The Second Twin

He had opened his eyes, and felt some horrible pain through his entire body. A soft voice was gently saying his name, and something cold was being put on his skin.

“Donghae-ah… Donghae-ah…”

That face. That kid. Kid? No, not that kid. That guy. He knew that guy, he was the one his parents had helped the other day, years before. He had changed, but he could still recognize him. Why was he back?

“You… how… where…?”

“I’m sorry.”

The Second Twin had frowned. Why was he sorry?

“Why?...”

“Your… your parents. I’m sorry. I couldn’t do anything for them.”

Tears. Pain.

“I’m so sorry!” repeated the First Twin.

The Second Twin had cried in the arms of the other boy for hours. The pain of being alone, the pain of the burns all over his body, the pain of not being able to see his parents ever again. The pain of losing his family.

He cried and cried for hours, until he finally calmed down and fell asleep in the First Twin’s arms.

The next morning, they both opened their eyes at the same moment. They had stared at each other for a while before the First Twin had softly pressed a kiss on the Second Twin’s lips. They started to live together. It was difficult, but it was better than being alone. They spent two months struggling before a tall man had found them, and given them the chance to live a better life.

The Mad Hatter had given them everything. A new house, a new family, and he had also given the First Twin a name. When the Second Twin had asked the Mad Hatter what he knew about the fire that had burnt down his first house and family, the Mad Hatter had lost his smile.

“The King”, he had said. “He found out about all of you.”

The Mad Hatter would never lie. They both knew he had said the truth.

And one day…

“EunHae.”

They turned, only to see that man’s mysterious smile being tinted with sadness.

“EunHae, I will now leave. Stay with the friends, and take care of Ryeowookie for me, okay?”

“You’re leaving?” had asked the First Twin.

“Yeah, you’re leaving?” had repeated the Second Twin.

“I am leaving. I’ll find a better place than this world. If I could, I would’ve brought all of you with me, but I can’t. So stay here with your family, and take care of Ryeowook and also yourselves. Okay?”

“Okay.”

“Okay.”

Back then, they didn’t know what it really meant. So they had agreed. The last thing they had seen had been the Mad Hatter’s tailcoat floating behind him as he walked away, his elegant walking stick soon left behind him, as he would never have to use it ever again.