By Zephyria 
“Uh… no, no.”
I tossed the letter and the name tag onto the desk and looked at Seong Hae-min. Now that I had laid it all out, he just timidly shook his head. I shook my head.
“It’s just a confession letter. What’s there to worry about? I’m not going to accept it, I’m going to reject it. I’ll return the name tag to the faculty room and throw away the letter. What kind of romance for a student!”
As I spoke, I burst into a disbelieving laugh. His trembling appearance over a mere name tag was comical. I’ll just let it slide, assuming it’s because he’s so fond of me. But even excessive behavior has its limits before it becomes amusing.
“Haha. Hey, anyone would think this was some kind of trap.”
“Trap……”
It was a joke, but the reaction was surprisingly serious. Seong Hae-min nodded to himself as if asking himself a question.
“It could be.”
“Huh?”
“What if it really is a trap?”
“…Are you serious?”
“Yes.”
“…Seriously?”
“Uh-huh.”
That wasn’t a joke? I couldn’t help but make a dumbfounded expression.
“I was kidding? What trap?”
“What if it’s targeting you….”
“Targeting me? Who?”
“……”
“Because you’re one of the Four Heavenly Kings? Because I’m your twin?”
“For now… you never know, and it could be that way….”
My jaw dropped. At a time when I should be focusing solely on my studies, do I have to live considering such outlandish possibilities?
“If that’s what you’re worried about, shouldn’t you quit being one of the Four Heavenly Kings?”
“……”
His face, shut in a way that suggested difficulty, clearly read, ‘That’s impossible.’
Frustration welled up. I could overlook his lack of willingness to communicate a few times, but now I was getting angry. If there’s something bothering him, we should share the situation and solve it together, but his attitude of trying to handle it all by himself infuriated me.
“Today, I’m going to make sure we talk about this.”
As I shifted, expressing my frustration, Seong Hae-min flinched. I adjusted my posture and sat facing Seong Hae-min directly.
“Let’s talk, Hae-min.”
Seong Hae-min’s eyes wavered erratically, like heat haze in June.
If that’s the case…
It was in the third year of middle school, not long after he had seen his twin’s face again, that the seniors, whom some called delinquents, some called a bad circle, and some called troublemakers, came looking for Seong Hae-min.
“Hey. Is the kid named Seong Hae-jun your twin? Is that right?”
The seniors who came looking for Seong Hae-min that day started by mentioning Seong Hae-jun’s name. I don’t know where the rumor started, but they had heard that Seong Hae-min was Seong Hae-jun’s twin and came to find him.
From then on, Hae-jun, who had been a model student, would leave school like a bullet, following his mother who picked him up after class. Since he had transferred mid-year, he didn’t have close friends, nor did he attend cram school, so the only channel they found to track down Seong Hae-jun was his twin, Seong Hae-min.
Unfortunately, it seemed they didn’t realize that even Hae-min wasn’t close to his twin. If they had known, they wouldn’t have bothered to seek him out.
“Yes… that’s right.”
But would it be strange to say that I was happy they came looking for me then?
In fact, Hae-min didn’t know much about his twin brother. Even though they were twins he had long wanted to see again. Despite how much he cherished his twin brother, the two were no different from strangers, except for their blood relation.
It couldn’t be helped. They had lived apart for a long time due to their parents’ divorce. They were closer to strangers than family.
After being separated since childhood, they hadn’t heard from each other at all until they happened to live nearby in their third year of middle school… For those who didn’t know the inside story, the fact that they came to me to find Seong Hae-jun made me feel like I was the closest person to Hae-jun. So, I answered innocently and obediently.
But the joy was short-lived.
“This one’s got looks too, huh?”
“Exactly. Looks like he’s had offers.”
“…Excuse me?”
“He’s so clueless and cute~.”
“Baby, the hyungs have a favor to ask. When you apply for high school, put down Seoyeon High School for Seong Hae-jun too.”
“Right. Seoyeon High. We heard you’re a really good kid, you can do that much, right?”
It was only after being asked, or rather threatened, to apply to Seoyeon High with Hae-jun that I realized. Their purpose in seeking out Hae-min was to get Hae-jun into the delinquent circle.
As far as Hae-min remembered, Hae-jun had always been special since he was young.
Hae-jun always garnered an excessive amount of favor and affection from those around him. It wasn’t just his angelic looks or his frail health. Hae-jun had a subtle aura about him. That aura remained even as he grew up. Though he seemed oblivious to it due to his general indifference, all sorts of people were drawn to him because of it. Even dangerous people.
Therefore, I couldn’t comply with their threats, which were obviously dangerous. Hae-min refused outright.
However, the seniors were not the type to leave other students who defied them alone. It didn’t take long for those who initially tried to persuade him to resort to violence. Hae-min, who was only better at sports than other kids but had never fought anyone, couldn’t win against their numbers.
‘What if Hae-jun ends up in this situation?’
He was already frail.
The moment that thought crossed his mind, Hae-min offered himself as a trade. He told them not to touch Hae-jun, and to take him instead. They could do whatever they wanted with him.
Perhaps they liked Hae-min’s guts, but fortunately, some of the seniors responded positively, and Hae-min was dragged to the initiation ceremony for delinquents.
Even amidst the harsh treatment disguised as an initiation ceremony, Hae-min felt relieved that Hae-jun wouldn’t have to go through this because of him. After Hae-min endured the brutal initiation with a furious expression, the seniors, with regret, withdrew their interest in Hae-jun.
And so, Hae-min joined the delinquents. Working diligently yet submissively, Hae-min gained a foothold and rapidly improved his fighting skills, earning recognition even from those who disliked him.
Lee Beom, Hae-min’s best friend, worried and followed him into the delinquent group, where he met Min Si-hu and Jeon Jae-hyung. They had things in common and quickly became close friends.
These individuals, with their exceptional looks and fighting skills, began to be known collectively as the Four Heavenly Kings even before their high school placements were confirmed.
However, Hae-jun was not completely safe. Hae-jun’s unique aura seemed to have blossomed even more since entering high school. He just didn’t know it himself.
Although their relationship was distant, it was fortunate that Hae-min, thanks to his strong plea to their parents, who were not cruel to their children, was able to live together with Hae-jun when he entered high school. If Hae-jun had lived alone, he would have been kidnapped somewhere strange long ago.
Therefore, it was unavoidable that Hae-min paid excessive attention to Hae-jun.
Hae-min looked at his twin, who stood defiantly in his path, with bewilderment. On this matter, he didn’t want to let him know. Yet, he couldn’t lie, so Hae-min’s best recourse was to exercise his right to remain silent.
As if reading his mind, Hae-jun seized the opportunity.
“I know everything.”
“…Know what?”
“I heard everything. That you became one of the Four Heavenly Kings to protect me.”
Hae-min shut his mouth tightly. His unconcealed emotions flowed across his face like sand slipping through his fingers.
‘Who told him?’
Lee Beom? Jeon Jae-hyung? Min Si-hu? The faces of those as close as family flashed through his mind. Considering how the Four Heavenly Kings had become even more zealous in their affection for Hae-jun recently, it wasn’t strange if someone had told him. They were the kind of people who would yield a few points if Hae-jun pleaded.
The truly important issue was how much of the situation his twin brother understood.
“I told you I didn’t understand how you protecting me by being one of the Four Heavenly Kings would work. And you admitted that you’ve been put in danger because you’re my twin, one of the Four Heavenly Kings.”
Listening to him, it didn’t seem like he knew the whole story. Hae-min hid his trembling hand behind his back.
‘He doesn’t know everything… That’s a relief.’
Hae-jun, despite appearing tough and sharp, had a soft spot. That’s why Hae-min often backed down when he evaded questions like this. This time too, Hae-min’s conscience, leaning on his twin’s vulnerability to escape the situation, stung him like salt on a wound.
But today, Hae-jun seemed determined, showing no signs of backing down.
“Are you not going to talk again? Is there a reason why you can’t reveal your situation?”
Hae-jun’s sharpness was unmistakable today. Hae-min hesitated and then spoke.
“Hae-jun. Let’s… stop this kind of conversation.”
“Seong Hae-min!”
For the first time, anger flickered in Hae-jun’s eyes. Hae-min turned away from his twin. He couldn’t bear to meet his self-reproaching gaze.
“Why do you keep avoiding it?”
“Let’s stop this conversation here. …It could be dangerous if you knew.”
It seemed best to bury it. While he couldn’t reveal the truth, he didn’t want to be a bad person who constantly lied.
“I don’t care about that.”
“No. I can’t let you be in danger.”
“Then what about you?”
Hae-jun did not yield. Before he could add any explanation, a torrent of words poured out.
“Are you saying it’s okay for you to be in danger? Do you think I want that? Have you ever thought about why I’m questioning you like this?”
“……”
“I’m worried about you too.”
The moment he heard those words, his entire body stiffened.
“Just like you worry about me. Exactly! I’m worried about you too!”
As if choked up while speaking, Hae-jun’s annoyed face contorted like a shattered mirror.
He wasn’t the type to show his emotions like this, Hae-min thought blankly.
Seong Hae-jun seemed unaware of his own expression.