“Myungsoo?”

    He was stirred awake by a presence at the end of his bed. Myungsoo blinked, his muscles weary with fatigue. He sighed in distress. His vacation was coming to an end, but his flu was still alight. Nothing turned out the way he wanted.

    “Naeun.”

His sister took his waking as an invitation to sit next to him.

    “Don’t come any closer, or you might catch this illness.”

She shuddered. “Got it. I wouldn’t wanna look like you right now. You’re a zombie.”

    He rubbed his head. His throat was parched, so he took a gulp of water before sitting up propped against his pillows. His sister was chewing some gum, and twisting a strand of her with her finger.

    “What is it?”

He recognised that contemplation. Guilt perhaps?

    “I’m guilty,” she said.

A-ha. His lips curled into a smirk. “Is it about Hanbin?”

    Her eyes widened. “How did you guess?”

“I’m your older brother. Is there something I can’t guess about you? So, tell me. What is it?”

    Naeun frowned, her eyebrows pinched together. “Well...It’s Taekwoon, Hongbin’s friend. I really like him.”

    “If he’s Hongbin’s friend, then he’s a nice guy.”

“Are you implying that I should break up with Hanbin?” Her guilty expression turned to one of joy. “Like, over the phone?”

    He grinned, rubbing the back of his head. “I’m just a catalyst.” Besides, he did not like Hanbin. That man was a waste of time and existence. His sister deserved better. Reality was that her and Taekwoon would not get together because Naeun was returning with him and Suzy’s mother in a couple of days.

    But at least she would break up with Hanbin!

Naeun left his room, contended. She even kissed his forehead and wished him to get better so he could get to know Taekwoon. His sister was such an innocent girl sometimes, not understanding the real workings of his heart.

    For the moment, Myungsoo’s thoughts were a rumination of how he treated Hongbin. He was his best friend, and hurting his friend left a strange emptiness inside of him. Perhaps all he needed was to give Hongbin some space. Beside, was Hongbin not the person he trusted the most in such a horrible world?

    It dawned on him how cruel he was, and how many times Hongbin endured his sarcastic temper.

    He rubbed his forehead, wiping away his sweaty bangs. “I’ve been such a fool.”

What was he thinking, placing his feelings before his friendship?

    What mattered in the end was that Hongbin was a good friend. Sure, he was now thousands of miles away, but apart from Sungyeol, there was no one else that listened t