Mrs. Bae already went on ahead to put Myungsoo’s clothes into the laundry, and Sang Moon was able to find some clean, spare clothes in his closet which fitted Myungsoo.

   “It has been a tiring day for you, Myungsoo,” Mr. Bae said. “You go on ahead and rest.”

   “We have to share beds at the moment, though,” Sunggyu pointed out. “Are you okay with that?”

   The student let out a tiny nod, and while squeezing one end of the damp towel draped around his neck, he made his way upstairs. He took his time walking, and he regretted it, because his memories caught up with him. And that was the very thing he never wanted to happen at that moment.

<:>

   Sunggyu entered the room after a while. A fresh scent entered Myungsoo’s senses the moment Sunggyu occupied the space beside him.

   “Can’t sleep?” the older one asked.

   Myungsoo merely stirred.

   “I don’t expect you to,” he carried on. “But then, we’ve been talking downstairs earlier. We’d love it if you could stay here for the time being, Myungsoo. It would help you save up, since you wouldn’t have to pay for the rent anymore.”

   “I’m going to be okay.”

   “Tell that to me once you can look at me straight in the eye,” Sunggyu replied. “And besides, being in a new place can help.”

   There was a long pause, and then Myungsoo asked, “Why are you being so kind to me?”

   Sunggyu let out a short laugh. “Family, remember?”

   Family. That word always got to Myungsoo. He couldn’t help but fall for the sweetness of its promises. He closed his eyes, and tears silently slid down his cheeks. They weren’t even blood related, and yet Sunggyu was able to sacrifice his time and energy to see him in person.

   “You’d make a good father,” Myungsoo remarked. “I swear you will, hyung.”

   A tiny smile graced Sunggyu’s lips. “I see you as a good son, and I’m one who believes that a child is a reflection of their parents.”

   He didn’t reply anymore, because he knew what Sunggyu was trying to say. In the midst of the silence, the two young men managed to clear their thoughts and let sleepiness get the better of them.

<:>

   The very next day, Myungsoo contacted his landlord, explaining that he would have to move away. “As soon as possible,” he said.

   “Don’t forget to give me the keys, then, Myungsoo,” he replied pleasantly. “It’s been nice having you.”

   “I’m so sorry for the short notice.”

   “I’m sorry, too. For what happened.”

   And then Myungsoo said a hurried goodbye before hanging up. He simply wanted to get it over with. If he could only sleep through his situation, he would do it in a heartbeat. Sunggyu was able to borrow Mr. Bae’s car, and so he, together with the two siblings, accompanied Myungsoo to his apartment.

   “You should rest more,” Myungsoo told him. “I’m sure you’re still jetlagged.”

   “I’ve had worse,” Sunggyu lightly replied. “Is everyone ready?”

   “Yes,” the siblings chorused.

   Sunggyu ignited the engine. It was a quiet ride to Myungsoo’s apartment. Nobody knew what to say to each other, anyway.

<:>

   Suzy wandered around the apartment, her eyes taking in every detail it could absorb. From the scratches on Myungsoo’s shelves to the books it contained—she tried to keep it in her memory.

   “There’s not much to pack, so we won’t take long,” Myungsoo began. “Let’s go upstairs first.”

   She followed his steps, and they both arrived in his room. Automatically, Suzy looked up at the ceiling, only to see the glow-in-the-dark stars.

   “For Daehyun,” he choked out. “I put them up again for Daehyun.”

   “He must’ve loved it, then,” she quietly said.

   A pained smile graced Myungsoo’s lips. “I never even had the chance to actually stargaze with him.”

   Suzy bit her lower lip, and she could only watch him walk out of the room, only to return with a foldable ladder in hand. He set it up, and started to remove the plastic stars from the ceiling. Sunggyu then entered the room. He handed her an empty box, instructing her to place the books in there. Suzy took one last glance at Myungsoo before heading downstairs, where the shelf was.

   “I’ll do that,” Sunggyu said. “Go on and pack your clothes.”

   Myungsoo paused for a minute, and muttered, “It’s not fair.”

   The older one didn’t reply.

   “He still had his whole life ahead of him,” he carried on in a quivering voice. “He was only seven. He still had so much to do. It’s not fair.”

   “The world was never fair in the first place,” Sunggyu pointed out. “But once you step back, you’ll realize that the things you’ve been through are the puzzle pieces needed to form a bigger picture.”

   “But how many people must die on me in order for that damned picture to be formed?” Myungsoo blurted out.

   With steady eyes Sunggyu stared at him. He held the ladder firmly, and said, “Pack your clothes. I’ll take it from here.”

<:>

   Suzy read the titles carefully. Most of them were novels by contemporary authors, foreigner and locals alike. She already read some of the books, and she couldn’t help but wonder if Myungsoo saw the same things she did. She carefully placed the paperbacks into the box. Sang Moon was on the other side of the room, gathering Daehyun’s toys.

   “Noona,” he began. “Do you think Myungsoo hyung’s crying?”

   She stopped for a moment, and looked back at her younger brother. “If I lost you, I’d cry, too.”

   Sang Moon looked at the action figure he was holding. It was Superman. “Even if it’s out of our control?”

   “Especially when it’s out of our control,” she muttered.

   “I don’t want you to cry, though.”

   “That’s something we can’t tell,” Suzy said. She placed the last book in the box, and added, “Can you put this in the car, Sang Moon-ah?”

<:>

   They finished packing several hours later, and it took Sunggyu two trips before Myungsoo’s belongings could be transferred into their house.

   “You can use my shelves,” Sunggyu said, after they entered his room. “And just about everything else in this room. Treat it as your own.”

   “Thank you,” Myungsoo muttered.

   The older one flashed him a smile. He opened the box which contained his books, and scanned the titles of the ones which were at the very top of the pile. “What made you read these?”

   There was a slight pause, and Myungsoo answered, “Curiosity.”

   “Curiosity,” Sunggyu repeated.

   “I saw random people reading them,” he explained. “If they interested me in any way, I’d check the books out.”

   “Why?”

   Myungsoo shrugged. “I guess I want to see what they see.”

   “You’re trying to find a connection?” he suggested.

   The younger one nodded slightly.

   “That’s a fallible strategy,” Sunggyu remarked with a smile playing on his lips. “What if they’re reading that certain story for the same reason?”

   Myungsoo his lower lip. “Then that can only mean we have the same thoughts.”

   “Clever boy.”

   He looked to his side, hoping that Daehyun heard Sunggyu’s praise. But then he forgot.

   Daehyun wasn’t there anymore.

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
- Matthew 5:4