(In Evening)
[Kang villa]
Downstairs, the family sat around the long dining table. The clinking of utensils echoed faintly in the stiff silence. No one dared to speak much every bite felt heavier than it should.
Upstairs,
Jihyun lay on the bed, pale but calm. Minjoon sat beside him, quietly holding his hand.
"Hyung, go eat," Jihyun said softly.
"I'm really fine."
Minjoon shook his head.
"You never take care of yourself.
I always tell you to... but why you never listen."
His tone cracked slightly. He lowered his head, staring blankly at the floor.
"Hyung I do but I don't know why it's happening "
Minjoon lowered his head, staring blankly at the floor.
Jihyun turned his eyes to the ceiling, his voice distant.
"Hyung… don't you miss when we were kids?
The way Mom and Dad used to make everything feel so warm?"
A short pause.
"But now they're gone… and we're just here, left all alone."
Minjoon didn't reply, only hummed faintly, his thumb brushing the edge of Jihyun's blanket leg's shacking hand trembling.
The door opened quietly. Taewon entered, followed by Taehyun.
Taehyun stepped forward first.
"How are you feeling?"
"I'm good," Jihyun answered with a small nod.
Then Taewon moved closer, helping Jihyun sit up.
"Careful," he murmured, supporting his back.
He picked up the bowl from the side table and began feeding him spoon by spoon.
Minjoon watched them quietly. His face unreadable.
"Minjoon,"
Taehyun said gently,
"let's go down and get some rest."
Minjoon looked at him, then at Jihyun.
"Hyung, you should rest,"
Jihyun said softly. "Taewon's here with me."
After a moment,
Minjoon nodded, stood, and left the room with Taehyun.
As soon as the door closed behind them, Taehyun wrapped an arm around Minjoon's shoulder.
"You should really sleep,you seem tired " he said quietly.
Across the hall,
Mrs. Kang and Taemi were standing at the railing, watching the two from a distance. Their eyes met briefly.
Mrs. Kang's tone was calm but firm.
"Minjoon, this will be your room," she said, pointing to one door.
"And that one is Taehyun's."
Before Minjoon could reply, Taehyun spoke quickly, "No—it's fine. We'll share."
But Minjoon shook his head slightly.
"Sorry. I'm tired. You can take that room."
He bowed politely, then disappeared into his assigned one.
Mrs. Kang turned her gaze to Taehyun, who rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly.
She smiled faintly and walked away, leaving Taemi standing there with that familiar smirk.
"Already planning something, huh?"
Taemi teased.
Taehyun smiled half-heartedly.
"It's not what you think."
Taemi tilted her head.
"Of course not. But you are the only one left single among your friends, right?
Maybe it's time to fix that."
She walked off with a grin, leaving Taehyun standing there in the quiet hallway still smiling faintly, not sure if she was joking or half-right.
(Around 11pm)
The shower steam had barely faded when Minjoon sat on his bed, hair damp, bathrobe loosely tied around his waist.
His mind and heart were both wandering in different directions when a soft knock came on the door.
Taehyun stepped in.
"You're free now?" he asked gently.
Minjoon nodded without looking up.
"I'll help you dry your hair,"
Taehyun said, walking closer.
"I'll do it myself,"
Minjoon replied quietly, not harsh but distant.
Taehyun didn't listen. He took the towel from Minjoon's hand and began drying his hair slowly. Neither spoke for a while.
"Did you think over it?"
Taehyun finally asked.
Minjoon stayed silent.
"What are you so afraid of? Tell me."
"I'm not afraid of anything," Minjoon said, eyes fixed ahead. "I just.."
"You just think what people will say if they know an Alpha like you is dating an Alpha like me," Taehyun cut in.
Minjoon's gaze shifted.
"No. I didn't...."
"Then why are you struggling like this? Why are you making both of us suffer?"
"I'm not," Minjoon said, voice tightening.
"I told you to find someone else. It's not necessary that if we like each other, we have to be together."
"It is necessary," Taehyun said firmly.
"If I like someone, I have to be with them."
"With time," Minjoon muttered,
"everything ends."
Taehyun exhaled, dropped to one knee, and took Minjoon's hand.
"But I don't want to end without you, Minjoon. Don't run away."
He guided Minjoon's hand to his chest.
"Tell me what it says."
Minjoon looked at him, eyes wavering.
"Ask your heart what it wants,"
Taehyun whispered.
"I… I"
Before he could finish,
Taehyun leaned in and kissed him softly. Minjoon didn't move back.
"Now tell me," Taehyun said against his lips.
Minjoon's heartbeat raced.
"Give me… some more time."
"How much time?" Taehyun's voice cracked. "A day? Two days? A week? A month?"
"I'll tell you on the weekend,"
Minjoon murmured.
Taehyun's expression darkened.
"That's what you've said for the last five months. My mom wants me to marry she wants me to be with"
"Then get married," Minjoon cut in.
Taehyun's eyes narrowed.
"You're telling me to get married and leave you?"
Minjoon nodded.
Taehyun's voice trembled.
"You're telling me to walk away when I've spent a whole year here thinking only about you? Is it that easy for you?"
"I told you, I can't," Minjoon said, his own eyes filling.
"Just leave me, Taehyun. You're tiring me. Irritating me. Let me live in peace."
Taehyun's hands clenched.
"Am I really that annoying?"
Minjoon turned his head away.
"Just go."
Taehyun stood still for a moment, chest tight, eyes red.
"When Taewon used to talk about Jihyun, I thought he was childish," he said softly.
"But now… I see I was wrong. Even the one I thought was mature turned out just the same."
He forced a small smile.
"Okay, Minjoon. I'll go. Live in peace. I won't annoy you anymore."
He opened the door only to stop.
Jihyun was standing there, Taewon's hand wrapped around his arm.
Both had come to visit Minjoon, but froze at the tense air between the two.
Minjoon quickly wiped his face.
Taewon's gaze followed Taehyun, who brushed past them and stormed downstairs.
Taewon hurried after him, while Jihyun stepped inside Minjoon's room quietly.
Down in the garden, Taewon caught Taehyun's wrist just as he reached the car.
"Where are you going at this time?"
"Let me go," Taehyun said, eyes burning.
"Have you lost your mind?" Taewon snapped.
"What's going on with you?"
He dragged him toward the garden bench. "Sit. Now tell me."
(Meanwhile Upstairs)
Jihyun sat silently beside Minjoon, who was still staring at the floor.
"Hyung, what's wrong with you?"
Jihyun asked softly.
"You were never like this. Why are you acting so cold?"
"I know what I'm doing,"
Minjoon said quietly, his voice cracking.
Jihyun took his hand, hugging him tightly. "Hyung, just let it out. Why are you hiding everything like this?"