After what happened earlier, I didn’t want to say anything to Myungsoo. I wanted to sit by myself and come up with a million questions as to why he was suddenly back. But when Myungsoo looked at me to pleadingly, his hands trembling as he grabbed mine, I couldn’t do anything. He was my weakness. I couldn’t do anything against him.

“What do you want to know?” I asked tiredly. I felt kind of frustrated at that moment. Why was he back?

“Everything,” Myungsoo answered. “I want to know everything. Why you’re like this, why Sungjong is in the hospital, and why you were so keen on avoiding that person at the elevator.”

“You don’t want to know everything. I don’t want to tell you everything. All I’ll get is your sympathy,” I muttered. I saw his eyes widen in surprise at my harsh words. “Sorry,” I added. “That sounded rude, didn’t it?”

“No, I was being a little too nosy...” he said. “But I do want to know everything. I want to know because I care about you. I’m not going to pity you. I’ll make you feel better in different ways.” He put his hands on my shoulders and looked me in the eyes, piercing me with his intense gaze. “But I need to know everything before I can help you.”

I averted my eyes. I didn’t really want to tell him anything, but those eyes. Those pleading eyes, those trembling lips, and that worried expression. The wall I had built over the years crumbled into a million pieces at that point. “I...I have a brother. He left a long time ago.” Then, I glanced back at him. He smiled encouragingly at me and took his hands off my shoulders. I missed