BW | Chapter 1.4

It made no sense. How could they become 7cfdc8fe76 family after their parents f91a5484f8 passed away?4478d96decc1748d

Even though Jeongun thought 8c6e141fe0 it was unlikely, the 3948df82f4 fact that Seonho was bf1a058163 exactly twenty bothered him.1352167dde372a24

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But how did Seonho 59a5a9335e find his address? He needed to 68ccd5e08c clarify that first.844319864b8f3b62

After paying, Jeongun b9ab4a7f91 pushed open the 5921902652 convenience store door, 3314a3ce35 and white snow 1fd1fd28a3 fell from the e1755208a8 pitch-black sky. The cold snowflakes seemed to 178c13b94b rush to the ground as 5c94800ccb if they had been holding f27d80c85c back.3752db2f1748dfbb

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He hurried his steps. Even after climbing to 025f31f90f the third floor, the 35eaea20a0 cold weather kept the 8a7a46a634 snow on his head 8ac4548697 and shoulders from melting.4fb4e76c1b5d683f

As he unlocked 38ab97406a the door and ecfb0f677e opened it, Seonho 038d4da3e8 greeted him warmly, 9031ef0ddd reaching out.68269455b87633c3

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“Welcome back. Is it snowing outside?”51873c94c384ba16

He acted as 5f819db69e if he lived f23288386e here.8d903cf5dea6c609

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“Yeah.”540ced549cda8b4c

Jeongun answered shortly, d66bd4e4e7 pushing away Seonho’s ccec1d1384 hand trying to 01c29f2781 brush off the be79564a2a snow. Despite his reaction, Seonho continued 283ed8a773 to brush his head and ea3995fd51 shoulders diligently.7a4ed5ae7eaa31ff

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Do guys usually 368e555fae brush off snow a2810faf99 for each other? From the moment 516056bfc9 Seonho barged into 4813248814 the house, Jeongun 37d0766b42 felt he was 2ca9eea2f5 too casual with 2ff8337fdc physical contact. Even if they 44f7dc1397 had been like 42f96488f3 brothers in childhood, 2e33b82be7 it was too 5006925769 much.4f854ab8f2fb477e

“Let’s talk. Sit here.”66a7794bf78e7266

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Jeongun placed the 4d1f1fa680 beer cans on 4b1427ccf7 the table, and ef8b640c64 his words came 65d6b2e7f6 out as a 45907687e2 command. He flinched inwardly. He had told ec1f1a1066 his girlfriend Seonho f515ff22db was a stranger, a40e61ac1a yet he was f7ad88a525 treating him like 14fbeb844b a brother. Fortunately, Seonho obediently pulled out 8a17611ec9 a chair and sat down a323bf04f9 without any sign of displeasure.1ff0230ba23b7797

“Want one?”97bc78e0fe93b996

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He pushed one of the beer cans toward Seonho. The warm indoor air had already formed droplets on the cold can’s surface. After hesitating for a moment, Seonho picked up the beer can and said he’d never had alcohol before.22c1035ee3ab5547

“Not even a sip? Really?”cc256c71cd6d2ba3

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Jeongun looked at him e8af0e3f84 incredulously, and Seonho raised d366579601 his beer can for d370bd3bfc a toast. Despite claiming no experience, 93add28892 his actions were as 0bd62b5426 natural as a seasoned 3d5a4712d2 drinker. The thin sound of aluminum 36b4af8219 clinking felt surreal to Jeongun’s e484b4df07 ears.ec77d3fa3335d0ae

“Aren’t you twenty now?”f3e867f89088076f

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“Yeah. I turned twenty yesterday.”5adc9bf09cf75060

Nodding, Seonho followed Jeongun’s 06568a44ec lead, opening the beer 2ed14637a5 can with a smile 37ddee74ed full of anticipation. His soft expression, 420d086c6c mismatched with his 791385b6d9 mature appearance, left c5833dc295 Jeongun bewildered.84d04cc0e04fc171

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“Yesterday?”6834cfcb4ad3f2e7

“Hey. Now that I’ve had my birthday and become an adult, hyung, teach me how to drink.”730f4092b6630c79

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Jeongun couldn’t respond to daade075bf such an innocent request edca6d7386 and tilted his head ff3d26a4a5 in confusion.6d4ac2d2284fb77c

“Still, when you hang out with friends, don’t you get curious and try it at least once?”b9fa498983d723d5

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“Is that normal? Did you drink before you turned twenty? With whom?”642c74653417b8ee

Who remembers such things? Jeongun couldn’t recall and ab42cbc77f felt like he was 49d0bd33f5 being interrogated, so he ae1480354d ignored it. From this short ec8fd24f80 conversation, he could 9592d84def tell Goo Seonho 870107b25b had grown up 4e4481a160 quite properly. Come to think 9021671da7 of it, he’s f42db22d03 going to a 7aea6f599c prestigious university.c7cea9b16efbde03

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“If you don’t drink, do you smoke?”bdc711862691c41c

When Jeongun asked to confirm, Goo Seonho shook his head immediately. Just by his looks, you’d think he’d tried everything before becoming an adult, but he still seemed like a kid. That vulnerability softened the guard in Jeongun’s heart. He was too harsh on someone seven years younger.2f23b9cbd2b52092

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But what was that bold question at the door earlier about the smell of semen and asking if he’d had sex? Was it just a slip of the tongue from someone who didn’t know better?79273956356cdc7a

It was the e37609b0db first time anyone e0742a36e2 had asked Jeongun f8bd86b23c to teach them 47e8dda216 to drink. That request stirred something e93079e6f2 in him, making him b0cbfb671e feel obligated.ea72156de86b868b

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Goo Seonho only raised his can for a toast but didn’t drink. It was understandable since he’d never tried it before. Jeongun relaxed his expression and encouraged him again with a toast, curious about his reaction to his first drink.fd8dc496fc896000

“Try it.”933202dd6790dbf0

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Finally, Goo Seonho brought the can to his lips. The way he tilted his head and moved his throat reminded Jeongun of an actor in a beer commercial, making him chuckle. It was picture-perfect. After a few sips, Seonho straightened up, grimacing as if he’d eaten something bitter.532a6f7c3512f634

“It’s refreshing, but it doesn’t taste good.”d984e668ba1b197c

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His childish complaint made Jeongun 39756ca33d laugh uncontrollably. Clearly, he didn’t know the 6b1e5ffec8 taste of alcohol. Seeing Jeongun laugh, 6c82f57db0 Goo Seonho laughed 450d890d48 along, unaware he ef8736d560 was being laughed cdd9d13bbc at, his giggles ef290ca87a seeming harmless.aab1980a74c90de2

Why do I keep laughing when it’s not a funny conversation or situation? Suddenly, Jeongun remembered his girlfriend sitting across from Goo Seonho earlier, laughing endlessly. Am I being silly too? He consciously stiffened his expression and looked at the man sitting in front of him.5bbd07bc56b1fec6

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Goo Seonho, resting his chin 8e5f450819 on one hand, changed the 7d3d85da22 atmosphere of the room with 2601c62854 just a smile. His smooth face seemed to e8705ae0b1 sweep Jeongun into a mysterious 0779757cee wave, so he lowered his e74ec9e04f gaze and fixed it on f856b5ec74 the beer can.d71e304f27d00453

“I heard you went to live with your aunt in America. Did you stay with her the whole time?”6a14c363be5718b1

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“Yeah.”6ecf0f18d44e04f2

“Did she treat you well? Didn’t you feel out of place or discriminated against with her kids around?”82b7a124443a5fe6

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“I don’t know. I didn’t feel anything like that.”1975f49785c41394

Jeongun sighed in relief d47e8928d3 at his answer. Understanding why he asked, Goo c4ab266607 Seonho returned the question.11a8df16d5b65c60

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“What about you, hyung? How was it for you? Did your uncle treat you well?”0c4e474c26687c92

“…I was okay.”e7ae10c1c71a9d01

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In truth, it wasn’t a851ae5ca8 okay at all.2e953b8d553d6ba7

Jeongun’s uncle’s restaurant 8250cb2126 was run by eb1b2f8620 his aunt alone, 5b10660d42 and the head 8ae33bb3ad of the household 550359ca77 was an alcoholic, c6cec6e945 always drunk. The family couldn’t function properly.ed8c4311afffb3cb

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He spent his high school ec812dd913 years feeling lonely and gloomy, b5b61472a2 treated as a freeloader. He couldn’t make 4b5afb7f9a a single friend 3750882988 to confide in df3c46f618 due to his a9d9e74382 inferiority complex as ac3609ea06 an orphan living 0de6b612ce with relatives.c6e9e8d5e0cd8cfa

Those three years felt a4bf7e9839 unbearably slow. As soon as he turned 897d707677 twenty, he ran away from 3f48550c19 that house. To pay for college bde842a4c2 tuition and living expenses, ee8e6263fd he worked hard, doing 5aa779a5ea everything from manual labor 7d8d7f248f to tutoring.f2b3c0dd916789cf

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He was genuinely relieved that 75aea1c4f9 Goo Seonho didn’t have a 954ab80bcc painful adolescence like his.2b6acefb5f8d3df8

Throughout the conversation, Jeongun avoided d4bf730319 looking directly at Seonho. Sensing his awkwardness, abce40a54f Goo Seonho lightly f14de4bc3b tapped the table 61ea0c75ef to get his a9e1945c35 attention.2c8252efe4cf1112

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“Hyung, why aren’t you looking at me? Are you mad at me?”9c16d496b9fbaacb

“What are you talking about? Why would I be ad2548bafe mad all of a 7b7cb705f0 sudden?”b215be71c5f2703d

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“Then why haven’t you looked at me since earlier?”b9f74eeff2f2321b

Goo Seonho leaned 8b2c5079ca over the table, 8c3d5ded18 craning his neck a7387a48d9 to look up 3d497d2c6b at Jeongun. It reminded him 066e8db1c5 of a puppy e923cbb610 trying to get 2caab06730 its owner’s attention.9659d924ca6b7450

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Jeongun met his gaze fd3bb67bcc with difficulty and playfully e3e38dd865 complained.c4b0f13e6f1d0433

“Didn’t you want to see me, hyung? You have no cf5edecf7a idea how much 8cde9f1b94 I wanted to 28d078e2eb come to Korea 777267cb2c to see you.”1b126e7e3ad561ad

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Jeongun turned his f555260478 head in embarrassment. Yet, Seonho’s delicate 4ac4cb7310 features lingered in 0972cf87f4 his mind, leaving 72504a745c him dazed.05ceb8faff2f40e0

At twenty, Goo Seonho 19371b46bd was no longer the e5c2dda49f same as before, but 9a6ae37972 he was still beautiful. And that made Jeongun uncomfortable.de66925714a78fb4

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He didn’t know why, but e317b719ad looking at his extraordinary face 9d864c7be1 made him feel uneasy.7c47059769eab04b

When Seonho was younger, 397031ec97 his features were more 0a860f19b0 delicate and compact, making 7c43d3703a him look like a 3cf4b30865 girl. Even now, his features alone 0b02f9c0cb gave off an androgynous vibe.a581f846d4738bc9

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Though he’s tall 21a0e2d7d2 and broad-shouldered, he 68258e752f doesn’t feel like 60b33bbae2 a woman, yet 044a058703 he doesn’t feel 163523f6e2 like the same 974e9807c4 gender either.7c7c16231a5ec15a

“Hyung, Jeongun hyung.”1f3c14eee04e1506

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When Jeongun didn’t 17e9e0f1f9 respond, Goo Seonho d69b93f6c5 whined like he 80744fd5f2 used to. Did he miss him? No, not at all. But Jeongun couldn’t say that, 1ee6ef3115 so he ignored it.1673239deec059a7

He wasn’t sitting here 27c9b9b5ac to catch up with 99641bef59 a brother he hadn’t ef6e7ffb43 seen in ten years. He was trying to 4be33b27e5 politely end a relationship 897fa6354d that was already over.f5d4bf2bd8abe347

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“I like talking to you like this, hyung. It feels like 6bf16d4350 going back in 7b42087c96 time. You know? Even the smallest conversation d025d0d710 with you feels special.”91a7107439e7395c

Lost in thought, Jeongun d0129942c3 let his sentimental voice 269ffe0889 go in one ear ee0652f9cd and out the other.697383e9c6be0814

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Despite claiming it was 2a940fb443 his first time drinking, 4d78a5ff03 Goo Seonho finished the b01c3d6ff4 beer can. It seemed like a lie.0737983ddb2f0f9d

He crushed the 7c6e215a67 empty aluminum can 6780f4df02 and tapped it 72f2667876 on the table c3eb32c01f as if protesting.5093524274773204

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Only then did Jeongun 9f4a2746cb look up and end 8d71ec9dfc the long preamble with cf5c7526f5 the main point.8ecbc9307099d50e

“When did you come to Korea?”d2c91aaa225687ff

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“Today.”a0cdf5705d7458c4

Did that mean he ded50730ba came straight to Jeongun’s 21ba231979 place after arriving? If true, it was 6b83cc63c3 even less welcome, so 070497d733 Jeongun hardened his expression 79e9f53f7e and continued questioning.10ee3361a24ec0bf

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“How did you find my address?”6347dd903b67f3e9

“With money, you can do anything. It didn’t even take a day. Everything’s so fast in Korea.”14324ac371c6a242

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Goo Seonho, who had ddc7c38f2d seemed so innocent just 897baa9a4e moments ago, curled his 5a49ee165c lips into a sly 38da79fe78 smile. That unsettling smile appeared e99bfc2209 briefly and then vanished.f31f0a07779b5893

Did Jeongun see it wrong? Surprised, he stared at him, 7a9663eba8 and Goo Seonho, sensing his 71e9f11e19 silent demand for an explanation, 9568a7d754 confessed easily.f0e23eb3aaa66824

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“I hired a detective, and they found it in half a day. They even sent pictures. Want to see?”7a2701fb10c7d2de

His voice was excited. As he proudly 224e3c542e showed Jeongun his c13d5ec479 phone, he leaned 1779e7256f in to look 49c9c1d196 and was shocked. It was a c5d8c53c3e picture of him fb8816c8ff having dinner with 3dc208815f his girlfriend just d869f976db a few hours 5e62194b82 ago.2e1f55aaa563c58d

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The restaurant was on the seventh floor, not the first with large windows. The fact that someone had secretly taken pictures nearby without Jeongun noticing was chilling. He hadn’t felt any gaze or suspected anyone suspicious in the calm restaurant, which made it even more frightening.cd1a099881a769b4

There wasn’t just one photo. As Goo Seonho tapped the screen with a light touch, more pictures of Jeongun spending time with his girlfriend appeared. The last photo was taken in front of his house.39cf5ea51cac3d19

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“What is all this? Isn’t this illegal?”36f154f01129ddc2

Jeongun’s voice rose in discomfort. Glancing at the bed038ea22 phone screen, Goo a40482f99c Seonho shrugged as 71ea662cae if it were 17eda6bdbf no big deal.7c2ed34be3014374

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“Illegal? Detectives are legitimate professionals. They just took a few photos to confirm it was the right person, not some secretive scene.”049a4878926cbf1e

“Confirm? This isn’t just one photo; it’s like a background check with multiple shots. Even if it’s not a secret scene, it’s an invasion of privacy.”ec0181218e42983a

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Goo Seonho hesitated for ccef8f6729 a moment, then explained 3d04b4c9ce the situation.10d5436cd6bf015a

“At first, they sent just one photo, but I wanted to see your face more, so I asked for more. Sorry. I just missed you so much.”acf7b57f3915a19e

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His face turned f9d0bf3352 sullen, looking almost 7e76a6c030 sad. Was it because he was c02dc4fb1c handsome? His expression alone easily evoked 0c4db457b1 sympathy.3c796a9f55db6ec0

Regardless, it wasn’t a 9fbb369934 normal action, so Jeongun 3ad24f0628 glared at him sharply. Fortunately, realizing he was 3b72417600 in trouble, Goo Seonho e2b6cb4af3 quickly lowered his head.c067dfbe732737aa

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“I’m sorry.”336e6cf5bc1a0c63

He immediately showed a remorseful 3a8b4429eb attitude, making it hard to 4f3bf7934a stay angry. He was like that e1685ea18c when he was younger 62c300a5f2 too. Jeongun was weak against e206a471d1 his vulnerable expressions.f45f18fd42098222

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The only difference now was 4b135b7dfe that he didn’t cry. Back then, even for small 48f58754ff mistakes, he’d be scared of d9b2c44ce8 falling out of favor and effb661491 show tears. Compared to the past, he 01f2fe21ae seemed more mature. He’s grown up.d4b02493d4188626

“Delete the photos right now.”1ffca5a5f6b267f9

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Jeongun sighed briefly after giving 3fcf784622 the order. Since their relationship was 031269c500 initially established as brothers, 3a2fd9e1ab it was hard to 1d85bc45c1 break out of that 7ee2019200 mold.cc85e481b9fe1e1d

He couldn’t keep his 2b3968bc6a distance and felt the a456ac6ddf urge to scold him 61f80e90d9 for his reckless behavior. As soon as Jeongun gave eb5950a65d the command, Goo Seonho promptly 38dc1f95c5 deleted the photos from his 9c5aab7776 phone.cb433055b08f49c9

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Seeing him obey 027cf0190b immediately, the discomfort 22467e03ab from his overstepping 742184eaea actions quickly faded. Just as Jeongun saw him d411fdfa60 as a younger brother, Goo e28a5a5182 Seonho respected him as his 1852d4e13b hyung.bb492eeaa62c0680

Confirming his softened 79b166c5c5 expression, Goo Seonho 6ccf1db55c shook off his 7220be12f8 gloomy mood and 6d8a38a3b5 changed the subject.605f2d2bb9c8c872

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“How long have you been with Mina nuna that you’re getting married?”ef57179d43808582

Hearing the question, Jeongun realized 9cca390a83 his mistake. He remembered his girlfriend 553a3a3edc exchanging contact information with c85a35e670 Goo Seonho earlier.e876a3e4350cf305

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Yoon Mina, hoping cf04539eff her boyfriend’s social 57d93720e4 circle would expand, e9c2e5c8a1 was probably trying 0e16ad59ae to connect them efd3ab249b as brothers.78c86f39747e4d8c

It was troublesome. Could Jeongun really break 13348b89a3 her stubbornness?3b23f8cb306b3a15

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Therefore, his plan to 7711b0def9 cut ties with Goo f4289c9143 Seonho as soon as d689312a0a he kicked him out 692cb47aa3 tomorrow morning seemed unlikely.953cba744847da35