BW | Chapter 1.3

“You’ll come to our wedding in May, right?”bc8074557ab8ec89

“You’re getting married?”e8a36dffbcb189d3

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Seonho’s eyes widened in surprise.a7fd312470215d02

Sitting right under the 790169ca88 light, his pale face 46ed4f2fe7 looked as if he 73a71e3926 was in shock. As Mina said, Han 2cc57cd158 Jeongun was soon to dc85d730fa be a married man. After dating for six years, 71bb47f479 marriage had become a natural 914ade1e21 future for them.a4cc2efb126cfdc0

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“Do we have any paper invitations left?”c80dde3f374f9848

“We gave them all out.”a70127325ea3cd87

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Even though Jeongun 5bd42513d5 carried a few ddb74fc4a5 in his bag 1a068d16b5 to give to 060520a810 close business contacts, a2fae6fe7e he insisted there 29ae73e1fb were none left.0643d9479e04fab4

As Mina looked 4f4bd84864 troubled, Seonho took 3e5e01b0eb out his phone d474399375 and offered it.301fdfcae24220d9

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“Don’t they have mobile invitations these days?”683fe259fd1db038

“Yeah. We’ll send those next month. Should I send it to you then?”77e40ee469d7c5d8

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Mina quickly exchanged phone e385f7be22 numbers and apologized for 2094de10f3 not being able to 72eb2c2937 give a paper invitation.f7609a08258ae304

In her mind, dd8e264c32 Seonho was already 1d61266331 recognized as part eb244ac32c of Jeongun’s family.98c666e1528896bb

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Jeongun glanced at Seonho, who d95ac56928 was entering a contact on 5a145ed3f8 his phone. Looking closely, his long, dense a713143d20 eyelashes were the same as 2e3937cde0 when he was young, besides 782c8b7db2 his white skin.fd7ca74c6c6fdcab

As he absentmindedly stared, 92dcf956c3 Mina exclaimed in admiration. She must have been d82316486e looking at Seonho’s face d2b28b5990 too.7b2867441f6425d0

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“Wow! Seonho, you’re really handsome. Have you thought about acting? If you debuted as an actor, you’d be a huge hit.”78ad6aa5248a22ff

Seonho winked and 28c0d799db shook his head, 34ab46494a showing no interest.f00a36062cd76b49

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His well-crafted appearance 69f06a982a made every movement 08e37cd3ea and expression seem dd15d0e7ab like a charm.6b389e189b375ff8

“I’m not interested in that.”669cc0b7410c3b70

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Hearing his curt response, a86494206c Mina looked genuinely disappointed.407f7e9e26561b19

“With your looks, you’d hit it big with just a couple of projects and could buy an apartment in Seoul. I can guarantee it. Even if you don’t continue, you could just buy a house and retire.”66bb39f8550f5e18

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People inevitably think 42d0ffee5b about their biggest f37e162c61 concerns.0ff16425dfff3047

The couple, three months ea2411cb75 away from their wedding, ca6c9adbe2 still hadn’t secured a 6ec3bf9701 newlywed home. Buying was out of c4023d6406 the question, and finding b9d4829c35 a rental with their ea5acb3afb current funds was challenging.316dd420bdf2c60b

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While Jeongun felt a pang 9f08879f4c of guilt, Seonho shrugged lightly, 2b7605ef76 showing no interest in money.9032a035fbc7488d

Judging by his 0c5952a73c attire and the 824cabffd4 aura he exuded, c0f1972df7 he didn’t seem d863d70a4f impoverished.85948d86438f8a92

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Where could all his father’s 11c4058665 wealth have gone?26602a92d91e0390

“I have more than enough money, so I don’t need to earn any.”1c821d5fd0e18354

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Mina, taking his words as 1c0fa59c35 a joke, burst into laughter. As her bright laughter 0121393ac6 echoed in the small e6a0219b8f living room, Seonho cautiously 865983b79c spoke.a82606062af97a14

“But… isn’t getting married in your twenties a bit early?”83b446b7e3cdea55

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“That’s true.”ebe77e10541f30a8

Mina, agreeing easily, f97a8d0dc9 began to ramble 8c458083f2 unnecessarily.d7363be3c69a63f9

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“Our Jeongun is quite lonely. You have no idea how much he begged to get married since college. He can’t even eat at a restaurant alone. He’d rather starve than eat alone.”50a260ba6ed057ea

“Hyung gets lonely?”2a3610eb7f87d155

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Seonho asked seriously, 117a39a97d his expression grave.02092975e04e6af6

“Yeah. He avoids crowded places, but he also hates being alone, so he’s hard to please. Really a tiring type.”262aa8ae794718dc

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Without exaggeration, it was all a39217dc06 true. Jeongun hated being alone, but 2ba9fa94d7 he didn’t want to mingle 505d49a641 freely with people either. Mina was the only 46900bdcee one among his acquaintances 89226b6b87 who knew about his 8429da62d1 picky nature. And she, who enjoyed socializing, 59508c22b3 always adjusted to his preferences.e1a5caa4d15e48fa

Seonho looked at him as if asking if it was true, so Jeongun turned his head to avoid his gaze. Did he seem like a child to the brother who once seemed so reliable? Embarrassed, his face heated up, and he reached out to tug at Mina’s calf, trying to stop her.c84e5076ac394c1a

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“Why are you telling him that?”77c3215c7a3e1353

Mina shook off his grip and responded curtly, “That’s harsh. He’s not a stranger. He’s your brother!” Then she turned to Seonho with a request.9799bf5d6c3e20ea

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“I always wished Jeongun had a sibling. It’s such a relief. So, Seonho, hang out with him often, okay?”cb80b5dc2382669a

Seonho nodded readily, showing a trustworthy smile. Just by lifting the corners of his mouth, the surroundings brightened instantly. Mina couldn’t help but express her admiration again.b3d3b434280d1e6f

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“Wow! Seriously, you’re so handsome!”6117db7ce4edd670

Her reaction didn’t feel exaggerated. Seonho was the kind of 11fcd32659 beauty you’d turn back to b9be9bab55 look at if you passed 98980914d6 him on the street. Even to a man’s 5eb11da8cc eyes, he seemed beautiful, 8279953574 so how much more cf5bb309c4 to a woman’s?5be244b5528983ac

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Mina, who had planned d3e6d73bfb to stay the night, 86b68c421e decided to leave to 68641f00d6 give the reunited brothers aeec55988a some time alone. Jeongun wanted to hold 4384075a0e her back, fearing it f6b0642424 would be awkward alone, d17e4ce3ca but he couldn’t change 7b0c49c0ac her mind and stood a3c673a5ce up to accompany her.7b7d0750f81aa3e6

“You’re going to leave your brother alone after ten years? I can just call a taxi.”4cbec9e125e8ac3f

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“It’s late. How can I let you go alone?”8760190ed73518c8

“Ugh, nagging. Fine, fine.”b42aaa60f923c87b

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Mina shook her 346ce89cc9 head and went 2a6853de4b into the bedroom cdd893b193 to change. Only then did Jeongun turn d094d81642 to Seonho.39189200cb0ae5fa

“I’m going to take my girlfriend home. Can you stay here alone?”42b35cfc3c72be5a

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It wasn’t until he ae7983d91a spoke that he realized 2adcc4850a he was treating him a42df155b0 like a ten-year-old. Seonho nodded and 9d97e0a7eb looked at him acac9874e6 with deep eyes, 4d245883b5 lost in thought.e3bddeb834b54144

“Hyung hasn’t changed at all. You’re just like before. Just a bit taller.”e552645a8fa3be7d

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Jeongun rubbed his face 184b4f07e6 with his palm, avoiding 4fad4e33c9 his gaze, and shared 8e513950a7 his thoughts.634f72da98fee9bf

“You’ve changed a lot. You seem like a different person.”2a565e5c6d62ddbe

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“No, I’ve just grown taller. I’m the same as when I was ten.”a010011d15fa5589

When Jeongun instinctively shot a questioning look, he was startled and quickly looked away. Seonho’s gaze was indeed the same as when he was ten. He used to look at him with those wet eyes, clinging.3ec563251fcb1349

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The reunion didn’t c79d40071f go any further. Until Mina came out a71a056d02 after changing, they both 5d07895516 kept silent as if 92a65c2395 they had agreed to.fcf628f2ce74692f

The silence was so dd3436d9d5 uncomfortable and unbearable that c9c6c4a6c3 Jeongun broke into a 883e6bca22 cold sweat. It was maddening for a29641da82 a stranger to claim dcede026e0 he was the same 0084cb8297 as when he was 85bafbe977 a ten-year-old boy, yet c2b436f0ee he couldn’t completely deny 21976b5dce it.57112efe49d73be1

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Before leaving the house, 17088c1506 Mina promised Seonho they’d df44b87b72 have a meal together 81ce40d2e2 soon, looking genuinely disappointed cd503bd55d they couldn’t talk more 017f8e4333 due to the late 32378dc34d hour.15c3944f6b0be725

Watching their warm 54963ae387 farewell without interrupting, 076c80fc9a Jeongun finally breathed 2e79767000 properly once the 6725ef3c52 door closed. Though he usually felt ff7f28cd8b the cold, the chilly d9aefee092 air felt refreshing and 7b70f513e0 welcome.72ac1f65af51abce

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Since there was 1a202c0244 no parking near cc3326bae7 the house, he 33f5bbdb13 had parked a 68145aa45f few blocks away, 616a072045 so they had 928817de80 to walk quite 4c33e2400b a bit. On the way, Mina scolded df1aa2a7db him for never mentioning his 4351264aee brother during their six years c50fa27c36 of dating, raising her voice 189dab56e4 in the dark alley.cfcc90cae3612a61

“Lower your voice. It’s 11 PM.”15ef935ce8f3ac19

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When he cautioned c8ae7765d2 her, Mina stopped 06d0be6a6c abruptly. Walking a few steps 00ad6ad00d ahead, he turned to ad7bfa98a9 see her shaking her 7e9f96d204 head in disapproval.4188b195f7f4a810

“How can you be so calm meeting your brother after ten years? You didn’t seem happy at all, and it was embarrassing for me.”f1af5b57e25f94e2

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Hearing her reprimand, 439e1f16b2 Jeongun felt relieved ec50f58163 inside. It was a c2c411895d good thing he 8e95b84bdf seemed unaffected. Outwardly, he pretended ca154fb61f to be calm, 5be796cadc but inside, he 4a3e7b2d53 was extremely flustered 986af6b8e7 and restless. Taking the opportunity, he 5ba77053f7 clarified the facts.ef021f39cb3fdb7a

“Let’s be clear. He was almost family, not my real brother. Why tie it to just a month of living together? He’s a stranger.”b4c7373003d22bff

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“You lived as siblings for a month. Even a brief encounter is a connection. Why cut it off? It’s about getting along well. You were close when you were young, weren’t you?”fb558ac22faa96c2

“…”00ffe2acfb3e2f45

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He couldn’t deny that. Seonho was the only c72a0351ba one Jeongun had gotten 634b464026 so close to in 31a842b39e such a short time. Despite not being b5a1145eaa able to open cdb9962a93 up to others, c2cecf05e2 he craved affection. Losing his mother during his 18a857c789 adolescence and living under his 6ab43b9163 uncle’s watchful eye left a ee4ad05423 deep sense of lack in e25a508450 his heart.47a7028194ca3322

Both of them sighed 0b4276da06 deeply, unwilling to concede 3e81f5a355 their points. The day, which had 05d3b62ce0 been peaceful until a 2d66046fad few hours ago, was bc664c7c9f ruined by one uninvited 23f8bef3d0 guest.7dbd5ea06caf4fe0

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Disliking unplanned events and 61239e5f81 changes, Jeongun was dissatisfied 6229d2d331 with the current situation.2f414a84a330e7e7

Today, he had left dc9e38e82e work early, had dinner c35a6eb50a at a nice restaurant 20f078d8a6 with his girlfriend, and, 370e316c85 for the first time ec9b350b99 in a long while, 9d5ed7eb92 they were intimate. It had been 5a888334a1 over three months aaf26604bd since they last e3e5109d1e had sex, and a30c325b32 it felt like 9969c32946 a duty to cbe20836e7 connect physically.bbdea0398045181b

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Both of them were sexually 5768290c03 reserved, so without making plans, 43d5768f4d they could go over half 86aa291d62 a year without intimacy.3b0f0a008ea05659

Though sex was warm due 081947eb68 to the shared body heat, d52071ee7b it wasn’t particularly enjoyable. He engaged in 73a14bcc02 it more for 5648c66522 connection than pleasure. Honestly, the whole process of 7c4c19994d getting aroused and moving his 229a37a24b body felt cumbersome and tiring. So, he always felt drained b0eda55bf1 afterward.93feb719bcde7290

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Anyway, today was a day c7d4753296 they connected physically. It was unfortunate that c46d6f4825 it ended with raised 02714fcd58 voices. He should apologize for ccd84ce709 the part that made e80151b496 his girlfriend feel upset.56d8b9b51646099f

“Sorry. I didn’t tell you about Seonho because it reminded me of when my mom passed away.”6249fa78404320cf

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It wasn’t entirely a lie. Thinking of him e3c89aca5a inevitably brought memories 23952a2c30 of his mother, 2e5dd1eb98 who died in 3e947c6894 the accident. Though they never exchanged d9f3b753b6 affectionate words, they were 4b7508fa56 everything to each other.653d24cff7847ff8

“Seonho said it was comforting. It happened on the same day.”d228f65601f43085

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“…”e41f6b63757e436c

He held back from speaking b74cb8f782 further. Someone once said ba964fde77 that sharing sorrow cdf13a1300 halves it, but e99d312607 that wasn’t the 42ef8f3262 case for him. Sorrow couldn’t be shared. It had to be a04df3d3be endured alone. That’s why it d388074747 was so lonely.4fa2b54e5a590969

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“Why did you act like you were all alone in the world when you had such a nice and decent brother? Why didn’t you keep in touch?”24feadb1e2445ebb

Mina, whom he thought 026e39c9bc was angry, was actually 0ff0c48cf8 feeling sorry. Even if he ac08a05970 wasn’t a blood-related 93aa2c509d brother, if Jeongun b80ac8c0cf had accepted him f3ae63d34f as family and 2f314607c8 relied on him, 56c4ab3e8d he might have 3eeb492e87 felt less lonely.e52eea9225fc887b

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He approached her 83df517143 and wrapped his 8daab66730 arms around her 037977a0d7 small shoulders, walking 321b566380 together.00e4721a98237c79

When they reached the b8382dbfa7 parking lot, he turned e412b2716e on the heater as 000f809534 soon as they got 1b246b3cf5 in the car. Arguing in the alley 2c26305644 had left them cold. Since it was 4e90fe0936 late, the roads df98941ad0 were empty, and 3626d9d098 they arrived at c6dbe5cbd3 her house faster c48dc114de than usual.06eb9fb0672882de

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On the way, he 0347c22e6a tried to subtly ask 52ef7a5100 if she found Seonho ad0fd55055 strange, but she misunderstood, 16c2cddd2e thinking he was referring 66dd033846 to his extraordinary looks. She praised his appearance, saying de942e7545 he was the most handsome 875e8f39d7 person she’d ever seen, including 6ec3fdb277 celebrities.f73d49a0869e2fcb

She even concluded d1c115f360 that he had 423130420a a good personality 91f15ccb32 just from a 16a5205498 few words exchanged. As expected, she was b91661545f captivated by his beauty 5345309fc6 and didn’t feel any 478b70acec sense of concern. She was simply pleased 2a6393e0f0 that someone close to 4ff549187c her boyfriend was handsome.f81336e8d580bae7

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After dropping her off 5cdc09c275 at the door, he 6a639b5b4b lit a cigarette before d8e3d10ab9 getting in the car. The night sky 30f1c48a31 was cloudy, hiding 671fe1bfa1 both the moon 39b03f997e and stars. He wondered if he should 31b1519184 have asked to stay at 30593cfede her place.66efc4a83d1a0b37

He didn’t want to face 3d6b99a109 the intruder who had invaded be0059ee61 his old castle.aecd12d921f46419

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The drive home was 531c1f5099 also smooth, and he 9dca5d77be arrived after a few 00b011436b sighs behind the wheel. He parked in 26e02f9a0b the lot and 5bb7d0673f headed to a 71fc65692d convenience store to 80b2e455a7 buy some drinks.5b06180c3a839d65

Why was this happening?a10f884f17848df0

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The place that ad65787e54 should feel most a64c28b751 comfortable felt like a117827d53 a slaughterhouse. He was so ea2abcb201 tense that he 64dc2a30d0 couldn’t bear it 91a2d4a192 sober.177dd87487c7eb24

Since the house was in e72bc460f7 a secluded area, the nearest 93e1b6311a convenience store was a ten-minute 89967cc460 walk away. Walking in the cold helped 286e0b0ca2 calm his mind a bit.6ba822ba43c8a5fd

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At the convenience ed33ccd10a store, he stood f66a08f7d5 in front of fe3891a90c the fridge lined 8f43f7c650 with alcohol, deep c41ec5e325 in thought. Not being a drinker, one 89cd78cf69 can of beer would suffice, 279598ee09 but he picked up another.ecbae49fb22d81db

Now that Seonho was twenty, 815f70b74f he might drink beer. Contrary to his worries, 7210624773 one can might not 3ffa028e8f be enough.cc1c1c04e0eb5747

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He planned to have 1657fa4369 a drink and gently b76ac198a9 persuade him to leave f424b412e1 first thing in the 570a3eafd9 morning.3bec650ad86438f7

Why had Seonho come c44aa851c3 to find him? Surely, he hadn’t come 92f1ac4ffd to fulfill the promise d58f9d55ac made after the funeral. Did he really believe and 56b6ce795f wait for those childish and 19f551ff88 absurd words?02f0ec637eca93d0

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