CHAP 7:

- We can be brothers, can’t we?

Jiwon is not surprised prior that imploration. He knows, if he was Sunghoon, he would also say that. No one can live without their self-respect to come back to the man who used to leave them, then divorced his wife just because he could not put a punctuation mark for his old love. The third person in that complicating relationship – Sunghoon, although not related to Jiwon’s family problem, he will still feel hurt. However, Jiwon does not want to accept Sunghoon’s imploration easily like this. He only wants both two people to forget the past and hold hands of each other to start again. Jiwon observes Sunghoon’s eyes concealing a hidden sadness, he the more cannot accept to leave Sunghoon.

- Before I answer your question, can I ask you one?

- You can.

Sunghoon does not look straight at Jiwon anymore. His eyelashes lower and his eyes slightly close. He focuses on what Jiwon will say.

- Do you still love me, Sunghoon?

- Jiwon-huyng, I…

- Say the truth. You must say the truth.

Face the Jiwon’s patience, Sunghoon still cannot say anything. His heart is beating strongly. His face is like fully spread. Every finger quivers that there is nothing to control. Sunghoon is never afraid of facing Jiwon like this time.

- Arg~ Sunghoon, help me lift the bedhead little bit.

Jiwon suddenly changes his attitude, from serious to comfortable which makes Sunghoon cannot catch up with. Sunghoon quickly untangles his restless and annoying mood, stands up and finds the remote control to lift the bedhead for Jiwon.

- Now sit down. We’ll talk more.

Jiwon for a short while has been a very strange person when the way he expresses his emotions also changes and explodes unexpectedly. Sunghoon is like a small puppet that is pulled the strings by those differences, he does not understand anything. Sunghoon begins feel scared, even does not dare to back to the seat.

- Come here, Sunghoon.

- Jiwon – hyung…

The imperturbability and determination is appearing clear in Jiwon’s eyes. Sunghoon becomes little in front of Jiwon, timidly listens to Jiwon and backs to the seat. Suddenly Jiwon’s face comes nearly to Sunghoon’s face, two noses softly touch. Sunghoon jumps and thinks of standing up, then his shoulders are hold tightly by Jiwon that makes him utter with pain.

- Obediently sit here and tell me your answer, Sunghoon.

- I don’t know. – Sunghoon still hides.

- I gave you more one minute to think about it. Now you mustn’t say with me like that.

Only having the firmness and little of obstinacy, Jiwon only can hope Sunghoon will tell him the truth. Sunghoon will be unable to tell lie prior Jiwon’s force. Jiwon knows he is doing wrong and he will make Sunghoon tired, but he believes that after everything happens, he will receive a “correct” answer.

- I still love you, then…?

Sunghoon could not hide the truth - that is his soul and the vehement love rising in his heart. However, what will happen after that? Sunghoon does not have the intention to torment Jiwon again.

- You said you still loved me, so if you just want to be my brother, that’s mean you are acting contrarily to your heart, aren’t you?

- Are you using my love to overwhelm me?

- Nope. I only say the truth. Tell me that I’m not wrong.

- You’re not wrong. That’s me acting contrarily to my heart.

- So… do you want to live with your torment day by day, Sunghoon?

Jiwon has grasped Sunghoon’s psychology and coped with him easily like a piece of pie. Eun Jiwon is a man who hides his danger after his composed appearance. Sunghoon seems to lose. Once again he let the surrounding atmosphere become silent.

- If someday I would get married again, at that time would you find a new happiness?

- Don’t ask me such question.

- Because you don’t like me getting married, is it right?

- …

- You wouldn’t wish me happy from your deep heart, you would only pretend to be noble, isn’t right?

- Eun Jiwon!

- What do you say about you wants to wish me happy, that’s a lie.

Being “hit” by the repeated attacks, Sunghoon is pushed out of the safe space. The strong “shell” that he created on his own to protect himself was found and broken by Jiwon. Is Jiwon trying to make Sunghoon become weak and then rely on him? Sunghoon proves to be unpleased. Suddenly he is dragged ahead.

Jiwon, a hand holds Sunghoon’s hand, a hand holds his head. Just one second, Sunghoon’s lips has lied completely on Jiwon’s lips. A lasting deep and sudden kiss makes Sunghoon sink into the memories. A tear falls down. That is right, Sunghoon cannot live happily without Jiwon. Eun Jiwon has existed like both an evil person and a holy angel in Sunghoon’s breezing heart during last many years. Sunghoon cannot deny it.

Sunghoon quickly splits his lips from Jiwon’s lips, afraid that Jiwon will hastily feel satisfied.

- I need time for thinking.

- I need you, Sunghoon.

- …

- Right now and afterwards I still need you. Don’t think anymore. Come back to me, will you?

Sunghoon is really moved by those words. It is Jiwon talk to him, can Sunghoon say that he does not believe?

- I…

- Kang Sunghoon…

If everything has been like that…

- I… I agree.

Sunghoon cannot say the whole sentence in time, Jiwon hurriedly rise his body towards Sunghoon and holds Sunghoon is his arms tightly. In Jiwon’s arms, all the storms that has incessantly abused Sunghoon during last two years are like disappeared. Sunghoon bursts out crying, because he has been escaped and really felt relief. Sunghoon smiles when thinking of Jiwon’s happy face, his soul is also happy. Sunghoon hugs Jiwon’s back, be absorbed in Jiwon’s shoulder and gets the warmth from Jiwon attaching to his body and giving him the motivation to back to his love on a new journey.

.

- Sunghoon, it may a week later that I can leave the hospital and I’ll not sit on the wheelchair, at that time I can take you go out.

- I don’t need it.

- Why?

- I must stay at home to tidy up and take care of you until you are good completely.

- No no. I’ve been better a lot. I’ll let you see I stand up.

Sunghoon immediately stops Jiwon and says that he does not need that. Jiwon pouts disappointedly, he looks like a kid being sulky because his parents do not give him candies. Sunghoon bursts out laughing, gives Jiwon a glass of milk and says:

- Drink it or else it’ll get cold. You have to foster your strength to be in good health.

Jiwon looks down the glass few seconds then gulp it down making Sunghoon panic. It turned out that milk was not too hot, Sunghoon was really threaten.

- There’s milk in your lip. Let me wipe it.

Jiwon stops Sunghoon is about to take the tissue, rise his body towards Sunghoon and put a quick kiss on Sunghoon’s lips. The sweet fragrance of milk suddenly dashes into the nose, Sunghoon stands dumb, widens his eyes and looks at Jiwon.

- Does my lip not have milk anymore? – Jiwon teases.

- Back to the room by yourself.

- Are you angry with me? Sunghoon…

The entreating tongue proving to be regret of Jiwon makes Sunghoon cannot be sulky too long. Sunghoon uses the finger and his lips slowly, skin on milk with the opalescent stagnates on fingertip. Sunghoon sighs, just wants to blame Jiwon for always teasing him.

- Sit still there. I’ll be back.

- Sunghoon, where are you going?

The familiar voice of Suwon resounds from far distance. Jiwon and Sunghoon see more two people coming, under the sunset very light but charming and passionate. They are absolutely Jaeduk and Jaejin.

- You’re so happy!

Just coming, Suwon has started the “complaining song” into Jiwon’s ears, but this time Jiwon only feels that he is more cheerful. He smiles and replies:

- There is someone standing by your side, Suwon.

- Who?

Suwon turns the body around. His eyes look far and pretend not to see little Jaeduk who is looking at him with the writhe.

- Jang Suwon, you’ve missed me.

Jaeduk shows his sniveling tongue, keeps Suwon’s shoulders and turns Suwon into him. Feeling dizzy and nearly falling down, Suwon promises to himself that he will never turn around to be dizzy like that. Jiwon cannot dominate, then laughs out loud, Sunghoon also does it. The atmosphere is more aminated.

- Sunghoon…

The image of Jaejin with the white-all-over hair, wear a black leather jacket standing alone that makes Sunghoon have to stop. Jaejin, this friend, this brother, used to change Sunghoon’s life a lot. That day when Sunghoon was stuck at gangsters, if Jiwon was the person who always rushed into danger to secure Sunghoon that didn’t hesitate about his life, Jaejin would silently find the way to redeem Sunghoon because Jaejin always believed that Sunghoon’s self in the age of twenty was abused leading to falling. Jaejin’s sacrifice, Sunghoon always puts in his heart.

- Thank you, Jaejin-hyung

- Why have to say thank you to me?

- Thanks to you, I can have the days to get the intact and whole matureness. Do you know how much I’m grateful to you?

Cannot say the apologize for the slap in time, Jaejin quickly is moved that about to crying. He smiles and keeps silent, but he has understood his brother’s heart.

The train of thoughts in Jaejin stop for momentary-time. All people look at the tall and thin figure who is coming. With a black suit and an office bag also black, Jiyong has come.

Sunghoon rejoices greatly and hugs Jiyong. If without Jiyong, Sunghoon would have never met Jiwon again and reunited with everyone.

- How do you know the matter and come here?

- That was Jiwon-hyung reporting to me.

Jiwon follows Sunghoon and Jiyong with his eyes, not long ago still be cheerful then immediately shows his melancholy face. Suwon does not miss the chance to tease Jiwon, then says:

- There is someone jealous.

- I’m not jealous!

Jiwon realizes that he has been fell into a trap, feels ashamed and covers his face. Everybody gathers together and laughs like having a good crop. That afternoon, an afternoon is like created for their own – six people meeting again after ten years stand together and welcome the sunset coming.

- THE END-