Lim Do Yun did not even realise he had climbed down the stairs till his cousin Tae Ri gently touched his arm and asked if he wanted to join others on the floor or leave for home with her. She looked tired and wanted to be anywhere but in the club at the moment.
Refusing the invite to go home and assuring her that he was not joining the dance floor, Lim Do Yun walked to the bar. He ordered a whiskey and sat by the bar. But his eyes moved back to the happy young man once in a while who was dancing like no one was watching.
After finishing the first glass, he ordered the second and watched the bartender prepare his drink. It was soothing him to an extent. After getting the drink, he drank and felt the alcohol burn his throat well. He turned back to check on Haneul.
But Lim Do Yun got startled when he saw Haneul walking toward him. He was trying to act normal, but the choreographer focused on something else. Haneul asked the bartender for two gin and tonic glasses and two rum glasses. It was clear the drink was for him and his friends who were busy dancing.
As the bartender moved around to make the drink, Lim Do Yun asked the question harshly even though he wanted to interact with Haneul simply. "Do they know what kind of person you are? Do they know who you truly are?"
"I grew up with them. They know me! They know me way much better than you, my beloved brother." Choi Haneul smiled sweetly at his supposed elder brother even though the eyes carried the murderous intent without hiding it.
Lim Do Yun looked away, swallowing the saliva. He softly spoke to Choi Haneul. "How have you been?"
He did not hide the tenderness and worry in his eyes for Haneul anymore.
Haneul turned his back to the bartender and leaned on the bar counter. He slowly turned to Lim Do Yun with a slight smile on his lips. "Do you really want to know?"
Lim Do Yun was honestly terrified to find out that Haneul was not doing well these years. He took a swing of the whiskey and asked about the other person he had wanted to know for years. "How is she?"
"She? Who is 'she'?" Choi Haneul was like a ruffian who would go to any extent to make sure he made Do Yun burn with self-hatred.
"Lim Haneul!" Lim Do Yun did not know how but he slipped up. He desperately wanted to take it back for hitting a sore spot, but he did not know how to do it.
"I have been Choi Haneul for years. Since the day your father faked a DNA report to divorce mom after proving that I am not his son, I am Choi Haneul. Even though I look exactly like him, and you all know what he did to marry his mistress, I have been Choi Haneul!" The fire in Haneul's eyes would have burned his elder brother if that was possible.
Lim Do Yun moved away, flinching as if he was really burned. He knew every word uttered by Haneul was right.
He vowed to protect his little brother and bring him back to the family long back. He was able to bring Haneul to the company as an idol trainee. Unfortunately, he could not protect himself from the family schemes and plans. He failed to keep up with the vow.
The young and naive Lim Do Yun had to 'kick' Haneul out of the company to protect his brother from their family's cruelty. It was one of the reasons he refused to work on anything related to CraZe entertainment.
But the company's situation changed drastically, so he decided to help his cousin, who was burdened by the company's responsibilities and the pressure of shareholders. The last thing he expected was the turn of events.
Even though he felt his cousin Lim Tae Ri had his hands in 'hiring' Haneul, he knew it was him who requested for Mr Han. Based on Tae Ri's expression, he believed his cousin was unaware of anything.
Mr Pyo came over and took the three glasses back to the dancefloor. He patted Haneul's shoulder as if he was assuring that he was one shout away from coming over to punch the life out of Lim Do Yun if needed.
Please by the people who were looking out for his brother, which he could never do, Lim Do Yun relaxed a bit.
"How is mom?" Lim Do Yun's voice broke as he said, mom.
Haneul's eyes softened, knowing Do Yun at least has some affection left for their mom. "Alive! Breathing! But thanks to your family, she is still in a coma due to delayed treatment and serious injury."
Lim Do Yun felt the stab of pain in his heart.
"Is that why you are doing this?" Lim Do Yun was worried for his brother, but at the same time, he did not want his brother to enter the company in the name of revenge and ruin his life.
"What? Work? Obviously! How else would I pay the hospital bill? I am not a third-generation rich young master." Choi Haneul took a jab at his elder brother without any mercy.
"Come back to the company. I will cover her medical charge." But Lim Do Yun knew he could never protect Haneul or his mother, but he wanted to reduce his brother's burden.
Haneul turned towards his elder brother as if the other was an idiot. "Your father refused to help years ago when she met with an accident. Do you think he would let you help now?"
"Dad would never do this! He still cares about her." Lim Do Yun felt shame wash over him when he spoke the words.
When his father cruelly framed his mother and divorced her for the mistress, Lim Do Yun knew it was ironic to say. But he had seen his father walking in the garden his mother planted and crying silently when he missed her, the woman who gave up everything for him.
"Maybe! Maybe not! But I do not give a fuck!" Choi Haneul really did not care if his douchebag of a father cared for his mother or not. After all the backstabbing, cheating and manipulation, he gave up on any ounce of hope for the Lim family.
Lim Do Yun did not know what to say to appease the situation. He wanted to make sure his little brother was alright.
Haneul finished his drink in one go and took a new one. Do Yun did not even see when his brother placed the order for seconds.
"Noona is waiting for me. I am going to the dance floor. Bye, CEO Lim" Haneul turned to leave after a polite but distant smile.
"One second!" Do Yun frantically grabbed his brother's hand.
Some of the drinks spilt. Haneul kept the drink on the bar counter and asked for a tissue to clean his hand and wipe a little bit that had spilt off the suit. He did not even turn to look at his elder brother, who was looking at him with guilt throughout the process.
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