently stroked Junyoung’s head.  

“Then, rest. I’ll just make a quick call.”  

“Don’t you have to go out today?”  

“I have time in the morning. I’ve asked to prepare your clothes, so just rest. You’ve been throwing up all night, so it’ll be hard to eat breakfast… Let me know when you feel better. I’ll order something easy to eat.”  

“…Okay.”  

“Good boy. Then, rest.”  

As soon as he finished speaking, Eunhyuk patted Junyoung’s head one more time before getting up. Almost as if under a spell, Junyoung closed his eyes again. As if all the fatigue he had experienced rushed in at once, Junyoung fell asleep again, looking as if he had fainted. Watching over him quietly, Eunhyuk then silently left the room.  

Carrying only his phone, Eunhyuk stepped out and quickly found Sumin’s number to call her. As he heard the ringing tone from the receiver while heading toward the reception area, a fatigued voice came through.

[“What’s going on? You called me first?”]

“What about it?”

[“What?”]

“Did you take care of that yesterday?”

As Eunhyuk entered the reception room and sat down on the sofa, he clarified his question. Sumin sighed and responded.

[“He’ll leave for Mexico before midnight. I issued his transfer to the Mexico branch as of today.”]

“That’s it?”

[“That’s the best I could do.”]

When Sumin got irritated, pointing out that labor laws exist and firing someone overnight isn’t easy, Eunhyuk countered.

“Is that all you can manage?”

[“Unlike you or your father, I’m a reasonable and logical person who values procedures and order. This is as drastic as I could go.”]

“Then I should’ve just handled it myself.”

[“Don’t. You damned idiot.”]

“Then make sure it’s handled.”

[“It’s been dealt with. Mexico’s a dangerous zone, so he won’t be able to leave the area where our staff is. I’ve made it clear he’s never to return. He won’t be coming back to Korea, and I’ve also warned him not to go to the U.S. He’ll never be in your sight again. Ever.”]

When Sumin assured Eunhyuk that if the person ever came back, he’d handle it, Eunhyuk finally leaned back on the sofa and brushed his hair back, looking satisfied.

“You’ve made bold claims, so I’ll trust you. But if he shows up again, I can’t guarantee what I’ll do.”

[“Do you think I don’t know your temper? I made it very clear. He also knows he’ll be in serious trouble if the chairman finds out.”]

“Good. Now, find a counselor. Specializing in trauma, preferably a woman in her 50s or 60s. Absolutely no men.”

When Eunhyuk mentioned that his aunt would know someone, Sumin, catching on quickly, asked,

[“Is Junyoung doing that badly?”]

“He vomited all night.”

[“Still?”]

“He got better after going to the U.S. He only had one seizure, but he’s been stable since. Yesterday’s situation must have triggered him, with all the stress built up.”

[“Yeah, the smell of alcohol was really strong.”]

A man in his 50s, drunk, yelling and using violence on a snowy night—it was the perfect trigger.

[“He’s such a gentle, sweet kid… It’s a shame.”]

“After he went abroad, he was so busy adapting that I thought he was okay and neglected it. There must have been Korean counselors available too.”

[“Counseling can differ depending on the environment and cultural background. It’s better for Koreans to get treated in Korea, especially for psychiatric issues.”]

“That’s true.”

Eunhyuk’s tone was flat, and for a moment, the conversation paused. In the slightly awkward and gloomy silence, Sumin, unsure of what else to say, cautiously asked,

[“This might be unnecessary to ask… but you’re not thinking of coming back because of Junyoung, are you?”]

“You must’ve talked it over with Eric yesterday?”

[“Eric mentioned it?”]

“I know how much the family dislikes the idea.”

Already informed by Eric about their long conversation into the early hours of the morning, Eunhyuk cut off Sumin’s attempt to probe further. Sumin muttered, seemingly convinced.

[“So, you are coming back because of Junyoung after all.”]

“Think whatever you want. No matter what I say, you’ll believe what you want, right?”

[“Don’t play mind games with me. I’ve known you since you were born. Do you think I’d fall for that?”]

“The biggest mistake in family relationships is assuming you know everything about someone just because you’ve known them since birth.”

When Eunhyuk replied, telling Sumin not to assume he knew everything about him, Sumin clicked his tongue.

[“You’re such a cold-hearted jerk.”]

“I’ve said all I need to, so I’m hanging up.”

[“Wait.”]

“What?”

[“Contact your grandparents soon. If you come back without calling them, they’ll be upset.”]

“It’s too much trouble.”

Eunhyuk firmly refused to call his grandparents, knowing that once he did, they’d bombard him with all sorts of nagging and interference, like telling him to come home, asking why he was staying alone, and so on. Sumin asked, genuinely curious,

[“Both your mom and Professor Cha were so gentle and kind. How did you end up with such a temper?”]

“Must’ve taken after the other side.”

[“…Now that you mention it, that makes sense. Your dad says the reason he can’t say no to you is because you take after him. With your mom’s looks, Dr. Cha’s brains, and your dad’s temper… What kind of monstrous hybrid are you?”]

“Now that you put it that way, it does sound awful.”

When Eunhyuk chuckled, admitting he couldn’t quite picture it either, Sumin sighed in resignation.

[“Damn brat. Hang up.”]

“Alright.”

After ending the call, Eunhyuk placed his phone down and turned his gaze to the window. It had been snowing since the early hours of the morning, and it was still falling.

A man in his 50s, drunk and raging on a snowy night—it was certainly a situation that would trigger Junyoung’s trauma. But what puzzled Eunhyuk was something else.

The fainting was due to the trauma, but the constant vomiting was a sign of stress. It wasn’t frequent enough for Junyoung to notice, but when his stress levels peaked, he tended to vomit. It had happened when he was adjusting to his new environment after his parents’ remarriage, when he heard news of his biological father’s release, and after his parents passed away—also when he first arrived in the U.S. He couldn’t sleep at all and vomited repeatedly. While it might seem like a simple digestive issue, the cause was undoubtedly stress.

Whenever his stress exceeded a certain threshold, it manifested in vomiting. He was a child extremely vulnerable to stress and with a fragile mental state.

Up until last night’s phone call, Junyoung had seemed fine. If his condition had worsened, Eunhyuk would’ve noticed immediately. Junyoung thought he was good at hiding his emotions, but he couldn’t conceal them at all from his expressions or voice.

So, something else must have happened in the meantime.

While Eunhyuk sat deep in thought, leaning back in his chair, his phone rang again. Glancing at the screen, he saw it was Eric this time.

“Yeah.”

[“Can you come out this afternoon?”]

“Depends.”

[“Depends on what? I handled the morning schedule alone. Let me rest a bit.”]

“You were just cleaning up.”

[“You know cleanup’s the dirtiest part of the job, right?”]

“That’s why I brought you along. So, you should do it.”

Why else would I have gone through the trouble of dispatching a private jet to bring you here, Eunhyuk retorted, and Eric responded in an irritated tone.

[“Fine. But come out this afternoon if you can.”]

“I’ll see after checking on Junyoung.”

Eric, expecting this answer, asked in disbelief.

[“Is this when I’m supposed to say, ‘You’re so annoying’?”]

“No. You should say, ‘As much as you need.’”

[“You really think I’m a pushover, don’t you?”]

“You’ve become quite fluent. With that level of Korean, you should be able to handle it yourself. I’m hanging up.”

After abruptly ending the call, Eunhyuk stood up and left the reception room. Whatever the cause, he felt he should be by Junyoung’s side now.

***

Junyoung was definitely aware that he was dreaming.  

It was a lucid dream.  

His entire body felt sluggish, while his mind wandered through past memories.  

Scenes, faded like old photographs and covered in dust, appeared and vanished, tangled and dispersed, only to reappear rapidly over and over again.  

The image of a small playground from his childhood appeared, soon blending into the view of his elementary schoolyard before dissolving again. Then, the scene of a funeral hall unfolded before his eyes.  

‘Now that I think about it, the second dad was kind of…’  

‘Blood doesn’t lie. If the dad’s like that, you think the kid will turn out normal?’  

‘Just keep him for a year, then once he’s in college, set him up with a dorm or something. Cover the tuition and rent for him, then sell off all the assets before he’s an adult. That’s all there is to it.’  

The memories played like rapidly edited scenes from a film. Junyoung tried to wake up from the dream, but it was impossible.  

He struggled to move, but it was as if he was paralyzed—unable to even twitch a finger. As he fought to shift his body, the memories began to slow down.  

Everything started to move sluggishly, as if a slow-motion filter had been applied.  

A soju bottle flew from somewhere and shattered, and a deafening roar echoed in his mind, words unclear. Blood splattered across the old linoleum floor.  

Though he had his head down and his ears covered, Junyoung didn’t need to see or hear to understand what was happening.  

Even though he knew it was just a dream, the terror was so real that his entire body trembled. He wished for the scene to pass quickly, but it dragged on agonizingly, like a buffering video stuck in place.  

In that nightmare, where one second felt like a year, Junyoung curled up with his ears covered as a shadow began to slither and move from far away.  

A twisted, black figure slowly staggered closer. Paralyzed with fear, Junyoung tried to back away, but he was already cornered. There was no escape.  

As the shadow approached, a sense of hopelessness and fear overwhelmed him. When Junyoung finally lifted his head, the towering figure stood directly in front of him, slowly raising its hand.  

And then, the man’s hand began to descend.  

So slowly, yet so menacingly…  

***  

“Junyoung?”  

The shaking of his shoulder pulled Junyoung out of the nightmare. He blinked rapidly, taking shallow, panicked breaths. His dilated pupils flickered in fear as he blinked repeatedly, trying to regain his senses. A familiar voice called out to him again.  

“Are you okay?”  

The concerned tone made Junyoung finally look up. He saw Eunhyuk sitting beside him, watching him with worry. Only then did Junyoung let out a sigh of relief.  

It was a dream. Sleep paralysis.  

He had thought he had completely forgotten, but the memories buried deep in his subconscious must have resurfaced in the nightmare.  

“Did you have a nightmare?”  

At the gentle voice calling him again, Junyoung barely nodded, his face drenched in cold sweat.  

“…Yeah.”  

Though he answered, his gaze remained unfocused, staring blankly into space. Noticing this, Eunhyuk reached out and gently brushed Junyoung’s hair away from his face.  

That touch seemed to calm Junyoung, who closed his eyes briefly before exhaling deeply, trying to collect himself. Eunhyuk cautiously asked again.  

“Do you want to sleep more?”  

“…What time is it?”  

“1 PM.”  

At 1 PM, he had already slept for quite a while. It was time to get up.  

“I should get up.”  

Though Junyoung felt utterly drained, too exhausted to even lift a finger, he knew he couldn’t stay in bed any longer. He began to sit up, and Eunhyuk, this time, didn’t stop him. Instead, he asked again.  

“Are you sure you can get up?”  

“Yeah. I’m fine. I slept well…”  

Perhaps because of the nightmare, Junyoung no longer felt like sleeping. As he forced himself to sit up, a wave of pain suddenly washed over him, causing him to pause. It was as if his whole body had been through some sort of ordeal overnight. His muscles ached, and sweat trickled down his neck.  

The state of his body, stiff and sore as if he had come down with a fever, made Junyoung wince, and he stopped for a moment. Eunhyuk, noticing this, asked again, concerned.  

“Are you really okay to get up?”  

“…Yeah. I’m fine. I need to get up.”  

He had work to go to soon, and he figured he should stop by home first. As Junyoung pushed himself to move, Eunhyuk, watching him tenderly, spoke up.  

“Alright then, go wash up.”  

“Sorry.”  

“If you keep apologizing, I’m going to get offended.”  

At Eunhyuk’s slightly teasing remark, Junyoung started to apologize again but stopped himself. Eunhyuk, seeing this, roughly ruffled his hair.  

“Alright, get up. Can you eat something?”  

“Yeah. Um… Are you sure you don’t need to go out? Is your schedule okay?”  

Worried that Eunhyuk might have canceled something important because of him, Junyoung asked hesitantly, but Eunhyuk responded in a laid-back manner.  

“All the important contracts have been wrapped up. Eric can handle the rest on his own today. Only the final touches are left now.”  

When Eunhyuk explained that those final touches were Eric’s responsibility, Junyoung let out a small sigh of relief.  

“That’s good then…”  

“So, until you have to leave for work, you can spend the day with me. I finally have some free time. I’ll go get your clothes ready.”  

With that, Eunhyuk got up and left the room, giving Junyoung space. Though his entire body ached, Junyoung forced himself to drag his heavy limbs out of bed and head toward the luxurious bathroom.  

His mind, however, remained foggy.  

For some reason, everything felt unreal. It was as if he were floating through a dream, disconnected from reality.  

***  

After taking a hot shower, the stiffness in Junyoung’s muscles eased slightly, and the pain subsided. While not completely gone, he felt lighter than before. Wrapping a towel around his wet hair, he opened the door to find a set of clothes laid out on the dresser in the powder room.  

Eunhyuk had prepared them for him.  

In the lavishly decorated powder room, Junyoung quickly put on the clothes and stepped back into the bedroom, where a knock soon echoed through the room.  

“Can I come in?”  

“Huh? Yeah.”  

At Junyoung’s response, Eunhyuk entered the room, smiling as he looked at Junyoung standing in the bright sunlight.  

“The clothes are a bit big on you. Are they okay?”  

“They’re fine.”  

Junyoung wasn’t too concerned since he had expected the size difference. The soft fabric, just like what Eunhyuk usually preferred, was overall large and long, but not uncomfortable to move in.  

He typically wore slightly oversized clothes anyway, so he even found them comfortable. When Junyoung mentioned this, Eunhyuk approached him and folded the cuffs of his sleeves.  

“It feels nice seeing you in my clothes.”  

“…Huh?”  

“I always wanted to see you wear my clothes. Let’s dry your hair. Room service will be here in 20 minutes.”  

“Oh… It’s fine. I don’t need to dry it.”  

The room was warm enough that Junyoung thought drying his hair wasn’t necessary, but Eunhyuk wasn’t paying attention to his words.  

“You’ll catch a cold.”  

“In this temperature, I won’t catch a cold.”

“Dry it anyway. I’m worried. Let’s go.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Eunhyuk grabbed Junyoung’s hand and led him into the powder room, seating him in front of the mirror. He took out the hair dryer and began drying Junyoung’s wet hair. His hands were delicate and cautious, as though handling a child, causing Junyoung to mutter awkwardly.

“I don’t really need to dry it…”

“You should dry your hair as soon as you come out of the shower.”

Hearing those familiar words, Junyoung suddenly chuckled softly.

“Hyung, you sound like a mom.”

“You saying I look old?”

“No. It’s just that my mom always said that after a shower. You have to dry your hair first, or you’ll catch a cold.”

As he murmured, recalling a memory that had been frozen for over ten years, Eunhyuk also nodded slowly, as if remembering it too.

“You’re right. She used to say that. I also picked up the habit of drying my hair after showers thanks to her. Come to think of it, a lot of my habits and hobbies changed back then. I learned to cook from your mother, and you learned to fish from my father.”

“Yeah, fishing was fun…”

“Do you still fish?”

“I haven’t since I got a job. I used to fish quite a bit when I was in Busan.”

Surprised by this revelation, Eunhyuk paused his hand.

“Oh, so that’s why…”

As he trailed off, Junyoung looked up in the mirror and glanced at him with a puzzled “Huh?” When Eunhyuk resumed his movements and smiled, he brushed it off.

“It’s nothing. But why were you in Busan?”

“After I was discharged from the army, I remembered my parents saying they wanted to live in Busan when they got older, so I stayed there for a while. I fished as much as I wanted and enjoyed the sea. Then I worked part-time at a hotel there, and the manager said I seemed to have a knack for it. That’s how I ended up getting this job. The manager even wrote me a recommendation letter.”

“No wonder… It felt a bit strange that you were in the hotel business, but I’m glad it suits you. It’s a tough service job.”

As if recalling the incident from the previous night, Eunhyuk showed concern, prompting Junyoung to respond quickly.

“It’s hard, but the other staff are nice, and I like being around people.”

Sometimes, when he saw families as guests, he felt envious, but watching them gave him a sense of healing. As Junyoung smiled at this thought, Eunhyuk, who had been silently watching him through the mirror, voiced a question that had been on his mind for a while.

“Yesterday, did something happen?”

“Huh?”

“I mean, before the guy who made a scene. Was there anything else?”

At the unexpected question, Junyoung suddenly remembered seeing Jaehee the day before, and his body tensed slightly. There was no way Eunhyuk could know, but just in case, Junyoung hesitated for a moment before feigning ignorance.

“…No. Nothing happened… Why?”

“I saw you throwing up. I don’t think you would have done that from just shock…”

“Oh… I guess I was just tired. I’ve been really busy lately… and I was really startled yesterday…”

As Junyoung tried to brush it off with a clumsy excuse, avoiding Eunhyuk’s gaze, Eunhyuk, knowing him well, seemed somewhat convinced and nodded.

“You did seem really shaken. I thought you were better… Has that guy always been like that?”

When the topic returned to last night’s events, Junyoung hesitated before answering.

“A little. He’s known for being a troublesome customer.”

“And the hotel still accepts him?”

“We can’t exactly make a blacklist. And there’s no guarantee he’ll always book under his own name. The manager will handle it. Don’t worry.”

“As they should.”

In the brief moments of conversation, Eunhyuk finished drying Junyoung’s hair. Satisfied with his work, he kissed Junyoung’s hair.

“Looks good. It’s all dry. Room service should be here soon, so let’s eat first.”

As Eunhyuk put away the hair dryer and took a step back, Junyoung, who was getting up from his seat, suddenly hesitated at the mention of “room service.” He had been in a daze since he woke up and hadn’t thought about it deeply, but now he was worried that the staff from last night might have realized something about his relationship with Eunhyuk. Grabbing Eunhyuk’s sleeve as he moved ahead, Junyoung called out.

“Uh, hyung…”

“Yeah?”

Startled, Junyoung quickly let go of his soft knit sleeve as Eunhyuk looked down at him with a smile.

“What’s up?”

“About last night… how did you… come upstairs?”

It was clear that Wonhu, who had been working with him, had seen what happened, but Junyoung needed to confirm the finer details—who else had witnessed it, and how he was brought up. Now that his head was clearer, he felt the need to clean up the situation. As Junyoung asked for more specifics about the events from the previous night, Eunhyuk responded casually, as if it was no big deal.

“The person you were working with saw it, but I already explained the situation. It was late, so there wasn’t anyone else around in the hall, so don’t worry. Right after you collapsed, we took the private elevator straight to the room, so we didn’t run into anyone. Oh, my aunt did see me.”

“…Your aunt?”

“You’ve met her a few times. From Min Entertainment.”

“Oh…”

Junyoung remembered Eunhyuk’s aunt. She was the only one from his family who kept in touch with Eunhyuk and had been kind to both Junyoung and his mother. Although Junyoung hadn’t seen her often, he had a good impression of her, finding her straightforward, caring, and confident. So, learning that she had seen them wasn’t too burdensome. The problem was…

“Why? Would it be a problem if the hotel found out?”

Almost as if reading his mind, Eunhyuk asked, and Junyoung stammered his response.

“No, not me… I’m just worried it might cause trouble for you… Since we have different last names, and it’s complicated…”

In high school, during their time abroad, it was fine, but once they entered university, they were constantly asked why two adult men with different last names were living together. If they weren’t blood-related brothers, why wasn’t Junyoung staying in a dorm? Eunhyuk must have faced similar questions about why he was living with an unrelated man in college.

The culture of independence after entering university made it difficult to explain their living situation. As Junyoung reacted anxiously, worried that it might inconvenience Eunhyuk, Eunhyuk bent slightly to meet Junyoung’s eyes and asked again.

“Is our relationship complicated?”

“….”

“Do you not want people to know I’m your hyung?”

Hitting right where it hurt, Junyoung couldn’t bring himself to answer and lowered his head. Eunhyuk called out to him gently but firmly.

“Junyoung?”

Eunhyuk’s soft but subtly pressing tone made Junyoung fidget with his shirt awkwardly as he mumbled.

“…It’s not that… It’s just… since we have different last names… explaining it…”

As Junyoung mumbled in a fading voice, worried that explaining it might cause problems for Eunhyuk, Eunhyuk maintained eye contact and smiled kindly.

“In a general sense, maybe it’s hard to explain, but even if people find out, I wouldn’t be uncomfortable or troubled at all. In fact, I’d hear about you sooner that way. And most importantly, if you disappear again, I could find you right away.”

Though he smiled as he spoke, Eunhyuk’s voice carried a cold edge, making Junyoung quickly shake his head in denial.

“I won’t do that again…”

“Good, you shouldn’t. If you do, I might really get mad.”

Though his voice was calm, Junyoung felt as though Eunhyuk was genuinely upset. As he shrank back, Eunhyuk softened his expression, laughing as he patted Junyoung’s head.

“I’m kidding. I could never get angry at you… but still, nothing like that should happen again. If it does, I might die from heartache.”

“…I’m sorry. It won’t happen again.”

“Good. That’s my boy.”

Satisfied with Junyoung’s answer, Eunhyuk stroked his hair and kissed his forehead just as the doorbell rang. Hearing the sound from the entrance, Junyoung looked up, and Eunhyuk moved first.

“It must be room service. I’ll ask them to set up in the dining room, so you can take your time coming out.”

With that, Eunhyuk left the room, and Junyoung, now alone in the large bedroom, turned his gaze toward the window for the first time.

The snow that had been falling at dawn had stopped, and bright sunlight was now pouring in, almost blindingly bright.

Outside, a cold wave was undoubtedly raging, yet the sunlight streaming in was so pleasant—it was a strange afternoon.

“…Young-ah? Junyoung-ah?”

At Eunhyuk’s call, Junyoung, who had been absentmindedly staring at the television screen while sitting on the sofa, finally snapped out of his daze and turned toward him.

“Huh? What is it?”

Junyoung’s reply was a bit unnatural, as if caught off guard, and Eunhyuk pointed at his wristwatch.

“Time for work.”

At those words, Junyoung finally checked the clock on the wall and quickly started moving.

“Oh? Right… I should get going…”

Throughout the time they had spent drinking tea and watching TV after their meal, Junyoung had seemed out of it, sluggish as though he wasn’t fully present, his reactions dulled. Something about his demeanor felt precarious and uneasy, prompting Eunhyuk to gaze at him with concern.

“You don’t look so good today. Maybe you should just take the day off.”

“No, I’m fine. I’m just feeling a little out of it because it’s been a while since I’ve had a day where I didn’t do anything and could just relax.”

Junyoung’s response, claiming it was merely lethargy, led Eunhyuk to ask again, just to be sure.

“Are you really okay?”

“Yeah.”

“…Alright. But if you start feeling worse, make sure to contact me right away. Oh, and your uniform should be in the bedroom.”

When Eunhyuk mentioned that the uniform had arrived during their meal and was placed in the bedroom, Junyoung, realizing he had forgotten to get it ready, hurriedly expressed his embarrassment. Eunhyuk just smiled.

“I had it sent out to an external laundry service. It was delivered separately, so none of the staff would know about it.”

“Sorry… Thanks.”

“No need to apologize. We have people for these kinds of tasks.”

“I feel bad for that person as well…”

“Don’t. That’s their job.”

Though he felt close to Eunhyuk, Junyoung once again realized how different they were in certain aspects. Unlike him, who found it difficult and uncomfortable to direct or ask for help from others, Eunhyuk had no hesitation in delegating roles and making requests. He was skilled at receiving services from others and took them as a matter of course, naturally.

Perhaps this was simply a difference in upbringing, Junyoung thought as he slowly stood up to get ready for work.

“I’m going to change.”

“Okay.”

With it now time to prepare for work, Junyoung entered the bedroom and saw the uniform neatly wrapped in black non-woven fabric on the bed bench. As expected, Eunhyuk had been meticulous. He must have specifically asked for the laundry to be packaged in a way that concealed it, a considerate gesture that Junyoung appreciated as he quickly changed into the uniform and adjusted his tie. After finishing, he smoothed out his clothes and picked up his name tag from his jacket pocket before stepping into the living room, where Eunhyuk, seated on the sofa with his phone, stood up as soon as he saw him.

“All set?”

“Yeah.”

As Junyoung was about to pin on his name tag over the impeccably cleaned uniform, Eunhyuk approached and pointed at his neck.

“Your tie.”

“…What?”

“It’s crooked.”

“Oh… I didn’t have a mirror…”

Before Junyoung could search for one, Eunhyuk stepped right up to him and adjusted the tie himself. Flustered by their sudden closeness, Junyoung bowed his head slightly in embarrassment. After straightening the tie, Eunhyuk took the name tag from Junyoung’s hand and pinned it to his left chest.

“Seeing you like this, you’ve really grown up. Feels like just yesterday you were wearing a school uniform.”

Junyoung finally relaxed at the absurdity of Eunhyuk’s comment.

“That was ages ago.”

“Feels like yesterday to me.”

“I’m almost thirty.”

Junyoung laughed awkwardly, finding it strange to talk about how it had been ten years since he had last worn a school uniform. Eunhyuk, who had just finished adjusting the angle of Junyoung’s name tag, continued in a soft voice.

“Still… If you were to say you don’t need me anymore, I think that would really hurt.”

Junyoung chuckled at the absurdity of such a statement.

“As if I’d ever say that.”

“You never know. You’ve grown up so beautifully and turned out to be so kind… someone else might come along and steal you away. I’d love it if you could stay in my arms forever.”

Eunhyuk’s words, murmured as though in regret, were accompanied by a gentle caress of the name tag. Junyoung, caught off guard by the sudden shift, looked up at him in surprise. 

What was usually just a teasing joke felt different today—the tone, the weight in Eunhyuk’s voice, and especially his expression. Though his lips were smiling, his eyes were not. 

The warm and tender gaze Eunhyuk usually had had disappeared, replaced by something much more intense, heated like a roiling flame. Junyoung’s heart sank at the sight.

He didn’t know exactly what it was, but his heart began to pound strangely in his chest, teetering on the edge of fear.

As he stood frozen, overwhelmed by the sensation, Eunhyuk finally relaxed his expression and smiled.

“I’d be upset if someone took away the little brother I’ve raised so well. I know I could make you happier than anyone else in this world…”

Though Eunhyuk’s tone had returned to its usual lightness, his intense gaze remained, and Junyoung hastily stepped back.

“I think I’m running late. I should go.”

“What about your hair?”

“I’ll fix it in the locker room. I just need to make an appearance first…”

Though he replied as calmly as possible, Junyoung was too anxious to look Eunhyuk in the eye, his gaze darting nervously around the room.

His heartbeat was too loud, his pulse racing.

“…Alright, then.”

“I’ll be going.”

Junyoung quickly gathered his things, his heart still pounding, and rushed out of the room without looking back. But even as he left, his heart continued to race, though he couldn’t tell whether it was from excitement or fear.

It was a strange feeling.

***

Even after riding the elevator down and entering the locker room, his heart still hadn’t settled. As he adjusted his tie, fixed his clothes, and touched up his hair, he found himself repeatedly fussing with the tie. Unable to focus, he shook his head, trying to snap out of it. While rearranging his clothes again, he suddenly remembered the name tag and started to search his pocket, only to realize it was already pinned on. He let out a small groan and leaned his forehead against the mirror.

He went to the restroom and splashed cold water on his face twice, trying to clear his head, but everything still felt off. His mind was dizzy, and his heart wouldn’t stop pounding.

“Get it together, Ha Junyoung,” he muttered to himself, trying to refocus.

He needed to head to the front desk and explain what had happened yesterday. Then, he had to come up with an excuse for Wonhu. While the manager already knew, rumors might have spread, so he also had to figure out how to explain his relationship with his brother.

But no matter how hard he tried to push the earlier incident out of his mind, it still clung to him.

The strange mixture of warmth and coldness, excitement and fear, confusion and unease—it all left him feeling unsettled. His chest tightened painfully as if a heavy ice block was lodged deep inside, leaving him uncomfortable and disoriented.

He closed his eyes tightly for a moment before opening them again and looking at himself in the mirror. As if trying to brainwash himself, he spoke softly.

It’s nothing. Hyung was just making another one of his usual jokes. Don’t read too much into it.

Just like always, he had to brush it off and focus on reality. First, he had to find Wonhu and explain yesterday’s events, apologize, and—

While forcibly trying to redirect his thoughts, his phone suddenly rang, startling him. Glancing at the screen, he saw the name “Team Leader Kang Hyesoo.”

“Yes.”  

[“Junyoung, are you at work?”]  

“Yes, I’m in the locker room right now.”  

[“I heard you collapsed yesterday?”]  

Expecting the topic, Junyoung braced himself and answered honestly.  

“Yes, I’m sorry.”  

[“No need to apologize if it was because you were sick. What was it? The flu?”]  

In Hyesoo’s anxious tone, as if hoping it wasn’t, Junyoung quickly gave her the answer she wanted.  

“No, I just got a little startled…”  

[“…Startled?”]  

Sensing that Wonhu hadn’t explained the situation in detail, Junyoung hesitated briefly before explaining what had happened in the early morning.  

“I had a bit of a conflict with Mr. Bae Jinchul while I was feeling tired in the early morning. I got startled and passed out for a moment.”  

[“Passed out?”]  

“Yes.”  

After a brief response, Hyesoo remained silent for a moment before asking again.  

[“Are you sure you’re okay to work today?”]  

“Yes, I’m fine.”  

Since Junyoung had never experienced something like this, even during his time in the military, he hadn’t mentioned it when he got the job. As he carefully continued the conversation, Hyesoo asked the question she was concerned about.  

[“I’m going to ask this straight as your team leader—does this happen often?”]  

“…It was the second time. The first was during my study abroad, and yesterday was the second.”  

[“Have you ever been diagnosed by a psychiatrist?”]  

“I’ve been tested, but I’ve never been diagnosed.”  

[“Tested?”]  

“Yes, I was under some stress early in my study abroad…”  

[“Ah, they offer a lot of counseling there, don’t they? Alright then. If the test showed nothing, it should be fine. Well, thanks to you collapsing, Bae Jinchul finally got banned from the hotel.”]  

“…Banned from the hotel?”  

[“He caused a scene in front of a VIP, didn’t he? Plus, CEO Choi Sumin was there, so she must have contacted the owner directly, saying we shouldn’t accommodate customers like that. You know, CEO Choi Sumin and our owner were college classmates. I heard she scolded him about the hotel’s reputation dropping. When we mentioned it, he didn’t seem to care, but suddenly, he’s drafting a blacklist.”]  

“…I see…”  

Since Junyoung’s memory was blurry from the moment Bae Jinchul raised his hand, he trailed off, avoiding a clear response.  

Of course, Mr. Bae’s behavior had been rude enough on its own, but usually, that wouldn’t warrant a full ban. If that were the case, about 10% of the hotel’s main customers wouldn’t even be able to make reservations.  

It seemed that CEO Choi Sumin’s presence had escalated the situation, but Junyoung couldn’t fathom what had happened during the time he had passed out that had led to such a drastic decision.  

So, he found it difficult to decide how to react.  

As Junyoung bit his lip nervously, Hyesoo quickly continued.  

[“Anyway, the higher-ups will handle that… Are you really sure you’re feeling okay?”]  

“Yes, I’m fine.”  

[“Alright, let’s get to the point then. The concierge team is wiped out by the flu, so the front desk and reservation teams need to cover for them.”]  

“…The flu?”  

[“Yeah, it spread through the concierge team before Hyunsoo went on leave. The concierge team deals directly with the guests, so we can’t have flu-infected staff working. Those with milder symptoms have been moved to the reservations team, and the reservation team is all out on the front desk. Since you were in the concierge team until three months ago, can you check the VIP schedules? With Christmas and year-end coming up, we need to book restaurants and secure cars and drivers. It’s insanely busy. Some guests are asking for last-minute tickets to Christmas performances, but there’s no way there are any seats left at this point. We’ll have to contact the organizers or sponsor companies, but the front desk team doesn’t know those hotlines. I’m afraid you’re going to have a tough day.”]  

Despite the grim forecast, Junyoung felt relieved rather than discouraged. It seemed the reason Hyesoo had kept asking about his condition was due to the staff shortage.  

He had worried that his sudden collapse might lead to a forced resignation, but in this busy period, that seemed unlikely.  

“Yes, I’ll head to the front desk now.”  

[“No, come to the office. The front desk is fine for now.”]  

“Yes.”  

After ending the call with Hyesoo, Junyoung looked in the mirror and fixed his hair.  

It was bound to be a hectic day, but at least he wouldn’t have time to dwell on complicated thoughts.  

With that, Junyoung left the locker room, hurrying toward the office, ready to face the tasks ahead.

Chapter 5

[“…There are no available tables. All the reservations are fully booked.”]  

“Then, could you possibly give us priority for any tables that get canceled the day before or on the day of? It’s for one of our VIPs.”  

[“Yes. If any tables are canceled the day before, I’ll contact you right away.”]  

“Thank you.”  

[“Take care.”]  

“You too, Jiun.”  

After finishing the two-hour-long call, Junyoung put the receiver down and collapsed on the desk, exhausted.  

As expected, the hotel during the Christmas season was complete chaos. With the concierge team wiped out by the flu, the workload had doubled, and Junyoung had gone straight from an afternoon shift to a morning one, having slept less than four hours before coming to work. While the lack of time for other thoughts was a relief, his body was still tired.  

He pressed his fingers against his eyes, thinking it would be great to get just 30 minutes of sleep when his phone rang again.  

Reflexively, he picked up the phone and checked the screen. It was his older brother.  

The strange feeling from their last conversation lingered, but during their call last night, his brother had been his usual self—his voice, his tone, everything.  

Maybe he was just tired yesterday and overly sensitive. After all, the consecutive long hours and the sudden shock leading to a blackout had probably made him more on edge than usual, misinterpreting normal signals.  

It’s fine. There’s no problem.  

Convincing himself that everything was alright, he answered the call.  

“Hey.”  

[“Is this a good time to talk?”]  

“Yeah, I’m taking a short break.”  

[“You must be really busy?”]  

“The concierge team got wiped out by the flu, so the front desk team is covering for them. It’s been hectic.”  

Usually, around this time of year, the concierge team would be sent to help the front desk, but now the situation was reversed. The front desk team was on the brink of collapse from overwork. Junyoung let out a sigh without realizing it, and his brother asked, concerned.  

[“Can’t they get more staff?”]  

“We can’t really hire part-timers here…”  

Part-timers could be hired for cleaning, security, or general guidance, but not for positions like the front desk or concierge team, which dealt directly with guests. That was the biggest problem.  

[“So, it’s going to stay busy?”]  

“Probably, until the concierge team comes back.”  

[“That sounds tough. Have you been able to sleep?”]  

“I got some rest yesterday, so I’m fine. What about you, aren’t you busy?”  

[“We’re wrapping things up here. Once the paperwork is sorted, I’ll go straight into vacation.”]  

Junyoung felt relieved that, at least, his brother would have a chance to rest. He had seen firsthand how busy his brother had been, so he hoped he could relax during his vacation.  

“If you’re finishing up work, don’t you need to head back to the U.S.?”  

[“That’s why I brought Eric. He’ll handle the reports and follow-ups, so I can rest here in Korea.”]  

Hearing his brother’s detailed response, Junyoung finally felt reassured. He had been worried that his brother might be pushing himself to spend his vacation in Korea because of him, but it seemed that wasn’t the case.  

“Then you’ll get to take it easy for a while. I was worried because you seemed so busy…”  

[“It’s manageable. I’ve worked 140 hours a week before.”]  

The mention of 140 hours didn’t quite register at first, and as Junyoung did the math in his head, he was shocked and asked again.  

“Is that even possible?”  

Working 20 hours a day, every day for a week, didn’t seem realistic, and when Junyoung expressed his doubts, his brother chuckled lightly.  

[“It’s possible. I only went home to change clothes. I pulled all-nighters three days a week.”]  

Junyoung had never been exploited to that extent, so he was genuinely worried and voiced his concern.  

“…Do you still have to work like that?”  

[“No. I overdid it because I felt lonely going home to an empty place. But now that you’re here, I’ll pace myself. We’ll have meals together, go out sometimes, and I’ll have to pick you up if you stay late, so I’ll need more time.”]  

Junyoung paused at his brother’s strange comment. It was good that Eunhyuk was planning to reduce his workload, but the way he spoke, as if he planned to stay in Korea, felt off. Though it was highly unlikely, the thought crossed his mind, and as he hesitated, Eunhyuk called his name curiously.  

[“Junyoung?”]  

Hearing the sound, as if checking if the call had been disconnected, Junyoung quickly gathered himself and changed the subject.  

“Sorry, I was looking at something for a moment.”  

[“You really are busy.”]  

“I was just working on a reservation. Anyway, shouldn’t you be spending more time with a girlfriend than with your brother?”  

[“I don’t have a girlfriend.”]  

“…What?”  

When Junyoung stalled at the unexpected answer, Eunhyuk chuckled softly.  

[“Why? Did you think I had one?”]  

“Yeah.”  

[“I’m not very popular.”]  

“…But you used to have one…”  

[“I did, but they never lasted long. I guess the problem lies with me. I’ve tried to like people, but I don’t think I’m the kind of person who can do that through effort.”]  

Does that mean he broke up with Han Jaehee? Junyoung wondered, but quickly pushed the thought away.  

Even if his brother had broken up with that person, it was his private life. It wasn’t something for Junyoung to be concerned about.  

Hoping for something impossible would only lead to self-destruction. It was better to give up quickly.  

“Then keep trying. You’re kind, so once you find someone you like, you’ll make a great partner.”  

[“Well… the only one I like is you… What should I do? Should I live with you for the rest of my life?”]  

Eunhyuk’s words, laced with a slight bitterness and their usual ambiguity, made Junyoung nervously bite his lip.  

Eunhyuk’s way of talking had always been like this, but something felt different now. It wasn’t the playful tone of before. Whether it was due to his own expectations or not, Junyoung felt strangely flustered.  

Caught between a growing sense of anticipation and fear, he hurried to change the subject.  

“…You can’t live with your brother forever. You’re too good for that.”  

[“What about you?”]  

“Huh?”  

[“I’ve never heard you mention a partner. Do you have one?”]  

Junyoung quickly denied it when the question came back to him suddenly.  

“No, I don’t. Of course not.”  

[“Why not?”]  

“Why? Because I’m not popular.”  

[“That’s strange. If it were me, I’d fall for you the moment I saw you and do everything I could to win you over.”]  

“…That’s just your opinion.”  

[“I’m sure others feel the same way. Remember that guy who used to bother you during college?”]  

At the sudden mention, Junyoung bit his lip slightly.  

It was about Yeonho.  

[“He really was persistent, wasn’t he?”]  

“That’s not what it was. There were few Koreans, and we were in the same year, so he just wanted to be friends.”  

[“…Do you really think so?”]  

“That’s what it was. ‘Let’s grab a meal together’—that was his favorite phrase. He said it was hard to adjust to college life.”  

[“It doesn’t make sense that a guy who studied abroad at twelve would have trouble adjusting. Especially someone as shameless and brazen as him.”]  

Junyoung had to admit that was true. Even after repeatedly rejecting Yeonho’s offers, to the point where his older brother had to step in and warn him, Yeonho never gave up. He would always greet him and persistently suggest grabbing a meal together.  

Even his brother had remarked that he wished he could be that shameless.  

“Really, he just wanted to be friends. He barely knew anyone… Even now, all he talks about is having a meal together.”  

[“…Now?”]  

Eunhyuk’s short question made Junyoung realize his slip-up. He hadn’t mentioned Yeonho recently, but somehow he’d ended up speaking in the present tense.  

“Well… We bumped into each other at the hotel. He stays there sometimes, and every time he sees me, he suggests grabbing a meal together…”  

[“…He stays at the hotel sometimes? Doesn’t he have a house in Korea?”]  

“His company is nearby. If he finishes work late, he stays at the hotel and goes straight to work the next day.”  

Though Yeonho was merely a hotel guest, and there was nothing to hide or feel uneasy about, Junyoung felt oddly reluctant to talk about him to his brother. He ended up rambling as if making excuses, and Eunhyuk sighed quietly.  

[“He hasn’t changed, has he? I’ll have to give him a piece of my mind if I run into him.”]  

“We’re not kids anymore…”  

[“Well, we’re older now, so I can’t interfere as much, but I’d rather you not get too close to someone like him.”]  

Eunhyuk’s tone was gentle but tinged with slight displeasure, making Junyoung quickly assure him that there was no chance of that happening.  

“I’m too busy for that. He’s busy, and so am I.”  

[“I know you need a friend to occasionally eat with, watch a movie, or have a drink… What about your high school friends? Haven’t you kept in touch?”]  

Junyoung acknowledged that Eunhyuk would probably feel at ease with those friends. They were good, sincere people who had been thoroughly vetted by Eunhyuk.  

It wasn’t that Yeonho was a bad person, but his carefree nature obviously didn’t sit well with Eunhyuk.  

“They’re all busy too. I’ll reach out.”  

Though he hadn’t been in touch for fear of Eunhyuk finding out, most of their contact information was still the same. If he decided to, it wouldn’t be hard to reconnect. Whether they could get along as they had in the past after all this time was another question.  

[“Then I’ll have to take you out for meals and dates myself. Keep Christmas free. I’ve prepared a gift I want to give you.”]  

“A gift?”  

[“Yeah, but don’t feel pressured. It’s just something from me.”]  

“I haven’t prepared anything yet…”  

[“That’s why I said don’t feel pressured. I know you’re busy. Of course, there is one thing I’d love to receive from you… but the gift isn’t what’s important. Although, I really do want it…”]  

His playful pressure made Junyoung relax a little and smile.  

“What do you want?”  

[“Hmm…”]  

“If it’s something I can give, I’ll give it to you.”  

Junyoung had been unsure what to get someone who lacked for nothing, but now that he felt like he could give something Eunhyuk truly wanted, he pressed him. Eunhyuk asked back.  

[“…Anything?”]  

“If I can give it, anything.”  

[“Can I really say it?”]  

“Yes.”  

[“My little brother, all wrapped up nicely.”]  

The unexpected words made Junyoung’s heart race again. Feeling dizzy for a moment, he furrowed his brow before quickly smoothing his expression.  

As tasteless as the joke was, Junyoung reassured himself that it was just Eunhyuk’s usual way of joking and played along lightly.  

“That’s not something you can exchange or return.”  

[“I’d refuse any exchanges or returns. How could I give away my little brother after raising him so carefully?”]  

“Anyone would think you actually raised me.”  

[“That’s the point. It’s to make people misunderstand so they won’t take you away so easily.”]  

Eunhyuk’s strange way of speaking made Junyoung feel a chilling sensation deep in his heart again. His tone and words sounded like flirting, which made Junyoung’s heart flutter, but at the same time, something felt off and frightening. Confused by emotions he couldn’t quite define, Junyoung hurried to wrap up the conversation.  

“Hyung, I need to head out to the front desk now.”  

[“You’re working at the front desk too?”]  

“I finished up with concierge duties. We’re short-staffed right now, so the manager’s been on shift for twelve hours straight.”  

[“And you?”]  

“I’m prepared to work ten hours straight myself.”  

[“Let me know if it gets too hard.”]  

“If I tell you?”  

[“I could put a little pressure on the hotel. Tell them not to overwork my little brother.”]  

Junyoung found the childish remark both heartwarming and bittersweet.  

That’s what he liked about being around Eunhyuk—he felt completely protected and safe.  

From the moment they first met until now, Eunhyuk had always been kind. He’d always put Junyoung first and done everything in his power to protect him, physically and emotionally.  

Even though his mother had always done her best for him too, Eunhyuk’s care felt different.  

In both body and soul, Eunhyuk provided Junyoung with the utmost comfort and security.  

He was different from his mother and stepfather.  

That’s why Junyoung felt so at ease and comfortable around him. He believed Eunhyuk would protect him forever.  

But…  

“Thanks, but I’d be too embarrassed to work if you did that, so I’ll pass. I should handle my own work now.”  

[“Ah… Is this what it feels like to be a parent sending their grown child out into the world? Hearing you say that kind of stings.”]  

“Now you should be raising your own kids instead of me.”  

The conversation briefly paused after Junyoung’s suggestion that Eunhyuk become a real parent, not just a parental figure.  

[“…Why bring that up all of a sudden?”]  

“Just… You’re at the right age now to meet someone great and get married. You’d be a great husband and father. I guarantee it. Not passing on your genes would be a crime, so find someone soon.”  

[“You’re talking a lot about this today. Are you getting tired of me and trying to get rid of me?”]  

“…Of course not. It’s just… That’s the natural progression in life, isn’t it?”  

[“I’m not one to follow that kind of path exactly… but marriage wouldn’t be bad. It means starting a family.”]  

Suddenly, Junyoung felt a pang in his chest. He hadn’t expected his own words to hurt him.  

He sincerely wished for Eunhyuk’s happiness, but hearing him agree to the idea left an unexpected emptiness in his chest, like a dull ache. Trying to shake off the strange feeling, Junyoung forced himself to joke.  

“Then get married soon and give me a niece or nephew. I’ll spoil them to death.”  

[“…Really?”]  

Those words, which felt like a painful jab, made Junyoung quickly stand up.  

“I really need to go now.”  

[“When’s your shift over?”]  

“Officially by 9 p.m., but unofficially, probably past midnight.”  

[“Then, will I be able to see you at the front desk?”]  

“Uh… I’m not sure. I’ll be going back and forth between the front desk, the office, and other places…”  

When Junyoung trailed off, unsure if he’d even be at his post due to his workload, Eunhyuk murmured playfully.  

[“But show me your face, even if it’s just for a moment. I’m going to finish early today.”]  

“…If I have time.”

[“Yeah. Don’t overdo it. You’re the kind of guy who pushes through until you collapse. If you feel sick, make sure to tell someone and leave early if your condition’s bad.”]  

“Got it. I’ll hang up now.”  

Junyoung hurriedly ended the call, as if running away, and gathered his phone and planner while standing in front of his desk. But his grip lacked strength, causing the planner to slip from his hand. Frustrated, he quickly bent down to pick up the fallen pen and planner, only to drop the pen again.  

With mistakes piling up, Junyoung shook his head, trying to snap himself out of it.  

He needed to focus. He couldn’t afford distractions when work was already so busy. Encouraging himself to regain concentration, he quickly left the office and headed to the front desk, where he saw Hyesoo checking something in the quiet corner.  

“Team leader.”  

“Huh? Oh… did you finish everything?”  

“Yes. The restaurant and performance reservations are taken care of. I’ve also arranged cars for the same-day guests.”  

“Wow, you got that done quickly.”  

“I’ve worked with them several times before.”  

Since it was the off-season, they often sent guests to each other’s establishments, so during peak times, it was customary for them to prioritize one another’s work. It wasn’t too difficult to manage, Junyoung said, as he settled down and addressed Hyesoo, who was now on her thirteenth hour of work.  

“Team leader, you should go home. It’s still the morning, so I can cover until Seokhyun comes in.”  

“Oh… should I?”  

“You need to rest. You’re on the night shift again, right?”  

“Yeah, another night shift. Okay, I’ll leave it to you. Thanks.”  

“Of course.”  

“I left a list of important matters. Check them, and if there’s any issue, give me a call.”  

“Got it.”  

After saying goodbye and watching Hyesoo drag herself out of the front desk, Junyoung began checking the memo she left behind.  

It was the usual complaints that always came up during this season. As he was reviewing them, the phone rang.  

It was from Room 803, a long-term guest.  

“Yes, this is the front desk.”  

[“It’s been noisy next door since yesterday.”]  

“Is it Room 802 or 804?”  

[“802. It’s been loud since yesterday. I can hear a man and a woman arguing. It’s fine at night, but it’s constant during the day.”]  

Considering the hotel rooms were generally well soundproofed, it was unusual for noise to be this audible. Junyoung quickly checked the status of Room 802, confirming that someone was inside.  

“We’ll send security up right away.”  

[“Please do it quickly. It’s really loud.”]  

“We apologize for the inconvenience. We’ll take care of it promptly.”  

Although rare, sometimes incidents inside the rooms could escalate, so Junyoung swiftly dialed the security team. After a short wait, the call connected.  

[“Security team here.”]  

“This is Ha Junyoung from the front desk. Can you check Room 802? There’s a complaint about loud arguing between a man and a woman since yesterday.”  

[“Arguing?”]  

“Yes. The guests are currently inside, and the issue seems to be occurring during the day. It’s a complaint from Room 803.”  

With the current atmosphere in the hotel, where all sorts of incidents could happen, Junyoung urged them to verify quickly. The security team replied promptly.  

[“Understood. We’ll check and get back to you.”]  

“Thank you.”  

Just as Junyoung finished the brief call and was about to set the receiver down, someone knocked on the front desk counter. Startled, he quickly placed the receiver down and raised his head with the usual smile.  

“I apologize for the wait, customer—”  

Junyoung’s voice, trained to follow the standard script, abruptly trailed off. His expression stiffened in an instant, and he couldn’t finish the sentence.  

Standing at the front desk, the person across from him looked equally shocked, staring at him with wide eyes.  

In the most unexpected and unfortunate encounter, Junyoung felt the blood drain from his face as Jaehee let out a derisive laugh.  

As if incredulous, and with a hint of annoyance, he spoke.  

“You again?”  

The cold gaze and sharp tone made Junyoung instinctively tense up, his body remembering the intense impression Jaehee had left the last time. He stood frozen, pale-faced, while Jaehee laughed bitterly, running a hand through his hair.  

“No wonder… I was wondering why this hotel, of all places…”  

“…”  

“I’m so sick of you.”  

The words pierced like knives, sharp and aimed at his heart. Junyoung flinched at the impact, and Jaehee, suppressing his irritation, let out a deep sigh.  

“Where’s Eunhyuk?”  

“…”  

“I know that you being here means Cha Eunhyuk is here too, so don’t bother with that privacy nonsense.”  

Jaehee clearly knew Eunhyuk well, and Junyoung couldn’t deny it. It was true that Eunhyuk had reserved this hotel just to meet him… but…  

“I’m sorry, I can’t disclose any personal information about our guests.”  

“So he *is* here.”  

Jaehee sneered, as if the answer was already obvious. The sneer on his face left Junyoung unable to respond, and as he averted his gaze, Jaehee clicked his tongue in frustration.  

“I heard you came back to Korea, and I thought maybe you’d finally grown a conscience… but in the end, you’re still in the same place. At this point, I should assume you’re planning to cling on for life, sucking him dry, right?”  

“That’s…”  

As Junyoung opened his mouth to deny it, Jaehee’s cold stare silenced him.  

“Not true?”  

“…”  

“Your actions don’t seem to reflect that.”  

Jaehee’s words hit a sore spot, leaving Junyoung silent with his head down. Jaehee’s voice remained chilling as he continued.  

“Your uncle’s still pestering for business funds and tuition, by the way…”  

Jaehee casually dropped the bomb, causing Junyoung to lift his head in shock. Jaehee went on, unhurried.  

“If you really don’t want to be a burden to Eunhyuk, like you say, show it through your actions. He’s a responsible guy, and family means everything to him. If he can’t break away, then you’re the one who needs to cut ties. Make sure Eunhyuk never comes looking for you again.”  

Like six years ago, Jaehee’s harsh criticism poured down relentlessly. Junyoung froze, unable to say a word, as Jaehee stared at him in silence for a moment before delivering his final blow.  

“This time, do it properly. Don’t just disappear halfway and cut off contact. If you have any conscience left.”  

With a clenched jaw, Jaehee delivered his warning: this time, completely sever your connection to Eunhyuk. Without waiting for a response, he turned and strode across the lobby, as if too disgusted to continue.  

Left alone in the quiet hall, Junyoung couldn’t move, his eyes tightly shut in pain.  

Jaehee was right.  

Everything was exactly the same.  

Just like that day six years ago.

***

‘Stop it, Ha Junyoung.’  

On Christmas Eve afternoon, right after finishing his last midterm exam, he stood in front of the building, stunned by the sudden reproach thrown at him. As he stared blankly, the man continued speaking without permission.  

‘You really don’t know, do you? Are you pretending to be innocent, or do you just not understand what I’m saying? Or are you just shameless?’  

He was his older brother’s friend, someone he vaguely remembered seeing a few times at the same university. Junyoung was flustered by the harsh words being thrown at him in a soft tone, but he had a clear idea of what it was about.  

So, he simply apologized for what first came to mind.  

‘If this is about that day, I’m sorry. It’s just that… the plans suddenly fell through….’  

‘That incident’s included, but I’m saying your very existence is a hindrance. It’s like you’re some kind of leech….’  

When Junyoung blinked in shock at the excessive aggressiveness, the man smiled with an incredulous look on his face.  

‘Judging by your brazen face, you must be shameless. That’s why you keep sucking him dry. I’ve heard your grandmother even takes living expenses from him, right? An apartment, a car, business funds, even living expenses. Your family is impressive, huh? A family of con artists?’  

The rapid-fire accusations came so fast that Junyoung couldn’t even understand what he was saying. No, he thought he might understand, but he didn’t want to accept it.  

‘…I’m not sure what you’re talking about.’  

‘Your so-called uncle keeps calling every other day, threatening him for money, and you’re saying you don’t know? I’ve seen it happen several times myself.’  

At his question, implying the absurdity of Junyoung’s ignorance, Junyoung’s heart began to pound wildly.  

With trembling in his voice from the possibility, he barely managed to ask back.  

‘…This is the first I’m hearing of it. Why would my uncle….’  

Even though Junyoung already had a suspicion in his mind, he asked in denial, not wanting to believe it. The man, who had been frowning, soon lowered his voice, as if considering it possible.  

‘…Yeah, I guess that guy might have done it behind your back. He’s the kind of guy who would protect his family no matter what. If you didn’t know, then now you do. Not just you, but your whole maternal side is clinging to Eunhyuk like leeches and squeezing money out of him. Living expenses, business funds, even study abroad costs for his daughters.’  

Junyoung could feel the blood draining from his face.  

He recalled overhearing his grandmother recently mention on the phone that his two cousins were studying in the U.S., asking him to help if he could get in touch with them. Since he had barely kept in contact with his uncle after the funeral, he had let it pass, but if it was true that his older brother had covered the study abroad costs…  

‘Why… why would he….’  

‘Why do you think?’  

The man clicked his tongue as Junyoung stood there dumbfounded, staring back at him with accusing eyes, as if saying it was all because of him.  

‘I don’t know if you didn’t realize or just didn’t want to, but now that you do, fix this. Eunhyuk has an intense sense of responsibility and a protective instinct when it comes to his family. Ever since your parents passed, he’s been doing anything he can to protect the only family he has left— you. But just because of that, it doesn’t mean you can keep leeching off him. You, maybe, but even supporting your entire maternal side that’s not even related by blood? Isn’t that going too far? If it were me, I’d cut ties out of shame, even if they were my real siblings. No way would I have let them go this far. Because it’s my brother who’s struggling.’  

The man’s sharp remarks about how leaving things as they were would mean Junyoung also saw Eunhyuk as just a source of money left Junyoung unable to respond.  

Everything he said was true. There was no excuse, no way to deny it.  

Ignorance couldn’t be a defense. Being ignorant was the problem. It meant he had hidden behind Eunhyuk, leaving everything to him.  

‘You’re an adult now, right? Actually, you’ve been one for a while. Honestly, I can’t even understand how you’ve stuck to Eunhyuk this long, but… even if that was his choice, you can’t do this. You’re nothing more than a shackle, the biggest obstacle in Eunhyuk’s life. If you feel even a little guilty about that, then let him go. If you really think of him as your brother.’  

After leaving behind those devastating words and a cold, lingering gaze, the man walked past him and disappeared. Even after he was gone, Junyoung couldn’t move from the spot.  

Each word the man left behind was shocking, but the thing that made Junyoung feel the most ashamed wasn’t the shameless behavior of his maternal family, but the last thing the man said.  

Witnessing his older brother in a sexual act with another man had naturally been shocking.  

It was normal for anyone to be startled and confused if they saw such a scene involving family, especially if it was a same-sex relationship.  

But even so, there was an inexplicable discomfort that couldn’t just be explained by the shock.  

It was a feeling that was different from mere confusion— something uncomfortable, awkward, unsettling, and even a little sad. It was a strange sensation that lingered.  

After that incident, Junyoung couldn’t bring himself to face his brother, so he used studying for exams as an excuse and didn’t go home for three days, hiding out in a friend’s dorm room.  

That strange feeling, which was somewhat different from shock, made him feel as if he had been hurt, as if something wasn’t right. He even searched the internet to see if anyone else had felt the same way, but all he found were comments like, ‘It was disgusting,’ ‘I was shocked,’ ‘I never want to see it again,’ and ‘It was horrible.’  

While those sentiments were similar to what he felt, there was a subtle difference that left him feeling a strange sense of alienation. Ignoring that small difference, Junyoung justified his feelings, telling himself that his reaction was normal, that he was just a little uncomfortable, or that it was just a natural aversion.  

And when he finally felt that those feelings had faded to some extent, he realized what had been at the root of all those complex emotions— because of what the man said.  

The fact that he didn’t truly think of Eunhyuk as his real brother.  

***  

As the subway screeched to a stop, Junyoung, who had been blankly staring out the window, pulled his scarf tighter and stepped off, walking forward. He unconsciously passed through the turnstiles and ascended the long staircase out of the station, only to be greeted by a cold gust of wind.  

As the icy air, so cold it made it hard to even breathe, forced a deep sigh out of him, a white puff of breath dissipated into the air. And with that sigh, a heavy despair settled over his shoulders.  

It would’ve been better if he hadn’t known.  

To Junyoung, the person known as ‘Cha Eunhyuk’ was the first person in his life to completely and perfectly protect him. Blood or paperwork didn’t matter; he was the one and only family left in the world for him.  

Strong yet kind, gentle yet strict— in every way, the perfect older brother, protector, and savior.  

That’s why Junyoung trusted him, followed him, and gave him absolute trust.  

The trembling heart he sometimes felt when looking at him, the occasional throbbing in his chest, and all those inexplicable emotions— Junyoung believed they all came from his affection and trust for him.  

He never doubted that it was like looking up to a celebrity with admiration.  

Until he met Han Jaehee.  

If he hadn’t gone home that night, if he hadn’t heard what that man said, maybe he would’ve lived his whole life not knowing.  

Junyoung was too naive in human relationships and ignorant about emotions to distinguish between admiration and sexual desire. Afraid that he might have the same violent tendencies as his biological father, he kept his distance from people, drawing a line that he would never love anyone. No, he believed he shouldn’t love anyone. What if he ruined someone he loved someday?  

That’s why there was always an invisible line in his relationships, and he never allowed them to grow deep.  

So he remained ignorant— unable to distinguish between familial love, friendship, and desire for the opposite sex. Especially when the object of his emotions was his older brother, who cared for him more than a sibling, he couldn’t recognize those feelings.  

If that incident hadn’t happened, maybe he would have lived his whole life without distinguishing those lines, happily by his brother’s side. The occasional sense of discomfort could have been dismissed as something normal, thinking other siblings felt the same, continuing to live as the little brother who could freely act spoiled.  

But now that he knew, he couldn’t stay by his brother’s side any longer, so he fled, using homesickness as an excuse. He thought that if he disappeared, their maternal relatives wouldn’t be able to ask his brother for money anymore, so he decided the best thing he could do was to leave his brother’s side. After returning to Korea, he didn’t go back to the house his brother had prepared for him and immediately enlisted in the military. After his discharge, he spent his time traveling from place to place. 

He believed that, in time, all his emotions would fade, that eventually, they would blur and leave only admiration behind. It seemed like it had worked to some extent. After wandering for a while and finding a job, he was too busy adapting to his new life to dwell on thoughts of his brother or let himself get sentimental. 

However, the moment he saw his brother again, all that confidence disappeared in an instant. He kept telling himself, “It’s okay. I’m fine. I don’t feel anything anymore,” trying to convince himself of it, pretending as if nothing had changed. On the surface, he managed to keep up the act, but in reality, it wasn’t true. 

He justified it by saying that he would return to the U.S. soon, and just until then, he could allow himself to enjoy the present. He foolishly believed that someday, they could live as ordinary brothers. 

But that wasn’t the way to go about it. It was only natural that his brother couldn’t accept such a passive approach. 

Just as Han Jaehee had said, this time, he needed to sever this bond once and for all. 

So that he wouldn’t be a burden to his brother anymore. 

For his brother’s sake, and for his own as well…

Chapter 6

***  

‘Why aren’t you answering? Is something wrong?’  

Junyoung, who had been repeatedly writing and deleting his reply after receiving a text in the middle of a hectic day, finally managed to complete a sentence after a long pause and pressed the send button.  

‘I’m sorry. I woke up late today and was in such a rush to get to work that I couldn’t call.’  

Knowing that not replying would only cause worry, he sent the text, but even after sending it, he kept checking the message to see if it sounded like his usual tone or if it felt awkward. Soon, another message arrived.  

‘Were you really late? Can you talk now?’  

‘I’m sorry. I’m really busy right now. I’ve been checking calls all over the place.’  

Even during his break time, Junyoung lied and lowered his head, holding his phone with both hands, unable to face a conversation where he couldn’t pretend everything was fine.  

He had spent the entire night worrying, but his thoughts were still stuck in the same place. He couldn’t move forward, nor could he pretend to ignore everything and turn away; he was just trying to run away from reality.  

As always, he felt powerless and cowardly. All he knew how to do was let things drift along, hoping everything would naturally resolve itself.  

He knew he had to end this relationship, but he couldn’t even begin to imagine how.  

Should he coldly cut ties and tell his brother he no longer needed his interference? Or maybe he should get angry and ask if bringing up their maternal family was meant to humiliate him?  

Knowing how kind and responsible his brother was, if he told him that his actions had hurt him deeply, he might quietly step back. His heart would be wounded, but perhaps that would be the most ideal outcome.  

But he wasn’t sure if he could do that.  

Despite the resolve in his heart, he couldn’t bring himself to get angry in front of his brother. It was like a conditioned reflex learned over time.  

In front of his brother, he always became weak, and he had long since developed the habit of following whatever his brother said. After all, his brother would never do anything to harm him, and he always put Junyoung first…  

His chest felt heavy and suffocating, like a weight of lead pressing down on him, leaving him in pain and despair. His hands and feet felt as if they were bound, leaving him with a helpless feeling that he couldn’t do anything.  

***  

“All the preparations are done. Now you just need to sign. But let’s keep an eye on the situation until the end…”  

Eric, who was checking the contract one last time before signing, glanced at Eunhyuk sitting in the passenger seat, staring at his phone, and frowned.  

“Cha Eunhyuk?”  

“…”  

“Are you asleep?”  

“…I’m listening.”  

Without even looking this way, Eunhyuk responded with a serious expression, still fixated on his phone screen, causing Eric to click his tongue.  

“Hey, pay attention, will you? Even if you’re totally wrapped up with your brother, you still need to focus on work. You’ve been really carefree lately.”  

“…It’s ‘careless,’ not ‘carefree.’ And wasn’t cleaning up your job?”  

Eunhyuk retorted with annoyance, as if to say, ‘Why should I care about that?’ Eric closed the file he was holding and turned to face him.  

“What’s wrong? Is your brother ignoring your calls because you’re being a nuisance?”  

“…”  

“Guess he’s had enough of you acting like a stalker. You should ease up before you completely lose his interest.”  

“Stop watching dramas.”  

“I’m being sarcastic. If you keep calling like that, even an enemy who killed your parents would start to care.”  

Though Eric’s remark was entirely off the mark, Eunhyuk didn’t bother responding, feeling too irritated to correct him. Seeing this, Eric leaned back in his seat, clearly planning to lecture.  

“I don’t know what’s going on, but stay focused at least until you sign. You’ve been way too absorbed in everything back in Korea lately — your house, your buildings. Even if you’re planning to go back, or should I say, immigrate since you’re an American citizen? Either way… even if you’re settling in Korea, you need to wrap things up neatly here.”  

As both a partner and a friend, Eric was giving him sincere advice for once, but there was still no response. Eric, noticing Eunhyuk’s unusually serious demeanor since coming back to Korea, seemed to have a sudden realization.  

“Wait, is your brother saying he won’t live with you anymore?”  

Still met with silence, Eric assumed he had figured it out and looked surprised.  

“…So your brother has more survival instinct than he looks, huh?”  

“Shut up.”  

Eunhyuk’s sharp response finally came, and Eric realized that something was indeed wrong.  

“…So, there really is something going on.”  

“I’m leaving early today.”  

Hearing that inevitable line again, Eric raised his voice slightly.  

“Did you even hear a word I said?”  

“How many times do I have to tell you?”  

Eunhyuk’s response, that it was Eric’s job to handle the tedious networking and practical issues after the contract, left Eric frowning, unable to deny it.  

“Still, you should at least show your face. This is your domain.”  

“You’re the one who’s good at pretending to be close with people.”  

Knowing how Eunhyuk, despite seeming friendly to everyone on the surface, was deeply mistrustful of others, Eric gave up with a resigned sigh.  

“So I’m the sucker, huh?”  

“Yup.”  

Without a moment’s hesitation, Eunhyuk’s response caused Eric to sigh in defeat.

“Damn brat. Anyway, I don’t know what’s going on, but resolve it quickly. Your brother seems too oblivious to catch on to much… So, either push forward fast or pull him closer, just make sure it doesn’t interfere with your work.”  

“Isn’t it a bit ironic coming from the guy who was nagging me not to cause any scandals just a few days ago?”  

“Telling you not to cause scandals just means to handle it quietly, not that you shouldn’t do it. Besides, I’ve only just met your brother, so I don’t even feel like he’s family to me. And honestly… if you’re really thinking of him as a brother and still keeping a photo like that on your desk, that’s even creepier.”  

Eric voiced his blunt opinion. When he first saw the photo in Eunhyuk’s wallet, he naturally assumed it was of his girlfriend. And when he noticed those photos casually spread across Eunhyuk’s desk, he thought, *Wow, he really doesn’t care what people think.* But when he later heard from Eunhyuk’s friends that the person in the photo was actually his brother, Eric had honestly been a bit creeped out. To be exact, it wasn’t so much that he was horrified, but more like he didn’t want to associate with someone who carried around pictures of their sibling like that.  

Thankfully, those friends had clarified that they weren’t blood-related, didn’t even share the same surname, and had only been living as brothers for about four years, which provided some relief. Though, to be honest, that was still a bit weird, but better than them being real siblings.  

Because if such a sibling relationship really existed, that would be downright bizarre.  

“I’ll keep your advice in mind.”  

“Don’t just keep it in mind—act on it. Even Yujeong doesn’t know about your brother yet. I’ll decide how to introduce him to her based on how things go, so hurry up and make a decision. She was even asking if you’re hiding some weird fetish because you’re still single.”  

Thinking of Eric’s fiancée, who had a straightforward and cheerful personality, Eunhyuk couldn’t help but smile bitterly.  

“I guess it is a weird fetish.”  

“It’s more than weird—it’s borderline perverted.”  

“Whatever, I don’t care.”  

Eunhyuk’s indifferent response, implying he didn’t give a damn about how others perceived him, caused Eric to click his tongue as if he’d expected nothing less.  

“Selfish bastard. Stop thinking about your brother and just review the contract one last time.”  

Finally seizing the moment, Eric forced the contract into Eunhyuk’s hands. Reluctantly, Eunhyuk took the documents and began to review the contents.  

But his mind was still filled with other thoughts.  

A deeply uncomfortable, uneasy feeling loomed over him.  

***  

“I’ll head out first.”  

After yet another overtime shift, Junyoung walked out of the locker room, wrapping a scarf around his neck to fend off the sudden cold.  

Now, even at 5 p.m., the sun had already set, and though it was just past 7, the world was completely dark. And cold. The weather forecast had warned of an unusual cold snap, with temperatures a few degrees lower than normal for this time of year, but it felt even colder than that.  

With the wind cutting against his skin like a sharp blade, Junyoung huddled into his coat, dragging his heavy feet towards the subway station when his phone rang.  

It was, of course, his brother.  

His brother had sent a few messages earlier in the afternoon, asking if they could meet, but Junyoung had used the excuse of being busy at work to turn him down. His brother could tell just from hearing his voice exactly what state he was in and what he was thinking, so meeting face-to-face would only reveal everything about his current emotional state. He had no choice but to avoid him.  

Honestly, he didn’t even want to take the call, but he had been dodging calls all day, and his brother would soon find that suspicious. Eventually, he pressed the call button.  

“Yeah.”  

[Still at the hotel?]  

“No, I’m heading home now.”  

He raised his tone slightly, trying to sound cheerful, as if nothing was wrong, responding casually as though everything was fine. His brother asked again.  

[Ah, you’re late again. I’m heading home now too… Can you show your face for a bit?]

“Um… I’m almost at the station… And I’m pretty tired today…”  

[Are you really that tired?]  

“I didn’t sleep well last night, so I was thinking of getting some proper rest today…”  

[Right, you’ve been saying you’re busy lately.]  

“Yeah.”  

[Well, I guess there’s no helping it, then. If you’re that tired, I’d feel bad about dropping by. Get home and rest up, stay warm. But show me your face tomorrow, okay? I miss you.]  

“…Okay…”  

Junyoung mumbled weakly, and just as the call ended, he felt someone tap him on the shoulder. Looking up, he saw Yeonho, wrapped up in a coat and scarf.  

“Dongmoon! It’s the first time I’m seeing you outside the hotel. Must be my lucky day.”  

“Oh… hi…”  

Caught off guard by the sudden encounter, Junyoung awkwardly greeted him, while Yeonho laughed brightly.  

“Why so formal? We’re outside the hotel, so relax. Heading home?”  

“Yes. I mean, yeah. Uh, but why are you here…?”  

“I told you, my office is nearby.”  

As Yeonho gestured towards the building across the street, Junyoung looked over, genuinely surprised this time.  

“Oh…”  

It really was close. Just a quick walk across the crosswalk, no more than three minutes away.  

“That’s really close…”  

“Yup. It’s so close to your hotel, I just drop by. Too tired to drive when I’m this beat, you know?”  

“That makes sense…”  

Though no matter how close it was, Junyoung still thought it would be more comfortable to rest at home rather than a hotel. But considering Yeonho’s easygoing personality, it wasn’t hard to believe he didn’t care much where he stayed. After all, this was someone who could fall asleep even on a bench at an ice hockey rink.  

“I was just about to head to your hotel… Wanna grab a drink since we’ve bumped into each other?”

“Sorry. I’m tired and just want to go home and rest.”

“Come on, just one drink. It’s not often I get to run into you like this. I had some things I wanted to talk about, too. Please?”

Seeing Yeonho smiling playfully, Junyoung felt a bit guilty for having turned him down repeatedly. Plus, he knew that even if he went home, he wouldn’t be able to sleep and would just toss and turn, so he felt a little swayed. He thought maybe a drink would help him sleep soundly.

He rarely drank, but today, he felt like having some. He also didn’t want to go back and be alone, so after a moment’s hesitation, he finally nodded.

“Okay, just one drink.”

To his surprise, Yeonho’s eyes widened.

“Really?”

Junyoung felt a bit embarrassed, wondering if Yeonho had taken his polite refusal earlier too seriously, but Yeonho quickly raised both hands.

“Oh, don’t get me wrong. It’s not that I didn’t want to, but you always turn me down, so I thought you’d say no again. Come on, I know a good place.”

Before Junyoung could back out, Yeonho grabbed him by the wrist and started pulling him along. The sudden touch and closeness caught Junyoung off guard, but it wasn’t unpleasant. 

Come to think of it, Yeonho had always been like this. Playful and lighthearted, but in a way that never felt annoying. In fact, he was the type of person Junyoung occasionally wished he could be—cheerful and straightforward, almost childlike in his openness. Seeing him now, Junyoung’s mood, which had been weighed down for days, seemed to lighten just a little.

***

“Here’s to us! I didn’t think I’d ever get the chance to drink with you, so I must be using up all my luck for the year right now.”

The bar was tucked away in a side street in the business district. It had a somewhat exotic atmosphere, with high tables and stools, a jukebox, and darts. It wasn’t exactly American-style, but it gave off that vibe. 

“I came here during a company dinner. The food’s good, and the draft beer’s decent, too. It’s famous for its grilled pork belly.”

Junyoung took a sip of his beer and glanced around the half-filled bar, nodding in approval.

“Not bad.”

“It’s a good place to have a meal, too. The meat’s really good. When did you come back to Korea?”

Yeonho asked as he took a bite of the food. Junyoung set down his glass and answered calmly.

“Six years ago. Right after graduation.”

“So, you came back earlier than me. What about your brother? Did he come with you?”

At the mention of Eunhyuk, Junyoung hesitated for a moment before replying awkwardly.

“…No. I came back alone. My brother settled over there.”

“Oh, right. He’s a citizen, isn’t he?”

“You know that?”

“Your brother’s pretty well-known. Plus, he even did a background check on me, so I had to find out.”

“…A background check?”

Surprised by the unexpected revelation, Junyoung asked, and Yeonho, who was in the middle of drinking his beer, looked equally startled.

“You didn’t know?”

“…No, I hadn’t heard about that.”

“Remember when I invited you to that party in the boys’ dorm when we were freshmen?”

“I remember.”

He had declined the offer. His brother had advised him against it, and Junyoung had never liked crowded parties anyway.

“Well, there was a drug-facilitated assault at that party. Your brother probably found me suspicious after that. I thought it was a good thing you didn’t come, but I guess your brother didn’t see it that way. He looked into me through the student community, I guess. My friends were all worried, asking if I had done something wrong to upset your brother. At the time, I didn’t even realize it was him—I just heard the name ‘Cha Eunhyuk’ and thought, ‘Who is that?’ It wasn’t until I looked him up that I realized it was the guy who used to pick you up sometimes. You two look so different, and your last names are different, so I thought he was just some older guy taking care of you.”

As Yeonho reminisced, Junyoung felt a wave of discomfort. He’d been misunderstood before, but hearing it directly made him wonder if he’d unintentionally given off a certain impression. His expression hardened, but Yeonho just laughed.

“That’s partly why I stuck around you even more after that. I mean, when your brother came to pick you up, it was hilarious that a university student needed a ride, but the way he glared at me made it clear he was keeping an eye on me. You know how I am—when someone’s wary of me, I just want to provoke them more. But I didn’t become friends with you just because of that. From the start, I just liked you. I have a lot of friends from studying abroad, but seeing a fellow Korean was refreshing, and you seemed really likable. Quiet, harmless, and, well, really nice. Maybe that’s why your brother was so protective of you. If I had a little brother like you, I’d probably be the same. The world can be tough.”

Yeonho casually shrugged, alluding to the struggles of living abroad. Junyoung, relieved that Yeonho hadn’t caught on to anything deeper, quietly drank his beer. Yeonho leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table.

“So, what’s up? You look more tired than just sleepy—you seem like you’ve got something on your mind.”

Caught off guard by the sudden shift in topic, Junyoung glanced up. Yeonho raised his beer glass, keeping the conversation flowing smoothly.

“It’s written all over your face: ‘I’ve got a lot on my mind.’ But if you don’t want to talk, that’s fine. Just drink and let it go. I didn’t want to go home to an empty house anyway.”

Junyoung was about to ask why but quickly closed his mouth. They weren’t close enough for him to pry into personal matters, so he stayed silent. Sensing Junyoung’s hesitance, Yeonho spoke first.

“My partner left. We didn’t really get along, but I thought things would get better if I just left them alone. But in the end, they left. Honestly, I didn’t want to go home to an empty house, so I’ve been heading back to the hotel after work. Most of my friends are abroad, and I don’t really know anyone here. My dad told me to come back to Korea, but it’s been hard to adjust. And now I’m alone. It’s a pathetic life, right?”

Yeonho’s tone was unusually somber, which prompted Junyoung to ask for the first time.

“…Did you not want to come back to Korea?”

“Most people who went abroad for school probably feel the same. I left right after elementary school, so I don’t have any friends here. The few I had are long out of touch. Your brother didn’t come back either, right? If you’re a citizen and you fit in there, there’s no reason to come back to Korea.”

Junyoung realized his brother had said something similar. Eunhyuk had been born while their father was studying abroad, spent his early childhood there, and only returned to Korea later. After finishing college, he’d gone back abroad for further studies and had no plans of returning. He also didn’t like their maternal relatives.

“It must be lonely in Korea….”

It wasn’t clear whether Junyoung was talking about his brother or Yeonho, but Yeonho answered calmly.

“My family’s here, so I’m not that lonely. But after breaking up with my partner, it’s been rough. If I were still in the States, I’d have friends to hang out with, but here… there’s no one.”

If his brother ever returned to Korea, Junyoung thought, he would probably feel the same way. Eunhyuk might have some high school and college friends, but he seemed to fit better in the U.S.

“He didn’t want to come back. He even told me to get citizenship after graduation.”

“When I was with my partner, it wasn’t so bad. But we were too different. I’m the type to just let things slide, but they wanted to talk everything out. I should’ve communicated better.”

As Yeonho spoke, Junyoung realized he wasn’t expecting advice. He just needed to talk, so Junyoung stayed silent, not offering any empty words of comfort. Noticing this, Yeonho leaned back on his elbows and smiled.

“It’s funny, isn’t it? We’re not even that close, but the moment I see your face, the words just spill out. I knew talking to you would feel comfortable. I was right.”

Laughing to himself, Yeonho lifted his glass, while Junyoung looked at him with a slight sense of guilt. Maybe, back then, all Yeonho had wanted was simple conversation.

As if sensing the shift, Yeonho quickly lifted his drink, trying to lighten the mood.

“Well, since we’re here, let’s have a proper drink. One of the few Koreans I know from school.”

Smiling as if to brush off the heaviness, Yeonho raised his glass. Junyoung followed suit, lifting his own glass. He didn’t like drinking, and he usually avoided it, but tonight, he felt like having a little more.

Just until he fell asleep, he wanted to drink.

***

Junyoung woke up to the loud sound of an alarm ringing in his ears. Instinctively, he reached out to find his phone, but when it wasn’t in its usual place, he reluctantly opened his eyes and took in the unfamiliar surroundings of the dimly lit room. 

But something felt off. The ceiling, the curtains, even the position of the bed—all of it was different. 

Memories from the previous night flashed through his mind, and Junyoung shot up in bed, looking around for the source of the sound. He followed it to his coat hanging on a rack and quickly got out of bed, retrieving his phone to silence the alarm. As he slowly took in the room, he realized that it lacked any signs of regular habitation. The room had only the essentials—a bed, a nightstand, a wardrobe, a coat rack, and a small table. Based on its layout, it seemed like a regular home.

“Ah…”

He could remember drinking two beers before switching to soju, but everything after that was a blur. It was clear that he had fallen asleep again, and Yeonho had brought him to his place. His head throbbed slightly, a sign of just how much he had drunk the night before. Rising cautiously, Junyoung opened the door and stepped out, spotting Yeonho in the kitchen, drinking some water.

“Oh? You’re up?” Yeonho greeted him.

“Yeah. Sorry. Was I really drunk last night?”

“I gave you a lot to drink. Want some water?”

“Yeah.”

As Yeonho pulled a bottle of water from the fridge, Junyoung approached, noticing the clean and well-organized kitchen and living room. This apartment seemed far too large for just one person.

“Was it cold in the room? I had the heater on, but since I don’t usually use that room, I wasn’t sure if it worked properly.”

“It wasn’t cold. Thanks.” 

Junyoung took the water bottle, feeling grateful for Yeonho’s hospitality. “Thanks for letting me stay. Sorry for the trouble.”

“I didn’t know where your place was, so I brought you to mine. You just passed out after drinking.”

“Yeah, I do that sometimes.”

“I’ve seen all kinds of drunken behavior, but yours was the most peaceful. It was kind of funny, actually. I guess quiet people stay quiet even when drunk.”

Junyoung, feeling reassured that he hadn’t said anything embarrassing, smiled awkwardly.

“Sorry again. It must’ve been a hassle to bring me here.”

“You’re heavier than you look.”

“Sorry,” Junyoung apologized again, embarrassed.

“I’m just kidding. We got a taxi, so it wasn’t a big deal. But since you’re up, you should probably get ready for work, right? You’ve got a morning shift too, don’t you?”

“Yeah. I should head home.”

Though he wasn’t sure exactly where he was, Junyoung knew he had to get home to change before work. As he looked around, thinking about how to get back quickly, Yeonho made a suggestion.

“Isn’t it cutting it close?”

“I’ll grab a taxi and at least change my clothes.”

“Just go straight to work from here. Your office isn’t far, right? You can borrow my clothes. I’ve got spare underwear from when my friends visited Korea, all different sizes in case. Check the closet in the room.”

“No, really, I’ll be fine. You don’t have to—”

“I need you to stay. I don’t feel great, and I want you to make me some soup.”

“…Soup?”

“Yeah. I’ve got kimchi, eggs, and dried pollock in the fridge. If not soup, even some ramen would be fine.”

Junyoung blinked, surprised by Yeonho’s serious expression as he stared back at him. He hadn’t expected such a request.

“You’re telling me you don’t even know how to make ramen?”

“I don’t. I can’t cook at all. I only eat cup noodles, and even those don’t sound good right now.”

“You’re saying you really can’t make regular ramen?”

“I grew up pampered.”

That reminded Junyoung of Eunhyuk. Maybe people who grow up in comfort really do lack basic life skills. He laughed, feeling a bit exasperated.

“You have no survival skills.”

“That’s why I need help. I always need someone to take care of me. I’m the type who needs constant care.”

Junyoung almost commented on how childish that was, but instead, he glanced at the kitchen clock. It was just after 7 a.m. Going home and coming back really would be a rush, and besides, he wasn’t entirely sure where he was. Accepting Yeonho’s offer seemed like the best option.

“Alright, let’s eat first. I’ll take a shower afterward. Which bathroom should I use…?”

“The one near the entrance isn’t used much, so take the one in the hallway. There’s basic toiletries in there. And before that, make me some soup.”

Despite Yeonho’s overly dramatic pleading, Junyoung was also feeling a bit queasy from the night before. He opened the fridge to check the ingredients.

That’s how an unexpectedly different day began.

***

“Why did you come to our hotel?”  

“Because it’s close.”  

“Don’t be ridiculous.”  

After eating and showering, Junyoung had leisurely sipped coffee, despite worrying that he might be late. But once he stepped outside, he understood why Yeonho had been so relaxed.  

Driving gave them plenty of time, or so Junyoung had thought, but that wasn’t the reason.  

“The office is just one block away.”  

“Yeah.”  

“And you stayed at our hotel when you live this close?”  

“I told you, I didn’t want to go into a dark house. Plus, it’s too big. It’s scary being there alone.”  

Junyoung vaguely recalled Yeonho saying something similar the night before—about not wanting to enter a dark house.  

“Fine, but why are we driving when it’s only this far?”  

“It’s cold today.”  

Yesterday, Yeonho had walked, but today, he opted to drive. Junyoung shook his head, too tired to keep scolding him. Taking the car for a five-minute walk seemed absurd, as parking would probably take longer than the trip itself. As they arrived right in front of the hotel, Junyoung spoke up.  

“Drop me off here.”  

Yeonho’s office was on the next block, requiring a U-turn, so Junyoung asked to be let out. Yeonho slowly put on the turn signal and stopped the car in front of the hotel. Once the car came to a complete stop, Junyoung undid his seatbelt, grabbed his bag from the back seat, and thanked Yeonho.  

“Thanks for the ride. And for last night, too.”  

“I should be thanking you. Let’s have dinner together again sometime. Maybe a drink too.”  

“I’ll treat next time.”  

“You’d better.”  

The distance between them, which had felt awkward just the day before, had melted away, and Junyoung was now at ease. Yeonho, sensing this, maintained a comfortable closeness while respecting personal space. Junyoung, smiling slightly, stepped out of the car and was about to close the door when Yeonho suddenly called out.  

“Wait.”  

“…What?”  

“Whatever it is, I think you need to talk about it.”  

Junyoung turned back, confused by Yeonho’s words, as if asking what he meant. Yeonho gave him a somewhat awkward smile.  

“I’m not one to talk, but… holding everything in isn’t good. Sometimes, you need to let things out.”  

There was a strange tone to Yeonho’s words, as if he believed Junyoung was suppressing something. Startled, Junyoung asked,  

“…Did I say something last night?”  

“Nothing much. You just seemed like you were holding a lot in. I know that’s not your usual personality, but when it’s necessary, you should be bold. I used to think things would resolve themselves if I stayed quiet, but that doesn’t work. The other person won’t know unless you say something. Sometimes, being honest is the best solution.”  

Junyoung instinctively knew that he must have said something while drunk.  

“I…”

He was about to ask what exactly he had said when the honk of a car horn interrupted them. A car trying to enter the hotel parking lot was signaling for them to move. Reluctantly, Junyoung stepped back from the car.  

“…Thanks for the ride.”  

“Sure. See you soon. I’ll call you.”  

“Okay.”  

With that final exchange, Junyoung closed the car door and took a step back as the sleek white sedan pulled away and merged into traffic, soon disappearing into the next block. Watching the car drive off, Junyoung nervously ran his hand through his hair.  

What had he said to make Yeonho offer such advice? He had no recollection. A part of him worried that he might have spilled everything about his brother in a drunken state, but he quickly shook his head.  

No, it couldn’t be that. He didn’t remember, but it couldn’t be that. If he had mentioned his brother, most people would react with discomfort or distance themselves. But Yeonho hadn’t shown any signs of that since this morning.  

So, it’s fine. Maybe he had just vented a little, but he didn’t mention his brother.  

It might have been wishful thinking, but for now, that was the conclusion he had to accept. As Junyoung consoled himself and slowly made his way into the hotel, his phone suddenly rang. Checking the screen, he saw it was his brother.  

He hesitated for a moment but, knowing he had already skipped the morning call, figured that if he avoided this one too, Eunhyuk might get suspicious. So he pressed the call button.  

“Hey.”  

[“Are you at work?”]  

“Yeah, I just got here. You?”  

[“I’m on my way. Wanted to hear your voice before the contract ceremony for a little boost.”]  

“Is it wrapping up today?”  

[“Yeah.”]  

“That’s good. You’ll finally get some rest.”  

[“Yeah, vacation’s coming up. But, by the way, was everything okay yesterday?”]  

Junyoung hesitated for a second at the concern in Eunhyuk’s voice, but he quickly replied nonchalantly.  

“Yes, why?”  

[“You didn’t sound great yesterday.”]  

“…It’s nothing. I was just tired. I got a good night’s sleep, so I’m fine now.”  

[“Really?”]  

There was a hint of doubt in Eunhyuk’s voice, so Junyoung quickly rambled on to cover his tracks.  

“I’ve just been so busy, it’s been crazy. I practically passed out as soon as I got home yesterday, but I’m feeling much better now. My condition’s good today.”  

[“You went straight home yesterday?”]  

“Yeah.”  

[“Well, that’s a relief. Just let me know if anything’s bothering you. I might not be much help, but I can at least listen.”]  

“Yeah…”  

Junyoung felt a twinge of guilt for lying to his brother, but he didn’t think there was any need to bring up last night’s events. As he finished the conversation and entered the building, the warmth inside greeted him, easing the tension in his body.  

“I’m at work. I’ll talk to you later. Make sure everything goes well today and get some rest.”  

[“Sure. If you’re at the hotel this afternoon, show your face. I’m starting to forget what you look like.”]

“…Yeah….”  

[Then, I’ll hang up.]  

“Yeah.”  

After ending the brief call and walking down the hallway, Junyoung entered the locker room and sighed deeply in front of his locker. Lying to his older brother for only the second time in his life left a bitter taste in his mouth. He worried that his brother might have noticed something, and anxiety began to rise as he felt the urgency of making a decision.  

He didn’t know what Yeonho had told him yesterday, but letting things flow, as Yeonho suggested, wouldn’t solve anything. For the past six years, he hadn’t had the courage to confront and deal with the root of the problem, and as a result, it had been left unresolved, just like all the issues had come back full circle. Time doesn’t solve everything.  

While emotions may dull and fade over time, the situation remains unchanged. The outcome of him doing nothing and neglecting reality had left both him and his brother frozen in place, as if cursed, stuck in the same spot from six years ago.  

Wasting any more time had to stop.  

But despite his resolve, the days that followed were so busy that he hardly had time to have a proper conversation with his brother.  

***  

Having mechanically handled task after task, Junyoung finally took a break and sat down on the sofa in the lounge, holding a cup of coffee.  

He was tired. So tired that he felt like he could fall asleep anywhere if he just closed his eyes. With peak season fast approaching, the overwhelming busyness was good in that it left him no time to think of anything else, but the exhaustion was inevitable.  

As his body sagged, almost melting into the sofa, he sighed deeply, pulling out his phone to check the notifications.  

Junyoung mechanically checked his messages and missed calls, but his hand froze when he saw his brother’s name at the top of the list.  

‘Still busy?’  

The short message had arrived five hours ago. He hadn’t seen his brother in days and hadn’t been able to have a proper phone call with him either. They had exchanged a few messages, but with the timing off due to his schedule, he often didn’t see the messages for hours, resulting in nothing more than brief updates.  

He had been using his busy schedule as an excuse to minimize contact with his brother. Feeling guilty, he hesitated for a moment but couldn’t pretend he hadn’t seen the message. Slowly, he typed out a response.  

‘Sorry, just saw your message.’  

Was the tone too stiff? Would his brother think it was strange? Junyoung stared at the text for a while before pressing send. The reply came almost immediately.  

‘Can you talk now?’  

The cautious question made him hesitate, but after checking the time, he responded again.  

‘I can talk for a bit.’  

Since it seemed like they needed to talk today, he sent the message, set down his cup, and almost immediately, his phone rang. Startled by the quick response, he raised his voice slightly, answering carefully.  

“Yeah.”  

[Is now a good time?]  

“It’s fine. I’m on a break. I have about five minutes left, though.”  

[You must be really busy.]  

“Yeah, this year especially. We have a high reservation rate, and there are a lot of events going on. Even the manager said it’s the busiest it’s ever been.”  

It was a positive sign for the hotel’s popularity, but for the employees, it was like the gates of hell had opened. When Junyoung complained a bit, his brother asked, sounding concerned.  

[But you can still leave work today, right?]  

Caught off guard by the sudden question, Junyoung hesitated.  

“Um…”  

That’s when he realized today was December 24th. He had known it in his head, but he hadn’t really felt it because he’d been so busy.  

[Why? Is something wrong?]  

“No, it’s not that… it might just be a bit late depending on how things go. I knew it was Christmas Eve, but I was so busy I forgot about it.”  

[That happens when you’re busy. So, we’ll meet after you finish work, right?]  

Hearing the excitement in his brother’s voice, Junyoung couldn’t bring himself to refuse. Since it was Christmas Eve and his brother had taken time off, he wanted them to have a good time today—both of them.  

“Yeah….”  

[You’re sweet. I was about to get a little upset because I hadn’t heard from you.]  

“Oh… sorry….”  

[I’m joking. I know you’re busy with work, so no need to apologize. As long as you’re not avoiding me on purpose.]  

His brother’s last words struck a chord, and Junyoung paused, guilt welling up. His brother continued naturally.  

[Anyway, I’m looking forward to tonight. I have a gift I’ve been wanting to give you, and it’s good that you have time.]  

“Hey, if you have something to do, go ahead. I’ll call you as soon as I’m done.”  

Junyoung didn’t know when he’d be able to leave, but he still felt bad about leaving his brother alone on Christmas Eve. Just as he said that, the lounge door opened, and Hyesoo came in, speaking quietly.  

“Junyoung, a moment?”  

She gestured urgently, and seeing this, Junyoung quickly stood up, ending the call.  

“I have to go. I’ll talk to you later.”  

[Okay. Take care.]  

“Yeah.”  

After finishing the call, he straightened his clothes and approached her. He soon received her instructions and hurried to the front desk.  

***  

“Junyoung, it’s too late. You should head home.”  

It was Christmas Eve night, and after a chaotic day, Junyoung still hadn’t left, unable to finish his tasks on time. When Wonhu told him it was time to go, Junyoung reluctantly nodded.  

“Alright, I’ll leave now.”  

“You did well today.”  

“You too, sir. Take care.”

As soon as the Christmas event and dinner show in the event hall wrapped up, another rush was expected, but for now, there was a lull. Knowing that he’d be stuck again if he didn’t leave now, Junyoung hurriedly finished his farewells and left the front desk, walking down the employee hallway.  

9:47 PM.  

It was an early departure compared to usual, but he was already far past the promised time. Dragging his heavy legs, which felt as if they were filled with water after standing all day, Junyoung returned to the locker room and took out his phone. He quickly called Eunhyuk.  

[Yeah.]  

“Sorry, I was so busy I couldn’t get in touch.”  

[It’s fine. So, are you leaving work now?]  

“Yeah. I’m in the locker room.”  

[Great. Then let’s meet at the hotel’s front entrance in 10 minutes.]  

“The front entrance?”  

[Yeah.]  

“Uh….”  

Relieved that they weren’t spending time at the hotel, Junyoung still wondered where they could be going, considering most places would have been fully booked today. He decided to end the call for now.  

“I’ll change and head out now.”  

[Okay.]  

Hearing Eunhyuk’s slightly excited tone, Junyoung hung up and opened his locker, only to stop when he saw the small shopping bag inside. Despite being so busy, he had prepared a gift for his brother. It wasn’t anything particularly special or expensive, but he thought it would suit him. Looking at the gift, Junyoung steeled his resolve.  

Though he had promised to sort things out, today wasn’t the day.  

Today, they would enjoy the day as a family, and he would deal with everything tomorrow.  

After making that decision again, he removed his name tag, loosened his tie, and started changing clothes.  

***  

The weather was harsh for Christmas Eve. The moment Junyoung stepped out of the hotel, a cold wind crept through the collar of his coat, causing him to instinctively hunch his shoulders. Just as the forecast had warned, temperatures had dropped since the afternoon, and a cutting wind whipped around him. Wrapping a thick scarf over his coat, Junyoung kept his head down as he quickly made his way toward the front entrance of the hotel.  

It was a street mostly lined with offices, so it was usually quiet at this hour. But tonight, the streets were still bustling. Seeing the crowd, he was reminded once again that it was Christmas Eve. Regardless of religion, the atmosphere of the street felt like a holiday for families, lovers, and friends.  

As he continued to trudge along, a car horn sounded, and he turned in that direction. A large black sedan pulled up right beside him. He hesitated for a moment, and then the rear window rolled down, revealing Eunhyuk sitting inside, motioning for him to get in.  

Seeing Eunhyuk’s face for the first time in about a week, a rush of affection and longing swept over Junyoung. All the firm resolve he had gathered earlier melted away, leaving only excitement and joy.  

“Aren’t you cold? Get in.”  

Dragging his heavy legs, Junyoung walked around to the trunk and got into the back seat. The car started moving immediately.  

Sitting in the warmth of the car, Junyoung fastened his seatbelt and finally relaxed his tense shoulders. Eunhyuk spoke first.  

“You’re really late.”  

“Sorry. It’s just been so busy….”  

“You don’t have to keep apologizing. I already knew that.”  

Hearing Eunhyuk’s voice right next to him for the first time in a while, Junyoung pulled his scarf up, half-covering his face. Feeling his face grow warm in the heated car, he used his cold hand to rub his cheek, pretending to adjust his scarf. Eunhyuk, noticing this, looked at him with concern.  

“It’s really cold today, huh?”  

“Yeah. It suddenly got cold. But where are we going?”  

Most restaurants would have closed by this time, and only bars would still be open. Cautiously, Junyoung asked, and Eunhyuk turned to him with a smile.  

“You’ll find out when we get there. I figured you’d feel uncomfortable at the hotel, so I prepared a different place.”  

“Where?”  

Junyoung looked at Eunhyuk, hoping it wasn’t another hotel. Meeting his gaze, Eunhyuk smiled mischievously.  

“You’ll see. I hope you like it… but even if you don’t, you’ll have to put up with it for a while.”  

Eunhyuk seemed especially cheerful today, his warm, gentle gaze making Junyoung’s face flush a little as he turned his head away. Seeing Eunhyuk’s face after such a long time made him feel both awkward and a bit nervous. Feeling restless, Junyoung blurted out the first thing that came to his mind.  

“Is work all wrapped up for you?”  

“Yeah.”  

Eunhyuk stared at Junyoung, whose ears were turning red, deliberately keeping his eyes on him, which only made Junyoung more flustered. He kept talking to distract himself.  

“What about Eric? Weren’t you with him?”  

“He’s at the airport. He has to catch an early flight back. His fiancée is waiting for him. Though, I’m not sure she’ll have much free time—she’s an ER doctor.”  

“…He’s engaged?”  

Surprised by the unexpected news, Junyoung turned to look at Eunhyuk, who continued speaking, still looking at him with amusement.  

“He’s had the same girlfriend since high school—15 years now. She’s Korean too, and quite an interesting person. They’ll be coming to Korea soon, so I’ll introduce you. She’s been wanting to meet you.”  

Junyoung was genuinely amazed by the length of the relationship.  

“Fifteen years is a long time to be together.”  

“Yeah. They’re both persistent and determined. He proposed at their prom, so that says it all. During college, they were in a long-distance relationship because she went to NYU, but they reunited after graduation and have been engaged for six years now. They’re planning to have the wedding soon.”  

“Ah… That’s amazing… People like that really exist…”  

Junyoung marveled at the fact that something he thought only existed in movies or novels was real, and Eunhyuk smiled, finding Junyoung’s reaction adorable.  

“They’re both icons of perseverance and diligence.”  

“That’s great.”  

“Yeah, they’ll do well. It’s always been his dream to have his own family.”  

Junyoung recalled that Eric was adopted and let out a small sigh.  

“Ah…”  

“You don’t have to think too deeply about it. He wasn’t abused or anything. He grew up so loved that he’s almost spoiled. All his siblings were adopted, so there wasn’t any awkwardness. Sure, you can’t say his father didn’t have political motives, but he received love and support beyond that. Eric knows he wouldn’t have reached where he is today if he hadn’t been adopted. He just has some strange fantasies about Korean families because of the warped ideas he picked up from dramas.”  

“Still, he seems like a good person.”  

“He’s a weird guy, but not a bad one.”  

“Yeah…”  

As they exchanged casual, brotherly conversation, the car passed through the bustling downtown area and entered an upscale residential district. There were no twinkling lights or trees, and it was relatively quiet for Christmas. Seeing the neighborhood, Junyoung muttered to himself in confusion.  

“Hyung, this is a residential area…”  

When Junyoung looked at Eunhyuk, puzzled about why they had come this way, Eunhyuk quietly raised a finger to his lips.  

“Shh.”  

Understanding that it was meant to be a secret, Junyoung looked ahead again and noticed the GPS the driver was following. According to the map, they weren’t lost. He figured the navigation system had directed them this way because the main roads were congested. While Junyoung quietly waited, the car eventually stopped.  

The building surrounded by gray, high walls looked like an ordinary house. Although it was currently trendy to convert old homes into cafes or restaurants, this building didn’t look like it had been renovated. It was clearly a residence, not a business. As Junyoung stared at the house, unsure of what to think, the driver got out and opened the car door for them.  

Junyoung glanced at Eunhyuk, silently asking if they were getting out here. Eunhyuk gave a slight nod, confirming it. Although he was confused, Junyoung had no choice but to step out of the car. As he grabbed his bag and stepped out, Eunhyuk walked up to the gate and rang the bell, which quickly opened.  

Feeling uneasy about the unfamiliar situation, Junyoung grabbed the collar of Eunhyuk’s coat as Eunhyuk stepped through the gate. Surprised by Junyoung’s sudden grip, Eunhyuk stopped and looked back at him.  

“What’s wrong?”  

“Do you know the people who live here?”  

“Well, you could say that.”  

“…Is it okay for me to come in too?”  

Junyoung hesitantly asked, wondering if this might be the home of one of Eunhyuk’s relatives or friends. Eunhyuk smiled reassuringly.  

“Of course. Come on in.”  

With that, Eunhyuk gently tugged Junyoung’s hand, leading him up the steps. Caught off guard, Junyoung followed him up the long staircase. At the top, they were greeted by a large, well-maintained garden, with beautifully arranged trees and flowerbeds. Beyond the garden, Junyoung noticed a building through the front windows, with a Christmas tree twinkling inside.  

It felt like a home. It definitely wasn’t a business, and it seemed too extravagant to be a rental property. Most importantly, Eunhyuk wasn’t the type to rent someone else’s space. He had a borderline obsession with his personal space, to the point that he hated both entering someone else’s space and having others intrude on his.  

So then…  

Following behind Eunhyuk, Junyoung anxiously watched his back, unsure of what to think. When they entered through the front door, passing through the spacious foyer into the house, Junyoung froze upon seeing a middle-aged woman standing by the door.  

While Junyoung hesitated, Eunhyuk stepped forward and spoke to her. She, wearing a coat and holding a bag as if about to leave, smiled at Eunhyuk and said,  

“I’ve finished cleaning and preparing everything.”  

“Thank you for your hard work.”  

With Eunhyuk’s brief response, she handed him a set of keys, gave Junyoung a small nod of greeting, and left the house. Junyoung instinctively bowed in return, watching her leave through the front door. As he looked around the house, Eunhyuk, who had already taken off his coat, called to him.  

“Come in.”  

“Whose house is this?”  

Feeling a sense of foreboding, Junyoung asked, his voice tense. Eunhyuk, now taking off his coat, answered casually.  

“It’s the house where Cha Eunhyuk and Ha Junyoung will live together.”  

The brief but impactful answer left Junyoung’s face frozen in disbelief. He understood what Eunhyuk had said, but he couldn’t quite accept it.  

“…What do you mean by that?”  

His voice stiff with confusion, Junyoung asked again. Eunhyuk tossed his coat onto the back of the sofa in the spacious living room and leisurely began explaining.  

“It’s just one subway stop from the hotel, so it won’t be inconvenient for your commute. I rushed the purchase, so there wasn’t time to do any major renovations—just some furniture is in place for now. You can choose whatever else you like at your own pace. Oh, and if you don’t like the furniture, feel free to replace it all. The yard’s big too, so you could even get a large dog.”  

Hearing the easy, natural way Eunhyuk spoke, Junyoung asked again, “You mean you and I will live here?”  

“Yeah. Oh, but this isn’t your Christmas present. There’s another gift for that. I hope you’ll like it, but… even if you don’t, there’s no exchange or refund.”  

Eunhyuk smiled as he said that, standing right in front of Junyoung and looking down at him, but Junyoung’s face remained stiff.  

It wasn’t the Christmas present or the house that was the issue. Something else was more important right now.  

“Hyung… Are you coming back?”  

“Yeah. I don’t feel comfortable leaving you alone, and I’m getting tired of life in the States. Besides, this whole project was meant to prepare for me working in Korea. I’ll hand things over to Eric and start working here. Of course, since it’s been a while since I’ve been back in Korea, I might spend some time adjusting and hanging out with my brother. I could even be unemployed for a bit.”  

Hearing Eunhyuk’s detailed explanation, as if everything had already been decided, Junyoung’s eyes wavered, filled with uncertainty.  

‘You’re nothing more than a shackle and the biggest hindrance in Eunhyuk’s life.’  

Those words, sharp as a whip, echoed in his ears as if they’d just been said.  

The same situation was repeating itself. Just like when their parents passed away 10 years ago, and again 6 years ago, he was once again holding his brother back.  

While he’d been ignoring reality, waiting for time to pass unnoticed, it was all happening again.  

“…Are you coming back because of me?”  

Suppressing the slight tremble in his voice, he forced out the question. His brother responded gently.  

“That’s not important.”  

A dizzying sensation made him squeeze his eyes shut.  

That answer, in the end, was a yes. It was a confession that Eunhyuk was returning because of him.  

His lingering feelings had once again pushed things to this point.  

He couldn’t bear it.  

“To me, it is important. Are you sacrificing yourself for me again?”  

His voice grew sharp without him meaning to, as his emotions surged uncontrollably. Eunhyuk looked down at him, startled.  

“…Junyoung?”  

“I’m a full-grown adult now. I’m not a child who can’t survive without you. I can handle my life just fine. You don’t have to take responsibility for me, and there’s no reason for you to give up your life for me anymore.”  

“…What do you mean by that?”  

Eunhyuk looked confused at Junyoung’s unusually emotional response. But Junyoung averted his eyes, speaking rapidly.  

“I mean exactly what I said. You don’t need to worry about my affairs anymore. Stop dealing with Uncle, stop dealing with Grandma. That’s my business, not yours. You don’t need to do anything for me.”  

He tried to remain calm, but his voice shook slightly, unable to suppress his emotions. As he spoke, Eunhyuk’s expression hardened.  

“…How did you find out about that?”  

Junyoung felt a wave of despair at Eunhyuk’s response, which dashed the last of his hopes.  

Even after hearing what Jaehee had said, he had wanted to believe it might not be true. Somewhere inside, he hoped it wasn’t. But that question confirmed it. It was true.  

His heart filled with guilt, bitterness, and a bruised sense of pride. His emotions overwhelmed him, and his voice rose.  

“It doesn’t matter how I found out. That’s my responsibility to deal with. There’s no reason my so-called relatives should be bothering you, and no reason you should be handling everything. And there’s no reason for you to give up everything and come back to Korea for me. We’re not even real brothers.”  

Junyoung immediately regretted it. In the chaos of his rising emotions, he had blurted out the truth, the one thing he had never wanted to admit.  

He had just said it. Something he had sworn to take to the grave.  

Regret hit him hard, but it was too late. The words were out, and there was no taking them back.  

Eunhyuk’s face froze in genuine shock.  

“Is that what you’ve thought all this time?”  

“…”  

“Junyoung?”  

“…”  

“Did I ever make you feel like I wasn’t there for you? Enough for you to think like that?”  

His voice was laced with confusion, hurt, and a sense of betrayal. Junyoung was completely caught off guard.  

That wasn’t what he had intended.  

The conversation had veered off course.  

In a panic, Junyoung shook his head frantically.  

“No. You didn’t do anything wrong.”  

“No, I must have. You wouldn’t feel this way if I hadn’t. Is that why you left alone six years ago?”  

Eunhyuk’s self-blaming tone and pained expression made Junyoung feel even worse. He shook his head repeatedly, trying to undo the damage.  

“No, it’s not that. You didn’t do anything wrong.”  

“Just tell me the truth. If I’ve hurt you, you can tell me. Whatever it is.”  

Eunhyuk’s calm, soothing voice was breaking Junyoung’s heart.  

This wasn’t how things were supposed to go. He hadn’t meant to blame him, to make him feel guilty. Stunned, Junyoung stared at him, at a loss for words.  

Eunhyuk called his name again.  

“Junyoung?”  

His low, gentle voice felt so close, so grounding, that Junyoung, unable to do anything else, just shook his head again.  

“It’s not like that. You didn’t do anything wrong.”  

“Then what is it?”  

“It’s my fault. It’s because I… love you…”

Without realizing it, he blurted out the truth, the truth he had sworn to keep buried forever.  

He froze.  

That truth he had never wanted to admit was out in the open now, spilling from his lips in the heat of the moment.  

As soon as he said it, Junyoung went pale, stunned by his own words. Eunhyuk’s face, too, was briefly filled with shock.  

But only for a moment. His expression soon returned to its usual calm. Then, in an almost unnervingly casual tone, he asked,  

“And what’s wrong with that?”  

At first, Junyoung thought he had misheard.  

Eunhyuk’s voice was too calm, too detached from the gravity of what he had just confessed.  

It didn’t seem like he understood what was happening.  

Confused and dazed, Junyoung looked up to meet his brother’s eyes, only to find them unnervingly serene, cold even.  

“That’s the same for me. You’re the only one I care about, the only one I’ve ever wanted by my side. I’ve never even imagined anyone else.”  

It was as if Eunhyuk hadn’t understood his words at all. His response left Junyoung feeling hollow.  

“I don’t mean it like that… We’re different. You and I…”  

“You are?”  

“I…”  

Junyoung faltered, unable to continue, trapped under the intensity of Eunhyuk’s unwavering gaze.  

His heart began to race as Eunhyuk’s eyes, dark and heated, drew closer.  

“Do you really think we’re different?”  

Junyoung couldn’t find the words to answer. His mind was spinning, his thoughts a tangled mess.  

“Then we’ll just have to find out, won’t we?”  

Before Junyoung could even ask what he meant, Eunhyuk’s hand reached out, gently brushing back his hair. He whispered softly,  

“Let’s see if we’re the same or not.”  

***

It was hot, and dizzying. Like being struck by a severe cold, or dazed as if under the influence of drugs, he couldn’t remember where he was or what he was doing at the moment. His brain seemed to have suddenly shut down, refusing to think. He could only let out a groan, unable to control his heated body, as persistent, deep kisses and hands roamed over him.

“Ugh…”

He tried to move his body, struggling to suppress the groan escaping from his chest as his heart pounded violently, but he couldn’t move an inch. The weight of a man, large enough to completely cover him, was pressing him down heavily. At some point, he had become bare, and the pressure of the weight softly bearing down on him left him gasping for breath. As the man’s hand, which had been sweeping down his back, began to caress the inside of his thigh, a short scream escaped him.

Unable to handle the heat wrapping around his entire body and the desire stirring in his lower abdomen, he rubbed his already hardened member against the man’s abdomen, as if writhing. The man’s hand then slid down his waist. As he moaned, twisting his hips in response to the tingling, pleasurable sensation, the man’s fingers touched the entrance to his hole.

Along with the slick fluid, the man’s fingers gently teased and pressed at the entrance, slowly entering. He held his breath for a moment at the unfamiliar sensation of intrusion. Fear crept in, and he gripped the man’s shoulders tightly, but the fingers inside him swirled against his inner walls.

“Ugh”

As he moaned, tilting his head back at the strange and uncomfortable sensation, the man kissed his neck, soothing him. Then, when the fingers inside him stirred again and touched a certain spot, a short scream burst out. The sensation was so intense, sending tingling pleasure through his nerves, that he let out another moan, tightening his waist. The man’s fingers brushed against that sensitive spot once more.

Unable to hold back any longer, he clung tightly to the man’s head, moving his hips over the man’s abdomen, and with that, he released his seed. Panting heavily, he collapsed from the overwhelming pleasure and the fatigue that followed. His limbs felt heavy, and he was gasping for breath, his chest aching.

Unable to suppress the moans escaping from between his lips, he leaned back onto the bed. At that moment, the man’s fingers once again stirred roughly inside him. His moans came out uncontrollably in response to the man’s touch, which fanned the flames of the heat that had barely begun to subside.

“Stop…”

He tried to push the man away, who had now begun kissing the inside of his thighs while the heat inside him flared up again, but he had no strength in his hands. Even twisting his hips had no effect; the man didn’t budge. As he struggled, unable to endure the overwhelming pleasure, the man scratched at his sensitive spot once more.

At that moment, his body began to tremble, accompanied by a cry-like moan. His mind felt completely blank, staring vacantly into space as the weight pressing down on him disappeared. As the warmth that had been holding him down vanished, he raised his head in confusion, wondering why. His gaze landed on a familiar man standing in front of him.

Though the man’s face was one he knew all too well, he couldn’t immediately recall who he was. He simply stared at him blankly as the man, standing right before him, unzipped his pants. His gaze was drawn to the man’s fully erect member, straining against the fabric, with pre-c*m leaking from the tip.

The sheer size and hardness of the man’s c*ck, so vivid and animalistic, made his heart pound even more wildly than before. For the first time, he questioned the situation, looking at the man. The man, with his hair wet and slicked back from sweat, pushed it aside with a slight smile, looking down at him. Even that smile was so familiar, but the look in his eyes was unsettling, so different from what he knew. There was an unabashed, raw desire in his gaze, so overt that it made him flinch.

“Does it still seem different to you?”

The man spoke smoothly, standing there with his c*ck exposed, and at first, he didn’t understand what the man meant. Unsure of why the man was saying such things, he looked at him with a bit of fear. Then, all of a sudden, his last memory came flooding back. At the same time, a self-mocking question echoed in his mind: What am I doing right now?

Just as confusion and fear overwhelmed him, making him want to flee, he struggled to escape, but the man grabbed his waist. Shocked by the sudden force pulling him down, he froze for a moment as the man’s c*ck swiftly thrust inside him. The sudden, fast, and forceful intrusion of his inner walls made him cry out, and the man began to relentlessly target his sensitive spots.

“Hyung, stop…”

As the man deliberately pressed and stroked the most sensitive part of his inner walls, thrusting slowly in and out, Junyoung’s mind went completely blank. Unlike before, the raw and primal intensity of the act made him moan uncontrollably.

He no longer thought about suppressing the sounds or feeling ashamed. Despite being penetrated by the man—his own brother—he felt nothing but pleasure as the man’s thrusts hit him deep inside. Any discomfort or resistance had been overtaken by the overwhelming desire for the man to go deeper and rougher.

‘There, more… No, stop… ugh!'”

The pleasure that resonated deeply, different from the sensation of ejaculation, made him spread his legs wider, as if pleading for more. While he focused on that feeling, the man, who had been moving quickly inside him, suddenly stopped. At the moment the man released his seed inside, he also climaxed.

The intense sensation made his entire body tremble as if his nerves were bursting, and his hands dropped loosely. The tension in his back and legs also began to relax. Exhausted from the repeated orgasms, he let his body go limp, panting for breath. He could feel the man slowly pulling out from inside him. As the unfamiliar sensation made him moan with his head tilted back, he felt the man’s semen flow out, following the exit of his member. His lower abdomen and buttocks were covered in the mess of the man’s c*m dripping from the widened hole and his own that had splashed onto his body.

Still unable to fully comprehend what had just happened, he stared blankly at the unfamiliar ceiling, his mind in a daze. Then, the familiar warmth of the man’s body once again pressed down on him. As the man settled between his spread legs, he felt the wet tongue sucking on his nipple, and his body began to heat up again.

Though he had no strength left to move a single finger, his body responded honestly to the man’s caresses. Disliking the sensation, he grabbed the man’s shoulders in an attempt to push him away, but the man only grazed his teeth over his nipple.

“Stop…”

As the familiar tingling sensation returned, blood rushed downward, and his waist involuntarily tensed. Twisting his hips to escape the feeling, the man soothed him by stroking his hair and repeatedly kissing his eyelids and forehead. Embarrassed by the man’s now hardened c*ck pressing against his groin, he tried to lift his head, but the man kissed the corner of his eye, then his neck and shoulder, before turning him over.

Completely limp, he turned as the man guided him. As the man lifted his hips and lazily rubbed his c*ck against his perineum, he held his breath at the stimulation of the shaft sliding between his buttocks, teasing his entrance. The man whispered as he kissed the back of his neck.

“Now, do you get it?”

When his body reflexively tensed in response to the man’s question about his denial, the man’s shaft, which had been gently rubbing his perineum, touched his entrance again. The sensation was eerie but also carried an expectation due to the previous act. As his shoulders tightened, the man whispered once more into his ear.

“If you still don’t understand, I’ll fill you up until it overflows.”

With that, the tip of the man’s still-hard c*ck, now resting at his softened entrance, slowly pushed inside. Even though the pleasure was overwhelming, the sheer size of it still made him tense. He gripped the sheets tightly as the man, slowly pressing deeper, leaned over him from behind.

Then, with a soft voice, the man whispered.

“I’ll make you come just by putting it in.”

As if determined to fulfill that promise, the man thrust deeply and swiftly, causing another scream to escape his lips. It was different from before—this time deeper, sharper. The sensation of the man’s member filling him up to his lower abdomen made his entire body tremble. A thin stream of liquid dripped between his legs, though he wasn’t sure what it was. It wasn’t semen, but it pooled beneath him as he barely managed to support his shaky knees.

As the man moved quickly, relentlessly thrusting into his inner walls, the liquid continued to drip down. With the man biting his neck and ears and scratching and rubbing his nipples with his fingers, his movements became increasingly rough, leaving him unable to think of anything else.

Even as he begged the man to stop, his body continued to move in sync with the man’s thrusts, shaking and writhing in pleasure. All he could do was cry out as the relentless waves of pleasure crashed over him. Lost in that dizzying intensity, he collapsed onto the bed when the man came inside him once again, freezing in place.

Unable to hold out any longer, he crumpled onto the bed, completely spent. The man, who had buried himself deeply inside him as he ejaculated, pressed down on him from behind, panting heavily. Enveloped by the man’s breath, body heat, and weight, exhaustion quickly overtook him.

He was so tired, so drained. He didn’t want to think or do anything anymore. All he wanted now was to sleep. Despite the heat still lingering in his body, he felt the man’s c*ck slowly slipping out as his eyelids closed, and consciousness began to fade.

Even though the man was stroking his hair and kissing the back of his neck, he could no longer stay awake. All he wanted was to sleep, to fall into a deep, deep slumber.

***

[“Why didn’t you answer your phone?”]

It was past midnight, already into the next day. Eunhyuk, who had come out to the living room to answer the unexpected call, responded irritably to the voice he had expected.

“Why?”

[“I’m leaving in 10 minutes.”]

“And?”

Eunhyuk snapped back as if asking why that was any of his business, considering Eric wasn’t a child or his son. Eric quickly replied.

[“I waited because you didn’t answer.”]

“Why?”

[“I ran into someone who said they were your friend. They seemed to be waiting for you at the hotel and asked where Cha Eunhyuk was, so I told them I didn’t know.”]

Eunhyuk clicked his tongue in annoyance at the bothersome story. He didn’t care where Han Jaehee was or what he was doing, but knowing that he was waiting at the hotel was a little irritating.

“I got it.”

[“Who exactly is that friend? Isn’t he the one who left you a business card last time?”]  

“I’ll handle it. You don’t need to worry.”  

[“I can’t help but be curious because it’s interesting.”]  

“Should I call Yujeong  and tell her about your surprise plan?”  

At Eunhyuk’s mention of Eric’s failed attempts at surprises, which never succeeded, Eric reacted quickly.  

[“Don’t do that.”]  

“Exactly. So don’t interfere either. Let’s respect each other’s privacy.”  

Irritated by the ruined mood, Eunhyuk’s tone turned sharp, causing Eric to reply with frustration.  

[“You’re such a pain. Anyway, I let you know.”]  

“Yeah.”  

[“By the way, you weren’t at the hotel. Where are you?”]  

“At home.”  

[“With your brother?”]  

“It’s Christmas.”  

[“Did your brother agree to live with you?”]  

“That’s not something you need to worry about either.”  

[“Did he turn you down?”]  

“…If you want to learn Korean, use proper textbooks. Otherwise, I’ll ask Yujeong  to cut off all your access to Korean shows.”  

[“Who would I watch dramas with then? We live together, you know.”]  

The thought of Eric and Yujeong , who both had a slightly unusual sense of perception, sitting and watching Korean dramas every day made Eunhyuk frown in frustration.  

“…Don’t even think about meeting me when you both come to Korea.”  

[“Why?”]  

“I’m not introducing weird people like you or Yujeong  to Junyoung.”  

[“…Does that mean things are going well?”]  

Eunhyuk silently resolved to keep this troublesome friend far away from Junyoung, as Eric’s question, which casually invaded his privacy, confirmed his concerns. Eric’s odd mannerisms and excessive curiosity were uncomfortable enough, but the worst part was his sharp intuition, which he never hesitated to express. Yujeong  was also very perceptive and unnecessarily honest, making them the last people Eunhyuk wanted around Junyoung.  

They simply weren’t the right match for Junyoung.  

“That’s none of your business either. Just take care of things on your end. I’ll come over sometime after the New Year to settle things.”  

[“Looks like things are going well. Though I’m surprised. I thought you’d push for a conclusion, but considering your brother’s reaction, I figured it would take more time…”]  

“You should focus more on your fiancée.”  

[“This is just advice. Your brother looks up to you with this reverence—no, more like awe. That can be a real hassle in a relationship. There’s nothing worse than shattering someone’s idealized image of you.”]  

Eunhyuk fell silent as Eric accurately pinpointed something that had been weighing on his mind. Eric, sensing the silence, chuckled knowingly.  

[“I knew it. There’s no way someone as sensitive to others’ perceptions as you wouldn’t have noticed. That’s probably why you pushed ahead. Well, it’s still better than brotherly love. If William or Jason had bought a house and asked me to live with them, I’d have dragged them straight to a mental hospital or cursed them out.”]  

“I told you not to generalize your experiences and emotions. You’re not exactly a normal person either.”  

Eunhyuk shot back, pointing out that Eric’s extreme dislike of men wasn’t exactly normal, and Eric conceded that point without argument.  

[“Fair enough. Anyway, if things have reached a conclusion, congratulations. I’m turning off my phone now.”]  

“Have a good Christmas and send my regards to Yujeong .”  

[“Sure, you too.”]  

After exchanging final pleasantries, Eunhyuk ended the call and walked back through the quiet living room to the bedroom.  

As he crossed the dimly lit room, relying on the faint glow of the mood lamp, he saw Junyoung fast asleep, exhausted.  

Watching Junyoung sleep, completely worn out, Eunhyuk reached out silently to gently stroke his hair.  

Eric had chosen the wrong word earlier, but this time, unfortunately, there was no need for correction.  

From the moment they first met, the emotion in the child’s awkward, distant gaze had been closer to awe than affection. Given that Junyoung was naturally introverted and carrying a lot of trauma, it was no surprise that he would be wary of a large adult male. Eunhyuk hadn’t found it off-putting, though. In fact, he disliked people who got too friendly too quickly, so Junyoung’s reserved attitude had suited him just fine.  

At that time, Eunhyuk thought that this distance between them was ideal. He had never wanted a younger brother, and he knew all too well how exasperating boys of that age could be. His plan was to be kind but firm, keeping Junyoung at arm’s length to prevent him from getting too close.  

However, contrary to expectations, Junyoung was overly quiet and calm. He kept a respectful distance, always looking at Eunhyuk with admiration, and accepted Eunhyuk’s superficial kindness with gratitude, placing blind trust in him.  

Eunhyuk had felt a twinge of guilt over it, but at some point, he had also begun to find Junyoung endearing.  

There hadn’t been any particular turning point.

One day, when he returned home, he found himself staring at the side profile of the boy who had been waiting for him. In that moment, he thought to himself that he needed to protect that delicate, gentle, and endlessly blind child. It was then that he resolved to let someone into his life for the first time, apart from his father and mother, and from that moment on, the boy became his true family. He believed that the boy would forever be his younger brother. Or perhaps he still thought so even now. If it weren’t for the accident ten years ago.

Right after their father and stepmother’s funeral, he had hastily left for studying abroad with Junyoung, partly to escape the pressure from his maternal relatives and partly to free Junyoung. The plan had gone successfully. Although it was shortly after a traumatic event, he was busy adapting to the new environment, allowing the shock to fade quickly, and life away from bothersome relatives felt free and peaceful.

However, in that peace, he started to question his own emotions at some point. Due to cultural influences, questions arose about living with the boy: “Why are two men living together when they aren’t even real brothers?” and “Even if they are brothers, why is this adult still living with him?” Initially, he brushed it off by saying that it was normal in Korea, but the repeated questioning led him to ask himself, “Why?”

The person who ignited this questioning was Seo Yeonho. Shortly after Junyoung entered college, Seo Yeonho, claiming to be a fellow Korean student, persistently attached himself to Junyoung, which irritated him for some reason. Seo Yeonho turned out to have a pleasant personality, free from drugs or incidents, embodying a carefree character, but Eunhyuk simply disliked him. He knew it was absurd to pick up a college student, but Junyoung was still afraid of driving, unable to take the car out, so every time he picked him up, Seo Yeonho smiled provocatively, as if he knew everything.

Then one day, Seo Yeonho sparked the fuse. 

‘I heard you’re investigating me? Don’t worry; I don’t touch other people’s partners. I just want to be friends with Junyoung.’

He was taken aback by those words from Seo Yeonho, who approached him in the parking lot while waiting for Junyoung. Eunhyuk couldn’t help but laugh, astonished by the confident look Seo Yeonho wore every time they met. So, he decided to tell him the truth, but Seo Yeonho just kept laughing.

‘If that’s what you say, I’ll believe you, but if you were really brothers, you should have made him independent. Picking up a college student is a bit ridiculous.’

That comment, spoken without malice, struck a painful spot. He had been using the excuse of Junyoung’s trauma from their parents’ accident and his unfamiliarity with life in America to justify their living together. However, Junyoung had already been living in the U.S. for two years and was an adult. More importantly, after the initial outbursts, he had blended in well and was leading a stable life abroad.

In a cold, rational light, it might have been better for Junyoung to become independent and fully immerse himself in a completely new environment rather than living with someone who reminded him of Korea. Although he knew this, he couldn’t bring himself to do it. The boy was weak, scared, too innocent to be left alone, and so on. He was all too aware that all these reasons were merely excuses.

After much contemplation, he found himself stalling for time when an unexpected answer emerged. 

‘Wouldn’t it be clearer if you found out that you could sleep with a man?’ 

At first, he dismissed the suggestion from Jaehee, a friend he had known briefly in middle school who had coincidentally come to the same university as a junior. However, Jaehee insisted on testing it out. Eunhyuk, thinking it was foolish to sleep with someone and never return to being just friends, refused. But Jaehee maintained that it didn’t matter.

It wasn’t as if they had a strong friendship, and since he was going back to Korea anyway, it didn’t matter if their bond as friends was severed. Thinking he could handle it just once, he believed it would be fine, but that turned out to be a mistake. The one-time test didn’t serve as much of a stimulation on its own, but the moment he placed the boy in that scenario, thoughts of him refused to leave his mind.

Then he suddenly realized that this was absolutely not a normal brotherly relationship. He couldn’t explain when or why, but he just knew the boy was right for him, and he had realized that truth far too late. Yet, even after this realization, there was a line that was difficult to cross. If they remained as “brothers,” their relationship could be maintained, but if he were to take the initiative and break that bond, they would become complete strangers. Just as everyone had pointed out, there was no blood relation between them, nor even any formal ties; they were perfect strangers.

If one were to let go, the fragile relationship, sustained only by trust and affection for each other, would break. Moreover, the emotions he felt in the boy’s gaze were more about trust, respect, and admiration for a protector rather than a desire for a loving partner. So when Junyoung expressed his wish to return to Korea, citing homesickness and depression as graduation approached, he couldn’t hold him back. Signs of distress had already been showing, and the sudden change in environment right after their parents’ accident meant that while he was adapting to life, the trauma still lingered.

Thus, he had no choice but to let him go, believing he would be fine soon. However, when Junyoung abruptly cut off contact right after returning home, he was plunged into panic. Junyoung vanished, not even contacting his maternal relatives, but fortunately, he could be found quickly due to his enlistment. However, knowing that a sudden push would only make Junyoung run away again, he decided to approach him slowly after giving him enough time to settle.

That seemed to have been somewhat successful. He sensed that there had been progress, especially as Junyoung became flustered and confused with even light physical contact, and he intended to push forward. Yet, an unexpected situation arose. While it wasn’t particularly pleasant, at least the brotherly framework had shattered. The greatest achievement was that Junyoung had broken that mold himself, not him.

Given Junyoung’s nature, it was clear that he would be bewildered, not knowing what to do immediately upon waking and unable to meet his gaze. Yet, the delicate balance of their relationship had crumbled. Now that they had come this far, there was nowhere to run. They had to forge a sturdier structure in this new form. That alone was a significant turning point. Whether it was an illusion or a mistake didn’t matter.

“Don’t think about anything.” He whispered, carefully placing a kiss on the sleeping boy’s pale cheek, brushing his fingers against Junyoung’s tired face. “You just need to stay in my arms.” 

Right here, in this moment, forever…

Epilogue

As the black world turned gray, light caught at the corners of Junyoung’s eyes. It was a little stinging, yet warm. The vivid sensation that wasn’t seen as light but felt on the skin made Junyoung lift his heavy eyelids. He blinked at the strong sunlight coming through the gap in the curtains. Soft ivory velvet curtains, white walls, a canopy curtain covering the bed, and simple furniture filling the room.

As Junyoung blankly looked around the unfamiliar scene, memories of the previous night suddenly came back, and he quickly sat up.  

“Ah….”  

The moment he moved, a sharp pain shot through all the muscles in his body, making him let out a short scream and freeze. Just getting up made his entire body scream in pain, from his calves to his thighs, back, waist, and shoulders. There wasn’t a single place that didn’t hurt. Groaning from the unbearable pain, Junyoung barely caught his breath when he heard a knock and Eunhyuk’s voice.  

“I’m coming in.”  

When Junyoung, startled by the statement rather than a question, looked up, Eunhyuk opened the door and casually approached the bed in comfortable attire. Flushing red in the face, Junyoung covered his face with the back of his hand and avoided his gaze. Eunhyuk sat by the bed and asked as if nothing had happened.  

“Are you okay?”  

“I… I’m fine…”  

Junyoung, speaking quietly in embarrassment, paused as a pain in his throat made him cough lightly. His throat was dry. Surprised by the hoarseness in his voice, as if he’d been screaming all night, Junyoung touched his neck, only to feel his arms and back ache again. As he bent forward, groaning from the indescribable pain, Eunhyuk spoke, sounding concerned.  

“Sorry, did I go too hard?”  

Junyoung, recalling last night once again at the worried tone, lowered his head, his neck turning red with embarrassment. Unable to look at him, as the vivid and graphic memories lingered too strongly, he kept his head down, prompting Eunhyuk to ask again.  

“Can you get up? I cleaned up, but… if you want to shower, I’ll help you to the bathroom.”  

Junyoung’s voice rose at Eunhyuk’s unnecessary kindness.  

“No, I can do it. I’ll go myself…”  

“It’ll be tough, though.”  

“I’m fine.”  

Even though the memories were clear, Junyoung hadn’t fully accepted the situation yet. The pace of everything had been so rapid, leaving no time to think or judge. Never before had he wanted to be alone so desperately. Repeating that he was fine, Junyoung tried to convince Eunhyuk, who nodded.  

“Then, want to get up?”  

“Yeah.”  

“Need any help?”  

Despite Eunhyuk’s unchanged, gentle demeanor, so natural and unaffected like yesterday, Junyoung felt both reassured and disoriented. Could it have all been a terrible nightmare? As he spaced out, Eunhyuk reached out to touch his head. Startled by the touch, Junyoung instinctively pulled away, and Eunhyuk smiled bitterly.  

“It hurts when you avoid me like that. Was I too rough last night?”  

Hearing Eunhyuk’s slightly deflated voice, Junyoung hurriedly lifted his head.  

“No, that’s not…”  

But as their eyes met, Junyoung unknowingly lowered his head again.  

“It’s not that… It just feels awkward…”  

More than awkward, his mind was too chaotic, but he couldn’t say that out loud, so he fumbled with an excuse. Eunhyuk reached out again, gently stroking Junyoung’s hair as if to soothe him.  

“There’s nothing to feel awkward about. Nothing’s going to change.”  

At those calm, comforting words, Junyoung couldn’t help but question whether nothing would really change. So much had already changed; was it even possible for nothing else to? As his thoughts spiraled, Junyoung finally realized he was naked and quickly changed the subject.  

“Uh, I… want to wash up…”  

“Sure. I’ll take you to the bathroom.”  

As Eunhyuk reached out naturally, Junyoung quickly shook his head.  

“I’m fine. I can go on my own.”  

“It’ll be hard to move. I went too far yesterday.”  

“No, really, I’m fine. I can go…”  

Already feeling uncomfortable and embarrassed enough, Junyoung couldn’t imagine being carried to the bathroom by Eunhyuk. He firmly refused, knowing he wouldn’t be able to face Eunhyuk for at least a year if that happened. Eunhyuk sighed as if giving up and stood up. Just as Junyoung lowered his head, waiting for him to leave the room, Eunhyuk leaned over and lifted him up against his will.  

“Wait, hyung—”  

“You can’t move on your own right now. You don’t have the strength to shower either, so just sit in the tub.”  

Before Junyoung could protest, the sharp pain surged again, silencing him. As his muscles screamed in agony, Junyoung felt like passing out again, but by then, Eunhyuk had already carried him into the bathroom and gently set him down in the large porcelain tub. He then turned on the hot water, slowly filling the tub.  

Even in the middle of winter, the bathroom was filled with warm air. As Eunhyuk remained sitting by the tub instead of leaving, Junyoung hurriedly pulled his legs together to cover himself.  

“You can go now…”  

“Are you sure you’ll be okay alone? You might get dizzy.”  

“I’m fine. I slept well… I’m fully awake and not dizzy.”  

Hoping Eunhyuk would leave quickly, Junyoung bent over, desperately trying to shield his body from view. Watching him, Eunhyuk sighed softly.  

“Sorry, I must have gone too hard. There are a lot of marks. Are you okay down there? I scraped out the semen… I got too excited and ended up finishing inside.”  

Eunhyuk’s voice carried a mix of embarrassment, guilt, and a hint of pleasure he couldn’t quite hide. The memory of last night’s shame made Junyoung hug his knees tightly.  

“I’m fine.”  

“If you don’t like it, make sure to say so. I don’t want to push you too hard. Though, I can’t promise I’ll hold back, but I’ll try. Next time, let’s only do what feels good.”  

As Eunhyuk whispered while stroking Junyoung’s cheek, Junyoung couldn’t find the words to reply, his lips parting and closing in hesitation. Leaning down slightly, Eunhyuk kissed Junyoung’s forehead and teasingly asked again.  

“Okay?”  

The sweet voice, gently caressing his heart, left Junyoung unable to refuse. He reluctantly nodded.  

“…Okay…”

“Okay. Should I bring you juice or coffee? The water will be hot, so how about iced coffee?”

At Eunhyuk’s unchanged, natural attitude, Junyoung hesitated before responding quietly.  

“Just water…”  

His throat was definitely dry and sore, so instead of rejecting Eunhyuk’s suggestion, he asked for cold water. Eunhyuk stood up with a smile, as if pleased.  

“Alright. I’ll be back soon. Don’t move.”  

“Okay.”  

After Eunhyuk left the bathroom, still filled with concern, Junyoung finally felt a bit at ease, letting out a long breath. He loosened his arms that were hugging his knees and stretched his body, revealing its worn-out state.  

Marks of last night’s intimacy were scattered across his chest and the insides of his thighs. Though his memory was fragmented in places, he clearly recalled clinging to Eunhyuk, and how the overwhelming sensations had made him lose his mind in pleasure.  

At the vivid memories, Junyoung bowed his head and let out another long sigh. He couldn’t clearly remember why things had led to that point. All that lingered was the burning pleasure, the feel of Eunhyuk’s skin, and the maddening intensity of it all.  

“I’m crazy…”  

That was what he had wanted. He had long known that the feelings he held for Eunhyuk weren’t just familial or fraternal but filled with desire. However, it was something that should never have happened, something that couldn’t come to pass. Junyoung had sworn never to indulge in even a single concrete fantasy.  

Eunhyuk was someone he could never have—his protector, someone he admired, respected, and loved as his only family. He had constantly suppressed his desires, convincing himself that Eunhyuk was untouchable.  

And now, he was bewildered. The path leading here was confusing enough, but this situation was even more so.  

Could he even be someone worthy of Eunhyuk? No, before that, how long could they last with so many people knowing about their relationship? Would Eunhyuk end up being criticized because of him if anyone found out?  

As his thoughts spiraled into one unanswered question after another, a heavy sense of guilt sank deep within him.  

His thoughts were still scattered, and though he needed to collect and organize them, he didn’t want to. He was exhausted by the unexpected turns, and all he wanted now was to rest.  

***  

Even after soaking in the hot water, Junyoung’s bones still ached as if they were grinding against each other, and his muscles screamed in pain. He wondered idly if this was what it would feel like when old age wore down his joints. Having barely managed to get out of the bathroom, he changed into the clothes Eunhyuk had prepared and mustered up the courage to leave the bedroom.  

Walking unsteadily like a toddler learning to walk, he entered the living room. Eunhyuk, coming from the kitchen with coffee, looked surprised and asked,  

“Are you okay?”  

“Yeah, I’m better.”  

In truth, he wasn’t better at all, but he couldn’t just lie in bed forever. As Junyoung wobbled toward the sofa, Eunhyuk followed him, holding two cups.  

“Here’s your coffee.”  

“Thanks.”  

“Your muscles must be really sore. Shouldn’t you go lie down again?”  

“No, if I stay lying down any longer, my back will hurt.”  

Eunhyuk nodded, seeming to agree, and changed the subject smoothly.  

“You won’t be able to move much until tomorrow, so take your time looking around the house. I’ve prepared everything you’ll need for now, so move your things whenever your body’s up to it.”  

Junyoung paused mid-sip of his coffee at Eunhyuk’s incredibly practical suggestion amidst their surreal situation. He hadn’t thought about that at all. In fact, he hadn’t even processed what happened last night, let alone had the energy to consider anything else.  

“If it’s too hard to move, I can send someone to pack your things. I’m sure there are items you need right away.”  

Before Eunhyuk could continue to lay out plans, Junyoung quickly interrupted.  

“Can’t we think about that later? The lease on my place still has time left…”  

“With a location and deal like yours, it’ll rent out quickly. The owner won’t have any reason to hold you to the contract.”  

“…That’s true, but…”  

He didn’t want to get rid of his place immediately. Besides, living here with Eunhyuk hadn’t quite sunk in as a reality yet. As Junyoung hesitated, Eunhyuk looked at him curiously.  

“Or is there some other reason that’s bothering you?”  

“No, I just didn’t want to inconvenience you…”  

“It’d be more of a worry and hassle to leave you alone. You always seem so fragile.”  

‘Eunhyuk’s attachment to family is strong, a reaction to his feelings about his maternal side. Since your parents passed away, he’s been fiercely protective of you as his only family. But you can’t keep draining him forever.’  

Junyoung suddenly recalled what Jaehee had once said. He gripped the cup in his hands tightly.  

He didn’t know why, but the words suddenly echoed in his mind, making his chest tighten. An inexplicable sense of anxiety began to rise like faint smoke, slowly and steadily…  

As the creeping unease took hold, Junyoung stared blankly at the cup in his hands. Eunhyuk, noticing Junyoung’s unusual state, looked at him.  

“What’s wrong? Still feeling awkward?”  

“…”  

“You don’t have to be nervous or awkward. Nothing’s going to change.”  

Though their relationship had clearly shifted, the question of whether nothing would change crept back into Junyoung’s mind. But he didn’t voice that doubt.  

His thoughts were still tangled, rattling in his head like a broken machine. Perhaps it was his brain itself that had broken.  

He had tried to pull away from Eunhyuk, knowing that being with him could never truly benefit him. Yet here he was, having been dragged along to this point without knowing why.  

Was this really okay? How had it come to this?  

As Junyoung wrestled with these questions, Eunhyuk called out to him.  

“Junyoung?”  

Hearing his name again, Junyoung looked up, and Eunhyuk gently pressed his lips to Junyoung’s, pulling him close by the waist. Stunned by the sudden kiss and embrace, Junyoung froze. With their foreheads touching, Eunhyuk asked,  

“Can you eat something now? Even just something light.”  

“Yeah.”  

“Then, let’s go.”  

Eunhyuk stood and pulled Junyoung to his feet, leading him to the kitchen. Following Eunhyuk as he walked ahead, guiding him, Junyoung decided to stop thinking for now.  

The scattered pieces in his mind seemed to be falling into place, making things more complicated, but he couldn’t resist this flow.  

No, he didn’t want to resist.  

For now, he just wanted to go where Eunhyuk led him, even if it was just for a fleeting moment of pleasure.

-END-