Chapter Text
The messages flooded his phone, each one a soft plea wrapped in the quiet desperation of someone longing for connection, yet receiving no response.
The first message read:
“Joonghyuk-ah, I got you some coffee! Where are you now? I’m coming to give it to you.”
Then came another:
“Any plans later? Would you like to watch a movie? I’m free today.”
Followed by:
“Wanna go home together later?”
And another:
“Where are you? What are you doing? I’m bored.”
Yoo Joonghyuk's eyes traced the familiar words, and an uneasy twist gripped his chest. The flood of messages felt like a weight, but his mind was too tangled, too consumed with his own overwhelming thoughts to even entertain the notion of answering. Frustration burned in him, and he cursed under his breath as he locked his phone momentarily.
A heavy sigh escaped his lips before he took another breath, trying to steady himself. In a moment of reckless abandon, he unlocked his Twitter account, the one he kept private for moments like these, and snapped a screenshot of the texts. With a quick, almost angry motion, he posted it along with a single word:
[Shit!]
He knew the caption might stir some trouble, but at that moment, he couldn't bring himself to care. The turmoil inside him demanded release, and this was the only way to quiet the noise, if only for a little while.
* * *
As expected, right after his post, a message from his twin brother, Yoo Joonghyun, popped up on his screen:
“Yoo Joonghyuk! What’s the meaning of this? You better explain yourself!”
Yoo Joonghyuk groaned inwardly. How annoying. His brother always had a knack for butting into things.
Without waiting for a response, Yoo Joonghyun followed up, “and here I thought he’s your boyfriend. Shouldn’t you treat him well?”
Yoo Joonghyuk could feel the weight of his brother’s words. His fingers moved almost automatically as he typed back: “Why do you care?”
But his brother wasn’t done. “I seriously wonder why you date him in the first place if you can’t treat him nicely. I think this is not the first time you ignored him. I often see you go out with your friends without including him. No. In fact, I never saw you publicly announce you’re dating him. What are you thinking? How long are you going to keep your relationship a secret?? Or are you planning to keep it that way on purpose? Are you taking this relationship seriously? Because honestly, it doesn’t look like it.”
Yoo Joonghyuk sighed, his hand hovering over the phone screen before he finally typed out his response: “I know we’re in a relationship, but he can get really annoying sometimes.”
He knew it would rile his brother up, and sure enough, the reply came immediately.
“What?? Is that your excuse? Are you saying that you’re dating him because he asked you to?? Not because you like him? What the fuck? Do you intend to hurt him?? You bastard, he likes you for real and this is how you think??”
Yoo Joonghyuk stared at the screen for a moment, irritation flaring up, but he knew he had to explain, even if it was hard. “Look. I don’t mean to hurt him. He’s one of the only people I’m comfortable with, and I really don’t mind dating him. And I admit he’s fun to have around. But yeah, I’m not sure how this relationship will go in the future.”
Yoo Joonghyun’s next message arrived with the fury of a thunderstorm: “That’s bullshit, Yoo Joonghyuk! You’re not allowed to date him just because he’s fun to be with. Because I can tell he likes you for real, and if you can’t return his feelings, you’ll end up hurting him.”
The words cut through Yoo Joonghyuk like a blade. He clenched his fists, but his reply was calm, despite the storm brewing inside. “Like I said, I never had the intention to hurt him. And isn’t it the purpose of dating someone? To make sure you have the right person to be with you?”
Yoo Joonghyun’s response was swift and biting. “So, you’re telling me you began to realise he’s not the right one for you after you started this relationship? There’s a big difference between ‘finding out your feelings’ and leading him to think that you like him, when it’s not what you think about him. The whole thing you’re comfortable being with him only means that you like him platonically, while he likes you romantically.
“You bastard! Don’t you realise you’re just playing with his heart?? If you can’t return his feelings, you might as well end this relationship for good, Yoo Joonghyuk! Before he gets hurt for real!”
The weight of his brother's words settled heavily in Yoo Joonghyuk’s chest. He knew what he was doing wasn't right, but he wasn’t sure what else to do. The silence that followed felt suffocating, the conflict in his mind only growing louder.
Yoo Joonghyuk slammed his phone down onto the bed, the sharp clatter echoing in the quiet room. He ran a frustrated hand through his hair, his thoughts spiraling. He hated to admit it, but his twin might have been right. He had never truly considered how serious this whole relationship had become. At first, he just liked having Kim Dokja around—his presence was comforting, easy. But now, staring at the mess he’d gotten himself into, he realized something he hadn’t been willing to face: his feelings toward Kim Dokja were never as deep as they should have been.
His brother's words echoed in his mind, sharp and clear. If he had no intention of continuing this relationship, then the right thing to do was to pull back—to keep his distance from Kim Dokja and let the inevitable happen. Maybe, just maybe, Kim Dokja would understand. He would be the one to end it.
The thought of losing him was painful, but it was necessary. It was better this way, right? He couldn’t afford to keep dragging Kim Dokja along when he wasn’t sure of his own feelings. The guilt settled heavily in his chest, but he pushed it away, convincing himself it was the only way to avoid hurting him further.
* * *
Kim Dokja sat quietly, his thumb hovering over the screen of his phone, torn between wanting to reach out and the urge to ignore everything. He had seen Yoo Joonghyuk's post from yesterday—the one clearly aimed at him—but he refused to acknowledge it. It was easier to pretend he hadn’t read it, to convince himself that things were still fine between them. Maybe it had just been a fleeting moment of frustration on Yoo Joonghyuk’s part. Nothing more.
Still, he couldn’t help himself. He sent a message anyway, hoping for a simple answer to soothe the ache in his chest. “Joonghyuk-ah, are you done with your class? Do you want to head home together? I can wait for you at the bus stop.”
The reply came back, distant and impersonal. “You go first. I’m still busy here. There’s a class project I need to work on with my teammates.”
Kim Dokja paused before replying. The words stung, but he masked the hurt with a calm response.
“Okay. Will text you later then.”
* * *
Later, as the silence between them stretched on, Kim Dokja couldn’t fight the feeling of loneliness that settled deeper with each unanswered message. “Joonghyuk-ah, do you want to have lunch together?”
The answer was quick, curt. “Sorry, I’ve promised my classmates to have lunch with them today.”
Kim Dokja’s fingers lingered over the screen before he typed back, his words tinged with a sad smile. “Okay, no problem. Though I miss tasting your cooking. Ah! Made an extra kimbap for you! Should I send it to you?”
The response was almost dismissive. “Next time. Stop texting me and eat your lunch.”
Kim Dokja set the phone down for a moment, swallowing the disappointment. He wished he could just believe it was nothing, but his heart couldn’t ignore the growing distance between them.
* * *
“Joonghyuk-ah, I’m done with my lesson. Where are you now? Can I see you for a moment? There’s something I wanna give to you. Or should I wait for you at the gate?
Kim Dokja stared at the screen for a long time, waiting for a reply that didn’t come.
Then he tried again. “Joonghyuk-ah? Are you busy?”
* * *
Kim Dokja sat back, his chest tight with the weight of unanswered messages. He noticed the shift in Yoo Joonghyuk’s behaviour—had he really become that busy? It had been days since they’d last met, and Kim Dokja missed him more than he could express. Today, he had even made cookies, something Lee Hyunsung had taught him how to do, and he had been so eager to give them to Yoo Joonghyuk. But now, it seemed that contact was impossible.
Maybe he should just send the cookies to Yoo Joonghyuk’s house. He still had time before his night shift, and he could always ask Yoo Joonghyun if he was home. The thought felt like a hollow hope, but it was all he had left.
Kim Dokja felt a sense of helplessness settling over him, his frustration growing with each unanswered message. In a moment of quiet desperation, he decided to reach out to Yoo Joonghyuk’s twin brother, Yoo Joonghyun. If anyone could help, it would be him. Yoo Joonghyun had always been there, offering support when Kim Dokja needed it most.
He hesitated for a moment, then typed the message, hoping for some comfort.
“Joonghyun-ssi, hi! Are you busy?”
The response was quick, a bit of warmth in the otherwise cold distance between him and Yoo Joonghyuk.
“Not at all. What can I do for you, Dokja-ya?”
Kim Dokja’s fingers hovered over the keys, unsure of what to say. But he pushed forward, hoping this small gesture might bring some relief. “Just want to ask you if you’re at home now.”
“I am.”
“I’m coming over to give you some cookies. I made them myself.” Kim Dokja replied, “my coworker taught me how to make them. Can you give some to Yoo Joonghyuk as well?”
Yoo Joonghyun didn’t respond immediately, but when he did, it stung just a little. “Why don’t you give them to him when you meet him? I thought you met every day before your classes?”
Kim Dokja’s heart sank as he typed out his response. “I can’t contact him today. I haven’t met him at all. Perhaps he’s really busy, but it’s okay. I don’t want to disturb him. It’s not something urgent anyway. I’ll arrive at your home around 4 pm, is that okay?”
The reply came almost immediately. “It’s fine. I’ll be right here and waiting for you.”
Kim Dokja couldn’t help but smile faintly at the warmth in Yoo Joonghyun’s words. “Thanks, Joonghyun-ssi. See you later.”
* * *
As Kim Dokja made his way to Yoo Joonghyun’s house, Yoo Joonghyuk’s phone buzzed with a message from his twin brother, sharp with frustration.
“Where the fuck are you now?”
Yoo Joonghyuk frowned at his phone, typing back quickly. “Still on campus with my friends. Why?”
Yoo Joonghyun’s reply came faster than before, dripping with annoyance. “Why didn’t you reply to Kim Dokja’s messages? He’s been texting me to know where you were.”
“I haven’t got a chance to reply to him. I just checked my inbox, and yours suddenly popped out.” Yoo Joonghyuk sighed, trying to explain, though his words felt hollow even to him.
Yoo Joonghyun wasn’t having it. “I can’t believe you can be such a jerk. I can’t believe you’re my brother even.”
“The hell?? Why are you so mad at me anyway?” Yoo Joonghyuk was getting defensive, his frustration mounting. “It’s not like there’s something urgent he wanted to tell me. Most likely, he just wanted me to give him a ride or send him home. “He’s grown up anyway, he should be able to manage himself.”
Yoo Joonghyun’s anger only deepened, the words flowing out as if they had been building for too long. “He just dropped by at our home to send us some cookies that he made himself. He’s been wanting to give them to you in person, but he couldn’t do so, because you’re obviously avoiding him. Don’t deny it, Yoo Joonghyuk! He told me he hasn’t seen you for days!”
Yoo Joonghyuk’s chest tightened, and for the first time, he couldn’t think of a response. Instead, he let the words tumble out without thought. “Isn’t that what you wanted from me? I’m trying to keep my distance from him. You’re the one who told me to stop my relationship with him.”
“I did tell you to end it for good, but not to ‘ghost’ him!” Yoo Joonghyun’s voice was sharp as a knife. “You’re just making him more confused, and in the end, you’ll hurt him more, Yoo Joonghyuk!”
Yoo Joonghyuk sat in silence after the conversation, the weight of his brother’s words settling deep in his chest. He couldn’t deny it—his brother was right. Again. He cared about Kim Dokja, but not the way Kim Dokja deserved. And yet, despite that, he never wanted to hurt him.
They had been friends since childhood, the three of them. And no one, not even his brother, could understand them the way Kim Dokja did. Still, as much as it hurt, maybe this was the only way.
He just couldn’t shake the guilt gnawing at him.
* * *
Lee Seolhwa’s tweet popped up on Kim Dokja’s screen, its cheerful tone an unexpected sting.
[Thanks for the cookies @SupremeKing1864! They’re really tasty!]
Kim Dokja read the words over and over again, his thoughts swirling. Were those the cookies he had baked for Yoo Joonghyuk? Had he given them to her? It didn’t really matter, but a part of him couldn’t help but wonder. He would ask Yoo Joonghyuk about it later—though, somehow, it felt like it would only bring more discomfort.
Kim Dokja couldn’t shake the gnawing feeling. He texted Yoo Joonghyuk, hoping for some clarity. “Joonghyuk-ah, did you get the cookies I made for you?”
A brief response came through. “I did. I gave them to Lee Seolhwa.”
Kim Dokja’s fingers froze for a second before he typed back. “I see. Don’t you like them?”
“I ate a little. I can’t finish them, that’s why I gave them away.” Yoo Joonghyuk’s reply was casual, but there was something off about it. “And I don’t really like cookies. They’re too sweet.”
Kim Dokja’s heart sank a little, but he kept his voice light. “Okay. I can make something else for you. I’m learning to make cheesecake today. I’ll send some for you tonight when I’m done. I can drop it later to your home, so you can share it with Joonghyun.”
There was a pause before Yoo Joonghyuk’s response came through, heavier than the previous messages. “Kim Dokja, I have something to say to you.”
Kim Dokja’s chest tightened. “What is it? Is it something important? I can go to your class.”
Yoo Joonghyuk quickly shut that down. “No need. I can just tell you here and now.”
There was a pause between. Suffocating one… well, at least for Kim Dokja.
“I want us to end our relationship. Let’s break up. It’s not like we’re having a serious one anyway. We never did go public about it. We’re just dating for fun, but since I’m busy nowadays, I don’t think it’s fair for you to keep this relationship.”
Kim Dokja felt the words land like a punch to the stomach. He had known this was coming, in some way, but hearing it out loud made it so much more real. His voice was steady as he typed. “I don’t really mind actually, Joonghyuk-ah. I can wait. I understand if you’re busy lately. I promise I won’t take too much of your time. I won’t bother you.”
Yoo Joonghyuk’s words came with a sharp finality that cut deeper than he realized. “Kim Dokja, it’s enough. I don’t feel like continuing it anyway.”
Kim Dokja’s heart raced, his mind reeling as he typed the next words, the hope in his chest burning quietly. “Then may I know… Did I do something wrong? Did I somehow make you upset? If I did, please forgive me. I’ll try to fix it. I promise, I will be better, Joonghyuk-ah. I don’t want it to end like this. I like you.”
Yoo Joonghyuk’s next message came with a weight of its own, raw and painful. “Kim Dokja, you should know I started dating you because I thought things would work out between us somehow. You’re fun, and I like being with you. But apparently, it’s not enough. Things didn't work the way I expected. And I’m sorry, to be honest, I just realized I’m starting to like another person now. And you should probably find someone else better than me. Someone that can give you attention better than me.”
Kim Dokja felt a cold emptiness settle in his chest. He typed his response slowly, each word heavier than the last. “I see. I understand. I apologize if I’ve been a disappointment to you in any way.”
“You don’t have to apologize to me. You did nothing wrong.” Yoo Joonghyuk’s reply was almost gentle, though it felt like a distant echo of care that no longer reached him. “I know you’ve tried your best to make things work. It’s just that maybe we’re not meant to be since the beginning.”
Kim Dokja didn’t know how to respond to that. He knew he should accept it, but something inside him still held on, even if it was just the smallest shred of hope. “You’re right. I should’ve known that. Thanks for everything then, Joonghyuk-ah. I appreciate it. Really.”
There was silence for a moment before Yoo Joonghyuk’s final words came through, and they carried more weight than anything he’d said before.
“I’m sorry, Kim Dokja.”
And in that moment, Kim Dokja realized that sometimes, no amount of trying could make a relationship work when the heart wasn’t in it.
* * *
Deep in his heart, Yoo Joonghyuk felt a quiet unease that refused to settle. The kind of discomfort that pressed against his ribs with every breath, whispering that something precious was slipping through his fingers. But he convinced himself—no, forced himself—to believe that this was what was best. For both of them. For Kim Dokja.
Letting go now would hurt, but dragging it on would only wound them deeper.
Meanwhile, somewhere far from him, Kim Dokja sat curled on the edge of his bed, phone cold in his hands. His heart was shattered in a familiar way, with that dull ache blooming behind his eyes. He felt like a fool. A blind, hopeful fool. He should have seen this coming—should have known better than to believe in something so fragile.
They were never meant to be.
He let out a long, shaky breath, the kind that made his chest tighten and his shoulders sink.
His vision blurred, but he blinked the tears away before they could fall.
It was okay. It had to be.
He would survive. He always did.
It was what was best for Yoo Joonghyuk.
Later that evening, he opened his messages and hesitated for a long time before typing. His thumbs hovered uncertainly, but in the end, he sent it. “Joonghyun-ssi, just want to thank you for everything. I’m truly sorry if I’ve troubled you so much in the past. Please don’t hate me.”
The silence that followed was short, but suffocating.
Then, a response blinked into existence.
“Kim Dokja? What’s wrong? Why so sudden?”
Kim Dokja stared at the screen, the glow casting soft shadows across his tired face. He typed slowly, numbly. “Nothing’s wrong. I just broke up with Joonghyuk. It’s kind of expected, though.”
There was another pause.
“I’m sorry, I don’t know what to say."
Kim Dokja’s lips curved in the faintest of bitter smiles. "It’s fine. It’s going to happen sooner or later anyway.” But even as he typed it, the words cut through him.
“What did he tell you? That bastard.”
That message made him blink. His fingers tightened around the phone. “Stop calling him that. He’s your own brother.”
He swallowed hard and kept going, the words spilling out like a confession he'd rehearsed in his heart for too long. “He told me that things just didn’t work between us, and we’re just not meant to be. I guess it’s true after all. I mean, Joonghyun-ssi, just look at us—we’re so different. He looks so perfect, nobody would even believe me if I told them we were dating.
“That’s why I wanted us to keep it a secret. I didn’t want anyone to know. People will always compare us, and I don’t want that. I don’t want to humiliate him. I’m not boyfriend material. I’m not someone he could be proud of.”
He hit send and stared at the screen, empty now, like something inside him had been hollowed out with every word.
The reply came quickly. “Kim Dokja, what are you saying?”
And again, just moments later, as if trying to reach through the screen.
“Kim Dokja?”
Then the screen lit up with an incoming call.
[Missed Call: Yoo Joonghyun]
[Missed Call: Yoo Joonghyun]
Twice.
Kim Dokja didn’t answer though. He didn’t have the courage. His phone vibrated quietly against his thigh, buzzing like a pulse he no longer had the strength to feel. The room felt heavier with each passing second, the silence deepening into something unbearable.
He sat there for a long time, unmoving, as if even breathing might shatter the fragile stillness he was wrapped in. He had said everything he could.
And in the end, it still wasn’t enough.
Kim Dokja’s vision began to blur. No. He didn’t want to cry. He wasn’t supposed to cry. He had promised himself he wouldn’t. But his chest ached, tightening with a pressure he couldn’t push down, and his hands trembled slightly as he clutched his phone. He hadn’t cried when he texted Yoo Joonghyuk earlier. Not once. His fingers had been steady, his breath even. But now, with Yoo Joonghyun—it was different.
Tears welled up and broke free without permission. Damn it. He was crying for real. The warmth trailed down his cheeks, salt mixing with the cold sting of shame. He could barely see the screen anymore.
“Get a hold of yourself, Kim Dokja,” he muttered under his breath.
But the words did nothing to stop the tears.
This—this was his own doing. He had invited this pain into his life. He had let it happen, step by step, like walking into a burning building with open arms. Regret wouldn’t fix anything now. So why couldn’t he stop crying?
He sniffled, trying to keep his voice level as he typed. “I’m sorry, Joonghyun-ssi. I was crying just now. I’m sorry if I made you worry.”
The reply came fast, urgent. “Where are you now? Are you at home? I’m coming to your place then. You can’t be alone. You need someone beside you.”
Kim Dokja’s heart clenched. For a moment, he almost gave in to the thought—almost wanted to be held. But no… not tonight.
“It’s okay, Joonghyun-ssi, I’m alright. Thanks for your concern, but I’m going to sleep now. I’m really tired. I hope you don’t mind, I do wish to be alone at the moment.”
There was a pause before the next response, like Yoo Joonghyun was hesitating, holding back more than he wanted to say. “Fine, then. Go rest yourself. Don’t overthink. None of this is your fault. I’m sure you’ll be much better when you wake up tomorrow.”
Kim Dokja let out a shaky breath, wiping at his eyes. “I hope so, too. I just want us to still be friends even after all that happened.”
There was something tender in the message that followed. Something that made the pain a little more bearable.
“You know I’ll be here for you no matter what happens.”
He stared at those words for a long time, blinking past the fog in his eyes.
“Thank you. Good night, Joonghyun-ssi.”
The screen dimmed as he set the phone down beside him.
And in the silence that followed, Kim Dokja curled into himself—quiet and alone—with tears drying slowly on his skin and the faint comfort of knowing someone, at least, still cared.
* * *
[Beep. Beep. BEEP.]
The shrill sound of the phone echoed in Yoo Joonghyun’s ear, frustration bubbling just beneath his skin.
Pick up the goddamn phone, you bastard. Where the hell are you?
His fingers curled tightly around the device as the call finally connected. “Yoo Joonghyuk! Answer me! Where the fuck are you??”
A beat passed before a familiar, indifferent voice responded—too calm, too composed for the chaos boiling in Yoo Joonghyun’s chest.
“Why are you so noisy?? What do you want??”
“I need to see you. NOW!!”
There was a pause again.
Of course Yoo Joonghyuk was going to protest. Of course he was going to act like nothing had happened.
“What? Why so sudden?? Can’t you wait until I get home? I’m in the middle of working on a project with my classmates right now.”
Yoo Joonghyun’s grip tightened, jaw clenched as he glanced at the time. It was far too late for academic excuses. “What time is it anyway?? Don’t use that excuse to avoid me! I know you’re feeling guilty because of Kim Dokja, that’s why you’re not home yet. Are you scared to see me??”
“The hell? Why am I afraid to see you anyway? I did nothing wrong, in fact, I did exactly what you told me to. I’ve talked to him and we ended our relationship on good terms.”
There was something about the way he said that—so cold. So unaffected.
Yoo Joonghyun nearly saw red. “Stupid bastard. Send me your location and I’ll come to you. If you don’t do it, I swear I’ll beat you up when you get home.”
A sigh, and then the chime of an incoming location ping.
“Do we really have to do this?” Yoo Joonghyuk’s reply came.
Ignoring his brother, Yoo Joonghyun said, “I’m leaving now. Just stay there! I’m serious!”
What’s wrong with that dumbass? Yoo Joonghyuk let out an exasperated breath as he glanced around the open plaza. He tucked his hands into his jacket pockets, trying to appear calm, but inside, he was already counting down the minutes.
His brother would definitely bring up Kim Dokja.
Again.
* * *
How many times had he already checked his watch? Five minutes had passed since six, and still no sign of Yoo Joonghyun. He tilted his head back, scanning the soft, blue-tinged sky. At least the weather was decent. On colder nights, even his thickest jacket couldn’t protect him from the bite of the wind, but tonight, it was still.
And then, finally—he saw movement. A familiar car pulling in. A figure stepping out with tense shoulders and an even more tense face.
Yoo Joonghyuk raised his hand in a small wave.
But Yoo Joonghyun didn’t return the gesture.
Of course he didn’t.
Yoo Joonghyun had half a mind to throttle his brother on the spot. He spotted that all-too-familiar smug face the moment he stepped out of his car.
There he is. Waving like nothing had happened.
No, Yoo Joonghyun wasn’t in the mood to wave back. He wasn’t even in the mood to speak civilly. He was in the mood to punch that beautiful face right off its pedestal. Yup. That’s right. He probably still thinks he’s the most handsome man on Earth. Well… not for long.
After tonight, Yoo Joonghyuk was going to be a little less gorgeous.
Maybe then he’d finally understand the weight of what he’d done.
* * *
Yoo Joonghyun didn’t slow down. He ran—his breath heavy with rage and anguish—toward the figure waiting beneath the dull orange glow of the streetlight. Yoo Joonghyuk had stood up the moment he saw his twin, his usual stoic mask barely concealing the guilt flickering in his eyes. He opened his mouth, maybe to greet him, maybe to brace for whatever storm his brother had become.
But Yoo Joonghyun didn’t speak.
His fist did.
The punch landed with the force of every suppressed emotion Yoo Joonghyun had buried over the past weeks. Yoo Joonghyuk’s cap was knocked clean off his head, flying into the air like a discarded shield, useless against the blow. The younger twin staggered back and hit the concrete hard, a sharp groan escaping him as his back struck the cold pavement.
“That should teach you a lesson,” Yoo Joonghyun shouted, his voice cracking beneath the weight of emotion. He didn’t give his brother a chance to recover, not even to lift his head. He straddled him in an instant, fists already flying again—one, two, three— each hit sharper than the last.
“You bastard! Stop it! Have you lost your mind?! We’re in public—for God’s sake!” Yoo Joonghyuk struggled beneath him, trying to shield his face as a small crowd began to gather, drawn by the sight of the two men fighting. Phones began to appear, whispers started swirling.
But Yoo Joonghyun didn’t care.
He could feel his heart pounding in his throat, his lungs burning from rage—or was it grief? He didn’t know anymore. All he knew was that the man beneath him—his brother—had broken something precious. And someone had to pay for it. Let the world watch. Let them see how a brother breaks another for hurting someone they both should have protected.
Yoo Joonghyuk tried to reach for Joonghyun’s wrists to stop the assault.
“What the hell are you doing this for?” he asked breathlessly.
“Who cares what I’m doing this for?!” Yoo Joonghyun snapped back, fists trembling. “I just want to hit you until I’m satisfied!”
“Seriously—will you just stop it?!”
With a sharp twist of his body, Yoo Joonghyuk finally managed to shove Yoo Joonghyun off and scramble to his feet, chest heaving. But before he could flee—before he could even turn—Yoo Joonghyun grabbed him by the collar and yanked him back. The anger was still there in his eyes, but beneath it… there was pain. A terrible, aching sorrow.
“For God’s sake, Yoo Joonghyuk,” he growled, voice low and broken. “Is your heart made of stone? Even if you didn’t like him—couldn’t you at least say it in a way that didn’t destroy him? Did you have to salt the wound?”
Yoo Joonghyuk’s brows drew together, his shoulders tense. “Do you think I wanted to?” he shot back, his voice laced with frustration and exhaustion. “You’re the one who told me to end it. And I did. I had to make it clear. I had to make sure he didn’t… didn’t put hope in me anymore. Damn it, Joonghyun—I didn’t want to hurt him. He’s still my friend. But I didn’t want to lie to him, either. I was just telling him the truth.”
Yoo Joonghyun stared at him, eyes gleaming. “The truth?” he echoed bitterly. “What truth? That you’re not meant for him? That he’s not good enough for you? That he doesn’t deserve your perfect, untouchable self?”
His fists trembled again, this time not from rage—but from helplessness. “You should’ve told him he deserved someone better than you. Because that’s the real truth. He does. He deserves someone better. Because you… you’re just a jerk, Yoo Joonghyuk.”
His voice cracked on that last word, but he didn’t care.
He swung at him again. But this time, Yoo Joonghyuk was ready. He ducked. And for a second, neither of them moved—frozen in that small pocket of silence after the storm. They were just two broken twins under a flickering streetlamp, bruises blooming where words had failed to reach.
"Seriously?" Yoo Joonghyuk grabbed his twin’s clenched fist, the muscles beneath it still trembling from the fury moments earlier. "It doesn’t even concern you!"
Yoo Joonghyun’s voice rose, cracking like a fault line. "Well, it does. Because I like him."
The words came out louder than intended—sharp and raw, like a confession torn from a wound that had been festering far too long. The moment they escaped, Yoo Joonghyun froze. What… what had he just said? He liked Kim Dokja? He actually said that out loud? He didn’t dare meet his brother’s eyes—but then again, he didn’t need to. The silence spoke for both of them.
Yoo Joonghyuk stared, clearly caught off guard. "You do?"
And just like that, Yoo Joonghyun's face flushed a deep red, shame flooding through him. Out of all the people he could’ve confessed to, why did it have to be him? His own twin. The one he fought most. The one who already had everything—even him.
Yoo Joonghyuk’s lips curled slightly, a sardonic glint in his tone. "Interesting to see someone isolate his feelings—"
Yoo Joonghyun shot him a warning glare. "Your point is?"
"My point is," Yoo Joonghyuk said evenly, "I finally understand why you’re so mad at me. You like him."
Yoo Joonghyun let out a bitter breath. "Well, I do. That’s why I hate you for wasting his feelings."
With that, he sank to the ground like the weight of the truth had finally worn him down. The fury was gone now, burned out by sorrow. All that remained was the ache he never dared voice before. He stared ahead, eyes unfocused, voice barely above a whisper. "I always wished I’d been the one to get that chance. But I never did. Why is it you… and not me?"
Yoo Joonghyuk lowered himself beside him, adjusting his cap like the gesture could somehow cover the bruise forming on his cheek—or the one inside his chest. "Then why don’t you tell him?"
Yoo Joonghyun laughed softly. Not because it was funny, but because it was all too hopeless. "I can’t. He likes you. He’s always smiling when he’s with you. I’m just... just a friend. Nothing more."
For a moment, Yoo Joonghyuk didn’t respond. He merely rubbed at his bruised cheek with a wince.
Yoo Joonghyun glanced sideways and managed a small, bitter chuckle. "Sorry," he muttered. "I was angry at you."
Yoo Joonghyuk sighed, dropping his hand from his face. "Never mind. I’ll heal soon."
A quiet settled between them—less like silence, more like surrender.
"So," Yoo Joonghyuk said after a pause, voice subdued, "what are you going to do now?"
Yoo Joonghyun exhaled. "I’m not so sure either. I guess... I’ll just silently try to be by his side, for now."
Yoo Joonghyuk only nodded. No advice. No judgment. Just a quiet understanding between two brokenhearted fools.
They sat like that for a long while—two silhouettes under the deepening night, the sky overhead slowly darkening to ink. Neither of them moved, nor dared speak. The air was heavy with things they couldn’t say, with hopes that had quietly died in both of them.
Finally, Yoo Joonghyun stirred, breaking the stillness. "It’s getting late," he murmured, pulling his car key from his pocket as he stood. "I should head home." He turned to his brother. "What about you?"
Yoo Joonghyuk stood as well. "Home, obviously. With you. It’s late."
Yoo Joonghyun raised an eyebrow. "Where’s your bike?"
"I figured it’d rain, so I left it on campus. And besides, you’re meeting me here—so you can give me a ride."
Yoo Joonghyun scoffed. "What do you think I am? Your personal driver?"
Yoo Joonghyuk smirked. "You do realize we live together?"
"I don’t need that reminder."
"Then just take responsibility as my older brother and send me home."
Yoo Joonghyun stared at him, squinting, as if still debating whether his twin was serious. He was. Shamelessly so. And after all that had happened tonight—after punches, confessions, and regret—Yoo Joonghyun found he didn’t have the energy to argue.
"Fine," he muttered, turning on his heel. "Let’s just go. I want to sleep and forget this night ever happened."
But neither of them would forget.
Not the bruises.
Not the things they had said.
And especially not the things they hadn’t.
* * *
The traffic was suffocating that night—choked with unmoving cars and flickering brake lights stretching endlessly into the horizon. Yoo Joonghyun gripped the steering wheel tighter, knuckles pale beneath the glow of the dashboard.
“Why are all these roads closed?” he muttered, frustration creeping into his voice.
He’d never been in this part of the city before. Every turn the GPS suggested led them into another blockade or dead end. Each detour only made the journey home feel longer, the unfamiliar streets twisting around them like a labyrinth with no exit.
It was already getting dark. The streetlights flickered overhead, casting long shadows that darted across his windshield. And then—out of nowhere—a car burst forward from the side of a building, its headlights blinding in the suddenness of its appearance.
“Shit!”
Yoo Joonghyun instinctively jerked the wheel, his foot slamming down on the brake. The tires screamed against the asphalt as the car veered hard to the side. He narrowly avoided a direct collision with the oncoming vehicle—but there wasn’t enough space, not enough time.
The front of his car slammed into a street pole across the road.
The impact sent a bone-jarring shock through the entire vehicle. The world exploded in a cascade of shattered glass, crumpling metal, and the shrill screech of rubber dying against the pavement.
Yoo Joonghyun’s head whipped forward before crashing back down against the dashboard. His body went slack. He felt something warm trickling down his temple, slipping over his eyelashes and clouding his vision in red. His ears rang. The sounds around him—panicked screams, car horns, footsteps rushing toward the wreck—seemed distant, like they belonged to a dream he hadn’t meant to enter.
He blinked slowly, fighting the darkness encroaching at the edges of his sight.
Yoo Joonghyuk.
He shifted his gaze—and there he was. His twin, slumped motionless beside him, head tilted unnaturally against the cracked window, blood blooming across his shirt like a flower.
No. No. No.
Yoo Joonghyun wanted to move, to reach out. To shake him awake.
Please move. Please breathe.
But his limbs were unresponsive. His body no longer obeyed him. Everything ached, but it was dull now, distant.
“Joong—…” he tried to call out, but the syllable never fully formed.
A final wave of dizziness rolled over him, heavy and consuming. His vision dimmed entirely, swallowed in red and black.
The last thing he saw was the outline of his brother, so still, too still.
Then, the world vanished.
TO BE CONTINUED~