"Brother, you're my hero."
Seojun woke up from a nightmare, his body drenched in cold sweat. His glassy eyes scanned the room in a panic, searching for his younger brother.
He rushed through the house—but there was no sign of Haebin.
"Haebin!!" he shouted from the balcony, startling the elderly woman living below.
"Seojun, quit screaming! You'll give me a heart attack, you brat. Youth these days..."
"Hey, old lady! Have you seen my little brother?"
"Hmm? He was just outside a moment ago. Took off crying. I heard on the news that a kid died nearby yesterday. Poor boy... might've been his friend."
Wasting no time, Seojun splashed cold water on his face, threw on a hoodie, and darted out the door.
His first stop was the playground, where Haebin often played with Mujin. And there he was—sitting on the curb, face buried in his hands.
"What are you doing here?" Seojun asked, catching his breath.
