"Hello? Leo, are you alright?"
The phone call came unexpectedly, and as soon as Leo received it, a deep and warm voice filled his mind with both comfort and an overwhelming surge of emotion.
"Yes, Uncle Lee, I am fine," Leo replied, trying to sound as composed as possible, though the tremor in his voice betrayed his inner turmoil.
"Would you like to have lunch with us? I wanted to have a word with you. Would you like to come?" Lee Hyun-jin asked, his voice full of concern.
"...Okay, Uncle, I'll be there in a bit," Leo responded, after a long pause, his words tinged with hesitation.
"We'll be waiting for you, better come fast. Take care, son," Lee Hyun-jin said cheerfully, his tone warm and inviting.
"Yes, you too." Leo quickly fabricated a joyful tone and ended the call, but as the phone clicked shut, a wave of emotion washed over him. His eyes flooded with tears. He held the phone tightly, struggling to keep his composure. All he could think of now was how he could face the Lee family, especially after everything that had happened to him.
---
After some time, Leo finally arrived at his second home—the Lee family's house, where he had grown up in the warmth of their care and affection. As he stood before the familiar building, a flood of memories rushed through his mind. The house, with its well-kept garden and cheerful atmosphere, always felt like the most welcoming place in the world.
For a moment, Leo stood still, overcome by the mixture of nostalgia and emotion. His heart ached with longing for the carefree days of his childhood, and the sight of the house made him feel as if he were returning to a place of safety. A place where love and warmth had once surrounded him.
With a deep breath, Leo pressed the doorbell. He waited for a response, but there was no answer. Standing at the door, he hesitated, his thoughts racing as he considered what to say, what to do.
Then, suddenly, he heard the sound of footsteps rushing from inside the house.
Before Leo could react, the door swung open with a burst, and a small figure dashed out.
A fourteen-year-old boy, full of energy and excitement, collided with Leo in a playful headbutt.
"Welcome home, Hyung!" Surya exclaimed, his face lighting up with joy.
"Haha... I'm home," Leo replied cheerfully, his heart warming at the sight of his younger brother-like figure. The bond between them was undeniable. Though they were not related by blood, their closeness transcended that simple distinction.
"Huh? Hyung, what happened to your face?" Surya asked, his brow furrowing in concern.
Leo hesitated, unsure of how to respond. The bruises on his face were still fresh, the result of a brutal encounter that he couldn't bring himself to explain. But he knew that his little brother wouldn't understand. He wouldn't understand the overwhelming guilt and pain Leo had been carrying.
Leo glanced down, trying to hide the unease that was evident on his face. "Well... haha..." he stammered, unsure of what to say.
At that moment, Leo failed to notice the subtle shift in Surya's expression. If he had looked, he would have seen the growing darkness in Surya's eyes—the shadows of anger that slowly began to form as the younger boy's mind raced with questions.
A cold, foreboding aura surrounded Surya. His thoughts became an uncontrollable whirlwind.
Who did this to Hyung? Who hurt him? Who…?
The thoughts echoed relentlessly in his mind, growing louder with each passing second. The anger he felt toward whoever was responsible became overwhelming, and for a moment, Surya's heart burned with an irrational desire for revenge.
Before Surya could act on his thoughts, he snapped back to reality, his face softening again. "I just fell down the stairs. Haha… You know I am a bit clumsy," Leo said with a weak smile, hoping to pass off the situation as a simple accident.
Surya blinked, seemingly returning to himself. "Huh?" he murmured, confused, but then broke into a grin. "Well, you are clumsy, haha..."
Both of them laughed, and for a moment, the heavy weight of reality lifted. They entered the house together, the familiar warmth of the Lee family's home wrapping around them.
But as soon as they stepped inside, Surya's joyful expression turned into one of dread. His face went pale, and his eyes widened in terror.
"Huh? Surya, what's the matter?" Leo asked, his voice full of concern as he looked at the younger boy.
"Hyung... please... save... me..." Surya trembled, his voice barely a whisper of fear.
"From what?" Leo asked, puzzled by Surya's reaction.
"Th... That," Surya whispered, pointing a shaking finger in the direction of the living room.
Leo followed Surya's gaze and saw the source of the fear in his eyes: Lee Nikita, his Aunt, stood in the doorway with a fierce expression on her face, clearly furious.
"LEE SURYA THALAPATHY. I TOLD YOU SO MANY TIMES NOT TO RUN INTO THE HALLWAY AND TO OPEN THE DOOR ELEGANTLY. DIDN'T I?" Nikita snapped, her voice rising with authority.
"Hyung, please, only you can save me," Surya pleaded again, his voice desperate as he clung to Leo's arm.
Leo, unsure of how to diffuse the situation, whispered to himself, How am I supposed to do something in this situation?
But then, something clicked. He remembered the "ultimate cool-down technique" that Big Brother Jin had taught him for such situations—how to calm down Aunt Nikita when she was angry.
With a deep breath, Leo straightened up and faced Nikita. "Hello, Auntie, you're looking as young and lovely as ever," he said, offering her a genuine smile.
Nikita paused, momentarily taken aback by Leo's compliment. Her stern expression softened, and then she laughed. "Ho… Ho… Oh my, you are flattering me too much. Haha..."
Leo let out a quiet sigh of relief. Phew, dodged the bullet.
Surya, who had been worried for his own safety, now smiled and gave Leo a thumbs up, his earlier fear dissipating. You're the best, Hyung.
"Why aren't you coming in? The food is ready," Nikita said cheerfully, her mood now completely changed.
Leo washed his hands and followed Surya into the dining room. As he entered, he saw Lee Hyun-jin, his foster father, sitting at the dining table, reading the newspaper while sipping iced tea. He looked up and smiled warmly.
"Oh, you're here. Come, sit, son," Lee Hyun-jin said, his tone filled with fatherly care.
"Hello, Uncle Lee, how are you doing?" Leo greeted him with a smile as he sat down at the table.
"I'm doing great. Are you doing fine? And what happened to your face?" Lee Hyun-jin asked, his brow furrowing in concern.
"He said he fell down the stairs," Surya chimed in from across the table.
"Oh dear, you should be careful while climbing stairs. Does it hurt?" Nikita asked as she served the food.
"Just a little bit," Leo replied, trying to downplay the pain.
By now, the topic of conversation had shifted, but Leo couldn't shake off the nagging feeling in the pit of his stomach. He wasn't sure how much longer he could keep up the facade.
"By the way, where is Jin Bhaiya?" Leo asked, glancing around the room, hoping to change the subject.
"Lee Jin had a meeting tomorrow with a big financial company in Seoul, but they scheduled it today instead of tomorrow," Lee Hyun-jin explained, folding his newspaper.
"Oh, I see," Leo said quietly, a pang of disappointment piercing his chest. He had hoped to talk to Jin, but he understood that work came first.
"Don't make that face, son. He'll return next week. Now, let's eat. Your Aunt has made your favorite dish," Lee Hyun-jin said with a smile.
They all sat down and enjoyed a warm, homey lunch together. The laughter and chatter filled the air, but Leo couldn't help but feel like he was living in two worlds—one of comfort and family, and the other filled with the dark reality he couldn't share with them.
After lunch, they gathered in the living room, relaxing and chatting as they always did.
"So, how is high school? I heard from your teacher that you have a school trip coming next weekend," Lee Hyun-jin asked, sipping his tea.
"Yes, Uncle. Our school is taking all the class sections to Gujarat for a historical tour," Leo replied.
"Hmm, that's a good idea from your school. I also heard from your teacher that you can bring one family member with you. Why don't you take Surya along with you on the tour?" Lee Hyun-jin suggested.
"Me? With Hyung? AWESOME!" Surya yelled, his eyes wide with excitement.
Leo remained silent, unsure how to respond. He knew that if his family found out what he was truly facing, everything would change. But then, as he looked at Surya's excited and sparkling eyes, his heart melted.
"Can you not? I'm not forcing you for anything," Lee Hyun-jin said with a gentle smile.
"No, Uncle. I'd be happy to take him with me," Leo replied with a smile, his own excitement building despite the unease.
"Then it's settled. Surya, don't bother your brother on the trip," Nikita said, pinching Surya's ear playfully.
"Okay, Mom. Let's go, Hyung! I want to play outside!" Surya exclaimed, grabbing Leo's hand and pulling him outside.
As Leo and Surya went to play, Nikita and Lee Hyun-jin exchanged a concerned glance.
"Dear, did you see his bruises?" Nikita asked, worry evident on her face.
"Yes, I saw. Our son is not good at lying," Lee Hyun-jin said, his eyes closing in thought.
"Shall we tell Lee Jin about it?" Nikita asked hesitantly.
"No, we can't. You know how far Lee Jin would go for his brothers, especially for Leo. You know what will happen if he finds out," Lee Hyun-jin said, watching Leo through the window.
"But what if he finds out himself?" Nikita asked, a shadow of worry in her voice.
"I don't know. That's what scares me the most," Lee Hyun-jin sighed.
---
One week later, the day of the trip arrived. The morning sun had just begun to shine, and the air was fresh and crisp.
"Yo, how are you doing, Silver Sh*t?" came a familiar voice, breaking through Leo's thoughts.