Sunggyu whizzed through the kitchen to take a bottle of water. Mrs. Bae was there, stacking the dishes wiped dry by the siblings in the hanging cabinet.

“Mom,” he said. “I’m going somewhere.”

She looked at him, before asking, “Where?”

“I’m going to meet someone,” he answered. He planted a kiss on her cheek, and went on his way. Sang Moon and Suzy were in the living room, watching a sitcom while sharing a bowl of popcorn.

“Hyung, where are you going?”

“Out.”

“Will you come home soon?”

“Yeah.”

“Can you buy me some fish bread on your way back?”

Sunggyu smiled at his younger brother’s request. “Sure thing.”

He looked at Suzy, and asked, “Do you want anything?”

She stared back at him, straight in the eye. “Just come home safe and sound.”

“Cheesy!” Sang Moon cried in pure disdain. His face twisted up, and this caused Suzy to slap him on the shoulder.

“Shut up,” she said through gritted teeth.

“Make me, noona, make me,” the younger one provoked. In a snap Suzy stood up and sensing he just dug his own grave, Sang Moon began to run away from her. The two vanished upstairs, and Sunggyu could only stare.

“Are the two fighting again?” Mrs. Bae cried from the kitchen.

Sunggyu chuckled. “They’ll be fine, mom. I’m going ahead.”

“Take care, son!”

He closed the door behind him, and walked a few steps forward. He looked up at the starless sky, wondering if his foster parents could still consider him as their son if his feelings towards Suzy got exposed. He had no idea just how things would turn out if that ever happened, but he was sure it wouldn’t be pleasant.

Sunggyu decided to meet up with Myungsoo because he was curious about him. That wasn’t the only reason, however. Sunggyu wanted to know if he could trust him, because he was certain he wouldn’t be able to stay by Suzy’s side forever, even if he wanted to.

<:>

“Are we going to meet someone?” Daehyun asked, when they boarded the train. There weren't many people, and so the siblings had a place to sit down.

“We are,” Myungsoo answered.

“Sunshine noona?” the young boy suggested, his eyes sparkling with anticipation.

He smiled. “Close enough. We’re going to meet his older brother.”

Daehyun nodded away, and he didn’t say anything anymore, because he understood. Myungsoo was holding Suzy’s phone and notebook. He figured he should at least return it to him.

They arrived in the restaurant, holding hands. Sunggyu was already there, sitting on the spot where Suzy stayed before. Myungsoo paused, but feeling Daehyun’s gentle tugs, he somehow managed to pull himself together and walk on forward. They approached the table, and Myungsoo bowed his head politely.

“I believe you’re Sunggyu,” he said.

“I am. Myungsoo, yes?”

“Yes.”

Sunggyu’s eyes landed on Daehyun. “Is he your brother?”

“Yes.”

He smiled a little. “What’s your name?”

“Daehyun. Kim Daehyun. It’s nice to meet you.”

“Of course, the pleasure’s all mine,” the older one returned. “Have a seat.”

The two took the vacant spot across him, not saying a word.

“Have you eaten?” Sunggyu asked. “I’ve ordered for the three of us beforehand. I hope you’ll be okay with my choice.”

The two seemed confused, for they couldn’t respond. This only caused the oldest to chuckle. “I’m sorry. Did I overwhelm you?”

“There’s just nothing to say,” Myungsoo muttered. “I’m sorry.”

“Oh, there will be a lot to say,” the other returned. “But let’s do it right after we eat.”

He could only look at Suzy’s brother, and it was only a matter of minutes since they met but he realized why she would fall for someone like him. Sunggyu was very capable and charismatic. He could handle any situation well and even dominate it if he wanted to. Myungsoo figured Sunggyu was one of the very few people who had that kind of effect on him.

<:>

“Why would you even say that to him, noona?” Sang Moon asked. “Are you tired of ignoring him?”

They were in his room, then, playing a game console. The show they were watching was long forgotten. Suzy punched in some buttons to make her character attack its enemy, and the clicking noises drowned the silence for a bit.

“He said he’ll try to make things okay,” she finally replied. “I should make things easier for him.”

He scoffed. His eyes stayed glued to the screen. “By showing affection?”

“By being a good sister.”

“The two of you are confusing me,” he admitted. “Do you still like him that much?”

She bit her lower lip. There was a pause, and she answered, “Not anymore.”

“Why?”

Suzy glanced at his younger brother. “One of us has got to stop, Sang Moon.”

“But can you stop it, noona?”

“I try.”

Sang Moon smirked, and he shook his head slightly. “I feel bad for our parents.”

She blinked away the tears, only to realize she utterly failed, because Sang Moon was already wiping something away from her face with his thumb.

“How can you stop your feelings when you can’t even stop your tears from falling down?” he asked.

Suzy didn’t reply anymore. Sang Moon paused the game, and they both let go of their controllers. In the quiet, they stared at his bedroom ceiling until they fell asleep.

<:>

Sunggyu stared at the notebook and the phone Myungsoo placed on the table. Daehyun was guided by the staff to the playroom, which wasn’t in there last summer.

“She left it here back then,” he said.

“You’re returning it,” Sunggyu pointed out.

“Yes,” Myungsoo replied. “These aren’t mine in the first place.”

“Did you read the notebook?”

“I did.”

“Does it contain a story?”

“Yes.”

He smiled a little, his eyes not straying from Myungsoo’s face which reflected genuine honesty. “Did you touch her phone?”

“I did.”

“What did you see?”

“Just her wallpaper and your contact number. I overheard the conversation back then, so I was able to figure out who you were.”

Sunggyu nodded away. “You can always take the easy way out, but why did you decide to talk to me first?”

“Because you’re important to her,” Myungsoo replied. “Before, she would talk about you every now and again. It isn’t that difficult to see she admires you.”

“I think you’re important to her, too,” Sunggyu said. “She even fought with me on that day and gave me the cold shoulder ever since.”

“I see.”

“Suzy stood up for you,” he added.

Myungsoo looked at him, his eyes softening up.

“And being able to talk to you like this, I can say she’s right about you.”

“She’s right about me?” Myungsoo asked, utterly confused.

Sunggyu sighed. “She told me you were lonely.”

He kept quiet.

“I think Suzy is, too,” the older one carried on. “She wouldn’t be able to tell that about you if she didn’t feel the same emotion in the first place.”

The two basked themselves in silence for a while longer, but Sunggyu broke the peace by saying, “I’m entrusting her to you. So, be there for her when I can’t.”

“Are you…going somewhere?”

Sunggyu told him, and it was quiet once again.

Myungsoo understood.

<:>

Suzy woke up. She looked at her phone, and figured she was able to nap for an hour. Sang Moon was still fast asleep beside her, his chest rising and falling in a steady rhythm. She gently tousled his hair before getting up.

Mrs. Bae was still downstairs, keeping her husband company while he ate his supper. Suzy figured to let her parents spend some time alone together, and so she proceeded to go to her room, instead. She decided to print her essay off, but stopped upon remembering the family printer was out of ink. Suzy contemplated, and finally decided to call Sunggyu. It took her three rings before he could answer his phone.

“What is it, Suzy?”

“We ran out of ink. Can I borrow your printer?”

“Of course,” he said. “But I haven’t replaced the ink cartridge yet. Can you do it for me?”

She bit her lower lip. “I don’t know where you placed them.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll tell you,” he replied. “Go to my room first.”

Suzy did what she was told. “By the way, where are you?”

“I’m still with a friend,” Sunggyu answered.

“Will you return soon?”

“Yes.”

She entered her brother’s room, carefully looking around. His desk was filled with papers and his shelves were beginning to spew the books it carried on the floor.

“I’m in here now,” she said.

“Go to my study table. It should be in the largest drawer.”

“Okay.”

Suzy approached his table, and pulled the drawer open. Her eyes searched for the cartridges, but something else caught her attention. It was an envelope. Without meaning to, she opened it.

“Suzy, did you find it?”

She didn’t reply. With trembling hands she took its contents, just enough to catch a glimpse of it.

“Suzy?”

The envelope contained several plane tickets, and Suzy’s birthday was set as the plane’s departure date.

“Suzy, are you there?”

Connecting flights.

“Hello?”

Final destination: Heathrow.

Her lips began to shake, and tears emerged from her eyes. How could it hurt this much?

Silence engulfed them, and Sunggyu whispered, “I think you found it.”

Beep.

Suzy slammed her hands against the desk, and looked up to prevent the tears to emerge from her eyes. She blinked a few times. When her vision cleared up, she saw the cartridges on one of the shelves.

He did it on purpose.

<:>

Sunggyu and Myungsoo stared at each other.

“That was Suzy just now,” the older one pointed out.

“I heard,” he replied.

He smiled a little. It had a tinge of bitterness and hurt. “I hurt her again.”

Silence.

“Don’t do these things to her,” Sunggyu said with finality. He stood up, and took the items Myungsoo gave to him earlier. “I’m going ahead. Do you need a ride home?”

The student looked at the dark and chilly streets outside. He was about to say something, but Sunggyu interrupted him.

“Scratch that,” he muttered. “I will leave you no choice. I can’t risk you going to the train station with a kid at this hour.”

Myungsoo looked down. A tiny smile was beginning to grace his lips. He was no match for Sunggyu. He went to the playroom to get his brother while the other headed outside to ignite the engine.

It was a quiet ride home.

"The Lord will keep you from all harm—
    He will watch over your life;
the Lord will watch over your coming and going
    both now and forevermore."

- Psalm 121:7-8