Warning "suicidal behavior "
Three Years Back
There were three long months of holidays before the final results of high school. After that, everyone would step into the universities of their choice.
At that time, Jihan was completely crazy about NEXON. He was a true fan, obsessed with them, dreaming about going to their concert. But when he asked his father for money, the answer was a sharp "no." He didn't dare to ask his sister either—things between them weren't good.
Han's birthday was three months away, and on that very day, NEXON had a concert. Seungmin wanted to take him there as a birthday gift. But back then, he wasn't working at his father's office yet. He usually relied on money from Seokmin, but this time, he wanted to do something for Han on his own.
So, while others buried themselves in books for university entrance exams, Seungmin chose a different path. With Jisoo's help, he started working at a restaurant.
One day, before the restaurant opened, Seungmin and Jisoo were cleaning tables. Jisoo glanced at him and asked, half annoyed,
"Why are you even working here? Doesn't Seokmin give you enough money?"
Seungmin stopped wiping for a moment. He turned, pride glinting in his eyes, his voice both sarcastic and serious.
"I'm working because I want to take Jihan to a NEXON concert for his birthday—and I want to do it with my own money. Now you tell me, why are you working?"
Jisoo froze, then exhaled, his face turning shy. "I… I want to buy something for him. He always does so much for me. I want to do something back."
Seungmin raised an eyebrow. "You know we're turning eighteen this year, right?"
Jisoo's shoulders stiffened. He already knew what was coming. "…So what?"
"So break up with Seokmin. Unless you want people to call you a pedo."
Jisoo's face fell. He muttered bitterly, "No one calls me that except for you. And do you think I didn't try to break up? He's crazy. Of course he is—he's your brother, Mr. Choi's son. How could he not be crazy?"
He sank onto a chair, frustration pouring out. "Every time I try to break up, he does something insane. Once, he parked outside my house for five days. The neighbors wanted to call the police. Another time, he said he'd quit school. Once, he threatened to tell my mom and Mr. Choi about us. And one time… he almost jumped off a building in front of me. Tell me, Seungmin—do you think I can walk away after all that? I'm trapped unless he leaves me on his own."
Seungmin went back to wiping the tables, his voice low. "Then treat him like the kid ."
Jisoo narrowed his eyes. "I do treat him like a kid. He is a good kid. He listens to me like one too."