CHAPTER 25
Ji-Woo stared at his phone. It was Noeul.
Nearly three weeks had passed since Noeul moved into the apartment.
They hadn’t spoken for days, ever since their last difficult conversation, when his brother had tried to rebuild what had been broken between them.
A few minutes earlier, he had sent Ji-Woo a message inviting him to his new apartment.
Part of Ji-Woo wanted to go. The other, the part scarred by years of abandonment, laughed bitterly. After a long moment, he pressed the call button. The ringing echoed in his ears until Noeul answered.
“Ji-Woo?”
Hope filled his voice, completely at odds with its usual roughness.
“Hey,” Ji-Woo murmured. The word caught in his throat.
“You know…” Noeul hesitated. “I know things between us are still difficult.” He let out a quiet breath. “But I’m still getting used to living on my own again. It’s quieter than I expected.”
Ji-Woo listened in silence. The awkwardness settled heavily between them.
“Yeah?”
“I was wondering if you’d like to come see it.” Noeul’s voice grew a little lighter. “I bought a new game console. We could try it out together.”
Ji-Woo hesitated. Was this a genuine attempt to rebuild their relationship? Or just another promise that wouldn’t last?
“Okay.”
A pause.
“When?”
Relief poured into Noeul’s voice. “Really? Great. How about Saturday night? Around seven?”
“Yeah.”
“Okay. See you then.”
The call ended.
***
Noeul lowered the phone slowly. Hope and unease twisted together inside him. Maybe this was the beginning, a chance to build a bridge across years of silence.
The thought stayed with him all week. He caught himself imagining Ji-Woo laughing, playing games with him like they used to, talking without anger. For the first time in years, he allowed himself to imagine what it might feel like to be his brother again.
Sometimes, though, depression crept back in and poisoned every hopeful thought.
He won’t come.
He’ll leave after five minutes.
He’ll never forgive you.
Whenever the darkness became too loud, Mr. Choi was there to quietly pull him back.
By Saturday evening, Noeul could barely contain his excitement… or the anxiety beneath it.
“Mr. Choi!” he called from the bathroom. “Can you help me order food for Ji-Woo and me? Is the apartment clean? Did you check the console again? What if he doesn’t like it? I didn’t even think of a backup activity!”
His voice echoed through the apartment, tighter and slightly higher than usual. Standing in front of the mirror, he tried to fix his hair using only his right hand, one of the few movements he could manage after the surgery.
Mr. Choi’s laughter carried through the living room as he prepared coffee and arranged a plate of sweets: red bean buns, injeolmi, and slices of castella.
“Relax, Mr. Jung. The apartment is spotless. We already tested the console, remember? It works perfectly. And if your brother doesn’t like the games you bought, you can always watch a movie, listen to music, or, if the rain stops, go for a walk.”
Noeul joined him in the living room and sank onto the couch.
“It’s amazing how different a room feels when someone wants to live in it,” Mr. Choi said lightly. “Don’t worry. Tonight will go smoothly.” He smiled. “So, what should we order? Korean fried chicken? Pizza? Chinese? Burgers and fries?”
Noeul’s expression dimmed. “I… I don’t know.” He looked down at his hands. “He used to love Western food, but now…”
Mr. Choi didn’t press. “No problem. We’ll decide when he gets here. All right?”
Noeul nodded, some of the tension leaving his shoulders. Just then, the doorbell rang. His heart skipped. He hurried to the entrance with trembling hands. He had been expecting one person. Instead, two familiar faces stood outside.
His eyes widened. “Duri…” A smile escaped him. “You came too?”
Duri lifted a bag filled with beer and snacks. “What?” He grinned. “Disappointed?”
Noeul laughed. “Of course not. The more people there are, the better. I was just surprised.” He stepped aside. “Come in. The slippers are by the door.”
His eyes drifted toward the shopping bag. “Beer, right?” He looked at Ji-Woo. “And you?”
“Beer for both of us,” Ji-Woo replied quietly.
Noeul froze for a second. It was the first time he had ever seen his younger brother drink. He noticed it. Felt it. But he said nothing. He didn’t want to ruin the evening before it had even begun.
“Of course.” He turned toward the kitchen. “Mr. Choi, I’m sorry to trouble you. Could you help us with the preparations?”
The two young men bowed politely to Mr. Choi. Noeul introduced them briefly before turning his attention back to his guests.
Ji-Woo settled onto the couch, picked up a controller, and switched on the console. Duri stepped closer to Noeul.
“I can help you.” He glanced toward the kitchen. “It’s getting late, and Mr. Choi probably wants to go home and rest.”
Noeul looked at him, slightly caught off guard. Duri’s eyes held the same familiar warmth he remembered, but there was something new beneath it. Confidence. Playfulness. A quiet steadiness.
Something familiar stirred inside Noeul. The same feeling he had dismissed in New York before it could become anything more.
Without letting it show, he turned to Mr. Choi. “Then thank you very much for everything. I’ll see you tomorrow. Get some rest.”
Mr. Choi wished everyone good night. Before leaving, he stepped closer to Noeul and lowered his voice.
“I still think this place will be good for you. Try not to worry so much.” He hesitated before adding, “I’ve left extra blankets in the closet for your guests.”
Then he straightened. “Good night, young men. Have fun.”
Duri placed the beers and snacks on the coffee table before heading back to the kitchen.
“What about coffee?” he called. “Since you can’t drink yet.”
Noeul could have taken offense. Instead, he smiled.
“Coffee sounds perfect,” he sighed, wishing he could at least taste one of the beers. “So, what do you two want for dinner?”
“Burgers and fries,” Ji-Woo answered almost immediately, excitement slipping into his voice.
Noeul laughed and moved closer, sitting beside his brother. “I’m glad your taste in food hasn’t changed.”
Ji-Woo looked away, but a smile tugged at his mouth.
Duri chuckled. He stole one of the sweets from the plate before sitting beside Ji-Woo and picking up the second controller.
“Burgers and fries it is,” Noeul said, taking a sip of his coffee. “It’s good. Thanks, Duri.” He looked over at him. “You okay with that?”
Duri raised an eyebrow. “You’re really asking me if I like burgers?” A grin spread across his face. “Have we even met before?”
Noeul laughed. “Just answer the question, you brat. I’m trying to be polite.”
He tossed one of the couch cushions toward him. Because his hand was still healing, it barely reached Duri.
Duri caught it effortlessly. “Oh…” A teasing smile crossed his face. “So that’s your full strength?”
He tossed it back.
Noeul dodged it just in time. He considered retaliating, then wisely changed his mind.
Some battles weren’t worth starting.
Instead, he picked up his phone and ordered dinner.
By the time they finished the third round of the game, it was already late. An old Korean superhero movie played on the television while the three of them watched together, half-empty glasses resting in their hands.
Ji-Woo pointed at the hero as he landed dramatically on a rooftop. “You still think you’re a superhero like him?”
“No.” A faint smile touched Noeul’s lips. “Not anymore.”
He kept watching the screen.
“But… I wouldn’t mind a second chance.”
His gaze drifted around the room before settling on the floor.
What am I waiting for? Time isn’t coming back.
“There isn’t any beer left,” Ji-Woo said, breaking the silence. “Where’s the nearest convenience store? I’ll go get some.”
“At this hour?” Noeul replied immediately. “It’s raining. Let me drive you.”
“No need.”
Duri was already on his feet. “I’ll go.” He picked up his keys. “You shouldn’t be driving yet, and walking in this weather would be miserable.”
His eyes moved between the two brothers. “Besides, I think you could use a little time alone.”
The apartment fell silent after the door closed.
Ji-Woo picked up the controller and pressed Start, but he wasn’t looking at the screen.
“Please don’t ignore me,” Noeul said quietly. “All night we’ve barely talked. If Duri hadn’t come… would you even know what to say to me?”
Ji-Woo paused the game, then stood and walked toward the window. Rain streamed down the glass.
“I don’t know,” he admitted, folding his arms tightly. “I don’t think I would’ve come.” He laughed bitterly. “I’m angry at you. Really angry.”
His voice cracked. “You disappeared. You left me to deal with everything on my own.” He turned. “Do you have any idea what that was like?”
Still sitting on the edge of the couch, Noeul leaned forward and buried his face in his hands.
“Ji-Woo…” His voice barely came out. “I never wanted to leave you. I just…” He closed his eyes. “I couldn’t survive anymore.”
Ji-Woo turned sharply. “You couldn’t survive? That’s it? And I could?” He pointed at himself. “Was I the only one who was supposed to be okay? You were my brother. You were supposed to stay, no matter how bad things got.”
Noeul slowly looked up. “I know. I know I failed you.” He swallowed. “I lost Haneul. My friends. Then Gong. And somewhere along the way… I lost myself too.” He looked directly at Ji-Woo. “I didn’t know how to be your brother anymore.”
Ji-Woo took a shaky breath. “And you think I knew how to live without mine?”
Silence.
“I waited for you. Every birthday. Every holiday. Every time my phone rang.” His voice trembled. “I kept thinking, Maybe today. Maybe today he’ll come home.”
“I thought…” Noeul’s voice cracked. “I thought leaving would protect you. I didn’t want you carrying my shame. My guilt. My life.” His shoulders sagged. “I thought you’d be happier without me.”
Ji-Woo shook his head. The tears finally escaped.
“You never got to decide that.” His voice was almost a whisper. “You were never a burden. You were my brother. All I wanted…” He looked away. “…was for you to stay.”
Noeul crossed the room slowly. “I’m sorry. I can’t change what I did. But…” He hesitated. “If you’ll let me, I’d like to become your brother again.”
Ji-Woo didn’t answer immediately. He studied him—the bandages, the tired eyes, the man standing in front of him.
After what felt like forever, he nodded.
“If you’d asked me a week ago, I would’ve said no.” A tiny smile appeared. “But tonight…” He looked around the apartment. “It reminded me of us.”
His eyes filled again.
“I want my brother back.”
Noeul stepped forward and wrapped him in an awkward embrace. Ji-Woo hesitated for only a heartbeat before hugging him back.
“I’m sorry,” Noeul whispered. “I’ll keep trying.”
The doorbell rang while they were planning their first hike together, a ritual they had shared since childhood.
“Let’s wait a few more weeks, until my hands heal properly. Then we’ll go wherever you want,” Noeul said as Ji-Woo opened the door and Duri entered.
“Can Duri come with us?” Ji-Woo asked, already unpacking the beers. He put most of them in the fridge, keeping two. He handed one to Duri and opened the other for himself.
Noeul’s gaze moved between them. “You don’t need my permission. Duri is family. He can come whenever he wants.”
“Hiking?” Duri’s face lit up. “Perfect. I’ve missed our trips. Especially now that it’s the three of us.”
“The three of us?” Noeul teased. “What, dad’s not coming?”
The horror on their faces made him burst out laughing.
“I’m joking.”
They both sighed in relief. Ji-Woo threw a pillow at him, and Noeul accepted the hit gladly.
Outside, the rain grew heavier. The console had been off for a while, and the apartment settled into the kind of silence that didn’t need to be broken: comfortable, warm, almost sacred.
“It’s late,” Noeul said eventually. “Why don’t you stay?”
He was already pulling out the blankets. Ji-Woo was half-asleep, while Duri had become slightly unsteady from the alcohol.
“Duri, help my brother to bed. You can sleep here if you want.”
Duri did so without hesitation. A few minutes later, he returned to Noeul.
Noeul was arranging one of the blankets on the couch when he noticed Duri still standing there.
“Can I…?” Duri stopped.
Noeul looked at him, puzzled. “What?”
Their eyes met. A faint blush spread across Duri’s face, and Noeul felt something tighten inside him.
He had spent years telling himself he shouldn’t look at Duri this way.
But somewhere along the way, those reasons had stopped being enough.
Duri took a breath. “Can I hug you?” he asked quietly.
Noeul blinked. The question caught him completely off guard. Duri didn’t move, and for a few seconds, neither of them spoke.
Then Noeul’s expression softened.
“…Yeah.”
Duri stepped closer slowly, giving him every opportunity to change his mind. When Noeul didn’t pull away, he wrapped his arms around him, carefully at first, then tighter.
Noeul stayed still for a moment. Slowly, almost uncertainly, he relaxed against Duri.
His injured hand remained protected between them while the other rose hesitantly toward Duri’s face. His fingertips brushed his cheek.
Duri went completely still.
Noeul traced the line of his cheekbone before resting his hand against his shoulder. There was something strangely peaceful about touching him.
Duri closed his eyes. When he opened them again, they were close enough for Noeul to feel his breath. He hugged Noeul tighter and pulled him down onto the sofa with him.
Neither moved.
Then Noeul leaned forward and pressed a soft kiss to his forehead. “Good night,” he whispered.
Duri smiled. “Good night.”
***
Duri watched him for a long time. Noeul’s head rested against his shoulder, his breathing slow and warm through the thin fabric of Duri’s shirt.
His fingers moved before he could stop them, brushing a strand of black hair away from Noeul’s face.
“You have no idea,” Duri whispered.
He bent down and pressed the lightest kiss to Noeul’s temple. Then his gaze fell to Noeul’s mouth.
For one stupid, drunken second, he wanted to know.
Duri stopped himself so sharply it hurt.
He pulled back, ashamed. He tightened his arms around him only long enough to make sure Noeul would not slip from the sofa, then closed his eyes.
Morning came quietly.
The door opened, and Mr. Choi stepped inside… and stopped.
His gaze swept across the living room before settling on the couch.
Noeul and Duri were asleep in each other’s arms, the blanket tangled around them.
Mr. Choi’s expression changed.
Before he could say anything, a voice sounded behind him.
“What’s the hold-up? Are we coming in or not?”