* * *

The car moved smoothly forward. Jungin thought he should’ve done this from the start.

As he recalled sneaking off to the orphanage before, guilt over deceiving his brothers crept in.

“Brothers, I’m heading to the orphanage with the driver after school.”

His message set their group chat buzzing with activity.

[Jungseo-hyung: Should I come over now?]

[Jungseo-hyung: Hey, kiddo?]

[Jungseo-hyung: Huh? Should I come or not?]

Lee Jungin knew his brothers had been busy cleaning up the mess caused by him, so he didn’t bother them.

Besides, he had another reason for visiting the orphanage today, beyond just seeing his younger siblings, which made going alone more convenient.

[Jungseo-hyung: Hey, brat.]
[Jungseo-hyung: Brat!]
[Jungseo-hyung: Lee Jungin, answer me.]
[Jungwoo-hyung: Travel safe, Jungin. Sorry I can’t join you; I feel bad about it.]
[Jungseo-hyung: Answer me.]
[Jungseo-hyung: A-n-s-w-e-r.]

As his phone buzzed incessantly, enough to make his fingers tingle, Jungin switched it to silent mode and replied to Jungseo first.

[Lee Jungin] Hyung, you’re in Japan right now… It’d take at least three hours from Tokyo to here.
[Jungseo-hyung] Then I’ll just come tomorrow! Damn it, why does it have to be today?!
[Jungjin-hyung] Didn’t I tell you not to swear in front of the kid?
[Jungseo-hyung] Do I look like I’m in a mood to care? I’m already pissed about being dragged here!
[Jungwoo-hyung] This is why I suggested we create a group chat without Jungseo in it.

Before the bickering escalated, Jungin quickly sent a crying bunny emoji to calm Jungseo down.

[Lee Jungin] Let’s go together next time. We’re supposed to have dinner tomorrow, so I wanted to visit quickly while you weren’t around.

After a pause, Jungseo seemed pacified and sent some photos along with his message.

[Jungseo-hyung] Hey, this place is crawling with those rats you like. Let’s come here next time.

“…It’s Mickey Mouse, though,” Jungin muttered in disbelief at Jungseo calling Mickey Mouse a “rat.”

“Pardon?” the driver asked, glancing curiously.

Jungin shook his head.

[Lee Jungin: Yeah! Next time, let’s go together! Looking at my phone in the car is making me dizzy. 😢 ]

[Jungjin-hyung: You shouldn’t get dizzy. Turn off your phone and close your eyes until you arrive, kid. ]

[Lee Jungin: Okay. I’ll text when I’m heading home. ]

[Jungwoo-hyung: No need; I’ll pick you up at 7.]

With plenty of time left before 7, Jungin sent an “OK” dog emoji before turning off his phone.

As the car continued its smooth journey, he closed his eyes, letting himself rest.

How long had he been like that?

When the car began to bump over uneven roads, he glanced outside.

The orphanage loomed ahead, still poorly maintained and radiating an eerie air.

When the car stopped, Jungin helped the driver carry the boxes from the trunk to the building.

Just as they finished stacking most of them, a small door creaked open, and a round, pale face peeked out.

“Oh! It’s the angel oppa from last time!”

Yoomin, her hair tied up messily, pointed at Jungin while perched in Hyunjin’s arms.

“Hi! It’s been a while. Do you remember me?” he asked, crouching to her eye level.

“Of course! You’re an angel; I could never forget!” Yoomin beamed proudly, her chin held high.

She seemed to be doing well.

Stroking her hair, Jungin whispered as if sharing a big secret, “I heard the kids at Haengbok Orphanage are super kind, so I brought lots of presents. Want to see?”

“Presents?”

Yoomin’s cheeks flushed like peaches, her curiosity piqued.

Turning to the driver, Jungin mouthed a small request.

“Want to open them together with your friends?” he asked.

“Yeah!” Yoomin wiggled free from Hyunjin’s arms and dashed inside.

Soon, the cheerful chatter of children echoed out the open door.

“How have you been?” Jungin asked Hyunjin once they were alone.

Hyunjin, two years younger than Jungin, seemed uneasy, unable to meet his gaze.

Jungin smiled gently and patted his back.

“It must’ve been hard for you alone. Thank you for all your effort,” he said.

For some time, Jungin had been secretly sending money to Hyunjin, avoiding the director’s notice.

Thankfully, Hyunjin had used it well to look after the children.

“No, really… Thank you so much, hyung…” Moved by Jungin’s words, Hyunjin’s eyes turned red, tears threatening to spill.

Understanding his emotions, Jungin embraced him tightly, patting his back as he sobbed softly.

After a while, Hyunjin calmed down, though embarrassed by his outburst.

Scrubbing at his face, he suddenly looked serious, hesitant about something.

“Hyung, but… Is our hyung really overseas?”

Jungin had told the director that Choi Jungin was abroad, so naturally, the kids believed it too.

Not knowing what would happen next, he hadn’t explained anything to Hyunjin.

“Why do you ask?”

Hyunjin hesitated before speaking.

“A few days ago, after school… I saw someone who looked exactly like Jungin hyung.”

“…You mean Choi Jungin?”

“Yes, but… he just walked past me. It might not have been him, but the resemblance was uncanny…”

“Can you tell me exactly where you saw him?”

Jungin asked, his voice steady despite the unease creeping into his chest.

“Oh, sure. It was in Saun-dong. I was running an errand for the director at the department store…”

Saun-dong. That was where Choi Jungin used to live.

The thought that he might be nearby made Jungin’s heart pound uneasily.

“Are you okay? You’re sweating a lot…” Hyunjin asked, worried.

“I’m fine,” Jungin replied, wiping away the cold sweat and steadying his breathing.

‘You knew this might happen, Jungin. You were prepared for this, weren’t you?’

Forcing a smile, he reassured Hyunjin and guided him inside.

The children were ecstatic as they pulled out toys and snacks, their faces glowing with happiness.

Watching them, Jungin felt a pang in his chest.

“Sir,” the driver interrupted.

“Oh, Mr. Kim. Thank you for all your help. I’ll stay a little longer, so please rest in the car.”

Having been repeatedly instructed by Jungjin to look after him, Mr. Kim studied Jungin’s face with concern.

“I’m really fine. I’ll call if anything happens,” Jungin assured him.

“…Then I’ll wait outside. If anything comes up, call or shout, and I’ll be here immediately.”

Realizing Mr. Kim wouldn’t relax otherwise, Jungin nodded and watched as he left the building.

“Hyung, the vice director is waiting for you.”

Hyunjin, who had briefly stepped out, returned to the dormitory and called out to Jungin.

As Jungin tapped his shoulder in thanks, he raised his head and handed Hyunjin a shopping bag he had set aside earlier.

“Hyunjin, take this.”

“What’s this?”

“You like drawing, don’t you? I heard kids these days use this kind of thing to draw.”

Hyunjin’s pupils trembled faintly as he saw the bag adorned with a bitten apple logo.

Jungin grabbed Hyunjin’s hand and forced the bag into it, speaking firmly.

“Though it’s a bit late, congratulations on starting high school.”

“…Thank you.”

“And this is for you to use when you need it. Don’t tell the director, and use it for whatever you and the younger kids might need.”

It was the card Jungin had given him before.

Since Jungin had told him to use it as needed, he thought using it for the younger kids wouldn’t be an issue.

“…Why are you so good to us?”

Jungin smiled, anticipating a grateful expression, but froze as tears streamed down Hyunjin’s face.

“To be blunt… Jungin hyung, you left us behind. You left to live well on your own… So why are you, my ‘friend,’ going this far for us? I don’t understand.”

Jungin fell silent at the sight of Hyunjin’s wounded eyes.

He remembered the sudden accident that had taken him away, leaving Hyunjin to shoulder the burden of their younger siblings alone.

Though there were adults at the orphanage, they were no real help.

There was no one to expose the injustices committed by the director. Knowing that, Jungin’s guilt toward Hyunjin ran deep.

Seeing Hyunjin’s tear-streaked face filled with resentment, Jungin couldn’t find any words to say.

“One day… I’ll explain everything. I’m sorry I can’t tell you now.”

Would a day come when Jungin could confess the truth to Hyunjin?

No… He was a coward, terrified of being hated.

* * *