Chapter 40
What is he even talking about? Why is he spouting such nonsense with a straight face? I wanted to call him out, but I kept my mouth shut—nothing good comes from provoking a crazy person.
“In my dream, hyung was clinging to me saying it felt so good, begging for more, saying you felt like you were dying, that you could go all day… So you’re telling me you won’t do it in reality?”
I was so stunned I couldn’t say anything for a while. Then, as it sank in, anger flared up and I snapped back.
“If you had a dream like that, why were you crying like your heart was breaking? You cried because you hated it, didn’t you? That’s why I said I wouldn’t do it… What exactly do you want from me?”
I was just saying whatever came to mind, but as the words left my mouth, I realized how strange they sounded. It almost seemed like I was saying I’d actually do it with him. Hahyun looked at me and smirked.
“See? I should’ve just told you what the dream was about before I started crying. I cried because I was so happy. I used to have dreams like that, and when I woke up and tried to hug you, you’d freak out and push me away. But now you’re holding me, comforting me, consoling me… It feels like a dream in itself. If this is a dream, I hope I never wake up…”
Hahyun took my hand and placed it against his chest. His chest was rising and falling rapidly, making my palm vibrate with each beat.
“You can feel how hard my heart’s still pounding, right?”
“So that’s what happened… Well, I guess that makes sense.”
“Haa…”
Were we too close? Suddenly Hahyun’s breathing turned ragged. Sensing I might regret leaving things like this, I wrapped my arm around his shoulder and pushed him down onto the bed.
“…Hyung?”
Ignoring the look in his eyes that clearly showed he’d completely misunderstood my intentions, I patted his chest gently.
“Hahyun-ssi, you need more sleep. The doctor came by and said you need complete rest.”
“Even if I don’t sleep, I’ll be perfectly relaxed as long as hyung stays beside me.”
Hahyun’s eyes were bright and eager as he spoke. He was acting just like a puppy wagging its tail in front of its owner, and I almost found myself giving in. Feeling protective toward someone so big and intimidating instead of something small and cute… I must be losing my mind.
“I know. That’s why I’m asking you to sleep while I’m beside you.”
Hahyun pouted, grumbling.
“I don’t want to sleep…”
Time for some acting.
“Do you have any idea how terrified I was when you passed out earlier? I was worried sick, and now you’re going to ignore what I’m asking after putting me through all that?”
Hahyun turned toward me. For some reason, he looked shocked.
“You were scared? Worried?”
“Of course. Who wouldn’t panic when s-someone they like suddenly burns up with fever?”
“Hyuuung…”
Hahyun hugged me, clearly moved.
“So please sleep a little more, even if you have to force yourself. I’ll stay right here until you wake up.”
Unusually compliant, Hahyun closed his eyes. He squeezed them shut so tightly—forcing himself to sleep when he clearly wasn’t tired at all—that wrinkles formed at the corners.
I couldn’t help but laugh. Oh no… I think I’m really starting to lose it.
***
The next morning, the brothers started glaring at each other and bickering over nothing right from the start. Hahyun was the one who picked the fight.
“Aren’t you going to work?”
“No.”
“This isn’t the time for that. What about Secretary Kim?”
“I’ve already handled the urgent matters, and I have people watching Secretary Kim, so it’s fine.”
It’s not like Hajin had been diligently going to work every day up until now, but today Hahyun was strangely fixated on getting Hajin to go.
“You shouldn’t leave everything to the people you’ve assigned. You never know what Secretary Kim might pull.”
Hajin slammed his coffee cup down hard. The sound made my heart drop.
“I’ll handle it.”
Hahyun didn’t back down.
“That’s not good enough. I had all these plans for what Juwon-hyung and I would do together if you went to work today…”
So that’s what this is really about?
“That’s exactly why I’m not going.”
My head started pounding as even Hajin, who’d been relatively less childish until now, started acting immature.
When a child throws a tantrum, you’re supposed to soothe them, not throw one yourself—what am I supposed to do with this?
I looked back and forth between the brothers, distressed. The atmosphere was getting worse by the second.
“Hajin-ssi, Hahyun-ssi.”
They both turned to look at me at the same time.
“Aren’t you hungry?”
It’s a tactic I use often, but it’s also the one that works best.
“I don’t usually eat much for breakfast, but are you hungry?”
“I’m not that hungry either, but I was going to make something if hyung is.”
Since I’ve used this move so many times, it seemed to be losing its effectiveness, so I decided to switch things up.
“I’ll cook for both of you today, so just wait.”
“Hyung’s going to cook for us? Damn, is it my birthday or something?”
I felt a twinge of guilt that my cooking skills were so terrible compared to his excited reaction, but I had no choice if I wanted to stop the fight.
“But if you two fight, you won’t get even a drop of soup, just so you know.”
“Wow, harsh.”
“So cold. Message received.”
They both shut their mouths as if on cue. I headed to the kitchen and checked the refrigerator first. It was stocked with various fresh ingredients and meal kits that could be prepared easily.
A meal kit would be better, right?
With that thought, I looked through the fridge, but there were only options that seemed too heavy for breakfast—braised chicken, gambas, steak.
What should I do? Should I just give up now and admit I can’t cook?
Just then, there was a loud bang from the living room. I rushed toward the sound.
Hajin was sitting up straight, staring at Hahyun, who was standing and breathing heavily.
“What happened?”
“Nothing.”
“Nothing at all.”
They both gave the same answer simultaneously, but it wasn’t convincing in the slightest.
Do they think I’m an idiot?
“Ha… you’re not kids anymore, what’s going on?”
“Hyung’s suddenly acting weird. He wasn’t like this yesterday, but today he’s all twisted up, picking fights over everything.”
“When did I? You’re the one who said you were worried about Secretary Kim and agreed to come to work with me for a bit.”
“Wow… this is unbelievable. It’s not even my company. Even if we agreed to go to work together, does it make sense to come home together too?”
“What’s so unreasonable about that? Why? Planning to seduce Yoon Juwon and pull something while I’m gone?”
At those words, Hahyun flinched, then stuck close to my side.
“Hyung, look at him. Seo Hajin has completely lost it. Didn’t I tell you? When he really snaps, he’s even crazier than I am. I didn’t do anything, and he’s suddenly acting like this.”
Even I had to admit Hahyun had a point. Hahyun was acting normally, so Hajin was the one behaving strangely. I narrowed my eyes at Hajin. He quickly looked away.
“I’m not crazy—Hahyun needs to think about his future too. How long are you going to just stay home? If you were studying or something, that’d be different, but doing absolutely nothing is a bit…”
That’s true, but… the way he’s saying it…
Hajin’s words sounded less like genuine concern and more like he was making excuses, insisting “I’m legitimately worried about my brother, definitely not because I’m anxious about anything.”
I hope I’m just reading too much into this…
“This is ridiculous! My future? Even a stray dog would laugh. Since when have you cared about my future? I have enough money to live comfortably for the rest of my life and then some. Yoon Juwon will be by my side too. What’s there to worry about…”
Until now, Hajin had let Hahyun do whatever he wanted. Although he kept control when they did things together, he never interfered with or nagged about what Hahyun did on his own. So it was natural for Hahyun to react this way.
Hajin cleared his throat a couple of times before continuing.
“Just because I didn’t say it out loud doesn’t mean I didn’t care. This is all for your own good…”
Listening to Hajin’s words, even I started to feel incredulous. If I felt this way, I could only imagine how Hahyun felt. When I glanced over, Hahyun was breathing hard, looking like he was about to explode with rage.
“Both of you, please calm down.”
To keep the argument from escalating, I rubbed the back of Hahyun’s hand while looking meaningfully at Hajin. Until now, Hajin had always picked up on my silent signals, but this time, instead of meeting my eyes, he was glaring daggers at our clasped hands.
“If Hajin-ssi really said those things for Hahyun-ssi’s sake, you should give him some time. It’s natural for someone to be caught off guard when something comes out of nowhere like this. You’re not strangers, after all.”
Hahyun jumped in as if he’d been waiting for his cue.
“Exactly! After never saying a word all this time…”
Just as Hahyun finished speaking, there was a sharp cracking sound. When I turned my head, Hajin’s hand was bleeding. It happened so fast I was too shocked to speak.
“Ha, see that? Breaking a glass because he’s pissed… You think I’m going to be intimidated by that?”
Hahyun might not be scared, but I was terrified. As I trembled, Hahyun wrapped his arms around me protectively.
“You’re scaring Yoon Juwon.”
“That’s enough.”
Hajin said that and didn’t even glance in my direction. I’ve felt different kinds of fear before, but this was the first time I’d actually seen blood like this.
I hope Seo Hajin doesn’t have it out for me? What if he does? Wouldn’t it be safer to go to a prison cell even if it’s unfair?
