It had been three days.
Three days of Yuwon avoiding Taekho, ignoring his presence, pretending he didn't exist.
Now, sitting at his office desk, Yuwon stared blankly at the paperwork in front of him, but his mind was far away—stuck on Tae.
Suddenly, his phone rang. He glanced down at the screen.
"Mom."
He answered.
Miyoung (on call): "Yuwon, don't be late tonight. Come home early."
Yuwon: "Why, Mom?"
Miyoung: "Because tonight, Tae is going back to his own home."
Yuwon's heart skipped a beat.
Miyoung: "The Yoon family is coming to pick up their son. So don't be late, okay? Tae would be sad if you didn't say goodbye to him."
Yuwon (quietly): "Okay… I'll come."
The call ended, but Yuwon just sat there, frozen. His chest tightened.
"Is Tae… really going back to his house? Does that mean he's leaving us?"
His eyes filled with tears. The thought of losing the little brother he had raised, cared for, and loved—
He couldn't believe it had come to this. That their relationship had ended up like that.
Yuwon quickly wiped his eyes and muttered,
"He must be angry at me... or maybe he doesn't want to see my face anymore."
He turned back to his desk, forcing himself to stare at the work he hadn't touched.
"So it's okay... if I don't go home tonight. It's better that way. I'll just avoid saying goodbye."
But no matter how hard he tried to focus, Tae's voice echoed in his mind.
> "Hyung, don't ignore me. I hate it."
"Hyung, let me be your man."
"I love you."
"Hyung, I know you want me."
Yuwon shook his head, pushing the memories away.
"I'm sorry, Tae… but I can't face you."
It was late at night, and the office was nearly empty.
Yuwon was still seated at his desk, eyes glued to the screen, papers scattered in front of him as he tried to distract himself with work.
His phone rang again.
And again.
He didn't answer. With a heavy sigh, he finally turned it off and shoved it into his drawer.
Just then, the office door opened, and Manager Seo Min stepped in.
Manager Min: "Oh, Yuwon. You're still here?"
Yuwon (forcing a smile): "Oh... Manager Min, yeah. I just wanted to finish some things."
Manager Min (concerned): "It's too late now. You should go home. If you overwork like this, you'll end up sick."
Yuwon: "You're right. I'll head out now."
He quickly gathered the files, shut down his computer, and packed his bag. After bowing politely to Manager Min, he left the building.
Outside, the night air was cool, almost biting. He wrapped his coat tighter around himself and walked along the quiet street.
He checked the time.
"I should hurry… If I miss the last bus, I'll be stuck."
He picked up his pace, footsteps quick on the pavement, and finally reached the bus stop. There, under the dim streetlight, he stood—waiting.
But no matter how hard he tried to clear his thoughts, his chest still ached. The thought of Tae leaving tonight—it clung to him like the cold.
After some time, Yuwon finally returned home.
His steps were slow, heavy—each one harder than the last. When he reached the front door, his hands trembled, his chest tight with anxiety.
"Is Tae really leaving? Or… maybe he's still here…"
That hope—fragile and desperate—clung to him.
He unlocked the door and stepped inside.
The house was quiet. Too quiet.
Yuwon walked toward Tae's room, his hand trembling as it reached for the doorknob. His heart pounded so hard it felt like it might burst.
He slowly opened the door.
Empty.
The room was completely empty.
He stepped inside, eyes scanning the space where Tae's belongings used to be. Gone.
Tae was already gone.
Yuwon's body began to shake from the pain.
He had lost him.
His precious little brother.
Miyoung stood silently in the doorway.
Miyoung (quietly): "You're late, Yuwon… Tae's already gone."
Yuwon didn't look at her. He couldn't.
Miyoung: "You should get some rest."
She turned and left, leaving Yuwon standing there, alone in the emptiness.
Yuwon slowly sat down on Tae's bed.
Memories rushed back—warm, innocent, painful.
Tae, still small, tugging on his sleeve.
"Hyung, sleep with me. I don't want to sleep alone…"
Yuwon bit his lip, but he couldn't hold it back anymore.
Tears fell fast and heavy.
He cried.
Cried for the boy he pushed away.
Cried for the little brother he may have lost forever.
Meanwhile, Tae sat quietly beside his father.
Kyungsoo looked at him with a proud smile.
Kyungsoo: "I'm very happy today. My son is finally back home."
But Tae didn't meet his father's eyes.
Tae (flatly): "I'm sleepy."
Kyungsoo nodded, undisturbed.
Kyungsoo: "Sure. Go get some rest."
He subtly signaled a nearby servant to guide Tae to his room.
Tae stood up, ready to leave. But just as he reached the doorway, he stopped and turned back.
Tae: "Dad… If I ask for something… will you give it to me?"
Kyungsoo smiled warmly.
Kyungsoo: "Of course, my son. I'll give you everything you want. Just say the word."
Tae's voice was calm, unreadable.
Tae: "I'll tell you when the time comes."
He turned around and walked away.
The servant quickly bowed to Kyungsoo before silently following Tae down the hallway.
Tae lay on the large, luxurious bed in his room, staring up at the ceiling, lost in thought.
Memories began to surface—warm, bittersweet moments from the past.
He remembered one particular afternoon when he had asked Yuwon an innocent question.
Tae (young voice): "Hyung, what is marriage? And why do people get married?"
Yuwon had smiled and gently patted his head.
Yuwon: "Tae, marriage is when two people decide to live together for the rest of their lives. After that, they belong to each other, and no one can separate them."
Little Tae's face had lit up with excitement.
Tae: "Then Hyung, when I grow up, I'll marry you!"
Yuwon had laughed, amused by the boy's sincerity.
Yuwon: "Little Tae, why would you marry me?"
Tae had answered innocently, his eyes wide with truth.
Tae: "Because I want to stay with Hyung forever."
Yuwon's smile had softened, a mix of fondness and concern in his gaze.
Yuwon: "But we're brothers. We can stay together without getting married."
Tae: "But we're not real brothers. That's why I'll marry you. Promise me, Hyung. Promise you'll marry me."
Yuwon had chuckled again, ruffling the boy's hair.
Yuwon: "You're so stubborn, little Tae. When you grow up, you'll understand everything."
But Tae had remained firm.
Tae: "Promise me, Hyung."
After a pause, Yuwon had finally smiled and said:
Yuwon: "Okay. I promise."
Back in the present, Tae's gaze was still fixed on the ceiling. His expression unreadable, quiet.
Tae (whispering): "You promised me, Hyung. That you'd always belong to me… That you'd marry me. How could you forget?"
His voice dropped, filled with quiet determination.
Tae: "One day, I'll make you mine. I promise, Hyung."