"Why do you keep picking a fight since earlier?"
My talented kid is speaking earnestly, but it's causing a commotion. By now, it seems putting on a show like this is one of his talents.
Hamin, who seems to have no intention of answering the question, raises his eyebrows, pulling Haru's shirt towards him. With a smirk, Hamin changes the hand Haru caught to a fist.
"I can't stand watching this nonsense. Are you guys shooting a drama or something? Long-lost lovers, perhaps?"
It's been chaotic since last time.
The discontent in his tone was nerve-wracking. Haru, surprised, widens his eyes and lowers his head at the mention of lovers. Sihyun, who had briefly been embarrassed, quickly understood. Through his entire school life, he knew that kids their age hated being mistaken for lovers with their friends.
"Stop talking nonsense."
"…!"
When Haru denies it calmly, Hamin, who was taken aback, looks at him. While facing his gaze, Sihyun, who tilted his head, caught Hamin's attention by opening his mouth.
"So, are you okay?"
"With what?"
"The sea. Are you okay?"
"Ah..."
After doing all sorts of unpleasant things, they're still worried.
"It's still okay."
"Don't overdo it."
Don't keep matching your brother's ups and downs.
Gently pushing Haru back and stepping away, Hamin leans over and adds as if whispering. When he glances at what he's saying, Haru, with purple eyes full of annoyance, looks down at the mention of lovers. Hamin, who continued to insult his brother quite a bit, stiffened. Sihyun, who had also been hearing insults about his brother, had a casual expression, not caring when someone popular walks around. Haru's head turned slowly to look at Hahyeok when he heard the thin laughter.
"What a funny story."
"…."
Hamin, who had been insulting his brother thoroughly, froze. Sihyun, who had seen his brother insulted by others, was the same. People should show some signs of popularity, and he, who knows not when he came out of the car, stood behind them with a nonchalant expression. Hamin, who turned his head slowly, looked at Hayeok. Hayeok's violet eyes gently curved.
"It seems like things are not so bad between you two since I brought him because it seemed like he was regretting it."
"…."
"Stop talking like that. It's annoying."
"Is that so?"
Glancing at Hamin, who was insulted by his brother, Sihyun, who had hidden Hamin behind him in an instant, looked at Hayeok. In a moment, it happened. Looking at the scene, Haru, who blinked once, let out a thin laugh.
"What kind of situation is this again?"
Suddenly hiding Hamin behind him and facing me with a mocking smile, Sihyun seemed amused. Haru, who was watching him stare at him, changed his gaze to the small guy like a snake. For a moment, the air around them seemed to drop by about 2 degrees.
Hahyeok's atmosphere had felt intimidating before, but it had never been as bad as this time. If he had left his gaze and voice as they were, something ominous and unpleasant might have happened. Sihyun, who was wondering whether he should be relieved that he prevented it or regretted that he should have dealt with it instead, narrowed his eyes and slowly swallowed his breath. His persistent gaze seemed to stick to the thin neck moving lightly up and down.
"When you're like this, it seems like I've become a really bad person."
He spoke gently, not losing his laughter.
"So, am I a good person?"
"How does it look to you?"
"I don't know."
The introduction to Hamin that was written in the character description came to mind. He remembered the day when he called his brother's name like a nightmare and the Hamin who had become even more solid than he is now. He hesitated for a long time whether it was right to pull out the safety pin now that he is about to start the bomb-like conversation.
As if lost in thought, when his blue eyes sank, Hahyeok asked if it was difficult to answer. Sihyun, who was contemplating two choices, eventually concluded that it was right to keep the safety pin in place.
"I hope you're a good person."
"Am I a good person to you, at least? No one in the world is a good person to everyone. To some, I must be a bad person."
It was a reasonable statement. However, Sihyun couldn't easily affirm it, thinking that Hamin, who Hahyeok excluded, might also be among those few. That kind of thought was heard at that moment.
"Now, Sihyun looks like a good person, but to someone, he might seem like a murderer."
"…."
"Isn't that right?"
His eyes narrowed like a hedgehog poked in a sensitive place.
As Sihyun's eyes formed a slightly upward curve, Hayeok chuckled lightly. Despite talking about murderers, he seemed surprisingly nonchalant, almost as if he had just engaged in an ordinary conversation.
"Is your body okay? I parked you on the road, thinking it might be awkward near the sea. I hope it was helpful."
"..."
"Just borrowed it for a while; it seems peaceful and quiet here, almost like a place for recuperation."
Sihyun gave a perplexed look as the man spoke gracefully, making it sound like a conversation between acquaintances. He observed someone living a life quite distant from his own, and the confusion he had felt moments ago surfaced again. Until now, he had been scratching the surface of his own thoughts, but now, he appeared to be concerned about something.
The man proved himself to be someone who could hide his emotions and reveal them at will. Sihyun sighed, knowing well that bringing such a person close might not be a wise decision. What was the reason behind encountering someone like him, a snake, and his brother Hayeok, a bear, in the same family?
The discomfort he felt from the word "murderer" lasted only a moment. Deciding that a prolonged conversation might not be a good idea, Sihyun replied that everything was fine after collecting his thoughts. It felt as if the tension in the air, which had been building up, was dissipating, and simultaneously, Hayeok's phone started vibrating.
Thinking it might be a text or an alert, he placed the phone near his ear. After receiving the call, he closed his eyes, exhaling as if exhausted. Sihyun watched him with suspicion, wondering about the content of the message. After a while, Hayeok ended the call and caught the eye of Hayu, who had been quietly observing the conversation. Their actions were identical, as if both were born to be siblings.
"Something came up, so I'll take Hayu for a while. Is it okay for you two to stay here alone?"
"What's going on?"
"Nothing major. It seems our father, who went overseas, has returned."
"Oh..."
If it was Hayeok's father, wasn't he the chairman of S Corporation? Sihyun recalled what he had asked Hayeok to do.
"Is there a problem?"
"If nothing happens. He might come back or not, so if it gets late, I'll send a car for you."
Hayeok, checking the time, suggested leaving soon. Hayu, who seemed unaware of the situation, suddenly looked surprised and stared at Hayeok and Sihyun alternately. His crimson eyes seemed to be reluctant. Sihyun pondered whether he should return early since there were things to handle, but considering Hayu's current state, today seemed to be one of the rare good days. What should he do? Lost in thought, Hayeok unexpectedly brought up the conversation.
"We rarely come to the beach, so why don't the two of us have a chat? I interrupted earlier, so let's make up for it."
Casually acknowledging that he had interfered, Hayeok smiled. It was almost as if he wanted to show that their conversation was just as ordinary as talking with him.
"Shouldn't you be careful? You're so lacking in caution."
"Why start a quarrel again?"
Despite attempting reconciliation, it seemed they were heading towards another argument. Sihyun, who thought Hayeok might push him off the railing, looked down at the sea behind him and let out a forced laugh. If he wanted to fall from here, he'd have to do it deliberately; it wasn't as simple as just accidentally falling.
Overprotectiveness had its limits. Sihyun, who was considering whether it was necessary to be held so closely by a 17-year-old, suddenly remembered the purpose of this conversation, which he had almost forgotten. Why had he, a snake-like person, been born as a brother to Hayeok, a bear-like person?
The discomfort of being alone together, something he had overlooked when everyone was present, now enveloped him. He hadn't figured out where to start the conversation. At first, he thought it was better to reconcile, but now it seemed that a prolonged conversation might not be a good idea. Sighing, he gathered his thoughts after dealing with the inner turmoil. The moment he wondered what words might lead to reconciliation, Hayeok opened his mouth.
"Speak."
"What?"
"This isn't about forcing yourself to talk if you have something you want to say. I see you're curious, so don't hold back; just say it."
As soon as those words were spoken, Hayeok's phone flashed. Looking at it with sleepy eyes, he raised his head and gazed at Sihyun. Their eyes locked for a long moment. Sihyun was convinced that now was the time to tie up the loose ends of the conversation that took place a month ago.
Starting with asking if he was still angry, apologizing for what happened, and then expressing his plan to inquire about Hayeok – these were the steps Sihyun had prepared. Just as he opened his mouth to begin, Hayeok's phone glittered. With a careful glance, he confirmed it, and then raised his head to look at Sihyun. The gaze lingered for a long time. Sihyun was sure that now was the moment to conclude this conversation.
As if he was about to say he was still angry, apologize for last time, and express his intentions to inquire about Hayeok, Sihyun opened his mouth. However, before he could speak, Hayeok swiftly intervened.
"Instead, if you want an answer, make me your next partner."
His parted lips were sealed shut.
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