Chapter 24: Brothers

Every night before bed, his mother used to tell him about the sad love story of Altair and Vega, who were also called Gyeonu and Jingnyeo, and how they could only meet for one day every year.

The two lovers had been banished on opposite sides of the Heavenly Kingdom. With the Milky Way standing between them, they were not able to be together. However, every year on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month, crows and magpies would form a bridge, thus helping the two lovers meet.

Ji-Won stared blankly at the pattern, recollecting his mother's soft voice while reminiscing about the story. When he was young, this tale had become his favorite because it was hers as well.

But now, thinking about it, only brought him pain and sorrow. It hurt him to think about his mother.

He soon felt his eyes stinging with tears. Before he could begin to tear up, Ji-Won swiftly jumped out of the bed. He had to get out of that house as quickly as possible. Only then could he breathe properly again.

With that in mind, Ji-Won quickly went into the dresser, pulling out two travel bags. Afterwards, he began collecting the stuff he needed from the room.

He began with the books. Everything his mother had given him or had been hers was thrown into a bag, together with papers, a photo album and some clothes that still fit him. The other bag was filled with the rest of the clothes in the dresser. He wanted nothing more than to burn them all, but his mother had always told him never to waste while others were in need.

Hence, Ji-Won planned on sending them to Chinjeol Foundation. That was the place his mother held dear. It was a charity his father had established before he was born. The Chairman named it Chinjeol, from 'Kindness', in honor of his wife's compassionate heart. She had been made the President, and given full rights in running the Foundation.

Thinking about this now made his stomach churn with anger.

'If he had cared about her that much, he should never have done the things he did.' Ji-Won thought bitterly.

At that moment, the door to his room opened slowly. A head peeked inside through the crack.

It was Ji-Su. He was smiling brightly, his features making him look younger than the twenty-four he was. At twenty-six years old, Ji-Won looked much more mature than his younger sibling.

Refraining from the urge to shut the door in Ji-Su's face, Ji-Won turned his back to the door, and continued to fumble with his bags.

"What do you want?" He threw the question over his shoulder.

"I came to tell you that father wants to speak with you." Ji-Su replied cheerfully. He really seemed to be immune to his brother's harsh treatment.

"Noted. Now get out."

"Don't be so cold, brother. I haven't seen you in years. You rarely came to visit. Even after you returned, you hardly ever came here." Ji-Su pouted.

"Stop being an idiot and leave. And I believe I told you already. I am not your brother." Ji-Won reiterated coldly.

"What are you then?"

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"Nobody. Just go and leave me alone." Ji-Won snapped, sounding more and more exasperated with that person.

"That's harsh." Ji-Su said quietly, looking down at his feet.

A second later, a hand reached out, grabbing him by the collar of his shirt. Ji-Won easily yanked Ji-Su inside the room, violently shoving him against the door.

"No. Harsh is what you and your mother have done." Ji-Won growled into his face.

His expression darkened, and he seemed one step away from pummeling Ji-Su into the door. However, he refrained with difficulty. Instead, he opened his mouth, transforming his words into fists and daggers as he viciously attacked the young man in front of him.

"Harsh is having to watch your mother leave the house, because one day your father's mistress decided to show up on the doorstep, while pulling a bastard child behind her. Harsh is when you have to smile and pretend you don't see the hatred in the woman's eyes as she looks at you. Harsh is when you have to allow filth to enter your home and invade your family. Ji-Su… you know absolutely nothing about it. So, keep your mouth shut and pretend you don't know me."

"Ji-Won, I'm sorry…" Ji-Su only managed to whimper with difficulty.

The other man's grasp was so tight that he was finding it hard to breathe properly. However, he didn't move a finger to fight against Ji-Won. He could see the pain in the man's eyes, sense the wretchedness dripping from his voice.

"I hope you and your mother are happy. You have both gained what you wanted." Ji-Won spat.

"Ji-Won, it's not like that. You know I never…"

"Don't worry. You can keep the 'favorite son' title for yourself. I don't want it. I don't want any of this." Ji-Won bit out savagely, pressing his brother even more into the wall.

Unexpectedly, a tear fell down onto Ji-Won's clenched fist. The warm droplet felt like it was molten lava, searing his skin to the bone. It caused him to instantly wrench himself away from Ji-Su. Even after wiping it away on his trousers, the back of his hand still felt like it was burning where the small droplet had touched him.

Ji-Won remained frozen. He stared into those bright brown eyes, panting heavily like a wild beast that had just finished hunting.

Meanwhile, Ji-Su was trying to catch his own breath. He coughed a few times, massaging his neck. He touched the skin gingerly and his breathing hitched. Ji-Won's hands had surely left marks.

Despite the danger, Ji-Su took a step closer towards his brother. He kept staring back into those dark eyes as if wanting to confirm something. But Ji-Won's eyes looked like the sky above the atmosphere, cold and empty.

When he opened his mouth to speak, Ji-Su's voice sounded slightly hoarse. but there was also a tint of pleading that couldn't be mistaken.

"Ji-Won, I know what you think, but it's not like that. I am really sorry your mother got into an accident that day. I really am..."

Seeing him draw closer, made Ji-Won involuntarily take a step backwards. For every step Ji-Su took, Ji-Won took two others. He wanted to keep the distance between them, otherwise he couldn't be sure of what he would do.

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