* * *

“Your face looks a little worn. Is something wrong?”

“Worn out? I’ve actually put on weight. Don’t exaggerate.”

“Really? It’s strange… something seems off, though…”

“Gaining weight changes things too, so that’s probably why.”

Is that so?

Jooyoung scratched the back of his neck awkwardly.

Siyoung stepped closer and commented.

“You look like you’ve lost weight yourself.”

“Not enough to notice. I’ve just been busy since joining the atelier, so a bit, maybe.”

“Ugh. Instead of worrying about me, take better care of yourself.”

“Anyone hearing us would think I’m a kid. We’re only three years apart, you know, so stop acting like you’re so much older.”

Jooyoung shook his head in amusement.

Indeed, there was only a three-year age gap between the brothers.

“It feels more like thirteen years.”

“I caught up to your height a while ago.”

“Height doesn’t make you an adult. And besides, omegas are usually shorter.”

“I know, I know. I wasn’t trying to tease you. Calm down.”

Siyoung glared at Jooyoung, his face tinged with annoyance.

His younger brother, a beta, was only three years younger, not an age gap that usually warranted such fuss.

Yet to Siyoung, Jooyoung had always been someone he felt he needed to protect.

Their mother had left when they were in elementary school and hadn’t been in touch since the divorce.

Their father worked tirelessly to provide for them, rarely able to be home, so Siyoung had naturally become Jooyoung’s guardian.

When Siyoung started high school, their father passed away, making Siyoung even more determined to protect his brother.

Although their father’s inheritance wasn’t vast, it was enough to cover a place to live and support them until they were both adults—provided they lived frugally.

“Our family is my responsibility. You didn’t choose to be born, but I brought you into this world, so it’s only right for me to take care of you.”

Whenever Siyoung asked if he was tired of the struggle, his father always responded this way, making it clear that family was a responsibility to be upheld.

Though his father hadn’t meant it as a burden, Siyoung understood it was now his role to step up.

From that moment, he promised himself he would take care of Jooyoung with everything he had, at least until Jooyoung was grown.

There was a government support stipend for young heads of households, and if Jooyoung hadn’t shown such a keen talent and interest in art, Siyoung could’ve comfortably managed until Jooyoung graduated from college.

“…I don’t need to attend any classes or extra tutoring, and since we qualify, we can get some support. So just focus on your classes, okay?”

“…Hyung…”

Jooyoung hesitated for a long time but eventually nodded.

With a voice not yet fully deepened by puberty, he promised he would work hard and make sure his brother never regretted supporting him.

Fortunately, Jooyoung started winning prize money in competitions and earned recognition for his talent.

Within a year, he received a scholarship from his art academy, which eased some of the financial burden.

Still, with materials and competition-related expenses, their situation wasn’t exactly carefree.

As for Siyoung, he hadn’t been set on a specific field and was academically capable enough to secure a scholarship, which allowed him to attend college without much financial stress.

With no parents around, he received some additional aid, which allowed him to enter a good university on a scholarship.

“Between the scholarship and the fact that I could tutor as a side job, it wasn’t that tough. It never felt like I was making some grand sacrifice.”

For Siyoung, it was just something that needed to be done, not a burden or a sacrifice.

But Jooyoung seemed to feel a heavy debt toward him.

“Today’s meal is on me.”

“As if you can afford it. You’re barely scraping by yourself, and you still need to keep enough in your account to get your visa issued.”

“I’ve got a stipend and I’m earning a bit from working at the atelier….”

“How much could you possibly be making? You’re not working full-time, and it’s more like an apprenticeship, so you can’t be getting paid for every hour you’re there.”

“I also have another job my professor introduced me to. I can at least cover a meal. I don’t want to keep sponging off you forever, you know.”

Despite Jooyoung’s insistence, Siyoung just looked at him skeptically.

It was only a three-year age difference, yet Jooyoung still seemed so young to him.

As if reading his mind, Jooyoung spoke up.

“You were already taking a break from school and supporting me at my age, yet I can’t even buy you a meal. That doesn’t sit right with me.”

“Why bring that up? The break was… something I was already considering. It just made the decision easier.”

“Still. You spent an entire year earning money and pouring it into me. I know you’re not thrilled about taking things from me, but at least let me do this much.”

In the end, Siyoung couldn’t resist Jooyoung’s stubbornness and gave in. But he felt uncomfortable, as if he’d unintentionally burdened Jooyoung with guilt that wasn’t necessary.

“I do work while I’m in school, I enter contests, and I keep my grades up for the scholarship. I live responsibly, so don’t worry. Let’s go somewhere nice and eat well.”

Jooyoung searched for a restaurant, declaring they should pick the best one.

Siyoung nodded, deciding that since they were going out, they should enjoy themselves.

---

“Wow, expensive places really are better, aren’t they?”

“…All that money for one meal. Such a waste.”

“Yeah, but don’t you like that it feels luxurious?”

Though dining at nice places was nothing new when they went with friends, Jooyoung seemed genuinely happy about it.

“It’s not the price—it’s the fact that you treated me.”

“It was delicious. Made every bite worth it. I should’ve savored it more.”

“Don’t be so dramatic. I’ll make enough to treat you like this often.”

Jooyoung laughed, and they basked in the easygoing atmosphere.

Noticing the phone in Siyoung’s hand, Jooyoung asked, “You’re getting a call. Aren’t you going to answer it?”

“Huh? Oh… it’s nothing important.”

“You kept getting calls earlier at the restaurant, too….”

“These days, personal information leaks are crazy. My number must’ve been sold somewhere—it’s been all spam.”

Actually, after a night of reflection, things felt even more real, and calls had been coming in steadily throughout the day.

He’d muted his phone to avoid it, but he couldn’t completely hide the incoming call screen.

“Really? People say leaks are common. Shouldn’t you just change your number?”

“It might stop on its own… if it keeps up, I’ll switch.”

With an awkward smile, Siyoung shoved the phone into his pocket.

Just one more day, he told himself.

Tomorrow, he’d answer and try to settle things.

The stress was causing a slight ache in his lower abdomen, but it wasn’t unbearable.

Today, at least, he wanted to ignore everything and just enjoy seeing Jooyoung’s face, no matter how much it hurt.

After dinner, they chatted for a while.

Jooyoung, after checking his messages, made a conflicted expression.

Someone was asking him to come back urgently.

“I was going to walk you home, but I guess I can’t.”

“I’m not a kid—there’s no need. Just go.”

“I wanted to stay a bit longer….”

“We can meet when things settle down. I’ll visit you then, so don’t worry and go.”

Siyoung gently urged Jooyoung toward the exit.

Jooyoung, with a look of reluctance, nodded.

“Yeah. I’ve got a bit of time left before I leave… see you next time.”

“It’s not like you’re going forever. Be safe.”

Siyoung walked Jooyoung to the subway station. He was sad to see him go, but he was also relieved.

His abdominal pain had been worsening, and it was getting hard to hide.

[Jooyoung: Get home safely. I’ll message you later. – 7:41 PM]

Knowing that home was just steps away, Siyoung felt a bit over-the-top when he received a text immediately after they parted.

Shaking his head, he made his way toward his apartment.

With each step, though, he could feel himself getting worse, as if his body was unraveling.

“Just a bit more, almost there… just a bit more…”

As he turned into the alley where his building was, a sudden, unbearable wave of dizziness hit him.

Unable to keep himself upright, Siyoung stumbled and collapsed against the wall.

“Excuse me, are you okay?”

“He’s sweating a lot… hey, sir, can you hear me?”

“I think we need to call emergency services. Someone, please call 911!”

“Yes, 911? We’re in the alley behind the cafe by OO station…”

‘No… this is bad…’

Thoughts of the baby, his deteriorating health, and the fact that the emergency room would call the last person he’d contacted all flooded his mind, sending him into a spiral of anxiety.

He really didn’t want Jooyoung to find out about this—not like this.

But his body wasn’t cooperating, and he couldn’t hold onto his thoughts.

“Sir! Please wake up! Sir!”

“They’ve called for help. An ambulance should be here soon… just hold on.”

Voices swam around him as his body went limp and his consciousness blurred.

Please… let nothing be wrong.

And with that final thought, Siyoung blacked out.

* * *