Hyowoo and Gyeonwoo froze at the same time.
No matter how many times they denied it, between their noona and Gyeonwoo, ‘Lee Seohee = Hyowoo’s boyfriend’ had already established itself like a formula.
Half joking, half sincerely hoping things would work out well—had they overused the word ‘boyfriend’ too much?
Before they knew it, that word had stuck to their tongues, and they’d ultimately committed a major accident of carelessly blurting out ‘those words’ in front of the person himself.
Yet Gyeonwoo showed no sign of guilt or even embarrassment. He just glanced at his hyung with a face that said ‘ah, I messed up.’
“Hey, are you okay?”
He asked in a whisper, but Hyowoo had no reaction, as if his soul had left his body from shock.
“If you had such good news, you should have told me. I still thought you were ‘my friend’s cousin oppa.'”
At the hopeful voice heard from beside them, the siblings turned their heads in unison.
“Then, can I introduce Hyowoo-ssi as my boyfriend now too?”
What came into view was Lee Seohee, who looked happy as if he possessed everything in the world.
Unlike Seohee smiling brightly with a face full of joy, Hyowoo’s face grew paler and paler.
In the midst of this, Gyeonwoo, who had caused the incident, nonchalantly pressed the ‘send’ button. He had finally sent the message to their noona.
‘Who was it that spouted nonsense about twins being the one precious other half in the entire universe? This guy must be an enemy from a past life reborn as a younger sibling…’
He wanted to grab this hateful younger sibling by the collar right away, but damage control was more urgent.
‘B-but… what should I say?’
Hyowoo had neither the shamelessness to vaguely brush it off nor the courage to ignore those expectant eyes and say no.
No answer came to mind at all. His wavering eyes, not knowing what to do, were even pitiful.
That’s when it happened.
Crash—! A loud noise burst out from Hyowoo’s room.
Because they’d ordered a lot of food containing garlic or green onions that were fatal to cats, the gluttonous Saewoo had been temporarily locked in the room. Seemingly dissatisfied with this, he appeared to be staging a sit-in inside the room.
Though the sound of expensive items breaking rang out, Hyowoo brightened his face as if he’d discovered a ray of light in the darkness.
“S-Saewoo seems to be causing trouble in the room. I’ll go check and come back.”
Watching Hyowoo’s back as he fled in a fluster and hurry, Gyeonwoo couldn’t help but chuckle.
His hyung, who was usually so indifferent he seemed aloof, was running away like that. It was such a rare sight it was absurd.
Since he came to the house and Hyowoo also came in right away, there hadn’t been a proper chance to talk.
Given the current atmosphere, that shy person wouldn’t come out of the room for a while, so this was a golden opportunity given by heaven.
“Do you really like our hyung?”
“Of course.”
Even to the direct question, he answered refreshingly.
“That’s why I’m trying hard to make a good impression on you too, Gyeonwoo-ssi.”
Even without asking, it was easy to tell that his feelings were sincere.
Lee Seohee had very soft eyes, but they completely changed when looking at Hyowoo.
Those were eyes directed at the most lovable person in the world. Thanks to this, Gyeonwoo desperately realized exactly what situation the expression ‘honey dripping from one’s eyes’ was used for.
As expected, he was a genuinely kind person without pretense. Gyeonwoo was inwardly relieved that a good person sincerely liked his hyung.
However, the real conversation was just beginning.
“I don’t know how much you know about our hyung, but until recently, hyung was very sick and had a hard time.”
Gyeonwoo guessed that he probably didn’t know about Hyowoo’s past yet.
Hyowoo was someone who trembled all over and had panic attacks just thinking about the tail end of that day. There was no way he could have brought up such stories.
“So from now on, no matter what happens, he can’t get hurt. I won’t let him get hurt either.”
“That’s fortunate. I don’t intend to hurt him either.”
An answer that came back without hesitation as expected. Yet strangely, it didn’t feel like an impromptu remark.
“Our hyung, personality-wise, can’t date casually and break up. He’s so upright, and he has several times more thoughts and worries than others.”
The living room that had been filled with laughter until just moments ago was now wrapped in cold tension.
“I don’t know what kind of feelings you’re meeting hyung with, Player Lee Seohee… but if it’s just light interest or curiosity, could you please stop?”
There was no doubt that the two had mutual interest in each other.
Lee Seohee honestly expressed his inner feelings and approached actively. Hyowoo too was already fallen for him, just hesitant to acknowledge it.
His hyung, who had firmly closed his heart so no one could ever enter again, finally had someone he liked.
It was certainly something to be happy about, but reality instead made Gyeonwoo more anxious.
The person who knew his twin hyung’s personality best was Gyeonwoo.
Hyowoo was the type who, once he liked someone, fell really deeply for them. That’s why the wound when betrayed was also deep.
Of course, he didn’t think Lee Seohee was someone who would betray hyung or deliberately hurt him.
However, if they dated and then broke up, Hyowoo would once again have to spend a long time in pain and wounds.
He didn’t want to see his hyung suffer anymore.
Just in case, if he was meeting Hyowoo out of momentary interest, he had to make it end here and now.
“If you hurt hyung even a little, I absolutely won’t forgive you. I’ll chase you to the ends of the earth and bury you.”
Gyeonwoo, who had poured out everything he wanted to say at once, paused briefly and looked at Lee Seohee with cold eyes.
“Even if that person is a third-generation chaebol and a world star.”
This was a warning rather than worry.
What kind of younger sibling in the world could speak this firmly about their older sibling?
If handled wrong, it could look like Alphas keeping each other in check over an Omega. However, Gyeonwoo didn’t care at all about others’ gazes.
In his mind was only the thought that if there was even a 0.1% possibility of Hyowoo getting hurt, he had to prevent it by any means necessary.
“As expected, I think Gyeonwoo-ssi and I will get along well.”
Lee Seohee, who had been silently listening until Gyeonwoo finished speaking, quietly opened his mouth.
Even though Gyeonwoo, who had been friendly until just a few minutes ago, was showing hostility, he showed not a hint of bewilderment. Rather, his excessively calm appearance felt ruthless.
“If there’s such a person, tell me. Don’t dirty your hands unnecessarily, Gyeonwoo-ssi.”
Surprised by the unexpected reaction, Gyeonwoo looked at Lee Seohee. When their eyes met, he gave a meaningful smile.
“I’m also quite good at trampling garbage-like bastards and burying them so they can never walk under the sun again.”
In an instant, goosebumps rose all over his body.
Though he was still smiling softly, the killing intent within could be felt completely.
From the first moment they met face to face, Gyeonwoo had felt strong energy and charisma from him.
Indeed, a Dominant Alpha. He’d thought he wouldn’t be easy to deal with, but believed there was a somewhat gentle side to him—it was a perfect misconception.
‘He might be someone who won’t bat an eye at most things and can accomplish tremendous things nonchalantly…’
While his spine tingled, words Hyowoo had said before suddenly came to mind.
‘…There may be people who understand my past, but there won’t be anyone who will accept it.’
Understanding, being angry about, and embracing a victim’s wounds is a natural thing.
But what if that victim was your lover or marriage partner?
Even if they were an innocent victim, how many people would unhesitatingly protect them to the end the moment they learned of that past?
Personal history they wanted to hide, crime victimization they wanted to forget. Gyeonwoo thought there was no obligation to necessarily reveal such things.
But Hyowoo was different. He considered meeting someone while hiding his past to be fraudulent deception of the other person.
So honest it was foolish, he hesitated and couldn’t fully accept Lee Seohee’s feelings.
Knowing that personality better than anyone, Gyeonwoo also couldn’t push his back saying ‘just try dating.’
But if Lee Seohee already somewhat guessed Hyowoo’s past, the story changed.
If he liked hyung even knowing the weight of that past and the depth of those wounds…
‘Even if he learns everything later, he might not leave Hyowoo’s side.’
Gyeonwoo, who rarely revealed his inner feelings just like his hyung, was noticeably shaken.
Expectations welled up that Lee Seohee might free Hyowoo, who couldn’t move forward and was circling in place, from the shackles of terrible pain.
‘If it’s Lee Seohee with wealth and power… he might be able to completely protect Hyowoo from those devil-like father and son, and return all the pain suffered until now…’
A very small but clear hope began to bloom within Gyeonwoo.
