Tae walked closer to Yuwon, then without hesitation, pulled him into a tight hug.
Tae (softly): "Hyung... I missed you so much."
Min stepped forward, confused and alarmed.
Min: "What are you doing? Who are you?"
Tae glanced at him with a sharp, cold smile.
Tae: "Remove this piece of shit. He's too noisy. I don't like noise."
At Tae's signal, two guards swiftly moved in, grabbing Min by the arms and dragging him aside.
Min (struggling): "Hey! Let me go! Who the hell do you think you are?!"
Yuwon still stood frozen, eyes locked on Tae in shock.
Tae gently holding Yuwon by the waist.
Tae (tilting his head, pouting innocently): "Hyung… who was that?"
Yuwon stared at him, breath caught in his throat.
Yuwon (whispering): "Tae..."
Before he could say anything else, Tae leaned in and kissed him.
Tae: "No need to waste your words on that noise. Only speak for me, Hyung. You're mine—remember?"
Yuwon gasped and pushed him away, quickly turning toward the building entrance. But before he could go inside, Tae grabbed his wrist firmly.
Tae (voice trembling): "Just like before… You're still the same. Pushing me away. Refusing me. Why?"
Yuwon: "Tae... I'm sorry....."
Tae (coldly): "I don't want your sorry, Hyung. Can you even look at me? I'm Tae. The one you promised you wouldn't ignore. But you did. You ignored me, you hurt me. And look—after five years, you're still the same."
Yuwon's breathing grew faster, his heart pounding. A few people nearby were beginning to stare.
Yuwon (panicking): "Tae… people are watching. Let's talk inside."
Without waiting for an answer, he grabbed Tae's hand and pulled him into the apartment building.
As soon as they entered the apartment, Tae closed the door behind them and quickly wrapped his arms around Yuwon from behind.
Tae (softly): "Hyung… can you please go back to how you were before? When you loved me… when you cared about me?"
Yuwon's heart raced in his chest. He gently pried Tae's arms away and turned to face him.
Yuwon: "Tae… you've grown up now. You don't need my love or care anymore."
Tae (staring at him): "But Hyung… I still need you."
Yuwon looked into his eyes, then reached out and softly patted his head.
Yuwon: "Tae… I missed you too. And I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you by ignoring you."
A small smile spread across Tae's face, hopeful and innocent.
Tae: "Hyung… will you stay by my side forever?"
Yuwon hesitated, then nodded with a gentle smile.
Yuwon: "Tae… I'll always stay by your side. As your older brother."
Tae's smile slowly faded.
He reached out and held Yuwon's hands tightly, staring into his eyes.
Tae (serious): "I don't want you as my brother."
Yuwon (alarmed): "Tae… what are you doing? That hurts—"
Tae's grip tightened, anger flashing in his eyes.
Tae (voice shaking with frustration): "Why do you always try to be just my brother?!"
Yuwon's eyes welled with tears, startled by the sharpness in Tae's voice. He took a step back, visibly scared by Tae's intensity.
Tae (furious): "Hyung, after everything—after sleeping with me… how can you still say I'm just your little brother?! Do brothers sleep together?"
Yuwon's tears finally spilled over. His voice cracked.
Yuwon: "Tae…"
But Tae wasn't listening anymore.
Overcome with a mix of heartbreak and rage, Tae grabbed Yuwon's wrist and pulled him toward the bedroom.
Tae pushed Yuwon down onto the bed. Yuwon's back hit the mattress with a soft thud as his tears flowed freely.
Yuwon (voice trembling): "Tae… I'm sorry. That night… it was my fault. All of it."
Tae hovered over him, eyes burning with emotion.
Tae (firmly): "Hyung, why do you keep saying it was a mistake? That night wasn't wrong. I know what I felt… I know you felt it too. You love me, and I love you. Why can't you understand something so simple?"
Yuwon (shaking his head): "Tae… I love you. But only as a brother."
Tae's expression twisted into frustration. He sat back slightly, running a hand through his hair.
Tae (his voice rising): "Brother, brother—why is that the only thing you can say?!"
He leaned in again, grabbing Yuwon's shoulders tightly, but not harshly—just desperate.
Tae (pleading): "Hyung, I don't want to be your brother. I want to be your man. Your boyfriend. Your husband. Your everything."
Yuwon (tears still falling): "Tae… enough."
He turned his face away, voice low but resolute.
Yuwon: "I only want you as my little brother."
A heavy silence fell between them.
Tae stared at Yuwon in silence. Then, without a word, he reached out and gently wiped away Yuwon's tears. His gaze dropped to Yuwon's wrists—still red where he had gripped them too tightly. Guilt flashed across Tae's face.
Tae (softly): "Hyung… did I hurt you again?"
He gently held Yuwon's hands, the contrast of tenderness after his earlier outburst striking. Yuwon was still crying—eyes lowered, body tense, heart pounding with fear and confusion.
Tae (his voice breaking): "Why can't you understand my feelings?"
He leaned forward and wrapped his arms around Yuwon, hugging him close.
Tae (whispering): "Hyung… just hold me. Please."
Yuwon, still trembling, slowly and hesitantly returned the embrace. Tae's body relaxed for a moment, his eyes fluttering closed as he breathed in deeply.
Tae (murmuring): "You still smell the same… sweet and warm… just like before."
Then, without warning, Tae pressed a gentle kiss to Yuwon's neck.
Yuwon (startled): "Tae—"
He tried to push Tae away, but Tae only held him tighter, desperation seeping into his voice.
Tae (firmly): "Hyung… don't push me away. I hate it when you do that."
Yuwon's breath hitched, his body frozen with fear and emotional conflict.
Yuwon didn't respond—his lips parted slightly, but no words came. His heart was heavy, mind spinning with emotions too tangled to untie.
Tae gently laid him down on the bed, then climbed in beside him, careful not to frighten him again. He wrapped his arms around Yuwon, holding him close like something fragile he didn't want to break.
Tae (softly): "Hyung… can you hold me like before? I miss the warmth of your arms."
Yuwon looked at him—his younger face now more mature, but those same desperate eyes from years ago still stared back. Tae's were red, glassy, filled with longing and pain.
Without a word, Yuwon lifted his arm and held Tae close, like comforting a child lost in a storm. Tae buried his face in Yuwon's chest, inhaling deeply like the scent alone could calm the ache inside him.
Outside, the night grew colder, but inside the room, it was silent and still. No more arguments, no more cries—just the quiet warmth of two people lying side by side, tangled in the weight of memories they could never forget.
Tae clung to Yuwon like he was home.
And Yuwon… for one night, let himself be the warmth Tae remembered.