"Min-ah… Stop… Stop…" Chang-ho bent over, trying to catch his breath. Chang-min stopped running and looked back at his twin.
"They are gone," Chang-ho said, brushing off sweat with his school uniform sleeve.
Chang-min heaved a sigh and held his brother's hand, who smiled at him happily.
"Does it still hurt?" Chang-ho asked, checking Chamg-min's hand. There was a trace of a red mark.
"Let me know if they bully you again. I'll protect you."
"But I should be the one who protects you."
"Eomma always tells you not to think of yourself as the elder brother. We are twins. Eomma says we should protect each other."
Chang-min nodded his head.
"I'll tell if they bully me."
They walked the rest of the way home, holding their hands and laughing happily.
***
Chang-min bitterly recalled the last happy memory he had shared with his twin.
