CHAPTER 62
A week passed after Noeul finally told Ji-Woo and Duri the truth about Gong. Then another.
Although he had originally agreed to stay only one more week, Kang Yujin proved remarkably skilled at inventing reasons for him not to leave yet.
Duri and Ji-Woo hadn’t found a suitable apartment.
She needed help around the house. Duri had a school paper due and clearly required supervision if he was going to survive it.
Noeul accused her of making excuses. Yujin denied it with a perfectly straight face.
He stayed anyway.
During those quieter weeks, Duri finally kept the promise he had made on the night they found Noeul.
Ji-Woo found him alone in the kitchen one evening. Noeul had already gone to bed, and Yujin was speaking on the phone in her room.
Ji-Woo leaned against the counter. “You said you’d explain.”
Duri looked at him blankly.
“The penthouse,” Ji-Woo added. “The inheritance. The enormous part of your life you apparently forgot to mention.”
Duri sighed. “I didn’t forget.”
Ji-Woo’s expression tightened. “That makes it so much worse, you asshole.” Hurt sharpened his voice. “You didn’t forget. You chose not to tell me.”
Duri lowered his eyes. “My father left us years ago. When he died, his will left most of his estate to eomma. A smaller part came to me.”
“After abandoning you both?”
“Yes.”
Ji-Woo frowned. “Why?”
“We don’t know. Guilt, probably. Eomma says money was the only apology he knew how to make.”
Ji-Woo looked around the enormous kitchen. “And that’s how she bought this place.”
Duri nodded.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I didn’t want the money to change anything.”
“You thought I’d treat you differently?”
Duri hesitated. “I was afraid you might.”
Ji-Woo stared at him. “You’re an idiot.”
“Probably.”
“You still should’ve told me.”
“I know.” Duri looked at him. “I’m sorry.”
Ji-Woo let him suffer for another moment. “Fine. But you’re paying the next time we go out.”
Duri blinked. “I always pay.”
“And now I know why.”
Duri shook his head, but some of the tension left his shoulders.
***
By late May, more than a month had passed since the rescue. Seoul had shed the last traces of winter. The air was warm, with the first hint of summer beneath it. Trees filled the streets and parks with green, their leaves stirring whenever the wind picked up. Spring had settled fully over the city.
Noeul liked that. Nothing dramatic. Just one season slowly becoming another.
It was early morning. Duri and Ji-Woo were getting ready for school while Yujin was still asleep. Noeul had discovered very quickly that she was almost useless before ten in the morning and strangely energetic after midnight.
Preparing breakfast had become part of his routine. That morning, he made bibimbap, knowing it was one of Ji-Woo’s favorites.
“Ji-Woo.”
His younger brother looked up.
“I’ve decided what I want to do about work.”
Duri glanced over immediately. Noeul filled the last plate and placed it on the table.
“I’m going to build a website with my résumé and portfolio. Then I’ll offer cybersecurity services to smaller businesses. Freelance work, at least for now.”
Ji-Woo picked up his chopsticks. “You don’t want another company job?”
The question came around a mouthful of food.
Noeul stared at him. “Aigoo. Didn’t I teach you basic table manners, you brat?”
Ji-Woo chewed deliberately. “No.”
“I failed you.”
Duri laughed and continued eating. Noeul sat down.
“To answer your question, no. Not yet.” His tone became more serious. “I want to work again, but I don’t think I’m ready for another company. Meetings. Deadlines. Managers. Office politics.” He paused. “And I definitely don’t want anything connecting me to Chung-Hee or his company.”
“I thought freelancing might give me more control,” Noeul continued. “I can decide how much work I take. If I have a bad week, I don’t have to pretend I’m fine because somebody expects me in an office at eight in the morning.”
Ji-Woo set his chopsticks down. “I understand that.”
Noeul caught the hesitation. “But?”
Ji-Woo sighed. “I just don’t want you to shrink your life because of what happened.”
Noeul frowned. “What do you mean?”
“You graduated top of your class.”
“I remember.”
“You’re good at what you do.”
“Thank you.”
Ji-Woo leaned forward. “I don’t want you thinking you have to settle for tiny jobs forever because you’re scared of going back into a company.”
“Ji-Woo.”
“I’m not criticizing him.”
“You sound like you are.”
Ji-Woo looked frustrated. “I’m worried.”
Noeul raised a hand. “It’s okay.”
Duri looked at him.
Noeul took a breath, then looked at Ji-Woo. “I’m not saying this is forever.”
His brother waited.
“I’m saying this is what I can manage now.” Ji-Woo’s expression softened. “And if six months from now I want something bigger, I’ll do something bigger. But I need to be the one deciding when that happens.”
Ji-Woo looked down at his food, then nodded. “You’re right.”
Noeul blinked. “That was suspiciously easy.”
“Don’t ruin it.”
Duri smiled.
Ji-Woo looked back at his brother. “I’ll support you.”
“I know.”
“I mean it.”
“I know, little brother.”
Noeul reached over and pushed a packet of snacks toward him. “For once, take enough food with you that you don’t come home acting like you’ve survived a famine.”
Ji-Woo grabbed them. “What are you doing today?”
“Résumé. Website.” Noeul hesitated, then took a breath. “And I’m going out.”
Both boys stopped eating. Noeul almost laughed.
Ji-Woo reacted first. “Out where?”
“For a walk.”
“Alone?”
“I think so.”
“Not a chance.”
Noeul sighed. “I knew you were going to say that.”
“Lee Chung-Hee lives next door.”
“I know.”
“What if you see him?”
Noeul’s stomach tightened at the thought. He looked down at his hands. “I don’t know.”
Noeul rubbed his thumb against his palm. “I’m scared just thinking about stepping out of the elevator.” Duri’s expression softened. “But I’ve been inside for too long.”
Noeul looked toward the windows. “I need to go outside.” He searched for the right words. “I just want to walk. Breathe fresh air. Hear people talking. Buy something stupid from a convenience store.”
Ji-Woo watched him.
“I want to remember that there’s a whole city outside this apartment.”
Duri put his chopsticks down. “That makes sense.”
Ji-Woo looked at him.
“But maybe not alone the first time,” Duri continued.
Noeul opened his mouth, but Duri raised one hand.
“I know you need to do things by yourself,” Duri said, watching him carefully. “But you don’t have to start with the hardest thing.”
Noeul considered that.
Ji-Woo nodded enthusiastically. “Exactly.”
“Don’t look so pleased.”
Ji-Woo immediately looked less pleased. Duri smiled.
“We’ll be back early.”
Noeul looked between them. “Coffee?”
“Yeah.”
“Dinner?”
“Yes.”
He hesitated. “Beer?”
Duri raised an eyebrow. “Now we’re negotiating.”
Noeul’s eyes lit slightly. “One beer.”
Ji-Woo groaned. “You’re both terrible influences.”
Noeul smiled. “Don’t be a buzzkill. You’re ruining my fun.” They all laughed.
“Today,” he said quietly.
Duri looked at him. “What?”
Noeul’s gaze remained on the street below. “I’m going outside today.”
Noeul smiled, then turned to Ji-Woo. “Also… would it be okay if we stopped by the gallery you booked for your exhibition? I’d like to help more now that the big day’s getting closer.”
“Really?”
“Of course.”
He stepped closer and hugged Noeul. “Thank you, hyung. I’d really like that.”
Noeul returned the embrace without hesitation.
Ji-Woo grabbed the snacks from the counter and headed toward the door. “Come on, Duri. We’re going to be late.”
“In a minute.”
Ji-Woo glanced between them, then deliberately looked away. “I suddenly remembered I have absolutely no interest in whatever happens next.”
Noeul laughed. “Go.”
Ji-Woo disappeared into the hallway. The apartment became quieter.
Duri looked at Noeul. Noeul looked back. Neither seemed in any hurry to break the silence.
Duri stepped closer. “Can I?”
Noeul knew what he meant. He nodded.
Duri wrapped his arms around him, warm and steady. Noeul relaxed into the embrace.
“Ich habe dich gern,” Duri murmured.
Noeul understood exactly what he meant. He hesitated only a second.
“Ich dich auch, Duri.”
Duri went completely still. Noeul pulled back enough to see his face.
“What?”
“You said it.”
“Yes.”
“You never say it.”
“I just did.”
Duri’s smile grew slowly. Noeul rolled his eyes, though his face had begun to warm.
“Now go. You’re going to be late.”
Duri continued staring.
“Duri.”
“Right.”
He finally stepped away. At the door, he looked back once.
Noeul was still smiling.