Han woke up around 6 p.m., his head resting on Seungmin's arm.
The realization hit him sharply — he immediately sat up, worried.
"I'm sorry— your arm… is it okay?"
Seungmin smiled softly, brushing it off.
"It's fine. Did you sleep well?"
He gave a small nod, too tired to form words.
Seeing that, Seungmin's smile grew warmer.
"Good. Get ready — Seokmin cooked dinner."
Then he walked out, leaving Him alone with his thoughts.
He looked around the room. Clothes hung neatly near the wardrobe — all perfectly arranged, just like Seungmin's life. He forced himself to get up, took a hot shower, and slipped into a suit before joining them outside.
The moment He stepped out, Seokmin sprinted toward him and hugged him so tightly it almost knocked him back.
"Hyung… you're finally up!"
Before He could return the affection, Seungmin rushed over and separated them, tugging Han back to his side.
Seokmin frowned deeply, crossing his arms like a sulky child.
"What's your problem, Seungmin? Why can't I hug him? I knew him before you did!"
Then he grabbed Han's hand gently and looked up with pleading eyes.
"Tell him, hyung. You love me more, right?"
Panic creeped into Han's chest.
He forced a laugh, "I love you both."
But Seungmin — he didn't laugh.
His eyes were cold… empty… demanding.
"Don't you love me more?" he asked quietly.
Pressure wrapped around Han's throat like a tightening rope. He didn't know how to breathe — how to choose — how to destroy someone who had once been his whole world.
Inside, he screamed:
I want to say I hate you.
But how can I hate someone I spent years loving?
How do you I immediately unlove someone I loved for my whole life.?
Yet his mouth betrayed him.
"I… love you more than anything else."
The relief in Seungmin's eyes was instant — and devastating.
Because in that moment Han realized… breaking up wouldn't be easy.
Not for Seungmin.
And not for Han.
Seokmin pouted dramatically.
"Then there's no food for you! Go home!"
Han's heart sank.
"Seokmin… I love you. I really do."
"Yeah, but not more than him," Seokmin shot back, turning away.
Han sighed, guilt twisting inside him.
Seokmin finally softened and waved him over.
"It's okay. Come sit and eat. I'll just write in my diary…
'I lost my mother today because he said he loves his boyfriend more than me.'"
Han groaned under his breath.
This family would be the death of him.
"Enough drama," Seungmin snapped.
"Let him eat."
He guided Han to the table, serving him food with a tenderness that only made Han feel worse.
Then — Han's phone rang.
He quickly answered,
"Yeah— Jun?"
"Jihan, where the hell are you?! Only four days left before the match and you're out enjoying life while I'm stuck with these idiots! Get here now!"
Han winced, glancing at both brothers, then replied quietly,
"Give me twenty minutes. I'm coming."
He hung up before they could hear Jun curse again.
He scarfed down the last bites of dinner, grabbed his jacket.
"I'll leave now."
"I'll drop you," Seungmin offered.
"It's fine," Han said too fast — too cold.
"You stay. I'll go alone."
Han left with a tight jaw and a heart full of exhaustion.
---
At practice, everyone was focused — except Chaewon.
He kept glancing at Han, reading the sadness hiding behind his forced smile.
He slowly walked over.
"Hyung… are you okay?"
Han nodded, smiling too quickly.
"Yeah. I'm fine."
But Chaewon knew lies.
And Han's eyes were full of them.
---
They trained again the next day. Han pushed himself too hard — running, joking, talking to everyone — anything to avoid thinking.
But emotional exhaustion has a deadline.
He couldn't outrun his life.
He couldn't pretend forever.
He thought about Jisoo — the only person who told him the truth.
Maybe he needed to talk again.
Maybe someone needed to hear him break.
After training, he dropped Chaewon home.
"I'll be late. Eat and sleep, okay?"
Chaewon nodded, worry clouding his eyes.
Han was slipping away — and Chaewon didn't know how to hold him.