* * *

“Taeshin!”

He hit Taeshin!

Jungwoo, who had never even given me a light tap on the head, had actually punched Taeshin. I was in disbelief.

Rushing over, I held Taeshin’s face to check. There was a red mark on his cheekbone and cheek.

“Hyung! How could you hit Taeshin? How could you punch his face?!”

“What’s so special about his face?”

“Look! There’s a mark here! My gosh, you’ve ruined his face… That’s his only asset, how could you mess it up like this?”

“Are you mad at your hyung, little bro?”

“Of course…!”

I was about to shout, but then I saw Jungwoo’s bitter smile. Seeing his hurt expression, I hesitated and heaved a sigh.

“I was really worried about you, but now that you’re back, you’re just siding with that guy instead of me.”

“Hyung, it’s just…”

“You always said your hyung was the best.”

“No, I still… I still think you’re the best.”

“…That snake… I can’t kill him either.”

“…like you.”

Startled by Jungwoo’s sorrowful tone, I shivered from a sudden chill.

Why was it suddenly so cold?

As I rubbed my arms and looked up, I saw Jungwoo’s bitter smile and hurt expression had vanished, replaced by intense annoyance as he glared at Taeshin.

“I kept my promise, so this ends here.”

“If you want, I can take more hits.”

“…You insolent brat.”

“Hyung? Taeshin?”

Wait, were they going to fight?

He wouldn’t hit him again, right? Instinctively, I stepped in front of Taeshin.

Seeing me shield him, Jungwoo sighed.

“Are you really protecting him because you think I’ll hit him again?”

“Uh, no… I mean, just…”

“So you really like that guy more than your hyung now, huh?”

His straightforward question made me hesitate, and I saw his pained expression.

He let out a sigh, close to a lament, and then gave a small smile.

“I won’t hit him. That was the first and last time.”

“…Really?”

“Yes. I’m hurt because my adorable little brother got taken away by that guy. So forgive me for one punch.”

Jungwoo spoke playfully, his usual kind and mature demeanor returning. Hearing his true feelings, I felt a pang of guilt.

Since I was very young, Jungwoo had taken care of me and loved me like a parent.

He filled in for our busy parents, and whenever I had troubles or needed help, I always relied on him.

My sudden announcement of pregnancy and marriage must have been as shocking to him as it was to our parents.

Without thinking, I had gotten angry and lashed out when he hit Taeshin.

I had also worried him by not contacting him while I was away.

Bowing my head in remorse, Jungwoo opened his arms.

“Come here, little bro. Let me hug you.”

Hesitating, I finally ran to him, and he hugged me gently and patted my back. As expected, Jungwoo was my reliable big brother.

“Congratulations on your marriage, little bro.”

“Yeah, thanks… And congrats to you too, hyung…”

“If you ever change your mind, let me know.”

“What…?”

“Then I’ll help you get a divorce, I promise…”

“What?!”

“Jeez, you scared me!”

“Jungwoo hyung.”

Startled by someone pulling me back, I turned to see Taeshin holding me tightly.

“Thank you for congratulating us. Sunwoo and I, and our baby, will definitely show you that we can be happy together.”

“Yes, we’ll make sure to live well, so you don’t have to worry.”

Seeing Taeshin’s determined expression as he spoke to Jungwoo, I quickly added my own words, clenching my fist to show my resolve. Jungwoo looked at Taeshin intently, then let out a wry laugh.

“Alright. I’ll always be watching over you too.”

It seemed that even the eldest brother, who had been in a very bad mood, had somewhat softened, offering a kind word to Taeshin, saying he’d always keep an eye on him.

At the eldest brother’s words to go inside and roll the egg, he frowned, seeing Taeshin’s face still flushed red.

Feeling another surge of anger, he shot a glare at his brother before deciding the egg was more important and headed inside.

Since their parents were still at work, he only grabbed the egg and went straight to his room.

“Damn, it’s still so red. Does it hurt a lot?”

“It’s okay. It doesn’t hurt much.”

“How could the eldest brother hit your face like that?”

He grumbled as he laid Taeshin on the bed and gently rolled the egg on his face.

Taeshin’s only redeeming feature was his good looks, but thanks to the eldest brother, his face was a mess.

Not to mention, being hit on the head must have killed a lot of brain cells. He was already a fool who was only smart in the head; if he got any dumber, it would be a big problem.

“Sunwoo, relax your face.”

“How can I? It’s not getting better at all. Is this even helping?”

“It’ll get better with time. Since you said my face is the only thing you like, it has to heal.”

“…Shut up.”

“If you want me to shut up, you should take more active measures, Sunwoo.”

Sunwoo looked at Taeshin, who was still trying to pull something in this situation despite his blotchy face, and couldn’t help but laugh.

Seeing him subtly asking for a kiss reassured him that Taeshin wasn’t getting any dumber.

“Whatever. But what did you mean by a promise?”

“Promise?”

“Yeah. You mentioned something about a promise earlier.”

“Oh, that.”

He hadn’t addressed it earlier because things were chaotic. Asking about it now because it still bothered him, Taeshin avoided his gaze and mumbled.

“It’s nothing.”

“What is it?”

“Really, it’s nothing.”

“If it’s nothing, why won’t you tell me?”

When Sunwoo pinned Taeshin down and pressed him for an answer, Taeshin finally met his gaze reluctantly and let out a short sigh, starting to tell the story he alone hadn’t known.

It was a promise made a long time ago between Taeshin and the eldest brother. When they were kids, even with their faint pheromones, they were always together.

But in the eyes of their adult eldest brother, they were still an Omega and an Alpha.

He tried to keep them apart, but since Sunwoo always insisted on playing with Taeshin, he couldn’t stop them.

Instead, considering the traits that would become more apparent during puberty, the eldest brother extracted a promise from Taeshin.

Taeshin was to do nothing inappropriate with Sunwoo until they became adults.

What was the eldest brother thinking, making such a promise with little Taeshin?

He accepted the condition after the eldest brother’s threat to never see Sunwoo again if he didn’t comply.

Because of that, despite liking Sunwoo, Taeshin could only remain friends with him until they graduated high school.

“You fool! Why did you keep that promise…!”

Sunwoo almost lashed out, hearing that Taeshin had kept a promise made when they were too young to know anything, until they were adults.

But then he realized this bear had been keeping the promise he made even before that: “If you behave, I’ll protect you forever!”

“…Jeez. You should’ve just confessed.”

“Confessing my feelings to Sunwoo was also not allowed.”

Taeshin weakly held Sunwoo’s hand and answered. That sight made Sunwoo’s chest tighten.

Taeshin had liked him for over ten years, but never once confessed his feelings.

“Then back in the study…!”

“Sunwoo, do you remember?”

“Of course! Back then, I thought the eldest brother was going to do something to you…”

Sunwoo resented the eldest brother so much for locking himself and Taeshin in the study, ignoring Sunwoo’s cries outside.

So even back then, he had made such a deal.

Enraged that the eldest brother had coerced a naive Taeshin into making an unfair promise, Sunwoo was gently hugged by Taeshin, who assured him it was okay.

This fool, was now the time to say it was okay?

Didn’t he feel wronged?

Without that promise, they would’ve been dating by now!

If it weren’t for the promise to avoid inappropriate behavior with Sunwoo, Taeshin would have already confessed his feelings long ago.

Sunwoo would’ve been easily swayed and would’ve dated him, celebrating their first and second anniversaries.

They would have dated at school like other couples and secretly kissed in the art room.

Feeling regretful about the lost time, Taeshin rubbed his face against Sunwoo’s shoulder.

“I’m okay with everything, Sunwoo.”

“Okay, my foot! You couldn’t even tell me you liked me until now, and that’s okay?”

“I couldn’t help it; Jungwoo hyung didn’t trust me…”

“…”

Sunwoo’s voice trailed off, remembering how the eldest brother had kicked Taeshin out upon first meeting him, labeling him as a late bloomer and forbidding him from meeting Sunwoo again.

How could Taeshin, who experienced such discrimination and had a good memory, forget such hurtful things?

“I trust you.”

“…Trust?”

“Yeah. I trust you, and I’ll always be on your side no matter what. So if the older brothers ever wrong you, don’t hold back and tell me.”

Sunwoo firmly repeated himself, more determined this time.

He had no idea his older brothers had been bullying Taeshin behind his back.

He was greatly disappointed in his eldest brother, who couldn’t trust this kind and gentle guy!

The more Sunwoo thought about it, the more upset he became.

He hugged Taeshin tightly and stroked his back, making Taeshin rub his face against Sunwoo’s neck and whine.

“Sunwoo…”

“…Yeah.”

Their eyes met, and they naturally kissed.

Bang!

“Moon Sunwoo!”

“Huh!”

“Ah!”

Caught off guard by the door suddenly opening, Sunwoo reflexively pushed Taeshin away, making him tumble sideways.

There was no time to check on Taeshin, though.

“Moon Sunwoo, Lee Taeshin. What do you think you’re doing in this sacred house?”

“W-what are we…!”

“Sunwoo, are you okay?”

The clueless Taeshin, still unaware of the situation, stood up and fixed Sunwoo’s disheveled hair.

This made the eldest brother, Moon Jinwoo, even angrier.

“Lee Taeshin, take your hands off him! Do you know who you’re touching right now?”

“What, why? Taeshin can’t even touch me?”

“No. You two, don’t even think about doing anything inappropriate because I’ll always be watching you.”

“What is this? Are you a pervert, hyung?”

“Moon Sunwoo. Do you want to die?”

Just when Sunwoo thought their relationship was finally being accepted, Jinwoo glared at them with blazing eyes.

When Sunwoo mentioned the imprinting, Jinwoo had left in tears but now seemed to have returned as a dictator.

What, should they even ask for permission to breathe now?

Sunwoo pouted and grumbled internally, but Jinwoo somehow knew exactly what he was thinking.

“I don’t accept you, Lee Taeshin. From now on, only breathe in front of me! Understood?”

Wow, Moon Jinwoo is relentless…!

* * *