Perhaps the shock of suddenly losing so many people he knew was too great—Cha Eun-soo had been drained of energy for days. He would sit blankly, staring into space. It wasn’t a matter of mental strength or weakness—anyone in his shoes would have been mentally shattered. It was only natural.
One day, he even missed a step and nearly tumbled down the stairs at home.
It got to the point where you couldn’t take your eyes off him. Cha Eun-hyuk and Shim Tae-seong hovered around like loyal dogs sensing that their master was in danger.
And tonight, as always, Cha Eun-hyuk came home late—understandable, given how busy things had become since the terrorist attack—and instinctively sought out Cha Eun-soo.
Right before he opened the door to his brother’s room, a cold wave of dread brushed against his heart. At this hour, Eun-soo should’ve been asleep—but his breathing was uneven.
He rushed inside, quickly making his way to the bed.
“……!”
And then, he was at a loss for words.
His little brother was curled up and crying.
Tears streamed from his closed eyes, soaking the strands of hair scattered across the pillow. His lips, flushed a deeper red from the fever, were pressed shut to muffle the sounds, and his thin back trembled pitifully.
Then, as if sensing someone’s presence, his eyelids fluttered open, revealing eyes glistening with moisture.
“……Hyung.”
Cha Eun-soo’s chest heaved with sobs as he slowly reached out his arms.
Just like he used to do as a child, running to him without hesitation.
Cha Eun-hyuk stood frozen for a moment, silently watching the scene. It was the first time he had ever seen his brother cry so quietly, and for a few seconds, his thoughts stalled. But then, his mind quickly snapped back.
Without hesitation, he climbed onto the bed and wrapped his arms around the frail body. The warmth pressing against his chest was burning hot.
“It’s because of me.”
Cha Eun-soo mumbled, his face buried in his brother’s chest.
“This happened to everyone because of me.”
“Eun-soo…”
“If everyone around me ends up like that again…”
His voice was drenched in fear.
“What if something happens to Mom and Noona too…?”
Cha Eun-hyuk didn’t answer. Instead, he pressed his lips to Eun-soo’s hair.
Eun-soo believed that the hotel incident happened because of him.
But even if Joo Cheong-gyeong hadn’t planned to kidnap the guide, he likely would’ve committed the act of terror anyway, using Jang Hee-gang’s situation as an excuse to draw Eun-soo out. Perhaps it would’ve all happened in that same place, at that same time.
Still, Cha Eun-hyuk didn’t explain.
“I’m scared, Hyung……”
Because this was exactly what I had desperately wished for.
He gently cupped his younger brother’s face, who was clearly aching for someone to lean on. Then he pressed his lips one by one to Eun-soo’s round forehead, flushed eyelids, and reddened lips. Cha Eun-soo, buried in emotion, didn’t resist.
So calm, like a tamed animal—it was unbearably endearing.
“What do you want me to do?”
Cha Eun-hyuk asked softly.
“Tell me.”
Those tear-filled eyes trembled with pain. Even as Eun-soo hesitated, unable to respond easily, Cha Eun-hyuk didn’t rush him. He simply waited.
Only after a long while did Cha Eun-soo finally part his lips.
“If I stay here, our family will be in danger too.”
His tear-streaked face had settled into determination.
“I need to leave.”
As soon as possible.
Hearing that, Cha Eun-hyuk tightened his arms around his brother.
Wherever Cha Eun-soo went, of course, he would be going too.
***
The whole family had taken time to go out for a meal, hoping to lift Cha Eun-soo’s spirits.
That’s when Cha Eun-hyuk casually spoke up.
“Eun-soo and I are thinking of moving out.”
“……What?”
“Come again?”
Cha Sun-jung’s expression froze in shock, and Cha Eun-se flinched, dropping her utensils.
“Oppa, what are you talking about all of a sudden?”
Cha Eun-se asked, stumbling over her words as if the idea had never once crossed her mind.
“You’re saying you two are going to move out?”
“Yeah, Noona.”
The answer came from Cha Eun-soo. His expression was full of guilt.
Cha Eun-se turned to their mother, disbelief written all over her face. Her eyes silently pleaded: Please, say something.
Cha Sun-jung frowned slightly before she spoke.
“Can you tell me why you’re doing this?”
“I’ve been planning to move out once I became an adult. Honestly, I was going to live on my own, but somehow, Hyung and I ended up deciding to go together… I’m sorry for not telling you sooner.”
The vague, half-hearted explanation didn’t satisfy her. Cha Sun-jung fell silent.
What had he come to realize through the tragedy of losing his friends? Announcing that he wanted to leave home at a time like this felt unconvincing—worse, it felt ominous.
But she couldn’t bring herself to bring up the past incident, to dig into wounds that hadn’t healed. She didn’t want to treat her hurting son like a suspect.
And if the eldest was going with him…
She silently looked back and forth between her quiet firstborn and her pale youngest.
“Mom, no, right? You’re not seriously going to allow this, right?”
Cha Eun-se’s anxious voice cut across the table.
Her mother turned to face her daughter, whose entire body was radiating opposition.
“Eun-soo’s all grown up now. It’s not really a matter of permission anymore.”
“Mom…!”
“Eun-hyuk said he’ll be living with him, didn’t he?”
“But still! If they move out, we won’t see our baby brother every day!”
Turning her gaze away from her second child, who looked on the verge of tears, she looked to her youngest.
“Do what you want, Eun-soo.”
Cha Sun-jung spoke gently to her most precious, most fragile child.
“But I’d like you to grant me one request.”
“Please, go ahead, Mother.”
“If you start feeling unwell, contact us immediately. Your brother can’t be home all day, after all.”
It might have sounded trivial to outsiders, but for this family, it was the most important issue of all. They knew too well that without a promise, their youngest would stubbornly endure his suffering alone.
Cha Eun-soo gave a reassuring smile, trying to ease everyone’s worry.
“Mr. Bodyguard will still be with me the whole time. Don’t worry.”
“You mean Shim Tae-seong?”
“Yes.”
A faint twist pulled at the corner of Cha Eun-hyuk’s lips. Cha Sun-jung didn’t notice and simply nodded in approval.
“Good. That’s a smart decision. He seemed like a decent man.”
She recalled the time she met Shim Tae-seong.
He’d said he was acquainted with her eldest son, and indeed, the man had the same quiet demeanor. It wasn’t that he gave off a shady, unreadable vibe—instead, he came across as cautious and deeply responsible, traits that made her feel favorable toward him.
Even just standing still, the man exuded a threatening presence. That alone made him seem more than suitable for the job of protection.
And knowing he was someone her protective son had personally brought home for the family’s safety, she couldn’t help but trust him.
“Have you already found a place?”
From there, the conversation naturally shifted to topics like where they planned to live, when they would move, and other practical details.
Only Cha Eun-se remained silent. She was deeply hurt—but bit her lip, refusing to whine or cry in front of her younger brother, who had already gone through so much. Cha Eun-soo gently comforted her, promising to visit home often.
After dinner, the family headed together to a nearby private lounge.
As Cha Eun-se, her mood slightly improved, asked her brother what he needed for the move, Cha Sun-jung and Cha Eun-hyuk sat by the window, quietly sipping wine.
“It’s a relief to know you’ll be living with him,” Cha Sun-jung said, her voice soft.
“I’m always grateful for you, you know that.”
Cha Eun-hyuk listened quietly without offering much in reply.
“When your father passed so suddenly and I was barely holding it together… it wasn’t just me—you took care of your siblings too. Even though you were just a child yourself.”
As Cha Sun-jung recalled those difficult days, a wave of regret settled across her face.
“Especially you and Eun-soo… you two always had such a special bond. And still do.”
“…Would it be alright if I believed that one day, you’ll tell me the reason?”
For the past few days, she had sensed something unusual between her sons. And now, she felt certain that this unexplained current was tied to their decision to move out.
She wasn’t pushing for an answer now. As a mother burdened with guilt toward her eldest, patience was the least she could offer him.
“Mother.”
Just then, Cha Eun-soo appeared, holding a cocktail glass in hand.
“Can you please stop Noona?”
He gestured subtly toward Cha Eun-se, who was seated off to the side and completely absorbed in her phone, practically about to buy something.
“Furniture, cars, and for some reason… yachts? She’s looking at everything.”
At the helpless look on his face, Cha Sun-jung let out a sigh.
“Stay here.”
She stood and walked over to her daughter. Meanwhile, Cha Eun-hyuk took a long look at his brother as Eun-soo sat down beside him.
The alcohol had put a slight flush on Eun-soo’s cheeks. Cha Eun-hyuk immediately realized that Eun-se must’ve given him the drink on purpose.
Still, seeing even a brief flicker of lightness in his usually sullen brother, Cha Eun-hyuk reached out and gently ruffled his hair.
“What’s that for, Hyung?”
“No reason.”
Eun-soo tilted his head, then took another sip of the cocktail. He didn’t have much drinking experience, but oddly enough, he seemed comfortable with it.
“How many drinks have you had?”
“Ah… this? I dunno.”
Cha Eun-hyuk turned his head, glancing toward where their mother had gone.
There was Cha Eun-se, clearly trying to distract their mother from scolding her, talking her ear off while keeping her seated. A row of empty glasses lined the bar.
He’d really gone through quite a few already.
“Noona drank with me too.”
Noticing where his brother was looking, Eun-soo quickly offered a defense.
“And I think it’s low alcohol. I’m not even drunk.”
He said it—the classic drunk line. Cha Eun-hyuk stared down at him silently.
He could tell Eun-soo wanted another drink.
It wasn’t necessarily a good idea to lean on alcohol when your mind was worn thin, but…
On a night like this, with them together like this—it might just be okay.
