By Zephyria 
Ki Jae-ha was asking, including himself.
“Is there? Why don’t I know? Even if I’ve been indifferent to this guy, I should know that much.”
“Ki Jae-ha.”
“Is he even someone who knows how to be indulged? He grew up being treated like a rat. Would he even have the energy left? You’ve made him a cripple by constantly talking about the damn family!”
“Ki Jae-ha!”
“Yes, I haven’t forgotten my name, so stop calling it. And-”
“Don’t stop!”
Ki Tae-ho shouted. The water bottle shook and fell to the floor as he slammed his hand on the table. Clang- A sharp noise echoed through the space. Glass shards flew and scattered everywhere. But an even sharper voice pierced Ki Jae-eon’s ears.
“You’re just a guy who’s getting a position because you were pushed aside by your brother, where do you get off being so arrogant!”
“I never wanted that kind of position! I’ll quit right now if you want!”
“Ki Jae-ha!”
It was when the two men were confronting each other, revealing their rough emotions without an inch of retreat.
“Our Jae-ha, what’s wrong with him.”
A calm yet charismatic voice intervened. It was his mother, Ryu Seong-hee. She ignored Ki Tae-ho and said to Ki Jae-ha, whose face was flushed, and Ki Jae-eon, who was sitting blankly.
“It doesn’t seem like a good atmosphere for a meal anymore. Jae-ha, take care of Jae-eon and get up first.”
“Dear.”
“I’m not feeling well either, so I’ll get up now.”
“Dear!”
“Don’t try to show off in front of me.”
In the end, Ki Jae-eon was led out of the dining room for the first time in his life by his brother’s hand. All he could hear was the chirping of cicadas as he walked down the long hallway. It was only when they reached the front of the door that he heard a hesitant voice from behind.
“Jae-eon, earlier…”
Earlier, you see. Ki Jae-ha rubbed the back of his neck and moved his lips. He looked completely different from when he was confronting Ki Tae-ho. Really, hyung… He mumbled the words several times, then ruffled his hair and let out a deep sigh. A faint sense of guilt and barely suppressed annoyance were intertwined in his slightly furrowed brow.
“Hyung was too angry and said harsh things, so don’t take it to heart. I wasn’t saying anything to you.”
“……”
“…If your stomach hurts, call hyung. I don’t have any work scheduled tonight. Don’t hold it in.”
“……”
“I’ll have them bring your meal to your room. Eat comfortably.”
A short silence flowed.
Ki Jae-ha soon let out his signature hearty laugh, as if he had nothing more to say. His face, which was similar to Ki Jae-eon’s but different, relaxed his furrowed brow. Hyung’s leaving. Get some rest. Ki Jae-ha, who was slowly moving away after giving a rough but affectionate greeting. The fading scent of cologne. Ki Jae-eon, who had been quietly watching his brother’s back, suddenly felt an unknown feeling. It was an emotion that was difficult to explain in words.
[Hyung]
My, hyung.
Ah, that’s right. He’s my hyung.
Ki Jae-eon realized anew that he had a [biological brother]. It might sound strange to say that now, but it was true.
That’s because he had never really felt the existence of ‘hyung’ while living. Of course, that didn’t mean he ignored or looked down on Ki Jae-ha.
He just thought of him as ‘a distant relationship connected by blood.’ There wasn’t really any intertwined memories to add further explanation.
I’ve never fought with my brother, nor have I ever shared anything with him.
In short, we’re ‘closer than strangers, but further than family.’
We’re moderately indifferent, lacking deep intimacy, yet I’d still be sad if he died.
That was all Ki Jae-eon saw in the relationship between himself and his brother.
If anything, it’s improved slightly recently, to the point where we share personal stories a little?
‘I thought… we weren’t that interested in each other.’
But it seems my brother felt differently.
-“Please stop it.”
His large back blocking Father’s sharp gaze.
-“Frankly, what does it matter what he eats? Isn’t it enough that he eats well?”
His large hand patting my thigh.
-“If your stomach hurts, call your brother. He doesn’t have any night shifts today. Don’t just bear it.”
His worried voice.
-“I’m off, brother. Get some rest.”
The way he glanced back, pretending not to, as he strode away.
That was my brother.
Yes, that’s my brother.
Ki Jae-eon’s one and only brother, Ki Jae-ha.
“……Hmm.”
The chirping of crickets particularly tickles my ears. Ki Jae-eon rubbed his hot earlobes with his thumb and forefinger. Hot and itchy. Did a bug bite me? Doesn’t seem like it.
Ki Jae-eon quietly opened the door and went inside, scratching the back of his neck for no reason.
“Brother……”
Our, brother. It was a word that made me feel strangely awkward.
Fortunately, I was free except for dinner. Ki Jae-eon enjoyed breakfast and lunch with the people from the main office as if he had been waiting for it. Seeing familiar faces made the food go down easily. After eating a full bowl and leaving about half of a newly filled bowl, Ahn Seo-myeong, who was sitting next to him, asked, “Did you leave some?” and took the leftover rice to eat. Even if I told him it was dirty, he would just say, “Rice is rice.” But Ki Jae-eon didn’t know that Ahn Seo-myeong wouldn’t touch the food left by anyone other than him.
“Let’s go see the Incheon sea after eating today!”
“I’m going to Chinatown! Hey, who was on the Chinatown team?”
“We’re going shopping.”
It was around the time I was getting Ahn Seo-myeong some cool barley tea. The kids were excitedly sharing their schedules for the day. These days, the kids were doing all the sightseeing they could while they were in Incheon. Of course, they had asked Ki Jae-eon to join them several times, but he was too busy enjoying board games with the ‘introvert team’. He was especially talented at card games.
“Ju-won hyung, which one are you doing today?”
“Resting.”
“Ehhh.”
“I’m going to work out.”
That’s how the afternoon was spent, with everyone deciding what they wanted to do and scattering.
“Woah, Uno.”
The last card fell from Ki Jae-eon’s hand.
“Ugh!”
“Jae-eon again?”
“Ah, oppa, have some mercy.”
“He’s so strong.”
That’s five wins in a row. It was almost a Ki Jae-eon monopoly. The kids couldn’t beat him, so they flopped back. Then they slowly got up, saying they were hungry. Just then, news came that refreshments had been prepared.
“Jae-eon, aren’t you going?”
“N-no, I’m okay.”
“Then we’ll go eat and come back!”
“Okay.”
Ki Jae-eon, who was left alone, neatly organized the scattered cards on the floor and slowly got up. He thought he’d take a walk while the kids were gone. The weather was nice and cool, so he could just take a lap around the yard. He opened the back door that led to the yard with calm steps, and there was a cat sprawled out on the wooden porch.
-An child resembling – got caught on his foot.
“Ah.”
“……”
It was Ahn Seo-myeong, breathing evenly in the warm afternoon sunlight. I wondered where he had gone, but it seemed he had found a place here to avoid the commotion.
“……”
His spotless skin and jet-black hair reflected the sunlight and sparkled. He looked like a black cat who had grown up receiving a lot of love from its owner.
‘He’s having a sweet dream.’
It was a truly peaceful scene. Ki Jae-eon forgot that he was going for a walk and carefully bent his knees. His sleeping face was small and cute.
‘His eyelashes are long.’
Just like how you unconsciously reach out when you see a lovely animal, Ki Jae-eon unknowingly touched his long eyelashes. Then they fluttered and tickled his finger.
He couldn’t help but burst out laughing, “Heh-.”
That taciturn child is so cute.
Looking closely, he seems to still have some baby fat left.
He’s still a baby. With a faint smile, he slid his finger down and gently stroked his cheek, and then his eyes met his. Huh? Before he could even be surprised, a stinging pain struck.
“Ah!”
Ahn Seo-myeong bit his finger.
His finger, which he pulled out in surprise, had a clear tooth mark on it like a stamp.
“Why…, why did you bite…?”
Ahn Seo-myeong lowered his eyes mockingly at Ki Jae-eon’s flustered stammering.
“Because you touched me without permission.”
“……?”
“Rebellion.”
He licked his lips with a languid smile, looking like a truly willful cat.
“Am I going to get scolded?”
Ahn Seo-myeong asked, pretending not to know. He bit him and then acted innocent.
Ki Jae-eon hesitated slightly.
Of course, biting someone’s hand without permission is a bad thing, but… hmm.
He lowered his gaze.
Ahn Seo-myeong was using his lap as a pillow and calling him, “Hyung?” with his eyes slightly raised.
Faced with his cute appearance, he eventually surrendered. Instead of saying anything harsh, Ki Jae-eon quietly fiddled with the finger that had been bitten.
Seeing Ki Jae-eon acting like he was letting it go, Ahn Seo-myeong’s smile became a little brighter. In fact, he had asked knowing that Ki Jae-eon wouldn’t be able to scold him. He was truly cunning.
“Does it hurt?”
“N-not really….”
Ahn Seo-myeong snatched Ki Jae-eon’s hand away. Then, he hummed happily at the red circle on it.
“It’s like a ring.”
He muttered to himself, and then looked at it for a long time, enjoying himself, saying, “It’s pretty.” He nodded, thinking that the teeth marks on his finger were definitely even.
“…It’s pretty.”
“Yeah, it’s pretty.”
“You don’t need braces, ah, you don’t have to get them.”
“……Yeah, well.”
The end was a bit chilly, though.