Yujin's footsteps echoed in the doorway, along with his words, "I'm home."
Hajin was lounging on the sofa in the living room—a routine she always does before dinner starts—and welcomed him. Yujin felt a little bit lighter from her sweet welcome, so he went up the stairs with a smile despite the ugly events of the day he had.
He wondered if Hajin hadn't heard of the rumor yet. It did seem that the senior students were clueless after he ate his lunch with the bunch of them.
Song Yujin stopped by the door and his eyes moved to the room opposite his. It was Hajun's. He contemplated whether to knock or not for a few minutes. After gathering his thoughts, he approached the door and knocked on it.
Without waiting for a response, he pushed the door forward and peeked his head, glancing around after not finding Hajun in his room.
"What are you doing?"
A voice came from behind Yujin, startling him. He turned around and saw Hajun with a frowning face. Yujin scratched his head and thought, why do I feel guilty now after being caught entering without permission when I always do this before? Argh! This needs to stop!
He cleared his throat and faced Hajun bravely. "Hey, let's talk."
Hajun showed him away from the door by his arm and walked in. "About what?"
Yujin grimaced. "Don't play dumb, dude. You know what I'm talking about!"
"If it's about Yuze, I don't want to hear it," Hajun dismissed. He was about to close the door when Yujin slipped his foot in and rooted himself on the floor, refusing to back down. Hajun glowered at him, "Take your foot back or else I'll crush it."
"Crush it then," Yujin challenged.
Hajun pursed his lips, his jaw clenched. After having a battle of intense staring, he sighed in defeat, aware of the stubbornness of his brother. "What do you want?"
Yujin, "Talk."
Hajun, "Then speak."
"I am already," Yujin replied. "What I meant was you to spit it out."
Hajun glared at him, not taking his tone the good way. "What?"
Yujin responded, unbothered by his brother's glaring. "I said talk. About Yuze, about the rumor. Did you not hear him when he talked to me in class? He sounds concerned but his words have double meaning. He was spreading—
"Are you saying that with proof or you're just accusing him without evidence?" Hajun interrupted Yujin; a bit annoyed.
Yujin pursed his lips and nodded, "I don't have proof, but my guts are telling me it was him—
Hajun, "Wow, Song Yujin, I didn't know you have this side on you, too. I thought you were just a clueless, heedless, happy-go-lucky guy who isn't bothered by anyone, but now you're blatantly ruining someone's image just because of your guts? Have you stoop so low?"
Yujin's jaw clenched. His eyes flared with displeasure at Hajun's words. The sarcasm in his brother's tone made him want to retort, but he held back himself and sighed deeply.
Yujin's gaze locked onto Hajun, his eyes expressionless, "Why are you defending him? You were there. You even stopped him because you knew as well, that he was being rude and inconsiderate, so why are you taking his side when he clearly insulted me? What? Mooching in your family?"
Yujin laughed bitterly, "Oh, right. You're taking his side because, maybe, you're thinking that way, too. Are you in these together? Spreading rumors about me—
"Are you f*cking accusing me?!" Hajun shouted, grabbing Yujin's collar.
Yujin stared at him, his eyes burning with hurt and anger he failed to restrain. "You keep telling me I'm accusing you without proof, but in that entire school, you and I and Hajin-noona, are the only ones who know about it. Hajin-noona will never do that, but you…you've been looking at me like I'm a f*cking nuisance, a troublesome shitbag who did nothing but put you in trouble. How would I know if you spoke of it to your best friend and that best friend of yours spread it on the campus!"
Hajun's eyes flared with anger. He gripped tightly on Yujin's collar and was about to throw a punch on his face, but a shrill voice stopped them.
"What are you doing?!"
Hajun gnashed his teeth before pushing Yujin away. He walked into his room and slammed the door in Yujin and Hajin's faces.
Hajin looked at Yujin with horror and confusion. She was shocked to hear the two fighting, knowing how close they were.
"What's happening, Yujin?" Hajin asked with worry and frustration.
Yujin forced a smile and shook his head. He ran his hand over his face and remarked, "Noona, can you talk to Hajun for me? Enter his room and…talk to him. I don't think I can tell you anyway. I'm sorry, noona."
With that, Yujin turned and walked away, leaving Hajin in an uneasy silence.
The morning came and Yujin avoided breakfast, telling his parents that he had to go to school for morning training. He mumbled a quick apology and left the house, heading towards his usual refuge—behind the school's old building where he decided to visit the stray cat he met once. He went there after morning classes and training.
It was lunchtime when Yujin arrived at that place. The cat, a scruffy but endearing creature, was curled up on a branch, looking contented and sleepy. As Yujin approached, he noticed another figure standing at the back of the large tree, hidden from view.
To his surprise, it was Lee Hyun. His hands were stretched out, holding a can of cat food on both of his palms, but the cat was turned away from him. He wasn't saying anything at all, but his face was telling otherwise.
He looked sad and dejected, much to Yujin's amusement. A light chuckle escaped his mouth and it was too late to cover his face because Lee Hyun already noticed him.
In an instant, his pitiful and disappointed look disappeared, replaced but his usual cold and indifferent expression. Yujin approached him and tapped his stretched arms, asking fondly, "What are you doing? Are you offering a sacrifice to a god?"
Lee Hyun gazed at him with those enigmatic light-colored eyes, and for a moment, Yujin wondered if what he said was right.