"What do you want to know? About the relationship between me and Iha Hyuk? Or why you want to form a partnership with me?"
"Both."
He answered the question directly, and as he did, he closed his mouth as if contemplating, letting out a wry smile. Sihyun, who had been quietly listening to the sound of the waves, began to wonder if he had asked too bluntly as Hamin's silence prolonged. When the awaited response finally came, Sihyun, unable to overcome the frustration, unbuttoned all the buttons of his shirt, revealing the thin T-shirt underneath.
"...We haven't been on good terms since we were young."
"Why?"
"Well..."
Hamin, who had barely spoken, swallowed his words. Both Yuseowoo and Iha Hyuk were like that. Sihyun frowned, thinking that maybe he shouldn't have asked so recklessly. When Hamin finally spoke, Sihyun, who couldn't stand the awkwardness, raised an eyebrow.
"Hyung and I didn't get along well since we were young."
"Why?"
"I don't know."
Hamin barely opened his mouth, struggling to find words. Sihyun furrowed his brows, giving Hamin a look that asked if that was the end. He hadn't waited to hear such a trivial conversation.
Persistently staring at him, Hamin reached out his hand as if to say, "Stop looking," covering Sihyun's face. His nose, lips, and everything else pressed against his palm. Feeling uncomfortable with his entire face covered by one hand, Sihyun grabbed it and pulled it down.
"Don't joke around, just keep talking."
"What's the use of having such a small face?"
"Stop beating around the bush."
I'm not giving in to you.
Sihyun wasn't as simple as Hamin when it came to careless and irrelevant remarks. Tsk, the sound of his tongue clicking echoed as he tilted his chin as if to say, "Speak."
"Don't change the subject."
"I won't."
"What?"
"I was just not interested. Because I only showed favor to people with value."
"...That seems plausible."
Thinking of the first time he met Hahyeok, Sihyun subtly agreed. Hahyeok clearly only spoke to me, even though there were other kids around.
"My family was strict, but my brother was talented. I didn't have much innate talent, so I always received either of the two treatments when I was at home. Either being compared to my brother or being ignored. No one cared about me."
Sihyun quietly listened to Hamin's past as he shrugged his shoulders. He must have lived in a very big house since his father was the chairman of an S Corporation. In a house where no one cared for him. Without experiencing the warmth of family properly.
"How old were you then?"
"I don't know. Five years old? There's nothing to talk about from the time I started talking onwards."
He chuckled self-deprecatingly.
"What could a little kid who couldn't tell right from wrong do there?"
"You still can't tell right from wrong."
"Want to fight?"
"...Keep talking."
As Sihyun tried a noncommittal joke that didn't warrant a response, he became uneasy and cleared his throat. A strange look reached him. Eventually, Hamin continued.
"I was intentionally causing trouble since no one paid attention to me. When people saw me causing trouble, they called my name. I got angry, but at least they called my name."
"And?"
"I didn't mind that. I intentionally caused more trouble. Since I was branded as a troublemaker at home, my brother finally came. He said he would take charge of my education from now on if he was going to be my older brother."
Sihyun quietly heard about Hamin's past, who shrugged off his rebellious period. If his father was the chairman of an S Corporation, he must have lived in a very large house. In a house where no one cared for him. Without experiencing the warmth of family properly.
"How did you resist then?"
"I couldn't resist when I was scared. I tried to rebel in my own way, but it was useless."
It was useless.
Hamin, who had been staring at the sea, turned his eyes to Sihyun. So, Sihyun did not ask what kind of education he had received, except for when I was joking. Because Hamin's gaze, which had always been on the sea while talking, now turned to him.
"So be careful."
"With what?"
"Hahyeok is skillful at manipulating people's emotions. He's good at mentally and physically pressuring to the point where you might think dying is better."
"...."
"Killing is even easier."
Hamin, who whispered, is now being watched by Hahyeok, but he advised to be careful because you never know what will happen later. Sihyun, who realized that the conversation was over, lowered his eyes to think about the information he had received from Hamin. Hamin silently watched him with a look that seemed unfamiliar.
"I've never told anyone... Why was I able to tell you?"
Lowering his gaze, long eyelashes emphasizing his blue eyes, he looked at Hamin with a puzzled expression.
"I think I know."
"What?"
Gyawoot, Sihyun's head tilted slightly, and his purple eyes sank deep. Hamin's fingertips twitched. The moment Sihyun, who had made a contract with Hayuk to save Ban Haru, the guy trapped at the bottom of the dog-like research lab, came to mind, the expression on Haru's face when he looked like he made it up appeared.
What I witnessed from behind was a scene straight out of a heroic movie, a masterpiece moment. It's not common, is it? The protagonist rescuing a helpless person from the forces of evil. Something like that.
The feeling of my heart pounding loudly when I saw that scene still lingered in my chest. So, unintentionally, I found myself looking forward to it.
Perhaps he might save himself as well.
Unconsciously, thoughts like that pushed aside the stories I had suppressed and kept to myself, allowing me to spill them out in response to Sihyun's question. Even though it might not be entirely true.
Even if he concealed the deepest parts.
Just the fact that he talked about his past to someone for the first time was a significant change for him.
Thinking that way, Hamin suddenly looked at Sihyun's shoulders. The shoulders coming into view were too small. Small enough to break with a light tap. As he wondered what he was expecting from someone like that, Hamin, who had a somewhat absurd expression, exhaled a breath that seemed wistful.
With a sigh of resignation, Hamin was in the midst of releasing his aspirations when Sihyun, with an expression on his face, unexpectedly flicked Hamin's forehead.
"Ah! Damn!"
Feeling the curse resonating in his throat, Hamin, wrapping his forehead, jumped up. He opened his eyes and stared at Sihyun. Sihyun, who kicked Hamin's forehead coolly with a calm expression, looked at him with eyes filled with dissatisfaction.
"Why are you laughing at people and shaking your head as if it's hopeless all of a sudden?"
"Is that something you should say so bluntly? Why kick someone without even being a back-alley thug? Why kick people?"
"Because you make that person feel bad. Whatever it is, think about it alone. If you're going to do it, do it without showing it. If you don't have tact."
"..."
Hamin stiffened as if his vital point had been hit. Seeing Sihyun still holding his foot, Hamin, who was still thinking about retaliating, was tapped on the shoulder by Sihyun. It was necessary to change the subject.
"Is the conversation over?"
"...Yeah."
"Then why do you want to partner with me?"
"Are you forced by your brother to do it?"
He brought up a question that he had half-convinced himself of. Given Hahyuk's interest in me, Hamin's request for a partnership might be related to him.
Even though the actions of both Hahyuk and Hamin seemed significant, it was awkward. Hamin, who was staring at me without wavering, finally removed his coat, and Sihyun stared at him in a dumbfounded manner.
"If you want to know, partner with me once."
"What?"
It became a task to undertake. Since I didn't know how someone could find out something I didn't even know myself, I couldn't help but make a puzzled expression. When I looked back after a short while, Hamin, who had pulled out the hem of the clothes held by Sihyun, opened his mouth.
"At first."
"..."
"At first, that's how it was. I didn't have any interest in you."
The hand that had grabbed the hem fell. The sudden silence was broken by the distant cry of seagulls flying overhead. Hamin turned around when it seemed like the cries of the seagulls were scattered in the air.
"Think about it. I'm not forcing you to partner with me. If pity affects your choice, then at least do that."
With these calm words, Hamin walked away. Sihyun, who was still looking at him without shaking, was tapped on the shoulder by Hamin, who had been caught by Sehyun, stopping him.
"If you're curious, try partnering with me."
"You again..."
"It's not a condition this time, so don't misunderstand."
Trying to repeat the same mistake, Hamin was interrupted when he was about to argue. When he looked at Sihyun with a questioning look, Hamin, who had pulled out the coat caught by Sehyun, opened his mouth.
"I'm not sure either, so find out for yourself by being by my side."
"What?"
Though I obtained all the answers I aimed for, something felt odd.
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