"Hyung... are you gay?"
Yuwon's eyes widened at the sudden question, the words slicing through the silence like a blade. Before he could react, Taekho stepped closer, his eyes locked onto him with unsettling calm.
"Your skin is so soft," Taekho murmured. "And you've never had a girlfriend in your life."
Yuwon, slightly drunk and caught off guard, shook his head. "Tae... I'm not gay."
But Taekho only closed the distance further, until Yuwon's back pressed against the cold wall behind him. His voice dropped, slow and deliberate.
"Then why do you blush every time I take off my shirt?"
Taekho leaned in, his mouth just a breath away from Yuwon's ear. His warm breath ghosted over Yuwon's skin, making his entire body tense.
Yuwon's face flushed deep red. "Tae... go to your room. It's late."
But Taekho smiled—confident, knowing.
"Hyung... why do you keep refusing me? I know you want me."
His hand slid around Yuwon's waist, pulling him close, his voice now a whisper against his neck.
"Look how your body reacts."
Yuwon's heart pounded in his chest, his breath shaky. He knew he was losing control. Taekho's fingers gently traced along his lips, slow and teasing.
And then... they kissed.
The soft morning light poured in through the window, casting a warm glow over Yuwon's bare skin. Faint marks from the night before painted his body, a reminder of what had happened—what he had let happen.
His eyes fluttered open.
He was in Taekho's arms.
Yuwon's breath caught when he turned slightly and saw Taekho already awake, eyes silently watching him.
His heart skipped a beat.
What... what did I do?
Taekho gave a slow, dangerous smile. "Morning, Hyung."
Yuwon sat up in a panic, pulling the blanket around himself. His hands trembled slightly.
Taekho sat up too and wrapped his arms around him.
Yuwon pushed him away, unsure of what to say—how to react.
"Hyung, what are you doing?" Taekho asked, brows furrowed.
Yuwon didn't answer. He quickly reached down to grab his clothes scattered on the floor. But before he could stand, Taekho grabbed his wrist.
Then—a knock on the door.
"Yuwon? Wake up, you're late for work," Miyoung's voice called from outside.
Yuwon's eyes widened. He hurried to put on his clothes and tossed Taekho's to him.
Another knock.
"Yuwon?"
"I'm coming!" Yuwon called out, voice shaky. He quickly opened the door, trying to keep himself composed.
Miyoung looked at him, then glanced into the room—where Taekho was still lying on the bed, half-covered by the blanket.
"You overslept today," she said with a kind smile.
Yuwon's breath quickened. "I'm... I just need to get ready."
He grabbed a towel and rushed to the bathroom.
Miyoung turned to Taekho. "Tae, baby... you should sleep in your own room."
Taekho sat up and grinned. "Mama, I like sleeping with Hyung."
Miyoung chuckled softly. "Oh, Tae baby, you love your Hyung so much. Now go get ready, I already set the breakfast on the table."
Taekho nodded and slid off the bed, heading toward his own room without a word.
The whole family had gathered at the breakfast table. Miyoung placed a tray of freshly made kimchi pancakes in the center and glanced toward the hallway.
"Why is Yuwon taking so long?" she muttered, pouring juice into glasses.
Just then, Yuwon finally came out of his room, freshly dressed but clearly tense. Taekho was already seated, munching on toast, trying to act innocent.
Yuwon walked over and sat down in the chair beside him—but as he lowered himself, he flinched, his breath hitching ever so slightly.
Miyoung noticed immediately.
"Yuwon, are you okay? You seem unwell today."
Before Yuwon could answer, Taekho smirked and spoke up cheerfully, "Mama, Hyung hit his back."
"Huh?" Miyoung blinked in confusion.
Taekho leaned closer to Yuwon and whispered near his ear, his voice low and teasing. "Or maybe... he hit his bottom."
Yuwon's face turned crimson. He stood up abruptly, avoiding eye contact with both of them. "Mom, I'm fine. I'm just getting late."
"But breakfast—" Miyoung started.
"I'll eat at the office," Yuwon blurted out, already grabbing his bag and heading toward the door.
The door shut behind him a second later.
At the table, Yuwon's older brother, Yuhwan, looked up from his phone. "Mom, I think he's going crazy from all the workload. He was drunk when he got home last night."
Miyoung sighed, placing a hand over her heart. "Ah.... my poor son."
At the office, Yuwon sat quietly at his desk, eyes staring blankly out the window. The city moved busily outside, but inside his head, all he could hear were his own thoughts.
His fingers curled slightly on the desk.
Six years ago...
He could still remember the first time he saw Taekho.
---
He was only thirteen back then—just a kid. He stood at the doorstep, holding my mother's hand, with that small, innocent face. He looked so fragile, so lost.
He came from one of Korea's richest and most dangerous families. His father, Yoon Kyungsoo, was the leader of the infamous Noir Serpent mafia group. His mother, Shin Hyesun, had been killed... murdered by a house servant.
That day, Taekho had survived by a miracle.
My mother—Han Miyoung—was Hyesun's childhood best friend. That bond... it brought Taekho into our home. Mr. Kyungsoo had trusted my mom enough to send his only son to us for safety, away from the bloodstained world he ruled.
And my mom loved him. She took care of him like her own son.
I remember how he was back then... cold, distant, and quiet. He barely spoke to anyone. He was rude sometimes—not because he meant to be, but because he didn't know how to handle the pain.
Except with me.
With me, he opened up.
I took care of him. Held his hand when he had nightmares. Made him laugh when he cried after doing something wrong. He was such a cute, soft little boy. I was proud to call him my little brother.
And now...
Yuwon swallowed hard and shut his eyes.
Now I'm the big brother who slept with his little brother.
"Yuwon. Yuwon!"
Lee Jiha's voice snapped him out of his thoughts.
Yuwon blinked and turned his head. "Yes, Jiha?"
Jiha laughed lightly. "You look like a lost puppy. Why do you seem so out of it today?"
"I'm okay, Jiha," Yuwon replied, his voice low.
Jiha tilted her head with a teasing smile. "You drank way too much last night. I had to call your little brother to come pick you up. He came right away. You should've seen how worried he was. He really cares about you."
Yuwon didn't respond. His eyes drifted back to the window, unfocused.
Jiha chuckled again. "He's seriously handsome. Nineteen and already has that kind of body? So tall, muscular—he could be a model."
"Yuwon. Yuwon!" Jiha called again.
Yuwon snapped back. "Jiha, go back to your seat. I need to finish this work."
"How rude!" Jiha pouted before standing up. "Fine, Mr. Coldface. I'm leaving."
She walked away with a playful roll of her eyes.
Yuwon leaned forward, resting his elbows on the desk. He tried to concentrate, tried to focus on the reports in front of him—but his thoughts kept slipping back.
"Hyung, are you gay?"
Taekho's voice echoed in his mind like a broken record.
Yuwon clenched his jaw.
How... how did he know?
Meanwhile, in his classroom, Taekho sat silently at his desk, the lecture long forgotten.
His eyes were fixed on his phone screen.
A photo of Yuwon—sleepy-eyed, hair messy from bed—filled the display. It was a picture he'd secretly taken that morning.
A soft smile tugged at his lips.
"Hyung… you look even more adorable without clothes," he whispered to himself.
He set the phone down gently on the desk, the screen dimming as he lowered his head onto his folded arms.
His mind drifted—back to six years ago.
---
It was the first day he'd stepped into the Jeong family's cozy home.
His small hand clutched Han Miyoung's tightly, his eyes wide and cautious, body stiff with nerves. He didn't trust anyone. He didn't want to be there.
Then someone knelt in front of him.
A warm palm gently patted his head.
"You can call me Hyung, little Tae," the boy said with a soft smile.
That was Yuwon.
Kind. Gentle. Calm.
The first person who made him feel safe.