Read the first part of the chapter here (nsfw)
***
The next day, Heewoon went to his mother’s house. Using the excuse of preparing for employment, it had been months since he last visited. It seemed like this was the first time since his graduation ceremony in February.
“Our smart son. You managed to get into a big company in one try.”
Heewoon’s mother was very happy about his job. She had already boasted about it to her friends and colleagues.
“Mom is so happy these days. Heehyun is working diligently at the company and even pays the monthly rent. Looks like he’s totally settled down.”
“That’s fortunate.”
Heewoon nodded absentmindedly. His gaze remained fixed on the air conditioner, which looked new. He didn’t know how happy his mother had been when his brother bought her the air conditioner last summer. His brother probably didn’t buy it with his mother in mind at all. Heewoon felt sorry for his mother.
But if his brother had really settled down, that was a good thing. Indeed, since last fall, his mother had been bragging about his brother more frequently. Originally, all the things Heewoon used to do were now done by his brother, so it felt like his mother didn’t need Heewoon anymore.
It felt strange, but it wasn’t all bad. There was someone else who needed him more than his mother did.
“Do you feel hot, Heewoon? Hasn’t it been a bit hot since last week?”
“Not really. It’s not that hot.”
Despite Heewoon shaking his head, his mother fixed the fan towards him. There had been a few times when Heewoon sent money to his mother, but each time, she sent it back, saying she didn’t need it.
Heewoon glanced at the air conditioner on the wall. Now that he also had a job, would she accept the money if he sent it? Or perhaps she would still prefer his brother providing it?
“You should come a bit earlier. I was going to make a delicious lunch for you.”
“I overslept.“
Heewoon slept until lunchtime passed, only to be awakened by Kangwoo’s touch. Heewoon could barely open his eyes. He had seriously considered not coming because his whole body ached from the torment of the night before, but knowing that his mother had waited for him, he had no choice but to come.
As Heewoon sipped the sweet iced coffee his mother had made, he looked at the clock. It was almost 5 pm already.
“Well then, what about dinner? Do you want to eat before you leave?”
“No, I’m going out to eat with Kangwoo for dinner.”
“I see…”
His mother made a slightly awkward expression when Kangwoo was mentioned. But Heewoon didn’t hide anything about Kangwoo. After all, Kangwoo was the one who saved their life, he wasn’t someone to hide away.
“Have dinner together with Hyung.”
“Your brother has gone camping since yesterday. He’ll probably come back late. He seems to have taken a liking to camping these days and goes often.”
Heewoon nodded. It was a topic he wasn’t interested in at all, but he tried his best to play along.
His mother seemed to have noticed that Heewoon disliked his brother, as they hadn’t met each other in a while. Ah, upon further thought, his brother had often cursed Heewoon in front of his mother, so she seemed a bit concerned.
So, Heewoon thought he wouldn’t get to meet his brother today, but unexpectedly, he showed up. His mother also seemed surprised, glancing at the clock with a puzzled look.
“You’re still here, this brat.”
Heehyun, who pushed open the sliding door harshly, glared at Heewoon. His appearance wasn’t like when he had just returned from the Philippines, but he still looked almost as skinny as he did back then.
Woo Heehyun stared at the fair face staring back at him and continued.
“Hey. Come out and let’s talk.”
“What’s the matter?”
Heewoon asked as he sat still. His mother cautiously asked Heehyun.
“You two aren’t fighting, are you?”
“What’s there to fight with a little punk who can’t lift a finger like him? I have something to talk about.”
Heewoon felt like there was nothing to talk about between him and his brother, but he stood up obediently. Anyway, it was almost time for Kangwoo to pick him up soon, so it would be better to be outside.
“Mom, I’ll talk to Hyung and then leave.”
“Oh, okay. Heewoon, don’t fight with your brother.“
As Heewoon followed Heehyun outside, he heard his mother making sure with him from behind. Heewoon sighed.
When they stepped into the yard, the air had cooled down as evening approached. Heewoon had expected his brother to talk in the yard. However, as soon as they came out, his brother looked at the closed front door and gate with a frustrated expression and bluntly asked.
“Is that bastard coming?”
“What?”
“That fucking homo boyfriend of yours, is he coming?”
Heewoon frowned, feeling offended.
“If he comes, then what?”
As Heehyun looked away in frustration and grumbled a curse under his breath, he tousled his hair and then turned away.
“What time is that bastard coming? Let’s talk elsewhere for now.”
Heewoon always knew his brother was odd, but right now, he seemed particularly strange. Heewoon followed him with a suspicious gaze.
After passing several small alleys, they arrived at an empty parking lot outside the gate, and then Heehyun turned around.
“For fuck’s sake, I’m going through this hard work because of you…”
Heewoon watched his brother rubbing his face and wondered what he was talking about, considering he had just returned from camping.
“Hey, don’t you know anything about that bastard’s weaknesses?”
“…”
“What? You don’t know? Fuck, gonna die at this rate.”
“Who?”
Heewoon stared blankly at his brother and asked. His brother chuckled as if he couldn’t believe this, then quickly wiped the smile off his face and said.
“Don’t you have any idea what your lover’s been up to?”
Well, he didn’t know exactly what, but he had a general idea. Heewoon blinked.
“He’s been threatening me since last year.”
“Oh…”
Heewoon didn’t know that.
“If I mess up, he says he’ll kill me, Mom, and everyone else…”
“But he doesn’t.”
Heewoon cut Heehyun’s sentence.
“What?”
“Kangwoo won’t touch Mom.”
Kangwoo had promised to not do anything to his mother for years now.
At Heewoon’s firm attitude, his brother burst into a hollow laughter. He laughed emptily for a moment, then suddenly grabbed Heewoon by the collar fiercely.
“This damn bastard, really…”
Heehyun raised his fist in the air, then flinched and stopped. It was because he was reminded of the chilling gaze. “Ah, fuck.” He spat out a curse and roughly let go of Heewoon’s collar.
At that moment, Heewoon remembered last summer when his brother had slapped him. And that Kangwoo had witnessed that. Had Kangwoo been threatening his brother since then?
“Asshole. You don’t even know what kind of guy you’re with.”
Heewoon opened his mouth after seeing Heehyun’s mockful attitude.
“Worry about your own business.”
If you don’t want to die.
With an indifferent gaze, Heewoon added softly. Whether Heehyun heard that small voice or not, his eyes lit up, and he reached out his hand.
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